Best arm warmers for cycling 2025: Versatile protection for changeable conditions

Ideally, you'll be in a position to try a pair of arm warmers on, which certainly takes some of the guesswork out of things. However, this isn't always possible, not least for those shopping for cheap cycling clothing online.

Generally speaking, your arm warmers will match your jersey size, but nearly every manufacturer will have an online size guide you can measure up against, and that is the best place to start.

Arm warmers should be fitted; you don't want them falling down or being too baggy. That's the key point to pay attention to.

If you're focusing on warmth and protection, the maximum amount of arm and wrist coverage will be good. But if you're wearing them in warmer conditions or whilst riding hard, if they are a touch shorter, it won't matter too much; if anything, I prefer a shorter arm warmer overall and roll mine up slightly sometimes to expose my wrists if I want to cool down a touch.

Overall, find a pair which you think will meet your needs, measure up and go for it.

Generally, arm warmers are worn under your cycling jersey sleeves the majority of the time, and you will nearly always see cyclists wearing them this way. Riders will put them on after their jersey, or before, there's no right or wrong here.

Sometimes, if cyclists are pulling arm warmers on whilst on the bike, in a race or when they don't have much time, they will just pull them over their jersey sleeves for instant protection.

The majority of arm warmers combine a fleece-lined inner and a stretchy Lycra outer into what is known as 'Roubaix' fabric. Given that they're designed to add insulation on cold days, it's usually the ideal choice.

If you want a pair for high-tempo racing, then there are some available in uninsulated fabrics, so opt for these for race day, or if you run particularly hot and just want something to take the worst of the wind chill away.

Merino options are rare but available. These will be more breathable while maintaining insulating properties, so perhaps a better option if you don't want to be constantly taking them on and off throughout the day.

None will truly be waterproof, as that would require the use of a membrane, resulting in a very crinkly pair of tubes. Many do, however, come covered in a durable water repellent (DWR) coating. This effectively makes water bead up and run off the surface, rather than soaking in.

It's not a permanent treatment and will eventually wear off any product, but it is easy to top up with commercially available wash-in or spray-on treatments.

It's also possible to simply add your own DWR to any set you like with these products at home, so if one pair fits you perfectly but they aren't water resistant, then you can easily change that to suit your needs.

If they fit correctly, they shouldn't do. Most will be equipped with an elasticated hem at the top covered in tacky silicone in some form or another to grip your arm and stop them descending into a frustrating bundle around your wrists.

Some offer grippers on both sides of the hem to also resist the tendency of your jersey sleeves to ride up. As mentioned above, if you do find yours keep falling down, then a quick play with the sewing machine can work wonders, or even a pair of safety pins if you're in a pinch, to reduce the diameter of the hem.

Particularly in spring and autumn, the beginning of a ride can be noticeably colder than the middle, or if you're setting out late, then things can rapidly cool down when the sun dips below the horizon.

Having a set of arm warmers to throw on allows you to account for these smaller changes in temperature easily, without resorting to donning a jacket and risking a boil-in-the-bag situation.

If you consider the cost of a long-sleeved jersey, they do offer excellent value for money, considering they effectively turn any short-sleeved option into a long-sleeved one.

While for winter a dedicated long-sleeved jersey is going to be the ideal choice in most cases, if you rarely ride in the very coldest conditions, a set of arm warmers may protect you against the elements at a much more palatable price point.

When trying on arm warmers, there's a balance to strike between being tight enough that they stay in place without falling down, but not so tight that they dig in, cause discomfort, or worse, cut off circulation. The whole point is to warm your arms, and restricting blood flow is the fastest way to achieve the opposite.

They should sit something like a second skin, with enough compression to stay in place when you move your arm around.