Arm and leg SPF protection

[quixoticgeek]

After discovering my sun block is a bit beyond its best the other day (and burning my arms in the process). I've been pondering getting some thin arm and leg covers that are white, and have decent sun protection.

Can anyone recommend good arm warmers that don't have silicone grippers? If find the grippers destroy the skin with prolonged use.

I can't seem to find any sun protection leg covers. Am i just being stupid, or do they really not exist?

Thanks

J

[perpetual dan]

I’ve got a Ground Effect Rock Lobster top. It gives arm protection in that it’s a long sleeve jersey designed for the summer.

[L CC]

I used to have a pair of summer weight 3/4 which were long enough for SPF and avoided the grimness that is sweaty knee pit chafing.

Obviously, they don't appear to exist any more.

Sleeves without grippers are also pretty rare. You can wear them on the outside of your jersey though?

Is your sunblock out of date? I wear factor fuckoff 50 from a stick which has so far done the job. More liquid stuff doesn't seem to last.

[Cudzoziemiec]

If you cannot find any cycling arms without silicone grippers, how about adapting a fashion item? Take white long-sleeved item from charity shop, Primark, back of your wardrobe. Cut all round the body just below the shoulders. You now have a pair of sleeves connected by a collar. No grippers present or needed. Simply pop it over your head for sun protection. You might want to hem the new, erm, hem, if it's intended to last more than one or two adventures.

Alas, I can't think of a way to do this for legs.

[rafletcher]

I thinbk you'll need to research suppliers from Austalia or the US, where this type of clothing will be more widely used.

e.g. https://www.pearlizumi.com/AU/en_AU/shop/unisex/warmers/mountain/sun_legs/p/14371835

[Clare]

Pearl Izumi also do bolero style arm covers, so no gripper to cause pain.

I am with you on the problem with silicone grippers, I got rid of my arm warmers after one wear because of the red, burning zigzag all around my upper arms.

[JonB]

Just noticed this review on Road CC of some arm covers https://road.cc/content/review/megmeister-ultrafris-pro-cool-upf-50-arm-sleeves-283861, they do have silicone grippers but there are a couple of links to alternative which may be useful.

Assos seem to do them for legs and arms but only in black, here is a link to the legs https://www.assos.com/gb/assosoires-leg-foil-96084.html. I have got some Assos knee warmers and I don't think they have grippers or maybe they are lightweight but they are very comfortable. I do find the grippers on arm and leg warmers horrible for long distance riding and seek alternatives if they're going to be on for very long periods.

[Cudzoziemiec]

And I thought bolero was annoyingly catchy music by Ravel!
https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-Elite-Escape-Shrug/dp/B0101647IS?th=1

[Lightning Phil]

Leg protection does exist. I’ve seen them in use on RAAM. I only use arm coolers but can’t recommend them to you, as they have silicon grippers

[giropaul]

Castelli do arm and knee “ warmers” that have the shielding function. They’re thin, and comfortable, but do have grippers. I’d just use the gripper on top of the shorts or sleeves if you don’t want the gripper on your skin.

https://www.castelli-cycling.com/gb/men/accessories/cycling-leg-and-arm-warmers

SPF 50+ arms, legs and knees

[jiberjaber]

I've got some DHB arm coolers somewhere but I've not been able to find them yet, I seem to recall I avoid the issue of silicon by putting my arm warmers/coolers on and overlapping on my base layer at the top of my arm.

Unfortunately I am unable to do the same for leg/knee versions which I do then end up with welts from

[Pingu]

Try wearing them inside out?

[quixoticgeek]

Thanks everyone for the ideas so far.

I'm pondering a pair of these:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-uv-arm-sleeve

To be warn inside out...

My current arm warmers are the cheap ones from decathlon, I think they are these:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/cool-weather-arm-warmers/_/R-p-14965?mc=8315774&c=BLACK

They've been surprisingly good, and being so cheap, they don't have any silicone grippers. They are held in place by just being a snug enough fit. I've only had them fall down a couple of times in probably 5000+km of use.

