Torm Arm Warmers

Most arm warmers fall into one of two categories. On the one hand – or arm – you’ve got your skinny ones for milder temperatures, and on the other you’ve got your thicker Roubaix ones for colder days. These fall into the second group.

The fleece backing of the 80% nylon, 20% Lycra fabric adds a useful amount of warmth. These aren't windproof but we’ve been wearing them on autumn rides when the temperature gets down to about 10°C or so. Any lower than that and there’s no chance that we’re going to expose any skin even on the toughest climbs, so we just opt for a long-sleeved base layer and a jersey instead – although, of course, your body might have different thermostat settings.

The fabric is very stretchy so you get a snug fit without much creasing around the elbow, it shifts moisture away from your skin well, and it dries really quickly. All good. The silicone rubber band inside the elasticated arm gripper holds the top in place effectively even when you start to sweat, and the subtle white-on-white logo is embroidered so it’s not going to start peeling off after a few washes. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of washing, these go through the machine just fine and you stick them in the tumble dryer too.

Torm go for standard rather than flatlock seams but you hardly move your arms when you're cycling so it's not like the little ridges are ever going to chafe like they can on some leg warmers. 

The only other thing to mention is the styling and on that front – let’s call a spade a spade – with a 3cm-wide white band running down the outside, these look a lot like Rapha’s arm warmers. And they’re available in white with a black stripe too, just as Rapha’s are.

But hey, we guess most arm warmers look pretty similar and the basic design has been around for donkey's years. These arm warmers work well and they come with a reasonable price tag, so no complaints there.

Verdict

Soft Roubaix arm warmers that provide good insulation and stay in place just fine