When are arm, leg and knee warmers worth it instead of full winter tights?
Arm, leg and knee warmers are worth it whenever the temperature drops only slightly below summer levels and switching completely to long winter clothing would still be overkill – you can easily combine them with your existing short summer clothing and take them off again during the ride if needed.
In road cycling, warmers are used particularly often in the transitional period between spring and summer and in autumn, when mornings are still cool but midday temperatures are already much warmer. An elastic silicone edge at the top keeps the warmers in place during the ride without digging in.
Knee warmers specifically cover the joint area, which is the first to cool down at low temperatures and is prone to overload, while leg warmers cover the whole leg down to the ankle and therefore offer a little more warmth but also less flexibility. Arm warmers do the same job for your arms and are the quickest to put on or take off during the ride, for example when you stop at traffic lights or directly on the bike on a calm section.
Another advantage over fixed winter tights is flexibility in training groups: when riders who feel the cold differently set off together, everyone can adjust individually with warmers, without anyone overheating in full winter kit or freezing in pure summer clothing.
Tip: Pull leg warmers and knee warmers under your cycling shorts, not over them, so that no water can get in at the transition and the fit stays stable during the ride.
