Lusso Nitelife Thermal Arm Warmers

With a slim, racy cut and comfortable fleece lining, these Lusso Nitelife Thermal Arm Warmers are a decent quality option for a bit of extra warmth in winter.

Ed Mason reviewed a similar pair of Cooltech arm warmers from Lusso back in the summer, and these are very much on the same theme, but with a couple of differences...

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

They certainly seem to sport the same fit and sizing, which I agree is particularly comfortable and suits riders with a longer arm span.

Where they differ is in the cuff, where reflective dots have been integrated to provide extra visibility when out in gloomy light, and in the gripper at the top of the arm. Here there's no silicone band to hold them up, instead you get a textured cuff at the top of the arm, made of a silicone-like material. I found that although silicone grippers in arm and leg warmers have never been an issue for me, these ensure a sleeker, more comfortable fit around the arm. The downside, though, is a greater chance that the warmers slide down.

As much as they're more comfortable, they're simply not as secure, even with relatively chunky arms. It meant that, when out cycling, I occasionally found a gap appearing between the end of my jersey's short sleeve and the top of the arm warmer. I tested a medium set and I do have particularly long arms, so this could partly explain why – but I remain slightly disappointed that the gripper material isn't as secure as it could be.

Back to the other change – the reflective cuffs. These, I think, are a resounding success, providing reassurance that my indications were easily seen by other road users (a particular bonus when wearing predominantly black clothing). The dots don't affect comfort, because the fleece Roubaix lining underneath runs from the hem to the upper gripper.

The lining keeps you warm and, when teamed with the outer membrane, makes for a soft and flexible fabric that moulds comfortably to the shape of your arm. It's not water resistant at all, but the breathability is excellent, so the fabric does dry relatively quickly in the event of a shower.

> Check out our guide to the best cycling clothing to keep you warm in winter

Manufacturing quality is good if unspectacular – the seams aren't going to come apart any time soon, and fit and comfort is retained after repeated washes – but I noticed a small amount of threading appearing from the top of the arm warmers, probably because of the slim nature of the gripper material not requiring a sealed seam at the end. This threading doesn't easily pull away, so I'd be happy to trim these with some scissors to minimise the effect.

So all in all, we're looking at some comfortable and competent arm warmers here, even if they're not devoid of flaws. With an rrp of £22.99 they strike me as a touch expensive, but if you can pick them up for sub-£20 they start looking like good value.

Verdict

Comfortable and competent arm warmers, even if they're not devoid of flaws