On Test - Moeben Arm Sleeves
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 9:41AM 
Arm sleeves are a great invention. Thinner ones warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer. They stop sunburn and bright ones can help you be seen in traffic. They are a fast way to do all of the above because they go on and off in seconds, even while you ride.
And don't call them arm warmers. The thin material actually keeps you cooler once you start to sweat. Compounded with the prevention of sun exposure, you'll finish a hot ride in better shape than if you went without them. Just make sure you wear lighter colored ones in the hotter months and you'll be fine.
Moeben sells sleeves that are made in the U.S.A. and come in a variety of fabrics and colors. I ordered the tattoo print ones to fulfill some kind of weird dual-fantasy of having traffic notice me for safety and then having that traffic scared of me because I might be riding home from an opium den. Just creating a perimeter of safety around my bike, folks!
I was impressed with the packaging. The story of the founder was written on the cardboard casing. Nice. They also included some super-tasty ginger candies. Very nice, indeed. They fit fine because, unlike many other arm sleeve companies out there, they offered a sizing chart.
I rode with them on my bike commute this morning and it was great. Cars gave me a double-take and my arms were warm. Once I heated up, I could feel the wind pulling the sweat off my arms like I was wearing dual air conditioners on my limbs. Perfect.
The only downsides where I think they could use some improvement is the lack of grippy material at the tops. They didn't slide down my arms, but many companies put a tiny bit of grip around the top to keep them secure, and that's nice.
Overall, they rock. Consider some for yourself to keep from getting burned this summer. Don't get stuck thinking that they will make you hot. Just like a Coolmax jersey, these actually cool you and the UV protection is gangbusters. They come in all kinds of colors and materials, so you can have fun mixing and matching them with all your short-sleeved cycling jerseys.
Reader Comments (3)
my favorite feature is the pocket on them. just the perfect size for a Gu packet, or my blackberry.
arm sleeves rock, we have had them ( and knee warmers ) for year in cycling and of course i ran with them before they were cool to run in...great gear choice
those ginger candies....where they chews, or hard candy?