Castelli Sizing vs. Pearl Izumi Sizing.

[jcgill]

Hey everyone, i have been wearing Pearl Izumi Shorts and Short Sleeve Jerseys for the past 2 years, they work well for me, but i am wanting to try out other brands, and maybe try some bibs that everyone raves about.

Competitive Cyclist has some deals on all summer apparal, so i was looking at getting some new Jerseys, Shorts, and maybe bibs.....Castelli seems nice and for 50-60% off its even nicer.

So how does the sizing match up for those of you that have multiple brands of gear?
I wear a Large in both Pearl Izumi QuestShorts and Jerseys.....I am a 34x32 in jeans.
Should i get a Large or X-Large in Castelli??

What about Capo, Assos, Hincape, etc???

I perfer real world expierence, as whenever i use the "fit chart" on other sites the stuff never fits!


Thanks for any help,
Jon

[pulser955]

Get XL in Castelli. You sound like your about the same size I am. I use to wear large Pearl stuff all the time too. But I have been ordering all new stuff from Realcyclist the last few months. There prices on Castelli have been the best.

[robdamanii]

Castelli seems to be almost a full size small. I wear a medium in EVERYTHING except Castelli.

[cycocross]

Italians are smaller, unless it's a rugby team.

[milkbaby]

Size up in the Castelli, i.e. if you wear Pearl Izumi large, then probably Castelli XL is the way to go...

I prefer Pearl Izumi small bibs, but Castelli medium are a decent fit for me (small would probably be too tight for me in the ahem package). Pearl Izumi stuff generally runs pretty large in my experience.

[AndrwSwitch]

Since people seem to like to hear it a few times...

I wear medium in Pearl and Voler and Canari shorts. After my team's try-on day, I ordered large Castelli. Large jersey too, but my jersey sizes are pretty all over the place. I measure a 35" chest. Castelli's medium jersey found my neck and biceps very... "impressive."

[jcgill]

Thanks guys, ill get one size bigger in Castelli......any other brands run smaller than the norm???

[RJP Diver]

Thanks guys, ill get one size bigger in Castelli.....

Whatever gave you that idea?

[vagabondcyclist]

I'd size up too. I ordered some Castelli Nero Knickers from CC and while I wear in large in PI, the large Castelli feels a bit small. It still fits, but is a bit snugger than a PI large, especially the bib straps. I don't really notice it on the bike but given that your legs are a bit longer than mine, you'll want the XL.

[tarwheel2]

Based on how my XL Castelli jacket fits, I can't imagine how tiny someone would have to be to fit Castelli clothes in Small. My XL Castelli fits smaller than my Pearl Izumi jackets and jerseys fit in size Large.

[looigi]

I dunno. I find Castelli to be maybe 1/2 size smaller? I wear medium PI and Castelli jerseys. The Castelli are bit snugger but I like the fit. 5'9" 165 lb.

[AndrwSwitch]

Based on how my XL Castelli jacket fits, I can't imagine how tiny someone would have to be to fit Castelli clothes in Small. My XL Castelli fits smaller than my Pearl Izumi jackets and jerseys fit in size Large.

An Italian climber, perhaps?

I'm not sure if this is just American team orders or if it's Castelli in general, but apparently their design is in Portland and their production of more complicated garments is in Eastern WA. So, it's funny to me that they have "European" sizing.

[RJP Diver]

I dunno. I find Castelli to be maybe 1/2 size smaller? I wear medium PI and Castelli jerseys. The Castelli are bit snugger but I like the fit. 5'9" 165 lb.

I'm 6'2" and 170lbs and the one Castelli XL jersey I have fits me like it was custom made.

[LC]

One size up is a good general rule for most Euro cycling clothing like Castelli, Nalini,Capo, Assos, Craft.
Castelli generally fits me very well because I am not that tall, just like most Italians. There are some exception though because Castelli is manufactured all over the world and some of their stuff either fits too big or small, so make sure they have a good return policy.

