Rapha Leg Warmers

Most leg warmers are much of a muchness but these new ones from Rapha are well made with some high-quality features.

If you’re familiar with Rapha’s knee warmers, these are made from the same Roubaix fabric. If not, it’s an ultra-soft blend of polyamide, polyester and elastane – stretchy with a fleecy inner face. It feels great next to your skin, is highly breathable, and provides enough warmth for most autumn/winter conditions, although it’s not windproof.

Each leg is made from three separate panels and is constructed to give a slight knee bend that minimises bunching as you pedal. All the seams are flat-lock stitched and the two that cross your knee are positioned right at the front and right at the rear, well away from the prominent tendons, so we didn’t get any chafing even after several hours in the saddle.

The ankle zips allow you to get them on and off easily over your shoes if the temperature changes mid-ride – a definite bonus – and they come with pullers that snap into place to avoid rattling and zip guards behind to keep them comfy. Silicone grippers top and bottom hold them in place perfectly… and that’s about it.

These do a straightforward job really well and the design features we’ve mentioned are genuinely useful. As long as they're not in the wash, these are the leg warmers we've used throughout the autumn. You can get something nearly as good for half the price, though; whether it’s worth paying the extra for a small step up in performance is your choice.

Verdict

Very comfortable leg warmers with some high-quality features, but you're paying a premium price