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Sugoi RS Leg Warmers

7
£39.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Well-made leg warmers that should last a long time, but make sure you get the fit right
Weight: 
135g
Contact: 
www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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These RS leg warmers from Sugoi match the RS arm warmers that we reviewed recently; they offer decent warmth for rides either side of deep winter but the getting the right size is quite important.

These leg warmers have some nice detailing. There are zips at the ankles to aid getting them on and off, and there are silicone grippers on the inside at the top, and on the outside, at the top of the thighs.

The inner surface has a brushed fleecy feel which does a decent job of keeping your pins warm on colder mornings. I found they were ideal between around zero and 12 degrees, but everyone's different here. On super cold days you can pair leg warmers with 3/4 bibs or even tights. Some riders don't much like the faff of putting on leg warmers and bibshorts and prefer to ride in tights in the winter, but they do have a couple of advantages: you can always take them off if things warm up; and you can use them for several days paired with different bibs.

The seams are well-positioned so they don't irritate, and flat-stitched too. The wide red gripper band on top of the thighs looks pretty swanky, although of course you shouldn't really see it in use as it should be covered by your shorts. Inside the tops, instead of a strip of silicone, you have a woven sort of gripper material. I had mixed results with these grippers. With fairly tight bibs I found that they stayed in place well, but with older or more elastic bibs I found the leg warmers did tend to head south. It's pretty annoying to be hoicking up your leg warmers mid-way around a ride.

In reality, the mediums I was testing were probably a little on the small size for me, and as the material is rather less elastic than some, getting the correct size is important. Furthermore, I don't shave my legs and they are on the hairy side; I suspect that the internal gripper material would work better on smooth skin.

Many of the most popular leg warmers on the market at the moment include a waterproof treatment (Castelli nanoflex, Sportful no-rain etc) but there is no such treatment here. Given that you can buy water-repellant leg warmers for a similar price, I think these are a bit on the steep side.

Finally, there are no reflective elements, just a small white Sugoi logo on each leg. For commuting purposes I would ideally want something to improve visibility.

These are well-made leg warmers that should last a long time, but getting the right fit is important as they are not the most elastic. Many people will probably opt for a water-resistant alternative given that the prices are similar.

Verdict

Well-made leg warmers that should last a long time, but make sure you get the fit right.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sugoi RS Leg Warmer

Size tested: Medium Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The classic leg warmer, re-invented with technical detailing for the discerning cyclist.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Flat seam construction for low profile fit

Aero band gripper at biceps hem keeps the warmer securely in place

External silicon gripper keeps jersey sleeves in place

Fabric: MidZero

MidZero offers full-motion stretch without bulk. It's a perfect midweight layer suitable for a wide range of temperatures. The soft, brushed inner side expedites moisture wicking and increases air flow, trapping body warmth next to skin.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

These are a really well put-together pair of leg warmers, the stitching has coped with lots of passes through the washing machine.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

They do a good job of keeping your legs warm. Whether they do a good job of staying in place will depend on getting the right size - mine didn't always, but were probably a touch small.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Good quality materials and high-quality construction - as you'd expect at this price.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

No seams around the back of the knees helps keep things comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

For me, these fail the "dhb test". I've previously used the excellent dhb Roubaix leg warmers which are around half the price and I think they were just as good. It's also hard to overlook the fact that you can get top-brand water-resistant leg warmers for around the same price.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Kept my legs nice and warm down to around zero when I was going at a decent clip. I didn't find the grippers were the most effective I've used, especially when used with low-compression bibs.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Decent warmth, excellent quality.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They didn't always stay in place. Arguably I needed a size up which would probably have helped.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, mostly.

Would you consider buying the product? Probably not.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Doubtful - there are more compelling alternatives on the market.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 190cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Boardman CX team for the daily commute  My best bike is: Rose Xeon CRS

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels.  His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding. 

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