Castelli Free Bibshort - Men's

great bibs as other have said, much better construction than the lower end castellis and the thin, wide-set apart straps really do make a difference.i normally use large bibs/shorts (6',175lbs,33"waist) and initially bought the castelli endurance in XL following the advice to size up. the endurance straps dug into my shoulders and chamois seemed too far back. i got some XXL castelli frees and although the leg compression is not as snug as i'd like the straps are perfect. i'm probably somewhere between a XL and XXL in castelli's bibs or perhaps could've stayed with XL and let it stretch out.

Very light material. Better for hot summer day riding. silicone band on the legs are actually on the outside but it seems to work ok. Light color is almost see-through and leaves nothing to one's imagination. I'm a 5'8" 145 waist size 31. M fits well but seems like Small would be a good fit as well. low rise actually come in handy if you have to stop on the road for a quick excess water dump.

The last review is spot on. Fit and function-wise, these are the most extraordinary bibs you will ever find. The chamois is brilliant and makes you ride that much longer as it is extremely comfortable, great at absorbing and dampening the impact of riding on rough roads and stays cool and dry in the most hot and humid weather. You just end up wanting to stay on the saddle. The leg grippers and overall fit of the material including the shoulder staps are superb even on the longest rides. Great compression without feeling tight. The material is a bit fragile (hence my title 'near' perfect) and you notice wear where the jersey zipper rubs on the fabric.
Worth ever cent you spend on these.
Yep, I normally use a small in other products and the medium here is right on the money.

When you get these, grab the chamois with your hand and notice that your had actually cools off. A Castelli rep told me this was fabric designed first for astronauts - not sure, but it is wonderful. When I worked in a shop these were easy to sell b/c people were so amazed at the heat wicking chamois. Treat yourself to a pair of these shorts. Only warning I have is to say don't let your wife wash them with red t shirts unless you want to look like a giro winner - my lovely white shorts are pink now.

i ride mostly 40-50 mile climbs + rollers, so my judgment of these is based on that type of riding.

chamois is excellent. not as comfortable as a cannondale la-z-boy type for centuries, but easier on your tailbones than sugoi.

breathability: excellent. straps are so thin they are hardly noticeable. but...

fit: thighs...i love it. excellent muscle support. they really compress around the front of the quads and stay there. but the real problem is that the front really cuts into my stomach when i'm crunching. the whole appeal of bibs is that you don't feel the elastic on your waist, but you do notice the elastic on these when you are hunched over. any excess skin on your stomach has to make the decision to either be under the elastic or over it, and you feel it at first. by mile 10 you don't really notice or care, but that's why i'd give this -1 star. otherwise, these are my favorite bibs. just ordered the Velocissimos though, which have a higher waist, so we'll see...

I've tried other Castelli shorts, and I've never been a fan of the KISS chamois. They always felt, to me, like I was wearing a diaper. However, the pad in these shorts is probably the best I've ever worn. It's nice and thin, yet very dense. In fact, the first time I wore them (on a 20 mile ride) I never even felt a bike seat. I can say, with absolute certainty, that I've never before worn a set of bibs that make the saddle of my bike literally disappear underneath me. For comparison, I've also ridden Giordana FormaReds, Rapha's, Assos Mille, and none had a pad as comfortable as this. Now I haven't ridden them 100+ miles yet, but they're still incredibly comfortable even after a metric century.

The pad is also very low profile, so you don't feel like you're wearing a diaper. I also love the super low cut front, as it makes taking a leak a very simple affair. Hunching over or sliding bib straps off the shoulder is totally unnecessary.

The material of the short is very supportive. I have a 31" waist, with rather large 25" diameter thighs, and a medium fits me fine. It's tight, but it should be tight, as these are intended to compress your muscles.

One warning, the light gray and white versions of these shorts are VERY revealing. While the fabric isn't transparent, it's thin and clingy enough to shrink wrap your junk like a sausage casing, leaving NOTHING to the imagination for anyone standing within 50 feet of you. The amount of detail these reveal about your man-bits is shocking actually.. borderline pornographic. I tried both and immediately sent them back. However, the black/anthracite model looks great and feels better.

If I had to list one negative about these, it's that the chamois isn't sewn in with the same sort of care as the rest of the short. The simple zig-zag stitch isn't terribly secure, and I've already had to warranty one pair because a stitch around the pad started to come undone.

By far the most comfortable shorts I have. They set you back a few bucks, but are worth every penny. The materials provide great compression and breath well. The fit is very comfortable with no restriction at all. The leg grippers are different, with the gel on the outside, but they do work well. Sizing on Castelli is always an adventure, but these are pretty consistant. I'm 6'1"- 200lbs and the XXL fits great.

600 miles on these beauties with no complaints. The chamois is thin and dense making for wonder padding without the "diaper" feeling. The low cut front makes for easy access when nature calls. Minor wear inside left leg high near chamois stitching. I will definitely stay with Castelli bibs in the future. Remember to size up up.

I give these 5 stars because they really are great, in comfort and quality. One part that I would change is the waist cut could be higher, and the chamois could come up a bit further for better "plumbing" comfort/support... but this is minor, and unnoticeable once I start riding. Really feel nice on the road, and excellent materials!

I wear Medium in P.I.'s so I ordered the Castelli Free Bibs in Large as per recommendations from others. Had to send them back for XL's. Realcyclist rocks on the return policy and I'm looking forward to providing real saddle time feedback in a few days.

Great product! Had to buy two pairs before I got the right size. I normally wear a Large and had to go to the XXL to get a great fit. Great in the heat as I ride during the day in Texas. Tried other brands but this is the best. Worth the money!

To all, when in doubt with any Castelli product, SIZE UP. You won't regret it!

I have these & they rock! I rode them through the 206 miles of LOTOJA, and my tate lives to tell about it! Also, great for hot climate, as you don't get the "clammy abs" with these because there is not a double layer over your abs. (Jersey & Bib material)

Why didn't Castelli think of this design years ago?

I bought a pair of these two seasons ago and I love them, they fit perfectly, they dont stretch out or lose shape, they have a great chamois, they look awesome and to top it all off, you can take a leak with ease as the bib portion is real low cut. Buy these and you'll never want to wear anything else.

I'm 5-9.5 & 155, usually wear medium but followed advise to go large in Castelli which was the right decision. Very comfortable, I rode 80 the first time wearing them and have NO complaints .... I would buy these again :-)

I am relatively new to cycling and still trying to find out what equipment works best for me. I've tried Assos bibs as well as Giordana before trying the Castelli Free. Hands down, the Castelli work best for me.

The chamois is the most comfortable I've tried and anatomically, fits me the best. Although the chamois feels slightly thinner than others I've tried, it offers all day comfort and never felt soggy.

For me the search is over and I will continue purchase Castelli. On a side note, make sure to order one size larger as the fit is definately European (small).