The Café du Cycliste Loulou arm warmer is comfortable, close fitting, and an effective seal against the cold. We have a new ‘go to’ item.

For a garment that typically offers nothing in the way of panache, the Loulou arm warmer is extremely stylish, its subtle ‘chocolate’ panels creating an elegant contrast to the black that predominates.

The Super Roubaix lycra proved to be of the highest quality, and offered a generous amount of stretch. Its brushed, fleecy lining felt extremely soft against the skin.

The cuff was the high-point. Little more than an afterthought on the many other arm warmers we’ve tried, here the cuff was the Loulou warmer’s distinguishing feature, offering a firm but comfortable seal at the wrist.

Matters were less sophisticated, but no less effective at the opposing end, where the warmer was secured with a band of silicone. It kept the garment in place without being restrictive, fulfilling its limited role without fanfare.

We tried the Loulou arm warmer in temperatures from eight degrees to the low teens, and even at the lowest end of this spectrum, it proved warm enough; much colder than this, and we’d be reaching for a soft shell jacket, rather than a short-sleeve jersey and warmer combo.

We were able to move freely in the Loulou warmer, no huge achievement given the limited range of arm movement required by cycling, but worth mentioning, perhaps. It wasn’t in any way restrictive.

The arm warmer is a simple garment that performs a limited function, but like everything, can be done well, or badly. The Cafe du Cycliste Loulou is an example of an arm warmer done exceptionally well. Stylish, and well made from high-quality fabric, it’s likely to be the warmer we reach for first in the months ahead.

Price: £34
Size: small, medium, large
Colour: Black, with ‘chocolate’ panel
Website: Cafe du Cycliste