Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra review
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Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra review

Minimal and meshy light-support bra for cycling

Our rating

3.5

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David Caudery / Our Media

Published: June 23, 2024 at 9:00 am

Our review
Wonderfully comfortable and breathable bra for riders seeking minimal support

Pros:

Lightweight and minimalist; exceptionally comfortable; very breathable; easy to get on and off

Cons:

Minimal chest coverage; cups may wrinkle; pricier than many other options

Castelli is one of the few cycling brands that has offered a bra for many years.

In the brand's words, the Rosso Corsa Bra is a "cycling bra, not a sports bra", designed with low-impact activities in mind and prioritising breathability.

It's light and very comfortable, although doesn't offer the most chest comfort and is more expensive than some of the best sports bras for cycling.

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra specifications and details

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra
The Rosso Corsa is light both in weight and the amount of support on offer. David Caudery / Our Media

At only 41g, the Rosso Corsa Bra is lightweight and minimalist. The chest panel is double-layered and unpadded, with moulded cups.

Flanked to the sides, underneath and up the front of the straps by mesh panels, it’s clear that breathability is a focus.

A single layer of the stretchy material is used for the back pieces and the back portion of the straps.

The bra is secured with a traditional double hook-and-eye bra fastening, with three options for chest circumference.

The elasticated underbust elastic is relatively narrow at 2cm.

The Rosso Corsa Bra is available in black or white, both with the red Castelli scorpion central on the front.

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra performance

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra
The bra is designed for cycling, not multi-sports. David Caudery / Our Media

Unlike some other sports bras I’ve tested, where I needed to size up, I found myself sizing down from a large to a medium with the Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra.

While the general fit around the ribcage and shoulders was good for the large suggested by Castelli’s sizing guide, there was extra material in the cups. A fuller bust would perhaps have been better suited to this size.

The size medium was a better fit, with the soft cups less crinkled, showing a better match for my chest. For reference, I’m a size 36B in traditional bras.

On the bike, the Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra proved to be supremely comfortable, to the point where I couldn’t really feel it. There was no digging in or restriction, just a nice level of support.

I do, however, say that from a place of being relatively small-chested. Not all of my riding pals – especially those who demand bigger cup sizes – would be happy with such a light level of support.

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra
You may need to size down to find a good fit. David Caudery / Our Media

Castelli’s emphasis on breathability has paid off in the design of the Rosso Corsa Bra, with only the mesh panel under the cups being a little damp after taking all my layers off post-ride.

It hadn’t felt clammy at all and the quick-drying fabric had already dried by the time I’d had a quick shower.

The closure mechanism of the bra makes it really easy to get on and off. After all, wrestling to get a clammy crop-top style bra over your head after a ride is no fun.

The only negative I could find with the Rosso Corsa Bra concerned the cups.

Even after I sized down, these were still a little wrinkled, which gave a slightly odd profile under a thin cycling jersey. Riders looking for nipple coverage may be disappointed.

How we tested | sports bras

Our sports bras were tested over a range of road, gravel and mountain biking rides at different intensities. 

Expert tester Katherine Moore measures a British size 36B in conventional bras, with sports bras selected for testing based on individual brand sizing guidelines and recommendations.

Bras on test

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra bottom line

Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra
It's an extremely comfortable and breathable cycling bra, but the price is high. David Caudery / Our Media

While it won’t be for everyone, the Castelli Rosso Corsa Bra has evidently been well-designed to deliver lightweight, breathable and easy-to-use support for riders who prefer the lighter touch.

Priced at £60, the bra is certainly not cheap, although it feels well made and should hopefully last for many rides.

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