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Castelli Entrata 3 FZ Jersey

9
£70.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Great fit and surprisingly decent value matched to good all-round features – well worth a look
Weight: 
150g

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In the past when we've tested Castelli jerseys there have been a few themes that emerge again and again: typical quality, performance and Italian style (good), set against an Italian fit (erm... not always good) and value (ditto). The Entrata 3 FZ, however, is a summer jersey almost without flaw.

  • Pros: Great fit, breathability, large pockets, value
  • Cons: None

Often, one of the main criticisms of Castelli kit is the fit and cut; a performance brand at heart, it's not always going to suit every rider out there. I suspect there are plenty who'd like to sport the Scorpion logo, but can't because of the often racy-tight cuts and smaller sizings.

> Find your nearest dealer here

That's not an issue with the Entrata 3, though. Sure, it's still a slim cut, but Castelli has tailored it to fit without feeling overly compressive or restrictive. The large fits my 188cm, 80kg, 100cm chest, ex-swimmer's frame without fault, and that's not something I can often say about Castelli kit.

castelli_entrata_3_jersey_fz_-_riding.jpg

The Prosecco GT fabric – a stretchy textured polyester material – has plenty of give, while the Air Mesh sections down the flanks and on the arms and shoulders hint towards the summerwear aim of the jersey. It performed brilliantly at wicking moisture away during the recent warm weather spell, while it all comes together to provide a glove-like fit.

castelli_entrata_3_jersey_fz_-_back.jpg
castelli_entrata_3_jersey_fz_-_sleeve.jpg

In an aero tuck position I found the jersey very accommodating, with no feeling of restriction anywhere on my body, and it was equally comfortable to wear when merrily spinning around on the hoods.

Practicality is also a strong point of the Entrata 3. The rear section features an added drop flap below the branded silicone rearside gripper, which allows not only great lightweight coverage, but the inclusion of slightly deeper pockets. As a result, you can carry a fair amount of kit around with you should you need to – multiple energy bars and gels, a packable gilet, phone and pump aren't a problem at all.

castelli_entrata_3_jersey_fz_-_pockets.jpg

The silicone gripper around the rearside retains the jersey well despite the grippy bit being just the Castelli wording and logo rather than a full strip, while the frontal section and sleeves don't have grippers at all. This is a good thing in my book – the jersey is allowed to settle in its natural position, and the lack of grippy strip on the sleeves means it doesn't rub away at your skin while riding along.

castelli_entrata_3_jersey_fz_-_hem.jpg

The neckline is slightly extended in a more traditional style, and the full length YKK zip has a guard behind it that extends just beyond the top edge. It's easy to pull up and down with one hand (thanks in part to the anchoring afforded by the great fit), and had a large enough circumference when zipped all the way up under the chin to not feel like it was strangling me.

castelli_entrata_3_jersey_fz_-_collar.jpg

So, are there any pitfalls? Frankly, none that I can see. A large tips our scales at 150g, which isn't exactly heavy, and it costs £70. Castelli jerseys can and do often cost significantly more, and there's no shortfall in quality that I can detect. It returns from a 40°C wash with no issues (Castelli recommends a 30°C cycle), and seems resilient against snagging too. Even the lack of zipped security pocket – a feature I like to see in any jersey – can't put me off.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best summer cycling jerseys

Usually when it comes to jerseys, we all find our favourites and stick with them because they simply do the job well. I think Castelli's Entrata 3 can be one of those jerseys for a wide range of cyclists, from club riders to those taking on long day rides, and one you'll wear again and again in the summer months.

Verdict

Great fit and surprisingly decent value matched to good all-round features – well worth a look

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Entrata 3 Jersey FZ

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Castelli says: "We've incorporated a lot of our pro racing technology into this all-around performance jersey. The base fabric is a textured 100% polyester that provides excellent wicking to keep you dry in a wide range of conditions. We've wrapped our Air Mesh fabric around the shoulders and down into the sleeves and side panels to give extra stretch so the jersey doesn't constrict or make you look like you should have bought a size larger."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Castelli lists these features:

- Prosecco GT main body fabric wicks moisture away

- Sublimated stretch mesh with raw-cut edge at arm openings

- Mesh side panels and shoulder stretch zones for great fit

- Full-length YKK® Vislon® zipper

- 3 rear pockets

- Reflective heat-transfer viz strips for visibility

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

There's classic Castelli quality here.

Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

As an all-round summer jersey, it's fantastic.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

No complaints to make.

Rate the product for fit:
 
10/10

Probably the best-fitting Castelli jersey I've ever used.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Unlike many Castelli jerseys in the past, the Entrata is generous enough to size normally.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10

It's not super-lightweight, but light enough for the height of British summer.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Thanks to the fit and sizing, as well as the comfortable grippers, it's incredibly comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

It's not cheap, but compared with others from Castelli and for the performance it gives, £70 is a very good price.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Very easily.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Brilliantly.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit, cut and overall performance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, except for the lack of a zipped security pocket.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, absolutely.

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Entrata 3 jersey is an exceptional summer jersey, with a fantastic fit, and it comes in at a competitive price for a Castelli jersey too.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 28  Height: 188cm  Weight: 80kg

I usually ride: Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 SL (2016)  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding

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