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Ana Nichoola Her Pleasure Armwarmers

8
£28.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Warm, effective and extremely comfortable but those with larger biceps might find them on the snug side
Weight: 
94g
Contact: 
www.ananichoola.co.uk

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Anatomically there's no hugely influential reason for female specific armwarmers, but aesthetically it's nice to be thought of. The rather cheekily named Her Pleasure Armwarmers neatly address a similar niche in the market to the likes of Sugoi with their decorative armwarmer offering, highly functional kit but with a funky twist.

The Her Pleasures aren't just a simple armwarmer though, made from a couple of different types of fabric, they are designed to fit well, allow for comfortable on-the-bike movement and above all give warmth and protection from the cold. The name (presumably) comes from the use of ribbed fabric in the rear section and in the cuff. This is designed to allow for effective stretch and a contoured fit while riding, while the cuff can be rolled up to customize the length of the warmer to allow for a good fit for longer or shorter arms. The smooth fabric at the front of the arm is a fleecy backed stretch lycra for warmth, breathability and moisture transport. The top, at the bicep, is secured with a non-silicone gripper strip. The warmers come in three different sizes, all the same length but based on different bicep diameters.

They're a good-looking armwarmer, simple but attractive. Available in four colours, there should be something to appeal to everyone, female or male!

These are certainly warm, and ideal for chillier rides. The fabric is dense and contours well to the arms, without feeling over tight and delivers good wind resistance and levels of heat retention without allowing for skin to become sweaty. The ribbed section does provide a good secure fit when riding, with little or no shifting of the warmer. The gripper strip at the bicep is very effective, but does leave the kind of indentations you'd expect. It's definitely not as comfortable to put on or remove as it is while you're actually wearing it. There's none of the skin irritation problems that some find with silicone grippers though.

My only niggle, apart from the ferocious but effective arm grippers, would be the sizing. Although I agree that the length would suit almost anyone, with adjustment available from the cuff, the bicep area could prove problematic for riders with larger arms. I'm aware of having chunkier than average biceps and therefore tested the large, but these were at the upper zone of comfort for me, so perhaps an XL might be an option to give larger ladies (or gents!) the option.

Verdict

Warm, effective and extremely comfortable but those with larger biceps might find them on the snug side.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Ana Nichoola Her Pleasure Armwarmers

Size tested: Black- Large

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?

Aimed at female riders looking for armwarmers that fit reliably and well.

Do what they're supposed to.

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

Snug fit

Available in S,M,L bicep fit

Stretch ribbed sections at rear of arm and cuff- 80% Nylon/20% Lycra

Smooth fleece backed lycra at front- 88% Nylon/12% Lycra

Contact elastic gripper strip at bicep

Machine washable

Available in 4 colours

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Very well made apart from a few frayed stitches around the gripper strip. Nice quality fabrics.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Warm, comfortable and stayed put.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

The warmers themselves should last for many years but the gripper strip might give up the ghost earlier.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
5/10

Certainly not the lightest armwarmers but not designed to be. Tough, warm and yet still light enough and compact enough to stuff in a pocket for inclement changeable days.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Exceptionally comfortable in wear, but lose a point for the discomfort caused by the gripper in putting them on and taking them off.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Given how long they will probably last, how good they look and how effective they are, not a bad price at all.

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

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Looks, warmth, how well they stayed up, comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Aggressive (but effective) gripper tape.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Definitely.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Good looking and effective armwarmers but could be appealing to even more wearers if a further larger size was available.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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