arm warmers. Help.

[jenniferh]

I know nothing about arm warmers except I need a pair. What should I be looking for and what brands/styles does everyone like best?

[Owlie]

It's like any clothing. What I like is not necessarily what you'll like.

That said, I have a pair of Castelli Thermoflex (I think; it's the cheaper of the two) warmers that I got last year. They're a hair long (size S) and the silicone gripper at the top likes to slide down a bit, now that I lost weight, but I can hike them up as far as they'll go and it'll be fine in both directions. They're fairly warm (good to maybe 55 with s/s jersey, depending on wind, etc.), but like most warmers, not much for wind. The inside of these is brushed--I'm not sure I'd call it fleecy. The grippers generally DBF liked them so much he ordered a pair for himself.

Just make sure that you take into account that they're almost always unisex sizing and the measurements are usually for the garment itself, not yours.

ETA: They don't work well with the really short sleeve jerseys. You get this weird gap that's not covered by anything. I imagine this is the case for all warmers, though.

[indysteel]

They gotta fit, so that's priority number one. They can't be so loose that they don't stay up or so tight that they're uncomfortable. They also can't be too short.

They vary a lot from brand to brand, so either try them on in person or call a retailer like TE and get their personal recommendations. The weight will depend on personal preference and the weather conditons you will likely use them in. I don't like fleecey ones myself and wear some by Sugoi that are a midweight Lycra. I like them a lot because they keep my arms warm but are small enough to stuff in my smallest of jersey pockets. My husband is tall and thin. PIs are the only ones that work for him.

[loopybunny]

I think some brands make different ones depending on how "warm" you want them. Seems like Castelli was one of them. I'm not 100% sure.

I've had several brands and so far I like the Hincapie ones best. They never seem to slide down like the rest of them did and they're long enough for my long arms.

[TxDoc]

Very personal choice indeed. In the last couple of years I have tried some no-brand warmers from Boone's shop, some Capo Forma arm warmers - and in the end went back to Assos. I tend to like Assos best because they are shaped to fit well when you ride, like most of their clothing. These warmers have an anatomical elbow bend so that the fabric does not create a crease when you ride and your elbows are bent - while most other arm warmers do. And they are really warm. Capo has nice fabric too, keeps you warm - but they stretched out in the washing machine so after a few weeks they did not hold too well. Try a few in the shop and see what feels best.

[OakLeaf]

I have a pair of knit wool ones without grippers, and a pair of fleece ones with, and they're both PI. I prefer the fit and feel of the wool ones, but they're too heavy for some weather.