Shame they are a bit thick, and not white, else I'd get a pair for the summer...

J

[perpetual dan]

Just wondering... are these in addition to sun cream? I’m not sure I can picture when I’d want to pull them up or down for protection / to feel the air. But I’ve never got on with arm warmers for being warm, so this might just be me!

[lissotriton]

Look at arm sleeves for running, maybe lighter weight and cooler.

Or try a long sleeve base layer.

[quixoticgeek]

Look at arm sleeves for running, maybe lighter weight and cooler.

Or try a long sleeve base layer.

Long sleeve base layer would risk me overheating on the rest of my body. I don't wear anything other than a bra under my cycle jersey.

Looking at things that are not targeted at cycling. Some options catch my eye:

https://www.falke.com/nl_en/p/arm-uv-protector/38692_2860/ - no grippy thingy, also no size chart...

https://www.solbari.com/collections/solbari-upf50-arm-sleeves/products/sun-protective-arm-sleeves-upf50-i-coolasun-fabric?variant=8108822265967

Not clear if the "comfortable elastic band" means it has just elastic, or some magic gripper...

https://bergfreunde.nl/sunday-afternoons-uv-shield-cool-sleeves-armstukken/

Or for those on the island - https://www.sundayafternoons.co.uk/collections/accessories/products/uvshield-cool-sleeves

Shall have a think

J

[quixoticgeek]

On account of a clear size chart, and obvious lack of grippy stuff, and as a way to make sure summer is over by next week, I ordered these:

https://bergfreunde.nl/sunday-afternoons-uv-shield-cool-sleeves-armstukken/

Will let you all know how they fair...

J

[lissotriton]

Long sleeve base layer would risk me overheating on the rest of my body. I don't wear anything other than a bra under my cycle jersey.

A suitable base layer could keep you cooler than not wearing one. Maybe.

[Kim]

Shame they are a bit thick, and not white, else I'd get a pair for the summer...

Somewhere there's a photo of me in a BLACK YACF jersey as seen by a near-infrared camera^[1].  The dye is barely visible; it mostly appears as a uniform pale grey.  From which I conclude that the pigments are chosen for the benefit of human eyes and have relatively little effect on the overall absorption of solar energy.

No idea if this is standard for textiles molishers because it's cheaper^[2], or if it's a devious tactic specific to technical sportswear, but i thought it was cool either way.


_{[1] My shorts were carefully out of frame on account of Minty Arse Lard performing in a manner alarmingly like thermal paste...
[2] My mum once worked as a secretary in a dye factory, and noted that BLACK was significantly more expensive to produce.}

[Mrs Pingu]

Cyclology do some funky ones.
https://www.cycologygear.co.uk/collections/sun-sleeves

[jiberjaber]

Cyclology do some funky ones.
https://www.cycologygear.co.uk/collections/sun-sleeves

Good spot, make the DHB ones look quite plain... I still can't find mine so I have gone for some from there! Thanks for the heads up...

[Lightning Phil]

Just wondering... are these in addition to sun cream? I’m not sure I can picture when I’d want to pull them up or down for protection / to feel the air. But I’ve never got on with arm warmers for being warm, so this might just be me!

Usually worn without sun cream (in my case).  If I’m out for less than two hours then I’ll often as not go the sun cream route.  But if I’m out for longer under strong sun I will put the arm coolers on.

I burn easily and suffer in the heat.

[jiberjaber]

New arm coolers arrived today, no silicon hold up on them so should be good (dhb ones for reference)

[Cudzoziemiec]

That reminds me – my merino arm warmers from PX/On One have no grippers and are available in white (mine are black). But merino, so not quite right for summer...

[quixoticgeek]

Got back from 5 days of cycling in the sun to find my arm covers in a box on the door step. I put them on to test the fit, and wandered about wearing them round the flat. After a while sat on the balcony it got cold, so I put a hoody on.

I just went to take the hoody off and realised I was still wearing them. So at least thus far, they are comfy.

Will try them on a ride soon.

J