GORE Universal Windstopper Arm Warmers review

One of the most versatile pieces of cycling clothing, the humble pair of arm warmers are an essential item in any cyclists wardrobe. The Gore Universal Windstopper arm warmers are, as the name suggests, made from a Gore Windstopper fabric, however it is thinner and of a lighter gauge than you will find on a Castelli Gabba or similar jacket.

Other features include a durable water repellent coating, to help see off rain showers and some subtle reflective graphics and details. The seams are all flatlock too, for added comfort and minimal distraction. The Gore Windstopper fabric has loads of stretch making it ideal for the application and they are unisex too. At 6'1 and 70kg, I opted for a small, with the length being ideal.

>>> Buyer's guide to arm warmers

How well do they work?

The Windstopper fabric is excellent and breathes really well, meaning that the Gore Universal Windstopper Arm Warmers feel comfortable in a wide range of temperatures and regulate heat well. The water repellent coating is okay in short showers, but I found the warmers quickly wetted out and became saturated in sustained wet weather. This was further compounded by the wide cuffs and arm grippers, which do not posses any water repellency and soaked up quite a lot of moisture. Castelli Nanoflex warmers perform better in this regard.

The fit is pretty good and made better by the asymmetric design, with specific left and right arm warmers. Unfortunately I found the grippers not to be as effective as those found on other products, such as the Rapha Merino arm warmers and Sportful No-Rain arm warmers.

Despite me opting for a small the grippers on the Gore Windstopper arm warmers didn't feel tight enough and had a tendency to slip down a little. Furthermore, there are no external grippers or silicone dots to help grip the inside of your jersey sleeve. This is a little disappointing considering the price, which although less than the likes of Assos is still that of a top brand.