Winter Cycling - Those COOL Pear Izumi Lobster Gloves

Man these things are the bomb! Ordered them the other day and tried them out last night, admittedly not the dead of winter, but... My hands were cooking, they stopped the wind dead, and each of my fingers slipped into their own finger sleeve, and then the main lobster mitt with no problems. I'm told the palm will shred if I do anything but bike with these gloves, and I am not really impressed with the lack of padding in the palms, I got the extra large and trying to jam my hand in with a bike glove on was tight, and would have really been sweaty. With all the moisture that will be produced I have to wonder how they will dry, will it be an over night thing or something that will take more time. Still nice glove.

Now I just need to get another pair of Perl's AmFib tights.

Yep, I've been using them for years now. They are ok for temps down to about zero, then they need a hand warmer or a glove liner. I haven't worn through them after about 10 years of use.

I need a new pair of winter tights. Do you know what the difference between the Gavia PI amfibs and the plain PI amfibs is? Also, I have an older pair of PI tights that I ski and cycle in. They are the best tight I've ever owned but are failing after 12 or so years of constant use. I have a newer version of PI tight and they are cut different, low in the back so they don't ride well. Have you noticed this or are they different cuts.

Thanks!

I was VERY disappointed with my PI Amfib lobsters. They were good to maybe -2C, and then my hands froze. The MEC Nanu lobster is much better, good to -15C at least.

I was VERY disappointed with my PI Amfib lobsters. They were good to maybe -2C, and then my hands froze. The MEC Nanu lobster is much better, good to -15C at least.

I'll have to check out the MEC version. Anything to keep the hands warm helps.

I was VERY disappointed with my PI Amfib lobsters. They were good to maybe -2C, and then my hands froze. The MEC Nanu lobster is much better, good to -15C at least.

Would you have a link? They sound like the call for me this year!

... Brad

They aren't on the MEC website, from what I can tell. Know the ones he's talking about though, i've got a pair and they work quite nicely!

Yeah, I didn't find them on the MEC site either. Does anyone know where they can be found?

From my point of view , the PI AmFib lobster gloves are a cruel hoax and worse than useless. PI has the right idea with fingers separated by two but loses the benefit by packing in a bunch of insulation material and adding internal four-finger gloves. Whoever designed these never wore 'em (or lives in California). The insulation is so thick and bulky circulation to each finger is cut off. Also, by another glove inside a mitten, each finger is isolated from gaining the warmth of its partner next to it. Anyone remember mittens? Those worked on the principal each finger warms the other. Has everyone forgotten how to make decent warm gloves?

The Nanu mitts aren't in the catalog or on the site. They have them in stock at most MEC stores. They're $36 I think...

Wow, great reviews. my biggest concern was how the dampness of the glove was going to dry out before I had to wear them again. I've had real good success with Targets fleece gloves and a pair of biking gloves underneath, been wearing them most every winter, when it's really bad I have a pair of Lake wind stoppers, and another brand that does the job. I'll still get some cold digits mid ride when the mercury dips below 10F, just not mind numbing cold though.

I was VERY disappointed with my PI Amfib lobsters. They were good to maybe -2C, and then my hands froze. The MEC Nanu lobster is much better, good to -15C at least.

+1 They can't handle the coldest part of winter. Mine are a little big so I put on an extra pair of thin poly gloves in Jan and Feb. I don't think they are the "best"

From my point of view , the PI AmFib lobster gloves are a cruel hoax and worse than useless. PI has the right idea with fingers separated by two but loses the benefit by packing in a bunch of insulation material and adding internal four-finger gloves. Whoever designed these never wore 'em (or lives in California). The insulation is so thick and bulky circulation to each finger is cut off. Also, by another glove inside a mitten, each finger is isolated from gaining the warmth of its partner next to it. Anyone remember mittens? Those worked on the principal each finger warms the other. Has everyone forgotten how to make decent warm gloves?

I think they are aimed at roadies riding with those funny gear levers integrated with the brake levers. Kind of hard to use with mittens.

Me, I use bar-end levers. No problem with mittens.

the problem I have with lobster gloves and waterproof gloves is the drying. I think it is better to have waterproof overmitts and pick the lining gloves to suit the conditions.

I have a old pair of PI lobsters...geeze from 1999 I think ? anyhow they are damn warm below zero.

My wife bought a set of them last winter and she raves about how warm they are.

Got an old pair of PI lobsters from 1994 or so...worn right through.

From my point of view , the PI AmFib lobster gloves are a cruel hoax and worse than useless. PI has the right idea with fingers separated by two but loses the benefit by packing in a bunch of insulation material and adding internal four-finger gloves. Whoever designed these never wore 'em (or lives in California). The insulation is so thick and bulky circulation to each finger is cut off. Also, by another glove inside a mitten, each finger is isolated from gaining the warmth of its partner next to it. Anyone remember mittens? Those worked on the principal each finger warms the other. Has everyone forgotten how to make decent warm gloves?

I have the same complaint about the Louis Garneau Magma gloves. I left them today with my mother in hopes she can mod them. In a way I'm glad to have heard this about the PIs. I can scratch them off my list of possible alternatives should modding the LGs not work out.

Those worked on the principal each finger warms the other. Has everyone forgotten how to make decent warm gloves?No, they work on the principle of less surface area. Wearing gloves inside of mittens will be warmer than no gloves inside of mittens.
Heat is transfered by conduction, convection and radiation. The speed at which heat is transfered has to do with the differences in temperature, the materials involved and the distance between the objects. Some materials are better at transferring heat than others. The idea of a mitten is to reduce the surface area so that there is less area to transfer heat through radiation and convection and somewhat conduction.

