Castelli Pro Mesh Sleeveless baselayer

Castelli's Pro Mesh Sleeveless baselayer – which you might have spotted being worn by the Team Sky riders at the Tour de France this year – is indeed a pro-level garment, with a price tag to match. It works superbly – the only real issue is that so does Castelli's £35 short-sleeve Pro Issue baselayer, which Sean rated very highly.

It is very light, weighing in at a scant 50g on the trusty road.cc Scales of Truth, with no fabric to spare anywhere (although, again, the Pro Issue beats it at 48g – and a claimed 44g for the sleeveless version). It has an extended back for a spot-on cycling-specific fit, but a very slim cut – ideal for an almost invisible silhouette under the jersey or bib shorts. The seams are kept as flat and minimalist as possible too.

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Sometimes, in seemingly delicate garments like this, the seams can become stiff, rough or degraded around the edges, but not here. In use, no matter how much sweating you do – and I've done a lot during the warm spells this summer – you're completely unaware of the baselayer; I experienced no chafing or rubbing at all, despite it fitting me rather tightly, even in a large.

That sizing is what I'd expect that from a Castelli product, frankly, whose products tend to come up in a typically Italian fit – which is to say, small. Nevertheless, whether you prefer a tight or slightly looser fit, you can buy your size accordingly and it'll perform brilliantly at wicking away moisture in warm weather, which is what it's designed for.

Depite its light weight, it's hardy enough to handle normal washing with your other sports kit, and the build quality looks good too – just one loose thread in the neckline after a good amount of use that doesn't affect comfort or overall integrity. It looks – and smells – as fresh as ever too.

As well as this bright and attractive blue and orange colourway, you can also have it in an even brighter multi-coloured pattern, a plainer version of greys, or you can show your support for Team Sky if you like – a boon for those not wanting to flash the entire kit on their ride. Bear in mind if you have a white or particularly thin jersey, there's a chance you will see the pattern through the fabric, like with my own white Rapha Lightweight jersey.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best cycling baselayers

Like most of Castelli's garments it's expensive, and it's about as good as I can imagine a lightweight mesh baselayer can be. Its hot weather performance, along with the stylish designs, make it an enticing option. However, the excellence of the Pro Issue, which is £20 and 2g less – in fact, £25 and 6g less if you go for the sleeveless version – is a bit of a thorn in its side. That's not to say this one isn't an excellent top – and it does carry Castelli's top-notch 'Rosso Corsa' label – but it's hard to recommend it over the Pro Issue given the price differential.

Verdict

An excellent summer baselayer but it's hard to see why it's £20 more than the excellent Pro Issue...