Castelli Nano Light Pro Bib Short Review

As a retailer in the industry, we see lots of different cycling technology, so it can be hard to surprise us; however, when we first got our hands on Castelli’s Nanoflex material, we admit to taking it straight to the office lunch room and running it under the tap to see if the water-repellent claims were true. They were. And with the all-new Nano Light Pro Bib Shorts, that water-resistance now comes in an even lighter, less insulated form. Normally, insulation is a good thing in anti-weather kit, but we all know that a drizzly spring day can leave us chilly even in temperatures ranging above 60 degrees Fahrenheit — and a wet chamois just compounds the situation. Insulated kit has no place on days like those, so Castelli built the Nano Light Pro out of its Nano Light material, an un-brushed version of the Nanoflex material we rely on to keep the chamois dry in cold, damp weather. Like its insulated counterpart, Nano Light causes water to bead up and roll off of its surface, keeping our skin dry and avoiding the water chill effect that so often keeps us inside when the sky is looking ominous. Not being brushed means the material has a tighter weave than that on the Nanoflex shorts, so the Nano Light actually offers a better shield against road moisture. It’s still not quite on par with Castelli’s Tempesta rain gear, but it will see most cyclists through the worst conditions they’re willing to brave on two skinny, slick tires. Castelli is pitching the Nano Light Pro Bib Shorts for use with its shoulder-season Perfetto Jersey; however, we think they also line up well with the Imprevisto Nano Jersey. Like the Nano Light Pro, the Imprevisto is water-repellent but lacks insulation, so both are ideal for days when the rain has started to fall even if the temperature hasn’t. The shorts are built with minimal seams in order to reduce the potential points of watery ingress, and they’re finished with reflective detailing — both of which are features that make sense consi…