Arm warmers are the sleeves that a cyclist wears on their arms to keep them warm and comfortable in cold or changing weather.
Arm warmers are also known as arm sleeves, which are fabric tubes covering the arms from the wrists to the upper arms. The term comes from the clothing and accessories of cycling, which often use arm warmers to provide insulation and protection.
Arm warmers are usually made of a stretchy and breathable material, such as wool, fleece, or synthetic fibers. Arm warmers are easy to put on and take off and can be rolled down or stored in a pocket when not needed. Arm warmers can help cyclists regulate their body temperature, prevent sunburn, and avoid wind chill.
Some examples of arm warmers are:
- Castelli Nano Flex 3G, which are water-repellent and fleece-lined arm warmers for wet and cold conditions
- Pearl Izumi Sun Sleeves, which are lightweight and cooling arm warmers for sunny and hot conditions
- Rapha Merino, which are soft and cozy arm warmers for dry and mild conditions
Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.
He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.