Castelli’s new Unlimited Pro jersey incorporates a mesh pocket that fits a 1.5-litre hydration bladder, saving the need to wear a dedicated hydration pack.
The jersey is the latest in Castelli’s Unlimited multi-surface riding clothing line (the brand isn’t a fan of the word ‘gravel’) and could prove just the ticket for shorter gravel races such as Unbound.
Although some riders have attempted to sew bladders into jerseys over the years, Castelli’s offering is one of few mainstream efforts to incorporate a hydration pack into a jersey. Of course, there was the CamelBak VeloBak hydration jersey released in 2010, but we weren’t fully convinced of its performance.
Aero inspiration
Castelli says the Unlimited Pro is inspired by its Aero Race 7.0 jersey, using the same Air_O Stretch fabric on the body for “breathability, comfort and performance”.
The aero fabric is paired with dimpled sleeves, again for a wind-cheating advantage.
You get three pockets on the back of the jersey, in addition to a zipped valuables pocket.
Integrated loops at the shoulder keep a hydration hose in place and there’s a silicone strip at the hem to stop the jersey from jiggling around.
Castelli says the Unlimited Pro jersey blends performance and aerodynamics, thanks to its race fit.
The brand claims a size-small jersey weighs 122g, and our size-medium sample came in at 124g.
Castelli says the jersey is suitable for temperatures between 18 and 35°C, rating the jersey’s breathability and weight as 4 out of 5 on its scale.
Faster than a hydration pack
Castelli doesn’t provide any statistics with its aerodynamic claims, but BikeRadar contributor and former editor-in-chief, Ben Delaney, took the jersey into the wind tunnel at Silca to find out how it performs.
Delaney tested the jersey with and without a bladder and also assessed a CamelBak Chase hydration pack.
Perhaps the most interesting statistic from this test is that at a 0° angle, the jersey generated marginally less drag with the bladder than without.
Delaney’s testing also showed a CamelBak hydration pack caused drag, suggesting the Castelli jersey with a bladder would be your fastest option.
BikeRadar asked Castelli if Delaney’s numbers stack up, but the brand has yet to comment.
Not just for racers?
While it may seem the jersey is targeted only at watt-saving gravel racers, it could be advantageous for the average consumer too.
In the right scenario, where you don’t need the storage to hold other items such as food, clothes or spares, this jersey means you don’t have to carry a sweaty pack on your back.
In fact, topping the hydration bladder up with ice-cold refreshing water will likely have the opposite effect, perfect for cycling in the heat.
What’s more, it’s always easier to drink from a dangling hydration valve than to think about reaching for a bottle covered in nature’s goodness.
If you’re riding somewhere particularly remote, without access to water, you’ll be thankful for the jersey’s nifty water-carrying trick.
Will the Unlimited Pro ignite an integrated hydration pack revolution or will it be forgotten like the CamelBak VeloBak? We’ll have to wait and see, but with aerodynamics playing a greater role in gravel and gravel racing getting faster, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some riders reaching for this jersey.
The Unlimited Pro jersey will retail for £135 / $169.99 / €129.95 / AU$199 in both a men’s and women’s variant.
