What are your favorite arm & knee warmers? I have knickers and tights - are knee warmers worth buying? Thank you
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What are your favorite arm & knee warmers? I have knickers and tights - are knee warmers worth buying? Thank you
I have a pair of knee warmers but I haven't used them in years. They were perfect for commuting though. I'd wear them to cover my knees for the ride in when it was cold, but then could leave them off for the ride home when it had warmed up.
I don't wear arm warmers because I've big upper arms and I generally find them uncomfortable. I do have multiple boleros though and I like using them for climbing rides where I'm warm on the way up but will be chilled for the descent (put them on at the top). They'd also be good for long rides that start early where it's cold but continue until it gets warmer in the afternoon (same for knee warmers) so that you don't need to carry a lot of extra clothes around with you.
Edited to add: My knee warmers are from Canari and they are very nice. My boleros are from Terry and Sheila Moon and I like both styles equally as well though the Terry one is thicker/warmer for winter use.
I only have arm warmers...mine are by Craft and I like 'em a LOT. They get a lot of use in the cooler months. I have fairly beefy biceps/triceps (from lots of lifting) but I don't find the arm warmers to be uncomfortable. Once they are on properly, I barely notice them at all.
I love knee warmers for commuting. During the fall, it's not uncommon to have ~30 degree temperature differences between morning and afternoon. I don't really use them for other rides- I'll commit to either shorts or knickers so that I have less to carry.
OTOH, arm warmers are just awesome for all types of riding, IMO.
+1 on what others have said. When temperatures might vary by 30° or 40° over the course of a ride, it's nice to have a little extra coverage that packs up small when you don't want it. (I'm not above rocking the Flashdance look, either. :rolleyes:)
I've got two pairs of PI arm warmers (one wool, one synthetic fleece) that I like reasonably well - they stay up fine and cover my whole arms.
I've also got a pair of Adidas knee warmers that I bought in a pinch on a chilly day, that I really don't like. They're too short in the thigh and too tight in the calf. I once borrowed someone's PI knee warmers that fit me well. I may have to get a pair of those for myself, and throw the Adidas ones into the "free" bin here.
I have a pair of Shebeest arm warmers that are awesome. They come in real women specific sizes and after having a pair of unisex PI ones that always fell down, the x small Shebeest ones are perfect. I use them a lot in spring and fall.
I have a pair of Sheila Moon knee warmers that are almost leg warmers on me. Again, love them as they are real women specific sized. I use them when I know it will warm up over 55, as opposed to knickers, where it won't.
These are my favorite brand of arm warmers; I like the fit, fabric, warm comfy like-a-warm-sweater feel, they neither fall off nor crimp my arms.
I don't neeeeeed more but if I did did I like these bright, screaming yellow, visible options
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodDF_ANY.html
My knees aren't very sensitive to cold, and I don't go down hills at more than 30 mph, so as long as it's above 35ish I just wear shorts. Colder than that, and I probably wear tights. (I'm not much of a knickers/capris fan for running or biking - if I'm cold I want tights, if I'm not going to stay cold, I don't want anything on my legs).
I love arm warmers though. Best invention ever.
Might not be what you're looking for, but I never ride in the sun without Pearl Izumi's Sunskins/suncoolers/whatever they're calling them. They're white, light, and I don't feel as hot with them on - you don't get that burning heat from the sun on my skin.
The Smartwool arm warmers are great! The feel great and keep me warm!
I love the DeFeet arm and knee warmers, in both synthetic and wool. I find knee warmers more comfortable and versatile than knickers, and I prefer them over full leg warmers too since I wear them in temps of about 45-65. Anything colder and I wear tights.
As long as it's above 45-50 I just wear shorts. Below that I drag out the leg warmers or tights.
I have a pair of Castelli arm warmers. While they're a good length, they're unisex, so they have a tendency to slide down.
I've been known to wear BOTH tights and leg warmers at the same time....
Yikes, you wear shorts down to 35 degrees? I know everyone's different, but... my legs are freezing if it's below 55. That's why I like the knee warmers, because for a good part of the beginning and end of my cycling season, it starts out around 45 or 50 and goes up to 60 or so. I can take them off if I get warm. I wear tights over my shorts starting around 50 or so, if it's not going to get any warmer.
I used to wear knee warmers up to temperatures of 70, but now I can do 58-60 with shorts, if it warms up.
My tights are much too much for 45-50 (Sugoi Midzeros) but my leg warmers in that 45-degree range aren't quite enough. Above 50, I'm okay with shorts and a jacket, but it depends on the wind.
I've also layered my arm warmers under a long sleeve jersey and a jacket...but that ride was like 28-34 degrees.
I'm fine with the Sugoi mid-zeros at 45. 50 might be pushing it, but if it's windy and cloudy, yes, I'd be wearing tights. Last fall I did a ride on the south coast, about 40 miles. It was super windy and we hugged the ocean. I as wearing a thermal LS jersey, but at times I had to put my wind jacket on. I am sure the temperature was in the fifties, but I needed those tights.
So what is the difference between "unisex" and "women's" arm warmers?
Both styles of PI ones are stretchy and fit me fine. My DeSoto arm coolers, OTOH, which are not stretchy, will NOT stay up - the gripper opening is larger than the bicep, which I find just bizarre. If I were a man with enormous delts would that help? (It doesn't really seem like it. Most of the belly of the delt is above the armpit joint which is the highest the grippers can ride.) :confused:
And, has anyone tried the Zoot arm coolers? Those are looking tempting to me.
The biggest difference I found is that the PI unisex ones were too long in the s/m (the smallest size) and also kept falling down. The Shebeest women's ones I have came in 5 sizes, XS-XL and fit me like a dream. They are the right length and stay up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aka_kim
And, if you are not picky, you can pick up deFeet brand 'grab bag' for cheap. that's what I have.
Never used knee warmers...just knickers and long socks in the winter...legs seem to stay warmer than arms...guess cause they work harder. :p