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Lusso Repel Corsa Arm Warmers

8
£29.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Great fitting arm warmers to battle the elements on cool rides
Weight: 
57g
Contact: 

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Lusso's latest Repel Corsa Arm Warmers use both the Windtex fabric found on various Lusso pieces and its Repel treatment to keep out the wind and rain. They work well and are reasonably priced too.

  • Pros: Good windproofing, comfortable fit
  • Cons: Narrow temperature range

Lusso has released upgrades to a lot of its autumn/winter/spring clothing range and these arm warmers are an ideal addition to something like the second generation Corsa Windtex Jersey I'm currently testing. It's a short-sleeved Gabba-style piece of apparel which, with the help of these warmers, you can turn into full sleeve.

lusso_corsa_arm_warmers_2.jpg

Windtex is made by a company called Vagotex, which says this membrane regulates heat while rejecting both water and wind. Against the wind you can't really fault them, as even in the coolest of breezes your arm never differs in temperature, regardless of which part is in the wind or sheltered from it.

lusso_corsa_arm_warmers_4.jpg

Temperature-wise, though, being quite thin the Corsas are good down to about 7°C, so it's not a massive temperature range like some that will go down closer to freezing. But you can keep them on for longer without starting to swelter – 14-15°C for me.

Repel is a treatment added by Lusso, and its water resistance is pretty good against light rain and drizzle, with the moisture just beading on the surface. In heavier, steady rain you'll remain pretty dry for around half an hour. They don't become uncomfortable when wet so it's not a major issue, and you don't get any colder either.

lusso_corsa_arm_warmers_3.jpg

The fabric doesn't feel to have much in the way of stretch when you give them a tug between your hands, but when you pull them on they are surprisingly elastic.

I tested the medium (they are available in small through to extra-large) and they fit fine over my arms in both length and width, helped by the added central section of thinner fabric to create basically an expansion joint, which is a nice touch. It does add another seam to the mix, but as they are both soft, irritation or discomfort is never an issue.

lusso_corsa_arm_warmers_6.jpg

Once in place, the upper and lower cuffs did the job of keeping them put as well.

lusso_corsa_arm_warmers_5.jpg

Value-wise, at £29.99 the Lussos are great quality for the money and against the opposition, especially when you look at the small details. They are made in the UK too, which we all know can often add to the manufacturing costs.

> Spring clothing guide: How to choose and use the right kit

Similar warmers we've tested lately are the PEdAL ED Shawas at £42 or the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermals for £39.99, both of which also offer water resistance and windproofing, so it's looking good for the Lussos.

Overall, the Corsas are great for cool days when there's a chance of showers in the air.

Verdict

Great fitting arm warmers to battle the elements on cool rides

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lusso Repel Corsa Arm Warmers

Size tested: One Size

Tell us what the product is for

Lusso says, "Our Repel Corsa Arm Warmers are great for riding in cool days and training. This is made to be worn with or without the Repel Corsa S/S Jersey."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Lusso lists:

* Fabric is Windproof & Waterproof

* Fast Drying and Thermal

* Aero Fit – High Stretch

* Made in the UK

* Machine washable

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

There are no measurements on the Lusso size guide but for most brands I'd choose medium and these came up fine.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Machine or handwash on cool, 30°C and they come out fine.

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

Great arm warmers for cool days and damp days.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Overall quality and performance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Could do with coping with slightly lower temperatures.

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

The Corsas are very good in the simple world of arm warmers. They're great quality with neat solutions like the expansion strip.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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