Kit guide · Upper Body
When to wear arm and knee warmers cycling
Arm and knee warmers turn summer kit into spring kit. You start with them on, and when the sun comes through or the road goes up, you push them down or take them off and put them in a back pocket. That makes them the most useful pieces of kit for the in-between months.
Updated
Short answer
At a moderate pace, wear arm and knee warmers when the feels-like temperature is 11–14°C (52–57°F). At 14–18°C (57–64°F) they're optional. Ride harder and the range moves colder; ride easier and it moves warmer.
Arm & knee warmers by effort
12–16°C (54–61°F) · optional 16–19°C (61–66°F)
11–14°C (52–57°F) · optional 14–18°C (57–64°F)
7–11°C (45–52°F) · optional 11–14°C (52–57°F)
5–9°C (41–48°F) · optional 9–13°C (48–55°F)
Feels-like temperature from the forecast, light wind, no rain. Always cold or warm? Set your warmth tendency in the calculator.
Good to know
Practical tips
They come in together: the temperature where your arms want cover is about where your knees do too. Knees have almost no muscle or fat around them, which is why many riders keep them covered on cool days. Below this range, a long-sleeve jersey and leg warmers take over.
- 1
Push arm warmers down to your wrists before taking them off. Pulling them over your gloves while riding is how they end up in the road.
- 2
Put knee warmers on before your bib shorts and pull the shorts over the top, so the grippers stay put.
- 3
Thermal (fleece-backed) warmers for cold mornings, thin Lycra ones for summer mornings and long descents.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What riders ask about arm and knee warmers, answered with the same ranges as above.
At what temperature should I wear arm and knee warmers cycling?
At a moderate pace, wear arm and knee warmers when the feels-like temperature is 11–14°C (52–57°F). At 14–18°C (57–64°F) they're optional. Ride harder and the range moves colder; ride easier and it moves warmer.
Arm warmers or a long-sleeve jersey?
A long-sleeve jersey is warmer and more comfortable when it stays cold all ride. Arm warmers win when the temperature changes: a cold start that warms up, or a ride with a long climb and descent. If you expect to take something off during the ride, take arm warmers.
Knee warmers or leg warmers?
Leg warmers for the colder end, knee warmers when it is mild. Leg warmers cover the whole leg and are the step before bib tights; knee warmers are the step before bare legs.
Do I need warmers if I ride hard?
Less often. A hard effort makes it feel several degrees warmer on the bike, so the range moves to colder temperatures. The ranges on this page show how much.
More kit
When to wear the rest
Check the forecast for your ride
The calculator uses the hourly forecast for your location and ride window, including wind, rain and how hard you're going.