Remember heat is transfered from higher temperature to lower temperature. So, unless one finger is colder than the other, one finger would not warm the other, there would be no heat transfer.

I just picked up a pair of the MEC Nanu for $39. They seem super warm. Part of my Christmas present from the wife.

No, they work on the principle of less surface area. Wearing gloves inside of mittens will be warmer than no gloves inside of mittens.
Heat is transfered by conduction, convection and radiation. The speed at which heat is transfered has to do with the differences in temperature, the materials involved and the distance between the objects. Some materials are better at transferring heat than others. The idea of a mitten is to reduce the surface area so that there is less area to transfer heat through radiation and convection and somewhat conduction.

Remember heat is transfered from higher temperature to lower temperature. So, unless one finger is colder than the other, one finger would not warm the other, there would be no heat transfer.

Your attempt at an applicatioon of the 2nd law of thermodynamics is in places inchoate and contradictory within itself. Go back to high school and read your textbook and, by the way, read my simple, original post which in no way violates physics fundamentals as yours, by raising a pedant's obscuring cloud, does.

I'll refuse any further discussion on the physics of mittens. A comprehension such as yours demonstrates why clothing manufacturers' products don't keep hands warm.

I never said mittens were not better at keeping hands/finders warmer. Just your reasoning behind it is wrong. Your fingers do not heat the other fingers. If your fingers are touching, then there would be less surface area, so again, less heat loss. If I am wrong, please explain to me how the fingers heat each other.

I love mine. They are warmer than gloves and more versatile than mittens. I have also used mine for other purposes than cycling (snowshoeing for example)....and no sign of any palm shredding. They do need a lot of extra drying.....but that would seem to me to be a good sign of dense insulation. They are as warm as some technical mountaineering gloves I own that cost twice as much.

I think it is better to have waterproof overmitts and pick the lining gloves to suit the conditions.

This is the conclusion I have come to as well. I have a nice pair of water/wind proof overmitts - just a shell - and I dress them up underneath with the insulation layers as dictated by the conditions. I'm using a Smartwool gloveliner for a baselayer, and a variety of fleece and other gloves to wear between the liners and the shell to build up as much warmth as needed.

It's the same concept of layering you dress every other part of your body with. The insulation for that Lobster is dictated by the amount of insulation PI decided to pack it with. It's gonna be too hot sometimes, and too cold other times.

Just picked up a pair of Toko Arctic Mitts from a local bike 'n ski shop to replace my very worn out PI lobsters. So far I love them and especially love their price $28. The PI's are ridiculously expensive.
http://www.toko.ch/images/ArcticMitt_bild1.eps_Big.jpeg

do the thumbs get cold on those? I find the terry/nose-wipe section lets alot of cold air in on alot of "winter" cycling gloves and makes my thumb go numb. is this the case with these toko gloves?

I am getting sick of purchasing winter gloves only to be disappointed. the PI lobsters seem to always be recommended, but at $70, I'm looking for alternatives.

They haven't had a good test yet. It's been warm (20-30F) here lately. There isn't a glove made that'll keep my fingers warm in winter. Hence my preference for a lobster style mitt. The top of the thumb is all snot-worthy. It has enough insulation in that area. I don't see that much air would make it through. I got some PI barrier gloves like these (http://www.altrec.com/pearl-izumi/mens-barrier-glove?sku_id=632722&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-ProductAds-_-Pearl%20Izumi-_-57187-632722&mr:trackingCode=8F957919-C2D3-DE11-A84F-0019B9C2BEFD&mr:referralID=NA&GANTrackingID=altrec_153650468) last season....they're worthless for real winter weather.

I'd be interested in your review when the cold comes back.

Those are lobsters are expensive gloves, and after a short while of hard use they will steadily loose insulative power and be garbage(worn out thumbs is a big one) like all gloves.

If you just need these for commuting buy some $30 pogies and wear whatever $5 fleece gloves you want under them.

What the above poster says about mittens is correct. Your fingers are all friends and like to stay warm by keeping together. You would only use a liner if you had issues with moisture and be sure the liner is a very hydrophobic material because you don't want soaking wet liner on your hands.

In regards to the MEC Nanu, i found that wind seeped in between the two fingers giving me very-mild frostbite on a very cold night and the pi gloves seemed to have to same defect when i tried them on so i went with pogies and am quite satisfied.

I just bought the USD35ish Sinisalo Lobsters (http://www.rollerskishop.com/ecart/proddetail.php?prod=G-LOBSTER). Very toasty. They too have the 5 finger glove inside, but it's thin, with enough air space to keep fingers warm.

I've noticed gloves made for xc skiing are often very good for cycling as well. Any decent xc glove will have pads or otherwise stronger material in palm area and between thumb and index finger, as those are the parts that will be in contact with the xc ski poles.

--J

Just picked up a pair of Toko Arctic Mitts from a local bike 'n ski shop to replace my very worn out PI lobsters. So far I love them and especially love their price $28. The PI's are ridiculously expensive.
http://www.toko.ch/images/ArcticMitt_bild1.eps_Big.jpeg

Review:
These perform as well as my old PI lobsters for less than half the price. They're not something I'd wear to watch a football game, just standing around. But it's been in the single digits these last two nights riding home from work and the hands are plenty warm. I still opt for traditional mitts when taking the dog for a walk. But riding generates considerably more heat than walking.

Yeah, I didn't find them on the MEC site either. Does anyone know where they can be found?http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302886890&bmUID=1264863879230