The Castelli Pro Mesh Women’s Sleeveless Base Layer has been engineered to keep you cool when it’s hot but also be useful as an extra layer in cooler conditions. Made from 3D mesh fabric, it’s supersoft as well as stretchy to ensure it fits snugly against your skin to wick away moisture, which it does extremely well.
The first thing I noticed when unboxing this baselayer was how incredibly soft the 3D mesh material is. It feels expensive, which you come to expect from Castelli, but it was notable compared with others I’ve worn throughout the years. It’s available in three different colours, too: white, black and Purple Mist.
Another aspect of the baselayer I really liked from the off was how stretchy it is. The material is very well elasticated, including the stitching, which is a great help to fit snugly around the contours of your body. I have a very small waist and wide hips, so sometimes baselayers are way too tight on the hips if there’s limited give in the stitching.
Overall, I felt the sizing was very good. Castelli has a function on its website to help find your ‘ideal size’, and I tested an S. I wear a UK 8 (EU 36) in tops, and this was a good fit.
I’m not particularly busty – average, I’d say – and the stretchiness of the material fitted nice and snug around my bust too, so I think if you are a small but bustier it’ll still fit well thanks to the give in the material.
Something to be aware of is that it is long – if you don’t like length in your baselayer then it won’t be for you.
But other than that, the cut of this piece works well, with the shoulders being a really good width and a crew style neck which I thought was the perfect neckline for a summer baselayer.
When out riding in this layer I really liked how breathable it was, and how well it wicked sweat. Even on really hot summer days in the baking heat, it helped to keep me cool during efforts on the road, wicking away my sweat (which, let me tell you, there was a lot of!) very effectively.
> Read more road.cc reviews of women’s cycling kit
It doesn’t ride up, either – something I’ve found other baselayers I’ve worn do, which can be incredibly annoying. This one just stayed put and didn’t roll up.
However, one aspect that did annoy me was the label. It’s thick and itchy. Of course this can be cut out, but some labels are soft, whereas this one is just plastic and super annoying.
In terms of care it’s really easy: it washed really well, with no discolouration or fraying, and it also dried super fast, which is great.
Value
The price is pretty steep, but compared with other high-end designs it’s not too bad. It’s cheaper than Pas Normal Studios’ Women’s Sleeveless Base Layer, for example, which has gone up from £46 when Emma reviewed it in 2022 to £55. One of Emma’s criticisms was that it was very short in the body, and that’s something the Castelli baselayer certainly isn’t.
The women’s version of the Sportful Pro sleeveless baselayer Stu reviewed in July is cheaper, though, at £40. Stu thought the men’s was excellent, and the women’s is available in a greater choice of sizes than the Castelli, ranging from 2XS to 2XL.
For more options, check out our guide to the best cycling baselayers.
Conclusion
Overall I really like this baselayer, and it does its job of wicking away sweat very well. It is expensive, and might be a bit too long for some, but even so I still think it’s excellent. It’s just a shame it only comes in sizes XS to XL which, although it is very stretchy, isn’t very inclusive.
Verdict
Supersoft and stretchy baselayer that wicks away sweat wonderfully well, even on the hottest days
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Castelli Pro Mesh Women’s Sleeveless Base Layer
Size tested: Small
Tell us what the product is for
Castelli says: “The pro cyclists we work with know the importance of having the right base layer for the conditions. The Pro Mesh is made for the widest range of conditions and is designed to keep you dry in cool to mild temperatures. We’ll even put it under a Flanders Warm base layer in the coldest conditions. We’ve given it a graphic print so you can show off that you have something special when you open your jersey zip.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Product features from Castelli:
3D mesh fabric for excellent moisture management
Sublimated print graphic
Waist hem stays flat under shorts
Intended for temperatures: 15°C – 28°C / 59°F – 82°F.
Very soft and stretchy.
It did a great job at wicking away sweat and keeping me cool.
Thanks to the elastic material and stitching, this garment fitted my body very well; it wasn’t too tight or loose anywhere.
I tested size S (I wear a UK 8 in tops/jerseys) and it was spot on for me.
Nice and lightweight.
The comfort levels were great, only the plastic label let it down; I know they can be cut out but I prefer a soft one.
It is expensive but the material is just so soft and does such a great job, it’s worth it.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
It was super easy to care for and washed really well – and didn’t snag either. It also dried super fast, as expected.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
I was so impressed with how well this item wicked away sweat and kept me cool.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The fit and performance were really great.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The label being so uncomfortable, and lack of size inclusivity.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The price is pretty steep, but compared with other high-end designs it’s not too bad. It’s cheaper than Pas Normal Studios Women’s Sleeveless Base Layer, for example, which has gone up from £46 when Emma reviewed it in 2022 to £55. One of Emma’s criticisms was that it was very short in the body, and the Castelli sleeveless baselayer certainly isn’t.
The women’s version of the excellent Sportful Pro sleeveless baselayer Stu reviewed in July is cheaper, though, at £40, and is available in a greater choice of sizes, ranging from 2XS to 2XL.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
It did a brilliant job of keeping me cool when it was hot, and the fit was great. My only criticisms are that although the material was heavenly soft, the label wasn’t, and I would like to see more sizes added at both ends.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 173cm Weight: 65kg
I usually ride: Road bike My best bike is: Road bike
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Semi pro
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
