Arm warmers are a wardrobe essential in the UK, and the catchily named Madison DTE Stellar Tech Isoler Thermal Arm Warmers With DWR are a good pair for chilly mornings and changeable days.
An arm warmer is just a tube of fabric really, so it’s hard to make a really bad one, but they vary a fair bit in how comfortable and warm they are. These Madison arm warmers are made from a four-way-stretch Roubaix fabric that’s a bit heavier and stiffer than the Castelli ones I normally wear.
The fact it’s a bit less stretchy means that you need to be a little bit more careful of sizing: these arm warmers come in three sizes and I found the M/L ones I was testing pretty snug. If I’d been buying them for myself I’d have opted for the largest size, but the ones I used weren’t uncomfortable. There’s a single flatlocked seam up the inside of your arm which can leave a mark after a day in the saddle, but I never really felt its presence.
They’re pretty warm and windproof too, ideal for a chilly morning before the sun makes its presence felt, at which point you can tuck them into a pocket.
There’s a silicone gripper on the top to stop them falling down, which never really seemed likely during testing.
Madison says that the DWR coating on these arm warmers ‘helps repel spray and light showers’, and judged against that fairly low bar it does okay. These arm warmers aren’t going to keep you dry in persistent rain but they will shrug off the odd shower, and even when they do get wet they’re still fairly warm in use.
I’ve washed these arm warmers several times and the DWR coating is definitely less effective as a result, although if you need them to repel water you could re-invigorate them with some Nikwax wash-in or similar.
The Stellar Tech reflective detailing is also okay: the Madison logo is a proper retroreflective that lights up nicely in a car headlight, while the patterned section is more subtle – it does reflect the light but not nearly as much. It’s certainly better than nothing, though.
These aren’t the nicest arm warmers I’ve ever used but they’re good performers, and at £19.99 they’re good value; the only ones I can see that we’ve reviewed in the last few years that are cheaper are some dhb Regulates that are a couple of quid cheaper, and some ETCs for just a tenner. Neither of those have much in terms of additional features though, and these do get reflectives and a DWR coating, even if those two features aren’t as good as they could be. For the money, though, they’re a decent buy.
Check out more options in our guide to the best arm and leg warmers for cycling.
Verdict
Good quality arm warmers that are decent value and work well in UK conditions
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Madison DTE Stellar Tech Isoler Thermal Arm Warmers With DWR
Size tested: M/L
Tell us what the product is for
From Madison:
Thermal cycling arm warmer with explosive reflectivity for maximum visibility in low light conditions. Features exceptional next to skin fit and DWR to repel spray and showers
For those in between days when the weather can’t make its mind up, Madison DTE thermal Roubaix warmers are the answer
Great for warming up before events or stuffing in your pocket for emergencies on the Sunday ride
The brushed Isoler thermal Roubaix fabric gives you the feeling of protective comfort when the temperature drops
4-way stretch material enables a close and smooth fit
The DWR water resistant coating helps repel spray and light showers
Flatlock stitching and single seam eliminates any unwanted chafing
Lower portion of the sleeve has Stellar Tech reflective detailing to enhance low light visibility
Wide silicone grippers helps keep the warmer in place
Main fabric; 85% Polyester / 15% Elastane coated with C6 DWR coating
Limited lifetime warranty
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
‘Maximum Temperature 30°C Normal Process’. They wash fine, though the DWR wears off after a while.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
These are good arm warmers.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
They’re comfy and warm.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
DWR and reflectives are okay rather than great.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
£20 is good value for what you get. Plenty of similar options are a lot more.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Maybe
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe
Use this box to explain your overall score
They’re good: you get well-made arm warmers with some features, for not much. Temper your expectations for the waterproofing and the refectivity.
About the tester
Age: 52 Height: 189cm Weight: 99kg
I usually ride: whatever I’m testing… My best bike is: Lauf Úthald, Kinesis Tripster ATR, Dward Design fixed
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track
