Gloves - full finger

RSP Waterproof Gloves have a lot to offer cost conscious riders and I've been particularly grateful for their warmth these past few weeks.

Nylon/polyester mixes with copious Terry towelling won't set pulses racing but is a hardwearing, machine washable and ultimately weather repelling mix nonetheless. Ours were the time-honoured safety yellow with bold Scotchlite logos on the index finger, ledge and cuff regions, accentuating signalling.

The RSP Extreme Weather Glove is designed to keep the worst Mother Nature can conjure firmly outside. Anything this impenetrable usually involves TPU laminates and similar wizardry but I was surprised to find these prodigious gauntlets reliant on very substantial polyurethane/nylon palms, and nylon backs/thumbs with a reassuringly tactile polyester micro fleece lining.

The first thing you notice about Craft's Siberian Split Finger Glove, other than the fact that they look like something only a giant lobster could wear comfortably, is their weight. They are incredibly lightweight for a full winter glove.

Phew is a new cycle clothing company with ambitions to produce high quality premium clothing at affordable prices, and based on their first product, the Early Winter Windster gloves, which have been excellent, they're well on the way to achieving that ambition.

Designed to be an innovative approach to crossover conditions, these Gore Bike Wear Fusion Windstopper Soft Shell Gloves emulate a shooting glove in style (except with long fingers, and hopefully no gun!), using a tuck-away hood to cover the last three fingers when descending or when the temperature just nudges chilly.

I was expecting to be wowed by the Glacier Glove Premium Cyclocross Glove. I like a thin glove. I like to be able to feel the handlebars in my palms, like to be able to feel the brake and lever levers at my fingertips.

This presents a problem in the winter though, especially as I suffer from poor circulation in my extremities, so I need well insulated gloves to stop my fingers from falling off. As a result, I've been on a constant quest to find a glove that ticks both boxes.

The Vortex Windgrip gloves are slim fitting and windproof gloves that are reasonably comfortable on the bike.

I prefer my gloves thin - I like a good feel of the bars and controls when I'm riding - but that does often mean a compromise in the amount of insulation a glove can offer, especially at this time of year. The Vortex gloves use a windproof fabric over the back of the hand and fingers that stops icy cold air in its tracks.

The GripGrab Urban Softshell Gloves are possibly the best winter gloves I have ever used.

GripGrab is a Danish company, they've been around for a couple of years, and now the online retailer Wiggle is bringing them into the UK. They only make gloves and other accessories like overshoes and hats, and their range is comprehensive. There's a glove for most conditions and weather types.

These female specific cool weather gloves are aimed squarely at demanding women riders looking for long ride comfort in inclement conditions, but the Gore Bike Wear Power Windstopper Softshell Lady Gloves come without the full-on weather protection of the Countdown Gore-Tex or the extra warmth of some of the higher end unisex/men's gloves.

The Craft Siberians are well-made mid-weight gloves that provide decent warmth without being too bulky.

My only real negative criticism of these gloves is the name. If you call something 'Siberian', surely the implication is that it's designed to keep you warm in the most extreme winter conditions. That's the message I get, anyway. Don't get me wrong, these are good gloves, but they're not right up there among the warmest you can lay your hands on.