Bolero fit

[7rider]

Okay. Question.
If you had 2 boleros in 2 different sizes, and both fit roughly the same across the chest (huh!), but the smaller size fit tight on your arms like arm warmers, and the larger fit loose on your arms like a jersey, which would you go for?
Basically...should a bolero be snug or loose?

[7rider]

I have two arm coolers boleros. The M fits snug, but a little too short to cover all my skin in the rear. The L is too large in the arms, but covers more skin. (It's a bolero to prevent sunburn etc).

I think the M looks better, but the L provides more cover. Would tight sleeves make it retain heat better or worse? Are you going to wear it over a winter jersey, so you'll need more room? Do you want sun protection, or warmth?

I'm looking for warmth for cool morning commutes, where it warms up to short sleeve - or sleeveless weather for the ride home in the evening. Basically, for when it's too cool for short sleeves, and too warm for a jacket.

[7rider]

So you may appreciate a little more material across the front?

FWIW, I wear the L more often than the M, even though the M looks like it fits better.

Maybe.
Hmmm....You're response has me thinking I need to re-try them on side by side again.

[redrhodie]

My arms get colder than my body, so I wear a bolero over a wool sweater in winter, under my jacket. I like the extra wind resistance. So larger in this case.

A tighter fit would be good if you're wearing it over short sleeves.

[Crankin]

Since my bolero (Terry) is a S-M, and i wear an XS, it is a little big on me, mostly in the arms. It doesn't fit right over most short sleeved jerseys, but I wore it in Spain, a lot, when it was 60 in the AM and 95 in the afternoon, over sleeveless.
I like tight cycling clothes. I haven't thought of wearing it under a jacket. It might be OK under my wind jacket, which is looser, but definitely not my Gore winter jacket, which is very tight.

[redrhodie]

Mine are Terry, too. I can't wear them over sleeveless because I get a gape in the arm pit that's really unattractive (my friend pointed out ). That's one thing that would be really great about the one with the zipper I think you posted a link to in another thread, 7. I hadn't thought of that until now.

[GLC1968]

Mine are tight in the arms but I've got large arms relative to my body, so that's pretty normal for me. Personally, I like it that way. I don't like flappy material when I bike and it is definitely nice to be able to pull on a jacket without worrying if my sleeves will ride up underneath it.

Plus, I think they look better/sleeker if they are fitted like armwarmers as opposed to loose like a L/S jersey.

[malkin]

Wear the one you like best.