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Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit

8
£250.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A comfortable, aerodynamic take on combining winter tights and a jersey into a single bit of kit
Weight: 
542g

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We tested Castelli's first iteration of the Sanremo Thermosuit a couple of years ago and found it to be a quality bit of kit. Castelli has brought out its second edition of the all-in-one winter bodysuit, and with a little extra protection from the elements it continues to impress in the cold and the wet.

The idea behind the Thermosuit is really two-fold. For racers, fast riders and general drag-coefficient connoisseurs, it provides an aerodynamic take on the 'flappy jersey and baggy tights' combo of old. On top of that, stitching a jersey to a pair of tights means Castelli can bin the bib straps and use the figure-hugging jersey as support for the tights and pad.

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This leads to a pretty comfy garment to ride in, albeit one that is slightly odd to get into for the first handful of times you wear it. The nearest thing I can compare it to is putting on a wetsuit – albeit with much less swearing.

Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit Upper Front

For this second iteration, Castelli has taken the fabric and general construction of its Gabba 2 long-sleeve jersey (Iwein tested the short-sleeve version last year) and combined it with its Sorpasso tights to make a serious bit of winter kit. The original Thermosuit combined the Sorpasso tights with the Trasparente top. I'm not entirely sure how much difference this makes, as both jerseys are made from the same material, with the Gabba having a bit more coverage from the elements at the back.

Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit Leg Front

The Gabba material isn't quite as neopreney (is that a word?) as some of the thicker stuff I've seen used in the past, but it's been reasonably effective in the short bursts of rain I've been caught in.

The pad is Castelli's Progetto X2 Air variant (as it was in the previous model). I didn't have any issues with it; it's plenty comfortable and stays in place.

Storage solutions

As with a standard jersey, you get three rear pockets and they sit pretty tightly against your back – great for stashing smaller items such as keys and phones, but less good for bulkier things like pumps and tubes. There's no zipped pocket but I don't see that as a major issue as the other three are all pretty secure. I never had any concerns about losing my phone during a particularly aggressive bunnyhop or on really rough roads/bridleways.

Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit Pockets

Castelli says this Thermosuit is aimed at temperature ranges between 5 and 15°C, which I wouldn't say I completely agree with. I think you'd get pretty hot pretty quickly riding in 15°C in this. At the colder end of the scale I generally always wore a baselayer underneath, and if it got properly cold I put another jacket or gilet over the top of it too.

Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit Ankle Zip

The zips seem robust on both the jersey and ankle grippers, and they had overlapping fabric where needed to prevent any irritation against the skin, which is a plus. Similarly, the ankle and wrist grippers achieved the right balance between secure and comfortable, keeping any nasty breezes out.

Suit you...

I can only really find two drawbacks to the Thermosuit. The first wasn't a problem for me, but if your upper and lower proportions are significantly different you might struggle to find a size that works. Secondly, I found that while the low section at the front of the tights was great for comfort breaks, at times I would have liked it a bit higher just to give a nice warm overlap of material around my midsection where the tights and jacket meet.

Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit Upper Bike

Finally, a quick word on value. It can be quick because we summed it up for the last version of this garment, and not much has really changed. The price is exactly the same as the original, which is great – yes, £250 is no doubt a large chunk of money to part with (less if you shop around), but for that chunk you get the combination of Castelli's Gabba 2 jersey and Sorpasso tights. Buying the two separately would cost you considerably more. You could argue that having the two separate lets you chop and change a bit more, but I'm not sure I'd pay the difference just for that benefit.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets here

Overall I've enjoyed my time riding in the Sanremo Thermosuit, whether it's been on fast winter outings or lazier Sunday rides. Castelli hasn't changed much with this version, and you can kind of see why. It works well, so why would you? I like the blue and black colours too, even if the visibility on dingy roads has taken a bit of a hit over the old fluoro/black combo.

