Castelli Espresso Vest review: light, packable and very well-fitting, say goodbye to noisy, flappy gilets

Gilets are a staple of a cyclist's wardrobe, and the Castelli Espresso Vest is one of the best on the market

Rider wearing Castelli Espresso Vest sitting on top tube
Castelli Espresso Vest Belgian Blue
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

An excellent fit, with well-designed features and superb fabrics, the Espresso Gilet from Castelli is worth serious consideration for any cyclist. The woven material breathes suberbly, reduces windchill to negligible amounts and doesn’t flap about while also keeping the gilet very packable and light.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Great fit

  • +

    Easily packable

  • +

    Very breathable

  • +

    Quiet fabric

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Quite expensive

  • -

    Reflective patch could be larger

  • -

    Not 100% windproof

  • -

    No storage bag

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to feeling cold, so I rarely leave the house for a bike ride without an extra layer in my pocket, even when the forecast is perfect. This means that I’m constantly on the lookout for the perfect gilet or windproof jacket.

Castelli’s Espresso Vest is the latest in a long line that I’ve tried, and [spoiler alert] I’m very impressed. It sits somewhere between the heavier-duty membrane-style gilets and the superlight ‘Pertex’ type. It is still very packable and weighs 134g but fits far better than the typical lightweight vest and is much less ‘flappy’ and noisy too. Castelli rates it for use between 12°C and 20°C, but clearly, that depends on what you wear underneath it - I’d say that suggestion is about right for over a short-sleeved jersey.

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