5 Best Basketball Arm Sleeves
Basketball arm sleeves have become an everyday occurrence now on the recreational, college and professional basketball courts. No one can blame them, the game is super addictive, but it’s not really fun to play when you’re suffering from tennis elbow, arthritis, or tendinitis. If you have a history with any of those conditions or you constantly feel a general soreness after you play, you should definitely consider wearing arm sleeves.
Of course, the godfather of the basketball arm sleeve is Allen Iverson. If you are here for our basketball arm sleeve picks take a look at the table below. We have much more detail about each of them further down in the article:
Basketball arm sleeves help promote increased blood flow to the heart which, as a result, increases the rate of muscle recovery. This means fewer cramps and better athletic performance. Moreover, if you’re someone who likes to play outdoors a lot, wearing arm sleeves will help keep your arms warm in the winter. Are you sold yet?
There’s a wide range of arm sleeves on the market and it can be quite hard to find the right ones for you. No worries, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll present our top picks for the best arm sleeves available today, so stick around.
5 Best Basketball Arm Sleeves:
- McDavid 6500 Hex Padded Arm Sleeve
- Under Armour Men’s Shooter Arm Sleeve
- Bucwild Sports Compression Arm Sleeve
- B-Driven Sports Pro-Fit Sports Arm Sleeve
- Kunto Fitness Compression Support Sleeve
1. McDavid 6500 Hex Padded Arm Sleeve
It comes as no surprise that a McDavid product would be at the top of our list. Their sleeves are just that good. The McDavid 6500 is one of the highest-rated arm sleeves on the market and it’s extremely popular among professional basketball players. The design is fairly simple and you’re given the option to choose from 5 different colors.
This sleeve is comprised of 80% nylon and 20% spandex, which allows for great comfort and an ideal level of compression. The sleeve features a 9mm-thick Hex Technology elbow pad and it’s equipped with the Hydrovent Moisture Management Technology, which sucks away the moisture from the skin to keep your arms dry and cool.
Another great thing about this sleeve is that it’s relatively longer than a lot of its competitors. The added length helps maintain warmth throughout the arm and not just around the elbow. The arm sleeve is designed to fit both arms and it’s easily washable and dryable. This sleeve should help extend your basketball career for many years to come.
Pros:
- Keeps your skin dry and cool
- Features a built-in elbow pad
- Easily washable and dryable
- Available in a range of colors
Cons:
- Package includes one sleeve
- Not designed for slender arms
2. Under Armour Men’s Shooter Arm Sleeve
Under Armour is a trademark name when it comes to sports equipment, and it’s a name that has always stood for reliability and high quality. Under Armour’s very own HeatGear fabric is used to make this arm sleeve. It helps keep it extremely cool while you’re exerting serious effort. It’s also comprised of 80% polyester and 20% spandex, which seems to be a standard for all brands.
The HeatGear material also provides UPF 30+ protection against harmful sun rays, making it an ideal sleeve for outdoor play. One of the best things about this sleeve is that it’s extra long. This allows it to cover an entire arm and help keep it warm when playing in colder climates. Pick your ideal size in order to get consistent compression out of the sleeve. Don’t go bigger or smaller.
Pros:
- Keeps your entire arm covered and cool
- Offers protection against harmful sun rays
- Features a four-way stretch construction
- It’s machine-washable and easily dryable
Cons:
- The package only offers a single sleeve
- Doesn’t provide a good fit for small arms
3. Bucwild Sports Compression Arm Sleeve
The Bucwild Sports Compression Arm Sleeves are the best-selling arm sleeves on Amazon as we speak. They’re featured in an incredibly vast range of color combinations with a digital camo appearance. Not only that, but they’re also available in a wide range of sizes for both youth and adults, namely small, medium, and large.
Before you invest your money, you should know that the largest supported bicep that the sleeve can offer for adults is 17 inches and the smallest is 10 inches. For youth, 9 inches is the largest and 6 inches is the smallest. Similar to a lot of sleeves on the market, it’s made from a combination of materials, namely 80% polyester and 20% spandex.
Around the top and bottom of each Bucwild sleeve, you can find a silicone band which ensures that it stays intact, so you don’t have to worry about it slipping with excessive movement. It also comes with moisture-wicking technology that helps keep your arm cool throughout the game. In addition, it has built-in UV protection, so you can play in the sun longer.
Pros:
- Stylish and colorful camo design
- Offers protection against UV light
- The silicon band prevents sliding
- Has moisture-wicking technology
Cons:
- XL sizes for adults aren’t available
- No elbow support or extra padding
4. B-Driven Sports Pro-Fit Sports Arm Sleeve
The Pro-Fit Athletic Sports Arm Sleeve from B-Driven Sports looks very similar to the Bucwild arm sleeve, but it boasts different technology. The sleeve is available in a wide range of colors and prints that you can pick from. This arm sleeve features UV protection and it’s made from an anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking fabric, which will keep your arm dry and minimize odors.
