The Castelli Rosso Corsa 2s are the brand’s top-tier women’s cycling mitts, sitting above the Roubaix Gel and Dolcissimas. The Rosso Corsa 2 mitts are designed for warm weather riding and use Castelli Damping System (CDS) padding, textured mesh and a Velcro closure. A men’s equivalent is available in the form of the Rosso Corsa Pro Vs.
The CDS gel padding aims to provide targeted shock absorption to prevent numbness or discomfort on long rides, and has a silicone pattern on the palm for enhanced grip.
I find the Rossa Corsa 2s to have a snug fit, with the oversized lower pull tab helpful to get them on and off. The padding damps most road vibrations and the mitts keep my hands comfortable on the bars during long rides.
The mesh upper isn’t as breathable as I’d expected and the sweat panels on the thumb aren’t hugely absorbent. However, overall, the Rosso Corsa 2s are a well-fitting, protective pair of mitts.
Castelli Rosso Corsa 2 women’s mitts material + technology
The Rosso Corsa 2s are made from 89% polyamide (nylon) and 11% elastane. The majority of the upper features a textured mesh which Castelli says helps make the gloves stretchy and breathable, while a solid fabric is used for the knuckles and fingers. The recommended temperature range is 14°C to 35°C.
The standout technology is the CDS padding, which uses gel and foam to absorb vibrations from the road. Castelli says it designed the padding shape around areas susceptible to higher pressure, such as the median nerve, with thicker blocks under the knuckles and at the centre of the base of the palm. Silicone palm detailing is used to provide enhanced grip on the bars.
Castelli Rosso Corsa 2 women’s mitts fit + sizing
With a hand circumference of 19.5cm, I fell under a size medium, which I found to be accurate. The fit is snug, which helps prevent fabric movement and chafing, so the oversized pull tabs are a necessary balance to get them on and off without too much hassle.
The mitts use a Velcro closure at the wrist to secure them that is easy to open and close and provides decent levels of adjustment.
Wearing the Castelli Rosso Corsa 2 women’s mitts
During testing the CDS padding isolated my hands from road rumble effectively without impacting my grip or feel on the handlebars, while the silicone details helped prevent my hands from slipping. On +30°C rides, the breathability was somewhat lacking so I would say the 35°C max temperature is a bit too generous, though below this point they were fine.
The Castelli Rosso Corsa 2s would make a good choice for those looking to get quality shock absorption without compromising on range of movement or handlebar grip.
