Rapha and Castelli sizing?

I’m after something really nice to wear on the road bike, I love the look of the rapha gear and also Castelli to.
What’s the general sensus in sizing for these brands, go a size up?
I like it fitted but I would like to be able to breathe to.
Mainly looking for a ss jersey, maybe a jacket to.

Seems right to me; I’m a medium in both Castelli and Rapha jerseys and I’m normally a high street medium. Both brands have different fit blocks for different jerseys varying from race fit to ‘club’ fit.

I’m 70kg and 1.85m.

Current Rapha is about just about normal – I’m a large with a 41″ chest, and it’s snug but not tight.

I have an old Rapha top that is an XL and it fits the same. I suspect that when they twigged their American/Mamil customer base, they abandoned the Italian racer sizing!

I’d go a size up on castelli clothing

I am small in both, just like I am small in everything else. I’ve a climbers, not sprinters, build. The go a size up advice seems to derive from those who have wide shoulders or wide belly, not runts like me.

Castelli is slightly slimmer than Rapha generally. Rapha depends on the range – Pro range is slim, City range is a touch more relaxed (but still slim)

As above, Rapha is reasonably true to size, bearing in mind that it’s tight fitting clothing. Castelli I’ve found a touch more snug though not a huge amount different.

I’ve always found Castelli sizing to be spot on when using their sizing chart. Very much cut to fit whilst on the bike.

I’d go a size up on castelli clothing

+1

I’m not skinny but I’m hardly a tubster either.

I’m a medium in Gore, Endura etc but went up a size in Castelli

Not got any Rapha.

for Castelli Gabba II s/s I needed to go a size up.

I’m 6’2″ (dunno what that is in metric) and slim build at 13st 4lb or 84kg

For Rapha size up for pro team, normal sizing for the rest
Castelli – as a general rule size up

46″ inch chest here which seems to be xxl at Rapha and xxxl at Castelli.

65kg and 5’10” (176cm) so surely climber not sprinter build. Small in Rapha is perfect. Bought a small Castelli CX skinsuit and it was stretching-at-the-seams-fighting-to-get-it-on tight, as in worried it’d rip as I struggled to put it on at a race. Swapped for a medium which was race tight (and then failed at the seams anyway…) I AM a small in the Gabba jersey which is very slightly bigger, as it’s designed to fit over a base layer and race fit jersey.

Oddly I also bought a Rapha skinsuit and it was so thin and stretchy the small felt baggy, but it also felt like it would shred at the first sign of contact with anything.

i can’t speak for Rapha, but i’d describe Castelli sizing as ‘****ing hilarious’

i’m (a skinny) 6’2″, not a freak, their XXL bib shorts barely reach my knees.

(fwiw wiggle/dhb sizing is/was pretty good)

As per monkfish, I’m a small in normal rapha kit and a medium in castelli.

Medium across the board for me at 5’10” and 11 stone and a bit (178cm & 72Kg).

Don’t just go up a size on Castelli kit. If you are buying a Castelli Gabba or Free Aero Race bibs then they are going to be pornographically snug. They are meant to be the equivalent of a skin suit as they are race wear. If you go a size up for comfort off the bike then they are not going to fit you correctly on the bike.

The fit difference between Castelli ranges reflects the intention of the kit. The race stuff is super tight and gets more forgiving as you move away from the aero focused kit.

For me Rapha tops are too long on the chest and once you are down in the drops the zip will ruffle up unless it is a quarter length zip. I have a short sleeve club jersey which is a really nice casual ride top but my pro team jersey fits well stood up but ruffles awfully on the bike. To be honest I have worn it a handful of times only as I’m embarrassed to be seen in it. I think Rapha stuff is cut for a more upright position so if this is more your style they may fit.

Even Rapha’s own promotional material shows the problem;

Raced to victory at the highest level of the sport. Now available to you: https://t.co/Y8x2pRH795 #RaphaProTeam pic.twitter.com/6HOoFDBOVU

— Rapha (@rapha) March 1, 2016

but i’d describe Castelli sizing as ‘****ing hilarious’

i’m (a skinny) 6’2″, not a freak, their XXL bib shorts barely reach my knees.

I’m pretty sure that my bottom half is Castelli large, and my top half a medium. 6′ and 11 1/2 stone and long limbed, short torso. I have 2 pairs of Castelli shorts in the same size, Velocissimo shorts are a little short in the leg, about the same or longer than every other brand I’ve ever tried, Nanoflex shorts come all the way to my knees (and stay put), they’re the best fitting shorts I’ve ever owned!

It’s also going to depend what sort of build you are as well. If you’re a lean athletic type then Castelli sizing will be spot on. If you’re a bit more rounded then Rapha sizing will work better. Sometimes when you first try Castelli on it can seem too tight, but once you’re on the bike and you’ve worn it a few times it’s absolutely fine. I’m yet to find a Rapha piece that fits well. Too narrow in the shoulder or too wide in the waist and most of the sleeves come loose around the forearm/wrist.

Not got any Rapha.

for Castelli Gabba II s/s I needed to go a size up.

I’m 6’2″ (dunno what that is in metric) and slim build at 13st 4lb or 84kg

6’2 78kg with wide shoulders here and have to go large in castelli for the shoulders, leaves the midriff not quite as snug as i’d like