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review

Velocio Arm Warmer

9
£50.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Brilliantly executed design for cool starts and chilly ends to warm days, trips to the mountains, or early season races...
Lightweight
Packable
Great fit
Pricey
Weight: 
47g
Contact: 

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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The Velocio Arm Warmers strip things right back – with no grippers, silicone or fleecy lining in sight. This keeps the bulk down and I found them spot on for cool starts/evenings on warm days. I found their generous length a positive and they're easy to stow away – about the only thing I can't rave about is the price.

> Buy now: Velocio Arm Warmers for £46 from Velocio

Velocio is clear that these are for the early and late hours of sunny days – they are a thin layer of protection against dawn or evening chills, not for super-cold and wet rides.

2023 Velocio Arm Warmer - arm logo.jpg

Their low-bulk 74% polyamide and 26% elastane composition blends seamlessly into your jersey sleeve without any ridges. Their light, Lycra-style fabric against my skin reminded me of time-trialling skinsuits from racing days, and their compressive, non-constrictive fit could well appeal to early season racers.

2023 Velocio Arm Warmer - 2.jpg

They don't offer heaps of protection, just enough to stop the hairs on your arms rising in the morning chill, and their 100% breathable fabric means you can keep them on longer than fleece-backed warmers.

They're long too – they pull right up without leaving your wrist exposed. There was no slipping or wrinkling at the elbow, and the left-right tailoring and flatlock seams are well executed.

2023 Velocio Arm Warmer - cuff logo.jpg

At 47g, these roll down as small as a snack bar, but even with this minimal design, Velocio has managed a reflective tab – arguably better than something printed directly on the fabric.

2023 Velocio Arm Warmer - cuff.jpg

Value

By comparison to alternatives, which are likely to offer more protection against the elements, Velocio's warmers are pretty pricey. That said, the 7Mesh Colorado arm warmers are more still at £50, though Neil rated them highly.

Orro's arm warmers are presently just £14.99 but while John liked them, he felt they sized up small.

Our best arm and leg warmers buyer's guide lists our favourite options.

Conclusion

Although not cheap, I think these are excellent. They're comfy, packable and well made, and perfect for keeping off the early morning chill. Their performance and packability make them ideal if you're heading to warmer climes for mountain training or for early season races.

> Buy now: Velocio Arm Warmers for £46 from Velocio

Verdict

Brilliantly executed design for cool starts and chilly ends to warm days, trips to the mountains, or early season races...

road.cc test report

Make and model: Velocio Arm Warmer

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it?

Velocio recommended its arm warmers for days when there are bound to be temperature swings, with cold mornings and sunny afternoons.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product

Ultra soft, no gripper and a matte finish for incredible feel

Light compression for muscle support and excellent fit

Reflective logos and trim for visibility

UPF 50+ protection from the sun

Flatlock seams

Rate the product for quality:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

Excellent, lightweight protection for mild conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Portability, and they stayed in place well without grippers.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The label in the left warmer was excessively large. It didn't irritate in any way, but it could have been smaller – it was actually adding a good amount of bulk considering how thin the fabric is.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They don't come cheap. And while you could get more expensive with the likes of 7mesh, there are also plenty of cheaper options out there, for example from Endura and Orro.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Excellent fit, fabrics, construction and functionality. It's not common to find such lightweight arm warmers, but that's not to say there isn't a need for them. These may come at a price, but if something fits and does a job this well, then it's worth it. They're excellent.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 173cm  Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Road  My best bike is: Carbon road.

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: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, Getting to grips with off roading too!

Emma’s first encounters with a road bike were in between swimming and running. Soon after competing for GB in the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Edmonton in 2001 she saw the light and decided to focus on cycling. 

After a couple of half decent UK road seasons racing for Leisure Lakes, she went out to Belgium to sample the racing there and spent two years with Lotto-Belisol Ladies team, racing alongside the likes of Sara Carrigan, Grace Verbeke, Rochelle Gilmore and Lizzie Deignan. Emma moved from Lotto-Belisol to Dutch team Redsun, then a new Belgian team of primarily developing riders, where there was less pressure, an opportunity to share her experience and help build a whole new team; a nice way to spend her final years of professional racing. 

Since retiring Emma has returned to teaching. When not coercing kids to do maths, she is invariably out on two wheels. In addition to the daily commute, Emma still enjoys getting out on her road bike and having her legs ripped off on the local club rides and chain gangs. She has also developed an addiction to touring, with destinations including Iceland, Georgia and Albania, to mention just a few. There have also been rare sightings of Emma off-road on a mountain bike…

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