Verdict

A comfortable, aerodynamic take on combining winter tights and a jersey into a single bit of kit

road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Sanremo 2 Thermosuit

Size tested: Medium, Blue Night/Drive Blue

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Castelli says:

"THREE OF OUR BEST PRODUCTS COMBINED INTO ONE

Here's a totally new way of thinking about riding in cold weather. With the product concept of the Sanremo Speedsuit in mind, the Castelli engineers have unveiled a new way to dress warm and light for winter riding. By joining the jacket and the tight together, we prevent cold air from entering, effectively keeping you warmer with lighter-weight fabrics. There are no bib straps to restrict breathing, the seat pad is the same Progetto X2 Air as the one in your best shorts, and lightweight materials don't feel bulky or restrictive. You essentially have our favorite top, the Gabba Long-Sleeve, with our favorite tight, the Sorpasso''joined Sanremo style. It all adds up to winter comfort.

We've put all our best technologies into this exceptional Thermosuit. An aerodynamic cut, our best seat pad and a mix of lightweight fabrics, including the Windstopper® X-Lite fabric for total windproofness and our warm Thermoflex Core2 fabric. By applying the technical advancement of hollow-core fibers, we've made the tights not only lighter than your normal tights but also warmer''and they keep you drier.

1 WINDPROOF AND SPLASH RESISTANT

Windstopper® X-Lite stretch fabric on the upper portion provides total windproofness and great moisture management.

2 THERMOFLEX CORE2 FABRIC

The Thermoflex Core2 fabric keeps you warm and is highly breathable thanks to hollow-core polyester fibers. The Sanremo Thermosuit is constructed with Thermoflex Core2 fabric on the tights.

3 GIRO3 ANKLE GRIPPERS AND REFLECTIVE ZIP COVER TAPE

The addition of silicone-printed Castelli logos on the outside helps keep the cuff securely in place. Reflective tape covers the zip to increase visibility at night.

4 LIGHTER FABRICS, SAME WARMTH

By joining the jacket and the tight together, we prevent cold air from entering, effectively keeping you warmer with lighter-weight fabrics."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Again from Castelli:

Sorpasso tight lower portion combined with Gabba Long-Sleeve upper portion

Jacket: Windstopper® X-Lite stretch fabric on upper portion is windproof and splash resistant

Articulated collar that fits better whether standing or riding

Long YKK® Vislon zipper with overlapping front opening

3 rear pockets

Rear reflective tabs

Tight: Thermoflex and Thermoflex Core2 fabric

Progetto X2 air seat pad for comfort and improved airflow

GIRO3 ankle grippers position the tight and seal around shoecover

YKK® Camlock ankle zippers with reflective tape for high visibility

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

As well as I expected.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The comfort, the fit and it looked pretty good too.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 182cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride: Kinesis Pro6  My best bike is: The first steel bike I made

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

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5 comments

Avatar
MattEdd | 8 years ago
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More importantly, where did you get the socks?  smiley

Avatar
Tass Whitby replied to MattEdd | 8 years ago
0 likes

MattEdd wrote:

More importantly, where did you get the socks?  smiley

Tester Ed's Christmas box of socks.

Avatar
mike_ibcyclist | 8 years ago
0 likes

I'm a big Gabba and Sorpasso combo believer. Having a Gabba is the ultimate. 

If my experiences with 80's/90's powder suits and skiing is anything to go by, I have to believe comfort brakes are easier in a combo than a one piece.

Avatar
bendertherobot | 8 years ago
0 likes

It's a tricky one at full price. Getting a Trasparente/Gabba and Sorpasso is often cheaper. 

But when these are reduced they are a bit of a bargain.

Avatar
Luv2ride | 8 years ago
0 likes

I think it's still available in black and yellow, and Evans were doing this for £150 very recently, they may still have stock.

I love mine, but not sure I'd get it at RRP though.  It certainly does handle a pretty decent range of temperatures, playing about with different baselayers, and occasionally pairing with a gilet or jacket as the tester suggested.

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