Castelli Entrata 3 FZ Jersey

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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