Altura Thermostretch II Neoprene
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What they say: High-stretch insulating neoprene glove offering an adaptive close fit for performance cyclists seeking warmth on fast rides. Altura Shield technology is engineered to provide protection from wind and water, while still offering high levels of breathability.
What we say: Due to the nature of the neoprene structure, these gloves offer the best fit, proving both thin and light.
That doesn’t mean lightweight protection, however, as the complete windproofing of the gloves ensures our hands are kept warm, while the thinner palm area give enough breathability to stop us getting sweaty paws.
It’s worth noting, however, that although these offer a good level of protection they’re not deep winter gloves. Overall, though, the neoprene did well.
Verdict: Ideal for racers, these gloves manage to keep the cold out without being too chunky. 8/10
£30, zyrofisher.co.uk
Louis Garneau Proof Thermo
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What they say: In cold weather, there are three things you need to regulate to ensure your comfort: let moisture escape, block the cold, and trap the heat.
With features such as strategic wind-blocking, form-fitting and breathability, as well as being waterproof, these gloves will help you stay warm and dry.
What we say: Treading a fine line between a snowsport glove and a cycling one, this offering from French-Canadian brand Louis Garneau shows its cold-weather pedigree.
Using Thinsulate lining, these offer a lot when it comes to battling the cold. With the added bonus of a relatively slender fit and touchscreen capabilities, these gloves offer excellent value.
The waterproofing works well, too, keeping our fingers working even in wintry downpours. Our only gripe is the bland design.
Verdict: Halfway between a glove for the slopes and one for the road, this techy glove laugh's in winter's face. 9/10
£40, evanscycles.com
Castelli Tempesta
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What they say: We’ve used OutDry technology to create a totally waterproof barrier but without the water absorption of the older glove-liner construction.
The membrane is vacuum-bonded directly to the outer fabric to create a wind- and waterproof barrier.
What we say:£85 for a pair of gloves is a lot. Straight away, though, the quality is apparent with the finishing on the seams being superb.
The fit is on the small side: our tester usually takes a medium but opted to take a size up and found that a large size fitted him like, well, a glove. Castelli claim the gloves are good down to 5°C but we found they worked well in freezing temperatures.
However, two big minuses for us were the lack of touchscreen capability in the fingertips and that hefty price tag.
Verdict: These gloves aren't cheap, but they do have the ability to withstand freezing temperatures. 7/10
£85, saddleback.com
Sportful WS Essential
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What they say: The essential winter riding glove with warm Windstopper back, fleece-lined palm, and dialled-in fit.
Features: Windstopper 4 Way Warm back of hand, synthetic palm with light padding and fleece lining, plus ultrasuede wipe strip on thumb for the perfect protection this winter.
What we say: This is a slender winter glove, aimed more for those milder days. Having said that, by incorporating Gore’s renowned Windstopper protective lining this can roll with the punches in choppier conditions.
While we admit this isn’t for wet days as the waterproofing is lacking compared to others, the product does offer enough to get you home through any showers. If you’re looking for a glove to take you through late winter and into early spring this will do the job.
Verdict: Flexible glove that won't keep out serious cold, but will offer enough protection on shorter rides. 8/10
£38, sportful.com
Madison Softshell
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What they say: Designed for the road cyclist who refuses to stay indoors when the temperature drops, these windproof, shower- proof and breathable gloves have a micro-fleece lining that keeps your hands protected from the elements.
Their pre-curved shape and tailored palm gives a superb fit while cuff adjusters allow you to dial in the perfect fitting.
What we say: At first sight this is a super-lightweight and sleek glove that does a prett y good job at protecting your hand from the wind.
However, that lightweight feeling comes at a cost when the temperatures drop. While we like it for its size and fit, ultimately you’d want to go for a more substantial model when the cold really starts to bite.
That said, it’s still a cracking glove for dry, milder rides.
Verdict: Unsuitable for seriously cold temperatures, these are better suited to mild-weather rides. 7/10
£25, madison.cc
FWE Coldharbour Waterproof
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What they say: To help you to cope with the blustery British weather we have developed the FWE Coldharbour Waterproof Glove.
These fully waterproof and breathable gloves feature a membrane to keep your hands dry and warm, a soft inner lining, cuff adjuster, nose wipe along thumb and padded gel palm.
What we say: These have a snug and comfortable fit with the fleece lining providing a pleasant feel which our sybaritic tester particular enjoyed. It also kept his fingers suitably toasty.
He did report some frayed stitching on the palm, thumb and the odd fingertip during use but otherwise insisted these worked perfectly well until temperatures dropped below 3°C. At which point he had to go inside – the poor little soldier!
Verdict: As you'd expect from FWE, a versatile, solid piece of kit at a price that represents a real value for money. 7/10
£30, evanscycles.com
