Product Review - Castelli Free and Velocissimo Shorts

I'm going to say right off the bat that I'm a big Castelli fan. I own several Castelli bits and although everything they make isn't perfect, when Castelli gets something right they get it right. Castelli has fostered several innovations in bicycle clothing and has sponsored ProTour teams longer than I've been alive, so it's safe to say they know a thing or two about making bike shorts. The question I've set out to answer here is should you pay top-dollar for their most high-tech offerings or will the mid-range stuff do just fine? Read on to find out.

The Castelli Free short has been their tip-top of the line (until the introduction of the "Body Paint" short at Interbike this year) and is priced as such at $199.99 retail. The Free features their AC seatpad and a total of three different strategically placed fabrics. Castelli uses their more durable "Action Micro" fabric at the saddle contact point and the light "Energia Micro" and "Breathe Micro" everywhere else in order to maximize cooling. All fabrics on the Free have been treated with Castelli's Prosecco treatment which helps prevent the fabric from absorbing water, thus speeding evaporation. The multi-density AC seatpad supposedly uses a NASA developed material that is not only more comfortable than other chamois fabrics but also helps regulate body temperature (which is especially important in the crotchal region).

The Free short is without a doubt the most comfortable I have ever worn. The seatpad is just large enough to provide comfort and small enough that it never gets in the way. I've worn the Free in duathlons and had none of the "diaper" sensation that you often do when running in other bike shorts. The Free is also one of the best shorts in hot weather thanks to the minimalist fabrics on the outside of the thigh and the well-ventilated chamois. These became my go to shorts for 3 hour rides in sweltering summer heat. The seamless leg grippers proved much more comfortable than traditional silicone grips, however their two layers began to separate after several months of use. Although this was annoying in a $200 short it in no way affected their function. Durability seems to be the main concern with the Free due to their thin, super-flyweight construction, and I'm actually surprised that mine have held up to over a year's worth of wearing and washing.

At $109.99 retail the Velocissimo short is priced right in line with most manufacturer's middle to high-end shorts. Castelli uses their Affinity Lycra and Breathe Micro fabric with Prosecco treatment and thei Kiss+ seatpad, a thicker version of the award-winning Kiss chamois. The leg grippers on the Velocissimo are similar to those on the Free, however they inexplicably sport silicone grips on the outside as well as on the inside of the leg openings (silicone which, by the way, began to peel off after a few months of use). The Velocissimo also drops the flat-lock stitching of the Free.

At $90 less than the Free the Velocissimo offers the same fit and about 9/10ths of the functionality. While not as airy as the Free the Velocissimo is certainly comfortable and if anything will probably prove more durable thanks to the use of heavier-duty fabrics. The Kiss+ seatpad is almost as comfortable as the AC but its added bulk does sometimes feel a bit, well, bulky in comparison. In my opinion Castelli should have spec'd the Kiss+ on the $90 Dome Due short and the regular Kiss seatpad (which has slightly less padding) on the Velocissimo. Thanks to its slightly thicker and less breathable fabrics the Velocissimo is great in any weather and can be worn more comfortably in the Spring and Fall when ride temperatures begin to fluctuate.

Both of these are great shorts and both are, I believe, good buys. I've always encouraged people to splurge on shorts for two reasons: one, your butt is the main point of contact with the bike and you want it to be as comfortable as possible and two, bike shorts, when properly cared for, will last a long time. That $100 or $200 pair of shorts doesn't seem so expensive when you realize you'll be wearing them 2-3 hours a day for a couple of years. For those with the cash who put in a lot of miles in hot climates the Free is hard to beat, and the Velocissimo offers most of the comfort as well as all-season versatility at almost half the price. Word to the wise - unless you have a exhibitionist streak, never buy Castelli shorts in white. Trust me.