Bolero vs arm warmers - packing for a tour

[7rider]

Out of curiosity, what brand(s) of arm warmer have you tried? I wear Sugoi warmers and have never had a problem with them not staying put. They're pretty snug.

Biemme. They are fine when I wear them, say on the morning commute. They just don't stay up on the afternoon ride. That's why I prefer the bolero - especially if I knew I wasn't going to be able to wash things every day or would wear the same piece several times.

[SallyRides]

Neither the arm warmers or the bolero take up much space......... I know, when touring, the idea is to travel as light as possible, but it might be worth it to take both. Wear the bolero with sleeveless tops and the arm warmers with ss tops. You might want to have at least one ss top with you. Gives you one more option, if needed. Will you have both front and rear panniers? Carrying sleeping gear? Cooking gear? It all makes a difference in how much room you have for "extras."

Personally, I like to take clothing that can be worn while cycling and while off-bike. Wicking fabric, but not necessarily bike jerseys on top. (I do always wear bike shorts, for the comfort, but usually with a skirt over.)

SR

[lph]

I have state of the art thermal arm warmers from Assos, and I can't stand them. They stay up and keep me warm and are very versatile and lightweight and all that, but the silicon bands on the inside grip onto sensitive skin all the way up near my armpit. I don't think they're too tight for me, I just don't like the feeling and only wear them when space is very short. I'd love a nice bolero, and I think I'd find it easier to peel off when riding than the arm warmers.

[OakLeaf]

Neither pair of my PI arm warmers has silicone grippers. The fleece pair has very light elastic inside the top seam, and the wool ones are a stretchy knit all by themselves. They stay up fine.

(My DeSoto arm coolers have silicone grippers, which actually don't irritate my arms the way silicone grippers on shorts irritate my thighs, but the DeSotos are such a weird shape that they don't stay up. Fit, fit, fit.)

And with arm warmers, you don't have to peel them all the way off. You can just push them down around your wrists and either have them available to pull back up if it cools off again, you start a descent, etc., or take them off safely whenever you break for another reason.

[Slowspoke]

I have wool arm warmers, but they are a little itchy. I am not a wool wimp either! I think for the sake of savings, I have decided to wait on the bolero, though I still want one. I am going to use my clothing budget towards saving from my new bike. I still have to sell the old one first though

[beatrix]

On our tour this spring (two months, Italy-France-Spain) I was pretty happy with a button up shirt, which could cover my arms for warmth, be worn unbuttoned if it was too warm, and taken off without dealing with the helmet when it was really not needed. And when it was clean, I could wear it as "civilian" clothing.

I did have occasional thoughts that a bolero might be nice, but having multi-use items was more important to me.

[cosc]

A bolero soaked in water can cool you down in hot temperatures.