Best arm warmers for cycling: Versatile protection for changeable conditions

Finding a pair of the best arm warmers for cycling is a little more difficult than you might originally think. Not only do you need to consider the performance of the product in itself, but you also need to ensure it will fit correctly without being too compressive or too loose. There's also a style consideration, and of course, it's all got to come within budget. 

Balancing all of those needs can be difficult, but there are lots of reasons why you should spend the time on it. In my opinion, a decent pair of arm warmers is something that every cyclist should add to their kit list. Not only will it offer versatile protection against the elements, but in the same way that the best leg warmers can allow you to get more use out of your bib shorts, a pair of arm warmers will also extend the season of your best cycling jerseys. There's an economic benefit to this too, in that the best arm warmers can even replace more expensive items of clothing entirely. For example, I own one long-sleeve jersey, but I've worn it just once in the past two years. I will wear my short sleeve jersey and arm warmers right until the point that winter jackets are needed, choosing the best cycling base layer for the conditions, and potentially adding one of the best gilets for cycling on the most frigid of days. 

The reason for this is that I value the versatility that it offers. On days when the weather is unpredictable or likely to change mid-ride, I can be ready to add or remove the arm warmers in response. 

But to go back to the start of this intro, in order to help you decide which pair of arm warmers will meet your needs, whilst also fitting correctly, the Cyclingnews test team has spent months in odd arm warmers, pitting them head to head - or arm to arm - to work out which are best for warmth, water resistance, comfort and more. 

Best arm warmers for cycling

The Assos Evo 7 arm warmers are hands down the best arm warmers on the market today, in my opinion. When it comes to warmth, wind resistance, waterproofing or breathability, they perform as well as - if not better than - the competitors below, but the premium feel and softness of the material are seriously next level.

It also feels ever so slightly thinner than that of the competition, which means they fold up a fraction smaller when it's time to stuff them in your pocket. It doesn't mean a lack of warmth though, as they are just as warm, wind-proof and water-resistant as the also impressive Castelli's Nano Flex 3G.  

Where they differ from many of the competitors is that the upper arm is cut at an angle to cover extra skin at the tricep. This in turn means they are left-right specific. There is no silicone gripper at the top but the elasticated band seems to hold them up just fine. 

Usually, Assos has a reputation for being expensive, but what really makes these the best cycling arm warmers around is that they perform so well while also being cheaper than many of their closest competitors. 

As concluded in my Assos Evo 7 arm warmer review, there is only one reason not to buy these arm warmers: their left-right specific design requires slightly more mental energy to put them on whilst riding. For every other reason, they are the ones you should buy.

As highlighted in my recent Castelli Nano Flex 3G arm warmer review, they performed just as well as the Assos pair above in waterproofing, windproofing and warmth stakes, making them some of the best arm warmers for cycling. The premium softness earned Assos the top spot in this roundup, but a few alternative factors might actually make the Nano Flex 3G the best arm warmers for your needs.

The first of those is the symmetrical shape which means you can easily get them on quickly without having to worry about finding the correct arm. However, the 'Castelli' and 'Nano Flex' wordmarks would be upside down if you got them the wrong way round. The availability of a navy colour is another possible selling point, and a third is that the Nano Flex 3G warmers also have a double-sided gripper around the top so it can grab onto your arm and jersey to prevent them from falling down. 

If any of those are dealmakers for you, then you won't be unhappy with Castelli's Nano Flex 3G arm warmers instead of the Assos option above. 

The Gore Windstopper material needs no introduction, its name makes clear its intention and its highly-respected reputation proves its credentials. By integrating the material into the Gore M Windstopper arm warmers, the result is complete windproof protection. But more than that, they do so whilst being breathable, and the DWR coating means they're water-resistant, too. 

They also possess a unique take on the gripper. Instead of silicone grippers, the wide elastic cuff on the wrist and bicep are made from a lighter fabric and seem to hang on pretty well. 

Just beware of the length, as they come up a few centimetres shorter than average.

Wiggle's in-house brand, dhb, continues to up the quality of its gear, and the Merino arm warmers are more than just a budget option, their construction, material choice and fit makes for great value for money. 

