The more years that you have been cycling the more likely you are to have acquired a lot of specialty gear, i.e., clothing that you might not need all the time but are glad to have when the occasion arises. Reflective Sleeves from Nathan Performance Gear are an item every cyclist needs to have on hand. These Reflective Sleeves look like traditional arm warmers, but they are not—they are intended to make you visible to motorists at night and they keep your arms from getting sunburned during daylight hours.
Reflective Sleeves From Nathan Performance Gear
Nathan Performance Gear Reflective Sleeves are made with a form-fitting, ultra-stretchy synthetic fabric. They have a long 3M Scotchlite reflective strip on each arm and when the headlights from a car hit it they can be seen from up to 1,200 feet away. These sleeves also offer UV SPF 50+ protection.
I often use these sleeves on nighttime rides—they make it a lot easier for cars to see my arms when I signal for a turn. One day last summer I forgot to wear my sunscreen and got a nasty sunburn on both arms. The following day I used these Reflective Sleeves to protect my arms from further damage and the sleeves worked perfectly. They are very lightweight and did not warm my arms up at all (they are actually made for runners and at a slow speed they probably do increase body warmth a bit).
On one of the sleeves there is a small pocket (about 2″x3″), but the only thing I found it useful for is to carry is a tube of Chapstick. There is also a silicone grip at the top of each sleeve to keep them from sliding down your arm.
Nathan Reflective Sleeves come in three colors (Grey, Yellow, and Black) and two sizes (S/M, L/X-L) and they run a bit small. The sleeves retail for about $25 a pair and I doubt if you find them in any bike shop. I purchased mine from a brick-and-mortar Dick’s Sporting Goods Store. If you cannot find them at a store in your area then you should check Amazon.com.
Cherry
June 2, 2012 at 3:58 PM
My biggest issue with arm warmers is they always slip down. By the end of the ride, they are more like bracelets than sleeves. So I like the idea of the silicone grip on these ones.
All Seasons Cyclist
June 2, 2012 at 9:05 PM
Cherry, if you need a warmer pair with a good silicone grip you should try the Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Arm Warmers (I reviewed them last year).
Five Seed
June 3, 2012 at 12:27 AM
I’m going to have to try these! I don’t like to wear sunscreen, so summer riding for me is tricky. These would be perfect!
All Seasons Cyclist
June 3, 2012 at 10:27 PM
I am sure you will like them! They are also easy to clean.