London Cyclist

Best winter gloves for cyclists

Andreas · · 14 Comments

As the temperature dial deliberates between cold and freezing, a good pair of winter gloves remain important for cyclists.

As is so frequent when it comes to cycling gear – there’s way too much choice!

Choosing the right pair isn’t easy.

When I set off on my morning bike ride, my hands are freezing. However, after the first few miles, I find myself removing my gloves as my hands are getting hot and sweaty.

I’ve got around the problem by choosing layers.

At the base layer, I use the EDZ Merino gloves. They are made out of Merino wool which is warm, comfortable and keeps your hands sweat and odour free.

I’ve recommended them previously in our staying warm on your bike guide and they’ve always been popular with London Cyclist readers who’ve repeated commented on how useful they’ve found them.

If you’ve already got a pair of gloves you are happy with, but they are simply not keeping your hands warm enough, consider the EDZ’s.

Beyond that, it’s hard to find gloves that are both windproof, waterproof and don’t end up turning your hands in to a furnace.

The best way to choose the right pair of cycling gloves is to think about which of these categories you fall in to:

  • Category A: I’m always complaining about how cold my hands are
  • Category B: I’m always complaining about how hot my hands get

All rounder: Endura Deluge Gloves

Best for those of who complain about our hands getting too hot.

endura-deluge-winter-glove-for-cyclists

The best all round winter gloves for cyclists are called Deluge by Endura. Why are they the best? Because the tick all the boxes for: waterproof, windproof, warm, light and comfortable. At £34.99 that’s a lot of value for money.

They do unfortunately have a potential downside. On particularly cold days, you’ll find yourself reaching for an inner liner. As the gloves are fairly tight, it’s tough to get in the liner gloves beneath without cutting off your circulation. If you are in between sizes, I’d recommend picking the next size up.

You can try these gloves on at Evans Cycles or you can order them through their website.

Best for warmth: SealSkinz Winter Handle Bar Mitten

Best for those of us who complain our hands are too cold.

sealskinz-bar-mitten-glove-11-med

If you like the warm feeling of mittens then the SealSkinz Winter Handle Bar Mitten (£40.50) will appeal. These gloves are exceptionally warm and waterproof. Perfect for those of us who are always complaining about cold hands.

However, those of us who complain of our hands getting warm too fast, should steer clear of these gloves.

While you certainly won’t be able to use your smartphone with them on, they are fine for braking and changing gears.

The extra cut at the back means that your wrists will also share in the warm feeling.

Best for dexterity: BikeTouch Pro Cycling Gloves

Best for those of us who complain our hands are too warm.

Last week we added the BikeTouch Pro cycling gloves to our eShop.

The BikeTouch gloves (£29.95) are unique, as they allow you to use your smartphone without exposing your hands to the cold.

The gloves are waterproof, so you’ll never again fear the rain. They also have padding to absorb some of the bumps on the road. The lightweight construction mean they don’t take up much space in your bag or pocket and you maintain dexterity even while wearing the gloves.

They are better suited to those of us who complain about our hands getting too warm, as when the temperature reaches 0 you’ll be reaching for an additional liner layer.

As the gloves have a snug fit you may wish to choose a size up from what you normally wear, especially if you are in between sizes.

Checkout Sam’s review for full details.

How to pick the best gloves for your cycling

  • If you feel your hands getting tired, look for gloves with additional padding around the thumb and palm. This should absorb more of the shock from bumps in the road.
  • Gloves with longer cuffs will tuck in to your cycling jacket to prevent body heat being wasted.
  • There’s a tough balance between heavy material to keep you warm and not having bulky gloves that prevent easy movement.
  • Think about how long winter is going to last. This year our winter seems to be dragging out so a pair of winter gloves would be worth the investment.
  • A good pair of winter gloves for cyclists should provide grip so that your hands don’t slip off the handlebars.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. John B says

    I’ve got 2 pairs of the Deluge gloves, 1 large and 1 XL to get my merino liners under. However neither are as waterproof as Endura claim. On a rainy 1 hour commute they are soaked inside and that’s with the neoprene cuff tucked inside a Stealth jacket sleeve. Disappointing really but I can’t argue about them keeping hands warm when dry. Having tried loads of waterproof gloves over the years I can’t help but think finding one (not a pink marigold) is like seeking the Holy Grail of cycling.
    As for the Endura Strike? Forget it. Wet within 20 mins and don’t machine wash or the membrane twists.

