Castelli Trasparente Due Wind Jersey

The Castelli Trasparente Due Wind Jersey is a winner for autumn and spring riding – it has performed superbly over the past few weeks.

The Trasparente is actually one of those tops that splits the difference between a jersey and a jacket. I'll get that in early so you don't write it off as a too expensive jersey. That would be a mistake.

It's made from three different fabrics, the most notable of which is Windstopper X-Lite Plus. This is the same windproof (obviously) and highly water resistant soft shell material that Castelli use for their Gabba Rain Jersey and Aero Rain Lite jersey.

This four-way stretch fabric makes up the whole of the front, the neck, the shoulders and down the top of the arms to the elbows. It also makes an appearance on the central pocket at the back – you know, where you get that line of road spray from your rear wheel if you don't use mudguards. The other two fabrics aren't windproof: one is a roubaix-type material and the other is a little thinner.

What's so good about the Trasparente? For a start, the Windstopper fabric does its job by stopping cold air while also being impressively breathable so you don't get sweaty in there. It's a bit like wearing a jersey with a windproof gilet over the top, but in a single garment. I'd rather the windproofing extended the whole length of the arms rather than stopping at the elbow, but that's a personal preference.

Another thing I really like about the Trasparente is that it's a good, slim cut – and I likes a good, slim cut, me. The stretchy materials mean that it can fit closely without feeling tight, and no cold air comes wafting in as soon as you hit 25mph. The neck is high and close fitting too so you can keep the outside world from getting in there.

The camlock front zip is from YKK and the large puller is easy to grab with gloved hands. Around the back an elastic waist gripper holds the hem in place and you get three pockets, the middle of which will take a waterproof shell easily enough. There's another zipped pocket on the chest that'll hold a mobile phone or a fiver for a mid-ride stop.

Reflective piping on the shoulders and tabs on the back will help you get seen, and the Transparente is available in colours other than black too.

Castelli give the Trasparente a temperature range of 10-18°C. I'm a cold-blooded reptile and even I wouldn't wear it at 18. I'd say 10-16°C, or something like that. That's with just a base layer underneath. You could obviously wear another layer under there and get some more use out of it in lower temperatures.

Verdict

Very good autumn/spring-weight jersey with stretchy windproofing and a fitted cut