Castelli Flusso Jersey FZ

Designed as a general riding jersey with a slightly more relaxed cut, the Castelli Flusso looks lovely with this vivid blue design. I've been wearing this with the Velocissimo bibs and it works really well for training. The jersey is perfect for riding in warmer weather and offers a relaxed cut that is comfortable for longer days on the bike.

Pros: The fit is close but not restrictive. The material is ideal for summer riding and wicks well. The deep pockets are much more secure.

Cons: Even though there's good stretch, the arms might be a little close for bigger biceps.

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Castelli uses the Prosecco GT fabric for the majority of the jersey covering the torso, back and arms. It's a very nice, comfortable fabric that seems to wick rather well. I've been wearing this on its own for the 2 days this year that it's been hot enough and also underneath other jerseys and jackets. It has consistently wicked well and it comfortable when worn against the skin.

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The material offers plenty of stretch, giving you the option of a really close fit if you want to size down.

The side panels are made from a mesh fabric. This seems to have slightly less stretch than the other fabric but it's not restrictive. It's designed to aid cooling and although hard to test, it seems to work.

The jersey also feels nicely light when worn. It only weighs 134g, not the lightest ever, but certainly not heavy.

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The fit has, however, left me a little surprised. The medium that I'm testing gives the classic Castelli close fit around the arms and shoulders, but then loosens up quite significantly around the waist, leaving plenty of material to flap in the wind. As a general riding jersey, I'm not concerned about any watts being lost, so a little flappy material isn't a concern. There is, however, plenty of length to the jersey so this will really suit taller riders.

It's the first Castelli jersey that I'd say is true to normal sizing. As a result, I'd choose a small if I was buying this. My Free Aero Jersey is a medium with a great fit, but I'd choose a small in the Fusso just to get the correct fit at the waist.

The pockets, taken from the RS Superleggera, have been redesigned to make them easier to access and slightly deeper. Castelli has done this by extending the pocket down to the hem of the jersey, which itself is dropped slightly. This means that phones, pumps and other such items are very secure in those pockets.

I did find that the items bounced on my tailbone when off the bike, but when riding, there's no issue at all.

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Keeping the jersey roughly in place is a single rear gripper just above the hem underneath the pockets. This gripper doesn't run all the way around the hem, allowing the jersey a little movement. The arms do not feature any gripper, a fact I really like with a jersey for general riding.

Finishing touches come in the form of a full-length YKK Vislon zipper. This is easy to open and close on the move. Your neck is protected from the zipper by a strip of fabric that extends 8cm down from the collar. It works well and doesn't get caught when zipping up.

A little extra visibility has been added to the rear pockets with 2 small reflective strips.

At £80, the Flusso is not the cheapest in Castelli's jersey range but it gives you the option of a lightweight summer jersey without the tight fit of the Climbers Jersey. The competition is a little hard to gauge with this type of jersey but I think the dhb Classic Short Sleeve Jersey and the Rapha Classic Flyweight jersey offer 2 good options at £45 and £100 respectively. These jerseys offer a similar non-restrictive fit with breathable materials for summer riding.

If I had this kind of cash to spend on a jersey then I'd be very happy with this for general riding. I'd certainly go for the size small, but I really am rather tiny! I know from experience just how well Castelli jerseys last, so this isn't the biggest price when you know you can get at least 5 years wear out of it.

Overall I'm impressed, it's a solid jersey that works well with no gimmicks. The redesigned pockets are clever and the fit is good for the rider that this is aimed at. The arms might be a little small, and you're still paying more for that fit and finish than others but this should stand a lot of riding.

Verdict

Lightweight summer jersey with good breathability, great pocket design and comfortable fabric in a relaxed cut