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    Gear Reviews

    Castelli Fawesome Vest Review

    Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellNovember 11, 20132 Comments4 Mins Read

    Vests are a key part of any cycling wardrobe. No other piece of outerwear is as versatile and well-traveled. Castelli is pretty proud of the Fawesome Vest and it sits as a key peice in their Gaaba (foul weather gear) repertoire.

    Castelli Fawesome Vest Features

    • Windstopper. X-Lite Plus on front and shoulders provides lightweight wind protection
    • Velocity fabric on back for stretch and temperature regulation
    • Heat transfer at back protects from wheel spray
    • Packable construction, weighs only 149 grams
    • Full-length YKK. Vislon zipper
    • Rear reflective trim at hem and waist give you 360-degree visibility
    • Colors: Black (vest), Flourescent Yellow
    • MSRP: $119.95
    Castelli Fawesome Vest Review
    The clouds cleared and made for an awesome ride — thanks to the Fawesome.

    Fawesome Fit and Construction

    The Castelli Gabba jersey is one of the most renowned cold-weather jerseys on the market. Its ability to shed water and wind makes it stand out in the peloton. With the Fawesome Vest, Castelli designers wanted to maintain the aero advantage of the Gabba all-weather jersey in a versatile vest form. As with all Castelli products, the fit is pure race. The size large is spot-on for my 5’11” 170 lb frame with just enough room underneath for a base layer, bibs and long-sleeve jersey. Though there’s not much room for anything else, the fit is by no means constrictive as its 4-way stretch The built-in 4-way stretch makes for excellent mobility.

    Hem length is excellent for extended coverage and stays put in the saddle. Surprisingly, the Fawesome does not feature a single pocket. There are likely some reasons for this including: 1) fewer seams to improve water resistance, 2) pro racers add/remove the vest often and don’t want to have to deal with stuff in the pockets and 3) to reduce weight. That said, I would have loved to see this vest with at least a single pocket just in case.

    As is, there is an extra laminated area around where the jersey pockets are to further protect those items from the elements. Again, perhaps a reversible zipper could help aid in jersey pocket access, if the Fawesome isn’t ever a candidate for rear pockets.

    Castelli Fawesome Vest Review
    Chilly rain was kept at bay by the Gabba — Fawesome Vest and NanoFlex arm warmers.

    Still, the Fawesome is F-in Awesome

    Quibbles over pockets aside, the Fawesome Vest has found itself in my back jersey pocket all season long. It’s light enough and compact enough to drop in a pocket as a “just in case” or downhill layer. I’ve used the Fawesome in steady warm rain and on cold mountain rides where the wind protection makes a huge difference in comfort.

    That protection is provided by proprietary Gore Windstopper X-Lite Plus. This is the same fabric that’s used in the Gabba Jersey and is employed on the front and shoulders of the Fawesome. One of the best features of this vest, and every Castelli piece I’ve tested, is the zipper pull. One-handed zip ups/downs are so easy with the zipper pull.

    In the rain, Gabba shines as water just beads up and flies away. On one late-summer ride, we encountered steady rain as we ascended up the Alpine Loop in American Fork Canyon. No matter how hard the rain came down, I was left comfortable and dry. In concert with the NanoFlex Arm Warmers, the only wet area was the inch or two gap between the warmers and the vest — pretty good, I thought. Rounding out the package futher with the NanoFlex Bib Knickers makes an even awesome-er kit.

    The Good

    • Finally, a proper zipper pull for easy use
    • Nice cut for protection
    • Blocks cold wind
    • Great collar height/diameter
    • Water beads right up

    The Bad

    • No pockets for you
    • On the expensive side

    The Bottom Line

    Castelli’s Gabba line offers class-leading weather protection and the Fawesome Vest is a pocket full of versatility. Drop it in a back pocket, or wear it the whole ride. A quick zip adds breathabiltiy and the Windstopper X-Lite fabric does the rest.

    Buy Now: Available at CompetitiveCyclist.com

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    Jason Mitchell
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    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

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    2 Comments

    1. Justrodebyu on November 3, 2020 6:22 pm

      Hi…good review…like how you mention a can be good for a whole ride (you could they are great mention for cold mornings). Most reviewers pretend they just use vests for a jaunt down a mountain. PS….photo is of another boring grey/black outfit and boring grey carbon bike…(even the helmet is grey)..great if you want to get run over in the cloudy/foggy pacific northwest!!! Always tell the black outfit/boring blackish carbon bike guys that they are so h ard to see as I pass them from behind on one of my 70s/80s steel bikes. Last guy in his 20s even thanked me for the pull up the hill as I was passing him…ps…black and/or carbon does not make you faster either

      Reply
    2. Jason Mitchell on November 3, 2020 11:20 pm

      Yup. Nice work showing up folks with fancy bikes. That’s definite proof that you don’t need the latest gear to have fun and be fast. And, I hear ya on the kit color in the photos. I definitely ride with much more colorful kits these days. Keep in mind that this review is 7 years old. Much has changed as far as visibility goes (thankfully).

      Reply

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