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review
£22.50
VERDICT:
No-fuss arm warmers that will fit lankier riders particularly well
Weight:
57g
Contact:
www.lusso.bike/mens/cooltech-arm-warmers.html
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
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Brit brand Lusso has put together a really nice fitting set of arm warmers that do a great job in the UK's variable spring and summer climate, and will be ideal for autumn too.
As a taller rider with long, skinny arms, I often struggle to find a set of arm warmers that stay where I put them at the start of my ride. Ending up with a gap of skin between sleeve and top of arm warmer not only looks rubbish, it also means you lose heat quickly. Lusso's Cooltech warmers tackle this in two different ways.
The first is their length: these are by far the longest arm warmers I've tried. The size mediums I had on test gave great overlap with all of the jerseys I tried them with. I obviously found that great, although if you're not at the lanky end of the body type spectrum like me, you might find the length a bit of a hindrance.
Find your nearest dealer here
Buy these online here
Second, the grippers at the top of the warmers strike a good balance between a firm hold on your arm and not acting as a tourniquet. The grippers remind me of those you see on the legs of higher end bib shorts, which I tend to find work well too. A nice wide Lycra band ensures compression is spread out uniformly, and then additional silicone material on the insides adds to the security.
The external material is nothing out of the ordinary, and is paired up with a waffle texture fleece on the inside. This combination is pretty effective at keeping you warm. It's not quite as thick as some Roubaix fabrics on the market, but it still kept me warm. The material also did a pretty good job of wicking sweat away, although to be honest this isn't something that matters as much; generally, if my arms are warm enough to be sweating then I just remove the warmers. Nonetheless the Cooltechs performed well.
Price wise, I would be happy paying £22.50 for these arm warmers. It's marginally more expensive than a couple of popular options available, such as those from Endura, but I think the fit is marginally better too.
Overall I've really enjoyed using these arm warmers; the fit just works for me and they do their job. The only potential problem I can see is that they might be a bit long for riders with less lanky proportions than me.
Verdict
No-fuss arm warmers that will fit lankier riders particularly well
road.cc test report
Make and model: Lusso Cooltech Arm Warmers
Size tested: Medium, black
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?
Lusso says: “Our Cooltech Arm Warmers are great for riding in cool days and training.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Features:
* Cooltech Wicking Fabric
* Fast Drying and Thermal
* Rapid Moisture Transport
* Made in the UK
* Machine washable
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
Not so much for the weight but rather for how easy it is to stow them in a pocket.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
9/10
Rate the product for value:
8/10
About what I would expect to spend, if anything they're on the cheaper side.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The fact that they stayed put, and – funnily enough – kept my arms nice and warm on cold mornings.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
They were slightly on the long side, and I have quite long arms.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Definitely
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
About the tester
Age: 21 Height: 182cm Weight: 73kg
I usually ride: On-One Carbon Whippet Single Speed MTB/Kinesis Pro6 My best bike is: Scott CR1 Pro
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking
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3 comments
Lusso is top stuff. I like each of the products they make and they have been great value for money.
Looks the part . Well explained review
Another option for those similarly long and thin of arm: Castelli Nanoflex. I'm 6'5 and built like a stick of liquorice and they fit perfectly. Again, I wonder how non-giants manage to wear them - mine run all the way from my wrist to my armpit.