Endura Pro SL Arm Warmers II

Endura Pro SL Arm Warmers II are warm, windproof and also offer some protection from road spray thanks to a DWR treatment of the fabric. They are high quality, with good placement of reflective accents, but they're not as stretchy as some arm warmers and do come up quite small.

The inside of the Pro SL arm warmers is a Thermoroubaix fleece lining that is not only comfortable next to the skin but also provides some thermal insulation. That means the warmers have been ideal for my late evening rides back from races when there's quite a chill in the air. Endura hasn't published a recommended temperature range, but I've found them comfortable for 8-16°C; anything colder than this and I'm likely to be wearing long sleeves anyway.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

A DWR (durable water repellent) finish also means the arm warmers are capable of fending off light showers and road spray. Although a prolonged downpour will overcome this, in my opinion it still gives them an edge over warmers that offer no water repellency.

On the first wet ride the DWR treatment blew me away with how effective it was, with 10 minutes of rain beading on the surface and my arms staying dry.

After about five washes there is a noticeable drop in performance, but as there is still some water beading, my arms are likely still staying drier than without.

DWR coatings are not uncommon among arm warmers – the Sportful Fiandre NoRain arm warmers also use this process, for example – but Endura claims its DWR-M coating is more environmentally friendly thanks to being PFC-free.

> Buyer’s Guide: 20 of the best arm and leg warmers

Pulling on the arm warmers, I was initially surprised at how tight they were. I usually wear a small jersey and the warmers on test are S/M; if anything, I was expecting them to be on the larger side. Even on my weedy arms I found them considerably tighter than other brands' arm warmers; they certainly feel smaller than my S/M Chapeau ones. The fabric has a little stretch but not a huge amount of give, so getting the correct size is important.

I have quite long arms, and found the Enduras plenty long enough, while the silicone grippers on both the inside and outside at the top prevent them from sliding on either your skin or jersey sleeves.

They have a three-panel construction, with the inner panel made from a more breathable but less windproof material.

One area for improvement would be the labels: the small ones indicating which arm each sleeve goes on are understandable, but if you don't cut out the wash care instructions and another label just telling you a website address, size and country of manufacture then they detract from the comfort. Cutting them out not only runs the risk of damaging the arm warmers but can also leave sharp edges; I'd much rather see this information on the packaging instead or printed to the inside if it is has to be on the product itself.

On a more positive note, the reflective accents are a nice touch and very well placed to get your arms seen when indicating. The overall quality of the arm warmers feels very high, with neat and strong stitching that feels like it's made to last.

At £34.99 the Pro SL II arm warmers are the same as the Sportful NoRain ones mentioned earlier, which have gone up since we tested them. Galibier's Ardennes II warmers, which also have a Thermoroubaix lining and multi-panel design, are £19.58, but don't have any rain repellency.

Overall, I have been impressed by the Endura's quality, am a big fan of the inclusion of reflective accents, and would definitely consider buying them, especially if they're on offer at £26 like they are at the time of writing.

Verdict

High quality, warm, windproof and showerproof – but check the size as they come up small