Using a super-fine 18.5-micron grade of Australian merino yarn, they are seamless and soft on the skin. While they aren't as warm as options made from Roubaix fabric they are perfect for moderate temperatures where fleece-lined fabric is overkill.

There is plenty of stretch built-in, and with the wool's natural propensity to stave off odour, they can be used for plenty of consecutive rides without getting funky. At the top, dhb has also added a silicone gripper to keep them from creeping down your arm. They're not DWR coated though, so they're best saved for dry days. 

As the name suggests, the Sportful NoRain warmers receive a DWR treatment to keep moisture from soaking into the fabric, although to be clear, they are not waterproof and you'll need one of the best waterproof cycling jackets for that kind of protection. Even with this treatment, the Assos and Castelli options both kept the water out for longer in our test under the tap. 

However, as highlighted in my Sportful Fiandre NoRain arm warmer review, there are a couple of reasons to still include the Fiandre NoRain among the best cycling arm warmers. First, they are a little longer than the rest, allowing for extra coverage at the wrist and upper arm. They are also a little thicker, which means a slight increase in warmth, and more compressive, which is a possible symptom of the thickness. However, in testing, the thickness did result in a slight overcompression at the silicone gripper, leaving indentations on my skin. 

The Endura FS260-Pro Thermo arm warmers are on the thicker end of the spectrum with the 'Thermoroubaix' fabric treated with a PFC-free DWR treatment to help repel water and rain. Even with the heavier material they aren't restrictive and don't bind or pinch at any point. The lower portion of the warmer also sees a reflective logo for extra visibility.

If these arm warmers tickle your fancy, be aware that Endura has employed some interesting sizing, and they seem to run a bit small, even on our scrawny arms.

Made with a plush merino-polyester blend, Rapha's Classic Thermal arm warmers see a terry-brushed interior for a bit of added warmth. They aren't as toasty as Roubaix fabric but they dry faster and also don't pick up an odour anywhere near as fast, so they're the best arm warmers for overnighters or bikepackers planning on wearing them day after day.

With an articulated left and right arm-specific cut, Rapha has placed all the seams on the outside and back of the arm to prevent pinching. The top elastic band features silicone dots to keep them in place and the logos near the wrist are reflective for added visibility.

The Rapha Pro Team arm screens mightn't even belong on this list. Rapha itself doesn't even consider them as arm warmers, instead titling them arm screens in reference to their SPF rating of 40. However, protection against the elements doesn't limit itself to the cold, wind or rain. 

For those of us fortunate enough to live in warmer climates and looking to block out the sun's harmful UV rays - or for those of us who burn easily when the sun does shine - the Pro Team Arm Screens are a convenient addition to your kit-list that prevent the need to lather up the sun cream each morning. 

The reflective Rapha stripes add a little visibility, and the best part is their sheer lack of bulk, making for an incredibly lightweight, packable addition to every ride.

The thin construction does make for an under-compressed fit on your upper arms, and they size up a little larger than expected. When worn under a race-fit jersey, there seems to be enough adhesion to keep them from falling, but if you have skinny arms, we recommend going a size down. 

How to choose the best arm warmers for you

How do we test arm warmers?

Testing of arm warmers usually begins the moment they arrive through my letterbox. I'll make note of the packaging for environmental friendliness, before switching off the lights and checking the brightness of the reflective details. I'll also check the label for washing instructions and flag any complexities here. 

As part of the waterproof testing, I simply put on an arm warmer, set the tap running at a medium flow, and see which ones let the water in first. Most of the DWR coated pairs survive this test for a very long time, so I also up the ante with a heavier flow of water to see which break first.

The rest of my testing is done on the bike, and rarely will I wear the same pair of arm warmers on both arms. Almost every ride I've done this spring has left me looking like I got dressed in the dark, and the benefit of this is an ability to really compare two different products in consistent conditions. 

I will make note of how the material feels, how well it breathes, and how secure they feel at the upper arm, combining those opinions into an overall rating against the competition.