Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmer

The Galibier Ardennes Roubaix Leg Warmers work well, keeping out the wind effectively and keeping in warmth nicely. The fit is also a strong point thanks to the left and right-specific fits.

They are made from two different fleece-backed Roubaix fabrics, which Galibier claims are matched to the motion of the pedalling leg. Inside they also have a good fleecy material to help keep warmth in.

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The first thing you notice when putting on the leg warmers is the incredibly effective silicone grippers at the top and bottom. This lasts throughout the ride, keeping them in place like glue. This is lucky as I found they sat high up my quads, so movement upwards would probably have been fairly annoying. This does cause the only slight negative I found, which is that it makes them more difficult to remove mid-ride, but I don't know many full leg warmers that wouldn't require you to get off your bike anyway. The grippers are also different widths, with the top being 20mm and the bottom only 10mm.

Galibier has chosen a good material which, combined with the stitching, really allows for the full pedal motion without any kind of restriction at all. It kept out the worst of the wind and was also relatively good at keeping out all but the most driving rain; even then they dried very quickly afterwards. The fleecy inside was also effective; I rode in these down to about 2°C and they still kept me warm, even on fast descents.

In terms of the stitching, Galibier has shaped the leg warmers so they naturally fit the bend of your leg. There is also a slightly thinner strip of Lycra behind the knee, which again helps with unrestricted movement when pedalling. The stitching is all well placed and flatlock, so no chafing at all.

The fact that they are designed to be worn on specific legs – not the case with some leg and knee warmers I've used in the past – also helps make sure your pedalling motion isn't hampered. When I accidentally put them on the wrong way round I could tell I had done something wrong, so it definitely works.

Finishing off the leg warmers are some nice reflective features such as the high-vis Galibier logo at the bottom of the leg and a high-vis zip cover. The zip is easy to use, allowing you to easily put them on and take them off without stretching the bottom. On the inside is a wind guard.

The leg warmers' £22 RRP is a fantastic price for a very high quality piece of clothing. Even when you look at what would be considered 'low cost' brands, none come close to this price, despite their quality.

> Read our buyer's guide to arm and leg warmers

Overall, these leg warmers are really impressive. I've tried to look for some genuine negatives and the only one I can think of is that they are ever so slightly more difficult to remove mid-ride than some. Aside from this, there really is nothing I don't like. This is helped by their price, which for something of this quality, is excellent.

Verdict

A great set of leg warmers that are also an absolute bargain