    Reply

  3. Kellyman17 says

    Has anyone else noticed the similarity between endura strike gloves and the bike touch? i have the strikes and i think they are very good.

    Reply

  4. Phil says

    I switch between a £5 pair of Thinsulate lined fleece gloves and £7.50 Army surplus Goretex Arctic mittens depending on which side of zero it is. The mittens are overkill above -5, but I’d rather have warm-if a bit sweaty- than dry frozen hands.

    Reply

  5. Emma says

    I have Raynauds too, and bought the seal skinz mitten glove, and they work. Warm toasty hands but the gloves don’t have enough palm padding. Fortunately there is enough room for a padded fingerless mitt. Would recommend

    Reply

  6. Ed says

    I use these Altura Night Vision primarily cos they are very cheap at £11.99 delivered + cashback at Topcashback

    http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=22052&categoryID=1166

    I find them pretty waterproof and they have excellent visibility. They are a bit too small for me to wear with the liners but the liners are great for when we have warmer weather & they are touch screen compatible too.

    I also find that £5 Aldi skiing gloves are incredibly warm & pretty damn waterproof for the price.

    Reply

  7. extremereading says

    I have stringback leather gloves, bought some time in the 1980s, and still better than any of the modern stuff I’ve bought since. On a really cold day put some thermal gloves on first. Getting a bit worn in places but the leather lives on.

    Reply

  8. Nigel Oulton says

    The Deluge gloves are definatly waterproof, windproof, warm, light and comfortable – but…. but the sewing on them leaves a lot to be desired, in fact after less than two months the pair I bought to make it through this past winter had already begun falling apart. The first thing to go was the sewn on trim around the cuff on the left hand and then a week later the same on the right.

    Luckily I was taught how to sew even before I started primary school, so sooner than haggle with Endure for a replacement, which would only result in another pair sewn just as badly, instead I used my skill with needle and thread to sew the trim on properly and since then I have been very happy with them.

    The past couple of weeks I have been trying a pair of Craft Thermal Split Finger Gloves and
    to be honest I think they are far superior to the Deluges. They have a inner liner glove which works great just on its own, in fact if it isn’t wet or showing signs of rain then the liner keeps my fingers nice and toasty – I have a injured finger on my left hand which suffers terribly in cold weather, in fact its almost like frostbite and because of that I have tried endless glove solutions and each time spending more money. But I got the Crafts for only £25 and reckon they are a bargain at any price and just as water and wind proof.

    Reply

  9. k8 says

    I am often cold, even in summer, so a warm pair of gloves would be Shangri-La.

    Pity I bought some heavy duty SealSkinz before I read this article and your readers’ really helpful replies! I could have saved myself nearly £40 badly spent.

    Sealskinz are supposed to be the bee’s knees and they just aren’t. I can feel the cold on the back of my hands when cycling, and the skin on both thumbs has been cracked at the corners for weeks, as the cold just gets right through.

    Do any of your readers know how to prevent or cure cracked skin on thumbs? They are really painful. Hand cream doesn’t seem to do the trick. I have been walking round with plasters on my thumbs, which makes it a bit less painful, but looks stupid. Any advice most gratefully accepted.

    Reply

  10. David Cohen says

    RE: EDZ Merino gloves

    I use these and they do the job. Naturally much thicker that silk / polyester inners.

    And talking of silk / polyester inners, the main problems that I found with these are:

    1). They don’t do much of a job, but just as important;
    2). If they go anywhere near velco, they ladder like tights in no time at all, so don’t last long.

    David

    Reply

  11. cafewanda says

    Another Raynaud’s person here. Having tried various combinations of gloves I’ve now added Blazewear heated gloves to my collection. They saved me this winter.

    Reply

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