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
Make and model: Castelli Flusso Jersey FZ
Tell us what the product is for
Castelli doesn't actually say anything on their website, but the Flusso is a summer jersey with a more relaxed cut than their race jerseys.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Castelli:
"Prosecco GT main body fabric wicks moisture away
Mesh side panels
Full-length YKK® Vislon® zipper
3 rear pockets
Reflective heat-transfer viz strips
Weight:143g"
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
This is where the price makes sense. The jersey is really well made with a great zipper. I've had Castelli jerseys now for years and they cope really well with heavy use.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Good wicking both as a standalone and when worn under jackets.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
The stitching is all holding very well and the fabric is remaining soft after lots of washing.
Rate the product for fit:
7/10
I've marked this down only because the arms are cut close. The stretch means that it'll still be comfy, but I think a little more room would suit the targeted rider.
Rate the product for sizing:
9/10
This will be ideal for taller riders as the back is pretty long. Combined with the new pockets, it makes food access much easier.
Rate the product for weight:
5/10
It's not the lightest but it's right in the ballpark for a summer jersey at 134g.
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
The quality of the fabric really shines through as it stays soft after washing and is comfortable against the skin for longer rides.
Rate the product for value:
6/10
It's about what I'd pay for a good quality jersey that I know will last.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Bung it in the wash at 30°C and line dry if it's warm enough. I've tumbled this on low with no issues.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It wicks really well and is comfy to wear on long training rides. That makes it ideal for the summer rides it's designed for.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Castelli have done the simple things right resulting in an overall quality that makes it worth the cash.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The arms might be a little close for some.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes. It's comfy to wear and wicks well. It also looks great
Would you consider buying the product? The Free Aero jersey suits me better, so I'd probably opt for that if I had to choose.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, I think the cut is much more friendly to the average rider.
Use this box to explain your overall score
This gains points for being very good at wicking and being the first Castelli jersey that I've tried that is actually comparable to normal sizing.
It loses marks for the sleeves. I just think they should have been cut a little larger for the intended relaxed fit.
Age: 22 Height: 177cm Weight: 64kg
I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Di2 My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
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