Castelli Free Aero Race bib shorts

With the comfortable Progetto X2 insert, very few seams and widely spaced bib straps, Castelli's Free Race Aero bib shorts are exceptionally good.

The Free Aero Race bib shorts have been in Castelli's collection for a few years, but have been constantly developed over the years and benefited from the company's involvement with the former Cervelo Test Team, and now the Garmin-Sharp squad. There's no harder arena to develop products than pro racing, these shorts are a good example of that.

Castelli combine three fabrics in the construction of these shorts. The side panels are made from Energia Micro which has a high stretch factor, the front panel is Breathe Micro to prevent overheating, and the area in contact with the saddle is made from tougher Action Micro fabric. The three fabrics are combined in a very well shaped and cut short, with very few seams, and in particular none in the inner thigh area. This contributes to a great on-the-bike comfort that is up there with the best bib shorts in this price range.

To ensure comfort on hot days, Castelli have moved the bib straps out as far as possible, keeping your chest mostly free of unnecessary fabric. This is ideal when grovelling up mountain cols with the jersey fully unzipped, but it also contributes to a great lack of restriction around on the torso. The bib straps all but vanish; you never notice them when riding.

As is featured on many of their shorts, the Giro3 leg gripper is a real class feature. A 5cm wide band compresses the legs and keeps the shorts firmly and comfortably in place. There's no need for silicone gripper tape here, the shorts just stay put. This also boosts comfort as there's no irritation of the skin. It's simple, but highly effective.

And finally, inside the shorts is the Progetto X2 Air insert, their top-end offering that is also used across their bib short range. It's without doubt one of the most comfortable inserts I've tested, and manages to provide comfort despite a low bulk design. It consists of two layers: a perforated foam top layer to keep you cool, and a padded layer beneath it. The two pieces are free to move and slide over each other which reduces rubbing, contributing greatly to the comfort.

These shorts have been getting a lot of use. I've been wearing them for training rides, criterium races and six-hour slogs, and every time I pull them on I'm reminded just how comfortable and well fitting they are. They are expensive though, but they're better than many shorts that cost a lot more. They work really hard to justify the price, they're packed with clearly thought out features and details that make them a premium product.

Build quality is high, they look good and the comfort is great. I couldn't ask for more from my shorts.

Verdict

Premium bib shorts with high comfort, build quality and attention to detail. Expensive, but if you ride a lot, worth it