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Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer

8
£22.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A great set of leg warmers that are also an absolute bargain
Weight: 
167g
Contact: 

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The Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmers work well, keeping out the wind effectively and keeping in warmth nicely. The fit is also a strong point thanks to the left and right-specific fits.

They are made from two different fleece-backed Roubaix fabrics, which Galibier claims are matched to the motion of the pedalling leg. Inside they also have a good fleecy material to help keep warmth in.

> Buy these online here

The first thing you notice when putting on the leg warmers is the incredibly effective silicone grippers at the top and bottom. This lasts throughout the ride, keeping them in place like glue. This is lucky as I found they sat high up my quads, so movement upwards would probably have been fairly annoying. This does cause the only slight negative I found, which is that it makes them more difficult to remove mid-ride, but I don't know many full leg warmers that wouldn't require you to get off your bike anyway. The grippers are also different widths, with the top being 20mm and the bottom only 10mm.

Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer - gripper.jpg

Galibier has chosen a good material which, combined with the stitching, really allows for the full pedal motion without any kind of restriction at all. It kept out the worst of the wind and was also relatively good at keeping out all but the most driving rain; even then they dried very quickly afterwards. The fleecy inside was also effective; I rode in these down to about 2°C and they still kept me warm, even on fast descents.

Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer - riding.jpg

In terms of the stitching, Galibier has shaped the leg warmers so they naturally fit the bend of your leg. There is also a slightly thinner strip of Lycra behind the knee, which again helps with unrestricted movement when pedalling. The stitching is all well placed and flatlock, so no chafing at all.

The fact that they are designed to be worn on specific legs – not the case with some leg and knee warmers I've used in the past – also helps make sure your pedalling motion isn't hampered. When I accidentally put them on the wrong way round I could tell I had done something wrong, so it definitely works.

Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer - front.jpg

Finishing off the leg warmers are some nice reflective features such as the high-vis Galibier logo at the bottom of the leg and a high-vis zip cover. The zip is easy to use, allowing you to easily put them on and take them off without stretching the bottom. On the inside is a wind guard.

Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer - zip.jpg

The leg warmers' £22 RRP is a fantastic price for a very high quality piece of clothing. Even when you look at what would be considered 'low cost' brands, none come close to this price, despite their quality.

> Read our buyer's guide to arm and leg warmers

Overall, these leg warmers are really impressive. I've tried to look for some genuine negatives and the only one I can think of is that they are ever so slightly more difficult to remove mid-ride than some. Aside from this, there really is nothing I don't like. This is helped by their price, which for something of this quality, is excellent.

Verdict

A great set of leg warmers that are also an absolute bargain

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Galibier says it's designed for colder rides during the autumn, winter and spring, whilst being easy and comfortable to wear.

The leg warmers fit this description and meet this need very well.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Silicone 'safelock' Leg Grippers.

1 pair. Left and Right specific.

Constructed of Super Roubaix Therm, 4l Stretch Fabric, 260 and 290gram.

4 needle flat Stitching for Increases Comfort.

High Resistance to Pilling and Abrasion.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made, with really good attention to detail, from the left and right leg-specific stitching through to the different fabrics used in different areas.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

They performed well, kept out most of the wind and rain while also being very comfortable to wear.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

They seem well made and the stitching is strong, I would think they would last a long time.

Rate the product for fit:
 
7/10

Perhaps they come up a little high on the leg, but aside from that the fit was great.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

As I would have expected.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10

Not too heavy, not too light.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

Very comfortable thanks to the good material choice and flatlock stitching.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Fantastic value for money.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Responded fine to a 30 degree wash with all my other kit.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performed very well, warm, comfortable and good looking.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit was fantastic, and the left and right designation.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really... if pushed, that they take longer than some to remove.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

A really good value set of strong performing leg warmers. They kept me warm and comfortable in the cold and wet.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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2 comments

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Yorky-M | 7 years ago
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nice review

Avatar
Freddy56 | 7 years ago
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I have these from October and agree with the review. Suit long legs better thou and don't come next day but 4 days!!! Still would give them the full 5 stars.

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