[Elfstone]

I wear a medium jerseys and small bibs in most other brands, but I wear a large jerseys in Castelli's. I'm in between size in Castille bibs and I find the small fit a tad bit tight, but I prefer them a bit snug then not. I love the way the Castelli gear fits, fits like a glove. I'm 5-7.5 and weigh 153~157 lbs.

Peace

[CHT]

Castelli does vary somewhat, although they are generally smaller. Our team kit is Castelli and I'm a medium for everything. FWIW, I'm 5'8.5 138-140lbs. The jersey is snug the way it should be for racing. The bibs are fine, although a small would have been better if I did it again. I have a medium Castelli jersey picked up on Bonktown, and it is much looser. Not something I would race. This year we're going with a US company (chances are the kits themselves are not sourced in the US, but they are not "Euro sized"), and after trying on their fit kit, I'm going small all the way around.

I really like the higher end Castelli stuff, but I'm not willing to pay full price so I wait for sales. It definitely fits me well, but if you are on the larger side or like jerseys loose, I would not choose Castelli. If you size up, you tend to get jerseys which are too long and a lot of sag or movement in the back pockets when loaded (this drives me nuts).

[claywalk]

Castelli sizes vary per product. I am 6' 4" & 170 lbs and found that I wear an XL in the free aero short, L in the "Endurance" shorts, L in the "Claudio." I'm tall & skinny, basically. I have found that Pearl Izumi makes an assumption that the taller you, the wider you are. So, I have never really been able any of the PI shorts or bibs that fit me correctly...

[barelfly]

6'1" 185. the bibs I wear are xl, have an xxl but the xl fits perfect. Have a jersey in xl, fits great. i also have a wind proof winter jacket castelli, it's xxl - I couldn't move my shoulders in the xl I first bought. also have a long sleeve winter jersey (with soft cotton inside) in an xl. I'm wearing the mortirolo line.

[B05]

I wear a medium jerseys and small bibs in most other brands, but I wear a large jerseys in Castelli's. I'm in between size in Castille bibs and I find the small fit a tad bit tight, but I prefer them a bit snug then not. I love the way the Castelli gear fits, fits like a glove. I'm 5-7.5 and weigh 153~157 lbs.

Peace

Same here.

40 chest , 160lbs = Large

I wear Medium bibs. Waist atm is 33. Losing more weight as it gets warmer though. It should fit me perfectly by May-June.

[danl1]

Three issues here:

1) the "American" problem - there's not meant to be room for a Big Mac and a side of fries in your bib shorts.

2) the other "American" problem: Cycling clothes aren't meant to flatter or have room. If they aren't spray-painted on, they're too loose.

3) Castelli sizing varies within their lines. Their high-end race gear runs a bit smaller than their more enthusiast-aimed lines.

At 6'1", 185(ish), 38 chest, 33 waist, size L works fine. Could have slightly longer bib straps, but not enough to bother over.

[claywalk]

It's my understanding & correct me if I am wrong, PI actually has different cuts of their gear - an american version & a european version. Pretty sure they told me that. The last piece of Pearl Izumi clothing I tried to buy was the "Quest" short sleeve jersey. Performance states in the details "Elasticized hem keeps this jersey in place." It has no elasticized hem. I actually called PI to ask them if it what I bought was a defect and they said it did not have an elasticized hem and no one had ever asked them that before... it's a loose jersey.

the Castelli GPM jersey was what I was really looking for. I have 4 of those now. my favorite jersey.

The only real point I can actually make here, if you are mail ordering cycling gear, you will probably need to order at least 3 sizes of the same product to find the one that actually fits. I wear a M in some clothing lines & a 3XL in Sportful bibs... It's all over the place. ;)

[JackDaniels]

PI: bibs L, jersey M
Castelli: bibs XL/2XL, jersey, XL

[infiniteSTYLES]

Just size up in the Castelli's. Besides, Izumi quality is no where near that of Castelli's.

[Blue CheeseHead]

Large in PI, 2XL in Castelli

[Eric_H]

Size M in Pearl Izumi, size L in Castelli and some of it is quite snug.