Sugoi has been front-and-center as the clothing sponsor of the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team. That involvement has seen phenom, Peter Sagan, riding off to numerous victories as well as the points classification winner of the 2013 Tour de France. When these pros need arm warmers, I’m sure the RS Arm Warmers are ready.
Sugoi RS Arm Warmer Features
- 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: 88% polyester / 12% spandex
- MSRP: $50
Sugoi RS Arm Warmers Won’t Pull Your Hair
Arm warmers are essential for fall riding. Whether you’re riding on the road or dirt, a good set of arm warmers comes in handy and can be easily stashed in a jersey pocket, when not in use. As I’ve been using a variety of arm warmers this season, each one excels in one area or another, but the Sugoi RS’s excel in an area that none of the others did — not pulling arm hair out.
You see, most arm warmers feature super-grippy silicon rubber on both the inside and outside of the upper cuff. While this is great for keeping things in place, it can become so grippy that it yanks your arm hairs out or tears at your skin when you’re taking them off or on. Yeah, I should remember to roll the cuff over itself before taking them on or off, but I always forget and my arm hairs always get yanked.
The fabric choice is excellent at blocking wind, but doesn’t offer much in the way of water protection (get Castelli’s NanoFlex Arm Warmers for that). That said, the next-to-skin comfort of the RS’s is superb. That comfort is certainly due to the excellent fabric choice, but also can be chalked up to the flatlock seams and certainly the understated grippy fabric that does its job without adhering to your skin.
While these don’t feature an articulated fit, they don’t get bunched up or feel bulky on the bike. I’ve appreciated the wind protection on cooler rides and the breathability on rides approaching 60 degrees. And, they stay put and maintain a solid connection with your jersey sleeves.
The Good
- Doesn’t use hair-pulling grippy silicon cuffs
- Great wind blocking
- Flatlock seams add comfort
- Perfect length
The Bad
- A little water resistant treatment wouldn’t hurt
The Bottom Line
Making something as simple as a pair of arm warmers stand out amongst the crowd can be difficult. Where the RS Arm Warmers shine is in the choice not to go with the silicon crowd — opting to use a more subtle (yet functional) mix of grippy materials to keep these in place. My arm hairs are rejoicing. Thank you, Sugoi!
Buy Now: Available at CompetitiveCyclist.com