It’s made completely out of polyester, which is something we’re not quite fond of since it doesn’t offer the stretchiness that the spandex has to offer. But on the flip side, this construction makes it extremely durable. In addition, it features flatlock seam stitching which enhances its durability even more. The sleeve features the Silicone Endura Band which prevents it from slipping.
Pros:
- It keeps your arm dry and odorless
- Provides protection from UV sunlight
- Available in various colors and prints
- The construction is extremely durable
Cons:
- The band can be too tight for big arms
- The package only offers a single sleeve
5. Kunto Fitness Compression Support Sleeve
The Kunto Fitness Compression Support Sleeve is one of the best arm sleeves when it comes to applying even pressure across your elbow. It’s a lot shorter than the products above because it’s meant to focus on that specific area only. While the above-mentioned products help prevent soreness and injury, this sleeve is designed for those who already suffer from such conditions.
The construction of this arm sleeve provides comfort, support, and relief without constricting the movement of your arm. The fabric is highly breathable and form-fitting, maintaining joint stability and keeping your arm cool and dry. The four-way stretch material is very flexible and grants this arm sleeve great durability. This sleeve is ideal for all sorts of sports, not just basketball.
The Kunto arm sleeve features a no-slip grip for increased stability and it’s featured in 4 different sizes, ranging from extra small to large. The best thing about this sleeve is that it’s backed by an awesome warranty that ensures customer satisfaction, meaning that if there’s something wrong with the sleeve, you’ll either get a replacement or get your money back.
Pros:
- Specifically designed to protect the elbows
- Extremely flexible and durable construction
- Features a no-slip grip for enhanced stability
- Backed by a solid manufacturer’s warranty
Cons:
- One of the more expensive sleeves on our list
- Doesn’t provide full-length coverage for the arm
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | McDavid 6500 HexPad Power Shooter Arm Sleeve, One Each Fits either Arm (White, Medium) | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 | Under Armour Men's Shooter Sleeve, Black (001)/White, Small/Medium | PrimeEligible | No Results |
 | bucwild Sports Compression Arm Sleeve - Youth & Adult Sizes - Baseball Football Basketball (1 Arm Sleeve - Blue & Green Digital Camo - Adult Medium) | PrimeEligible | No Results |
 | Pro-Fit Sports Compression Sleeve, Blue, LG | Prime | No Results |
 | Kunto Fitness Elbow Brace Compression Support Sleeve for Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow, Golf Elbow Treatment - Reduce Joint Pain During Any Activity! (Medium) | PrimeEligible | No Results |
Things to Consider Before Buying Basketball Arm Sleeves
1. Design
- You need to buy arm sleeves that look stylish and that you feel confident when you’re wearing them. Basketball is a spectator sport, so it’s not just about playing at your full potential, you also need to look cool when you’re shooting your jump shots.
2. Fit
- The sleeve should fit snugly to your arm without being too constricting. You need to measure your biceps first and then make your purchase accordingly.
3. Compression
- This is the main reason you’re buying arm sleeves in the first place. You need to find a sleeve that offers enough compression without being too tight.
4. Intactness
- Finding a sleeve that fits the size of your arm is easy, but not all sleeves will remain in place while you’re constantly moving. You need to look for sleeves that feature silicone or some sort of bands at the top and bottom to help keep it in place.
5. UV Protection
- It’s crucial to buy an arm sleeve that will protect your arm from harmful sun rays when playing outside in the scorching heat.
6. Wicking
- You’re bound to sweat a lot when exerting effort and that can be annoying. It’s important to buy arm sleeves that can wick away moisture and keep your arms dry.
7. Elbow Padding
- Not all arm sleeves have this feature. But if you’re suffering from any painful condition in your elbows, it becomes imperative to buy a sleeve that does.
8. Washable
- Depending on the fabric that it’s made from, you’ll either have to hand wash or machine wash your arm sleeve. There are special fabrics that need hand washing and can be damaged by machine washing.
Conclusion
All of the above-mentioned basketball arm sleeves are highly efficient, but each one has its own pros and cons, so you need to figure out what you need and what you can do without. If we were to pick a winner, the McDavid 6500 Hex Padded Arm Sleeve would definitely win because it features a lot more than the rest of the pack and it comes at a more affordable price tag.
For tips on washing your basketball arm sleeves check out this article.
If this review was helpful check out our other equipment reviews:
Troy Wright
I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.
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