During the winter months (and also sometimes the spring and summer if you live in Blighty), cold temperatures can see us cyclists wrapping up in plenty of layers and of course... reaching for an exceptionally warm pair of gloves! Investing in some of the best winter gloves that your budget allows is the way to go if you want to keep the heat in and cold out.
Best winter cycling gloves overall: Galibier Barrier Deep Winter Gloves
Best for visibility: Proviz Reflect360 Waterproof Cycling Gloves
Best budget winter cycling gloves for milder temperatures: Altura Microfleece Glove
Best high-end winter cycling gloves for cold temperatures: Bontrager Velocis Softshell Cycling Gloves
Warm, bright, comfortable and affordable: Chiba 2nd Skin Waterproof & Windprotect Glove in Neon Yellow
Most affordable cycling gloves for deep winter: Van Rysel 900 Winter Cycling Gloves
Best winter cycling gloves for racing: Velotoze Waterproof Gloves
Best winter cycling gloves for dexterity: Spatz Thrmoz Deep Winter Gloves
Best cycling gloves for ‘shoulder season’: Galibier Ardennes Light Winter Gloves
Best 'ready-for-anything' winter cycling glove set: Dissent 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack
Best winter cycling gloves for women: Castelli Perfetto RoS Women's Gloves
Best water-resistant winter cycling gloves: Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves
Best deep winter cycling gloves: Santini Fjord Gloves
Best luxury winter cycling gloves: Assos Assosoires Winter Gloves
Yep, as much as that chap at the lights in bare hands might look like a hero, it's a pretty fruitless show of machismo that isn't going to help you get the best out of yourself at all if you decide to venture out in the cold with no gloves. No one wants to be stuck in the big ring up a climb because your hands are simply too cold to allow you to shift and change gear, which we have actually heard of in an ultimate worst case scenario example.
The best winter cycling gloves will keep your hands both warm and dry no matter how nasty the weather gets; although, it’s important to know that there are usually some trade-offs with regards to bulk and dexterity as protection increases. Look for windproof and waterproof outer shell fabrics, combined with soft, warm liners that keep you comfortable even if the weather seeps in. Reflective patches can also be a useful feature for signalling and general visibility.
With regards to sizing, luckily most brands will also provide a wide enough sizing range to cater for larger and smaller hands. Therefore, regardless of your gender, age or size, you can pretty much opt for whatever takes your fancy unlike items such as bib shorts and tights, where any worth buying will have been designed with anatomy in mind when it comes to the shape and padding.
If you aren’t entirely sure where to start, given there are so many different types of cycling gloves around, we've put together some top picks from our best-rated winter gloves of recent times and chosen them on what they're best for. Some are very toasty and ideal for deep winter, others are more for mid-season and some could be paired with a thermal liner so you can wear them in a wider range of temperatures. A liner could be esssential if you suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome, so allow for some extra room if you need an extra layer under your main pair of gloves.
Be sure to couple whichever pair takes your fancy with some of the best winter bib tights and one of the best cycling jackets you can afford, and you’ll be ready to face the elements... well almost, as some decent overshoes are also absolutely essential for keeping your feet warm!
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