Winter Gloves
 

I know this is a really broad subject riddled with numerous opinions, but I am tired of buying gloves that are rated and reviewed well only to be disappointed when I use them myself. I currently wear a pair of Gore Alp X Windstopper gloves with a merino inner glove. The thing is as soon as it is right around freezing my finger tips get painfully cold. When I bought them I didn't think to buy a size up to fit the liner gloves so they are a little snug and I believe that exacerbates the issue. In general I am happy with these gloves by themselves to about 45 degrees. I'd like to find a pair that I can wear to about 20 degrees with or without an inner pair of gloves. I don't like mittens and I have tended to avoid lobsters, both due to control and shifting issues. It is frustrating that I am looking at the weather right now and dreading going out because it is 25 degrees purely do to my frozen digits.

Here are my current gloves
http://www.amazon.com/Gore-Bike-Wear.../dp/B0078LB0LC

I bought some LL Bean winter gloves for $20 on sale a few years ago. Just regular 5-finger something-or-others. Good down to 20f. Wore them below 20 once or twice with $5 liners. For warmer weather I have various local discount store winter gloves.

On really cold days, I try to avoid routes with fast downhills, especially at the beginning of the ride, and sometimes ride my mtn bike on the road. Slower bike = less windchill.

Probably 1000 posts in the Winter Forum.
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...Winter-Cycling

You definitely don't want anything snug. I have a pair of cheap dept store ski gloves and a more expensive pair of old leather ski gloves. Both work fine down to 20F. On my commute lately my hands start off warm, get cool and then start to warm up again about 30-45 mins into a ride. They're warm by the time I get to work after about 1:10 of riding.

I have a THIN pair of Man***** wind stopper gloves. They are insanely good. Truly wind proof, yet breathable.

Though they're not designed for it, I've found them to be the ultimate glove-liner. I couple them with simple leather workgloves. Reflective ones (Kinco, but any good thick pair would work).

As mentioned above, the work gloves are not snug.

These work to 20*, but only for rides sub-two hours.

If I lost my Man*****s, I would cry, and kick myself for not having two pair.

i also have a pair of Pearl Izumi claw gloves. They do the job to 25*, but the sweat buildup is always an issue with them. They certainly get the job done, and I always worry that the moisture will lead to problems, but it doesn't. After a while, my hands are noticeably wet. The "windproofness" keeps the wet from being cold.

As for dexterity, claws work just fine. You forget about them pretty quickly.

Thanks, didn't realize there was a separate forum for that

My hands get cold no matter what gloves I have on.. Below 25 I usually put hand warmers in the gloves. Fingers are tough to keep warm..

One suggestion is to wear another layer like a vest on your torso. The body gives priority to that before the extremities. If that does not help look to neoprene like fishing or diving gloves. Some here in MI use hand warmers and even tape them to the top of shoes or under the cover layer.

Size up for winter gloves. I like the Gore gloves. I wear XL and will always get their XXL size which fits more like an XL size. I would like to see them make the fingers longer regardless.
I have never found one pair or weight of gloves for winter to be good for all temps. Sub freezing is one weight, freezing to middle 30s is another weight, 40s the same, etc.

Ever since I got a pair of BarMitts, I have a drawer full of heavy gloves that just collect dust.

My teammate warned me about BarMitts, "you have to wear lightweight gloves, or your hands will cook".
I laughed.
It's true. Those things are little stoves.

Now if they could just make something similar for the feet.


But if you do insist on wearing gloves, don't buy bike shop gloves. Go to a hunting/fishing store. You'll find stuff there that works better and costs about 75% less.

I've hand good luck with the PI lobster mitts for when it is below 30F. I always wear a pair of polypropylene liners when I use winter weight gloves/mitts.

This setup works for me down to about 20F. Below that, I would probably throw in a hand warmer.

That was exactly my experience with them, the fingers are simply not long enough. I know that is most likely the main culprit. First winter cycling so its been a learning experience.

Call me a wimp, but I won't ride below freezing. Having said that I've had a tough time finding "just the right" gloves. Long fingered uninsulated gloves are too cold, and ski gloves are too warm. Went to the LBS and they had "winter" riding gloves if I wanted to spend $90. No thanks. Until I find the perfect glove, I'll let my fingers cook in the ski gloves. Better toasty warm than cold.

No need to spend $90 for a pair of gloves. I think I spent $45 for my PI mitts. I picked up a pair of Gore gloves for about $40 and have another pair of Swix mitts that I got for $35.

If you can wait, you can find good deals on just about any piece of gear. I challenge myself to not spend full price for any of my gear...so far so good.

I've been wearing GI issue nomex flight gloves for many years of fishing in the winter. They are also fantastic for cycling. 22 miles yesterday, wind chill in the single digits and not the slightest bit of discomfort. You won't have to worry about sissies making fun of your gloves, they will be inside on the internet.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=363508

Craft Siberian Split Finger Gloves. By one size larger than you would normally wear.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=363509

I don't think it has been mentioned yet but maintaining a death grip on the bars will produce cold hands no mater what gloves. Most winter rides for me are around 35F but I do ride into 25F without unduly cold hands. Too tight gloves will produce cold hands also. If the problem of cold hands is unsolvable, even wearing mittens, try mittens with chemical warmers.