Sportful's NoRain arm warmers are comfortable, with a fleecy inner and a surprisingly water-resistant outer. The styling is subtle and they offer protection that can simply be rolled up and popped in a jersey pocket when not needed. The price is good too.
- Pros: Comfy, supersoft fabric, water resistance is good, warm enough
- Cons: None really
Sportful's NoRain range includes knee warmers and leg warmers, the idea being to keep showers from making you chilly on cooler days. The NoRain element is a hydrophobic silicone that sits within the fabric. It works well to fend off light rain and wheel spray. Sat on the start line of a rainy road race, my arms were at least, dry!
On general rides, these are very comfortable to wear, with a close fit that doesn't move or bunch up while riding. In all honesty, I forgot that I was wearing them, only noticing them when the rain began to fall and I could entertain myself watching the water roll off.
Heavier rain and persistent light rain will eventually work its way through, but it helps that there are no folds in the material where water could gather.
The fleecy inner is very soft and has remained that way through several washes. I've managed to keep these away from the tumble drier which I find is the key to maintaining the NoRain treatment.
I've used these arm warmers for a few chilly starts and they provide a good amount of warmth. If you're looking for some protection on spring, early summer, and autumn rides then I'd say these are a great option. For the coldest days, stick with a jacket.
Sizing is good, with plenty of length to cover right from the upper arm to the wrist. With plenty of stretch, there are also no tight spots and getting these on and off can be done very quickly. Up at the top, there's a silicone gripper that does a very good job of keeping these in place.
The price is good too: at £27 it's lower than a similar hydrophobic offering from Castelli (£35), although dhb's Aeron Rain Defence arm warmers are £25.
> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best arm and leg warmers
Overall, these arm warmers fit really well and the soft fabric is comfortable on long rides. They'll see off a little rain and the price is good too. There's certainly a lot going for them.
Verdict
Very good arm warmers with added rain protection
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Sportful NoRain Armwarmers
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the product is for
From Sportful: "NORAIN NANOTECHNOLOGY MEANS THAT RAIN STAYS OUT, WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE COMFORT, STRETCH AND BREATHABILITY OF TRADITIONAL THERMODRYTEX PLUS WARMERS."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Sportful:
Single-seam construction
Silicone gripper elastic
Reflective logos
Anatomic fit in 4 sizes
Weight: 86g
Good length for full arm coverage.
They're a lower mid-price option, just slightly more expensive than dhb's Aeron Rain Defence arm warmers.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Avoid the tumble drier.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Really well. They fend off light rain and road spray for a good length of time.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The comfort is brilliant. I forgot that I was wearing them.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
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 overall score
There's a lot to love about these arm warmers. They fit very well and perform perfectly. The price is good too.
About the tester
Age: 24
I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Di2 My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, I specialise in the Cafe Ride!
Son of a Marathon runner, Nephew of a National 24hr Champion, the racing genetics have completely passed him by. Liam spends his time plodding his way through cyclocross races, very busy not winning. As an advocate for perfectly clean chains, he can be found cleaning his bike instead of training. A shop mechanic, Liam has many helpful skills, such as being able to identify 'cross tubs by the tread pattern alone. If you bump into him, he'll probably be eating.