Sportful NoRain Knee Warmers

The Sportful NoRain Knee Warmers are comfortable and do a very decent job of keeping the wind and rain out, although I'd prefer a little more shaping for a perfect fit.

• Pros: Impressive water repellency; warm
• Cons: Slight bunching at the rear of the knee

Knee warmers are a great addition to your outfit in changeable weather conditions, and the temperature range that these Sportfuls work in makes them ideal for spring through to autumn. I found them plenty warm enough from around 8°C through to about 15°C.

They are good wind blockers and the fleece lining on the inside adds warmth while remaining soft against the skin.

What sets these apart from most other knee warmers is their ability to keep the rain out – if not forever, at least for a good hour or so depending on the intensity of the downpour. They use a nanotech silicone finish to the fabric which means that water beads off the surface before it can soak through.

> Survival tips for cycling in the rain

I've worn them in prolonged drizzle and heavy showers and they've stood up well, keeping my knees dry. I was most impressed with a two and a half hour ride in heavy rain where they were still beading the water off after an hour and a half. Some had made it through as when I took them off my knees were wet, but I never noticed it while riding.

Comfort is pretty good overall thanks to them coming in a range of sizes, although the Sportful size guide doesn't seem to cover knee warmers so it's a bit of guesswork. Stick with the size you'd normally wear in shorts and you'll probably be fine – I tested a medium pair, and that's my usual shorts size.

Some warmers are shaped to reflect the bend in the knee, which helps prevent the fabric bunching up as you go through the pedalling motion. The Sportfuls aren't like that so there was a little bit of bunching but it wasn't massively noticeable – pretty much only when I changed from pedalling standing up to sitting back down in the saddle.

They're constructed using a single seam which, while noticeable, is very soft so it folds nicely against your leg rather than digging in anywhere.

Looking at the way the Sportful logos and reflectives are positioned, the seam is intended to run up the back of the leg which is something I always avoid as it is a sure-fire way for the seam to irritate behind the knee. I twisted them round a touch to avoid that and had no issues whatsoever.

The warmers are held in place by a silicone gripper at the top and it worked a treat as I had no issues with them sliding down over the course of a ride.

Overall stitching quality is decent too, from top to bottom. The fabric also feels very robust and durable.

Priced at £32 they aren't excessive for this style of warmer that keeps the rain out. For 40 quid you could go for the Morvelo Stealth Stormshield warmers which Pat was very impressed with. And Pearl Izumi's Elite Thermal offerings also do the same job for £44.99.

> Buyer's Guide: Essential wet weather cycle clothing and gear

Overall, the Sportful NoRains do their job very well, and apart from that small amount of bunching behind the knee there really is little to dislike.

Verdict

Great quality knee warmers that do a brilliant job of keeping the rain out