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Gloves - full finger
Showers Pass Men's Crosspoint Softshell WP glovesShowers Pass Men's Softshell WP Gloves

Showers Pass Men's Crosspoint Softshell WP gloves

8
by Nick Hodges
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jan 25, 2014

3
£58.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Excellent winter gloves that really come into their own at temperatures below 5°C
Weight: 
135g
Contact: 
www.showerspass.co.uk
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Showers Pass Crosspoint Softshell WP gloves will keep your hands dry and toasty even in a hard winter, but if it's mild they might be a shade too warm.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, USA, Showers Pass is focussed on all-weather cycling equipment. The company started sales in the UK in early 2013 through a small number of shops and online. The Showers Pass folks say the challenging rides and weather of the Pacific Northwest of the USA provide their inspiration.

The Showers Pass Crosspoint Softshell WP gloves are simple enough; thick without being cumbersome and substantial without being heavy. They are long enough to get a decent overlap with jackets and jerseys, with a simple Vecro closure at the wrist. The palms are a touch padded. There are small areas of silicone gripper on the fingers, but not the palms.

There are some nice finishing touches. The plain black and small areas of reflective silver are nicely complemented by small areas of yellow on the inside of the wrist closure and at the knuckles of the fingers (only visible when you close your fingers). Subtle but pleasing.

Once warmed up the gloves stay warm, so much so that if the temperatures creeps much above 8-10 Celsius they can get a bit on the hot side. They are probably too warm for autumn, but as out-and-out winter gloves they are excellent. On a freezing early-winter morning there are a few minutes of lag for the hands to warm up and after that they don't get cold again, even when descending.

In persistent rain the gloves perform very well. On an hour's ride in steady rain little moisture broke in and then only at the wrist. In fact, with most rainy spells tending to be in slightly warmer conditions there is probably more risk of your hands overheating than any moisture from outside breaking in.

It seems churlish to be critical of the gloves for being too effective, but while they are very good for the colder UK cycling weather I think they are possibly too much for late autumn or early spring.

For cyclists committed to all-year riding regardless of the weather then these offer something for the armoury. For those more likely to skip their ride when the mercury dips near to zero then they might not get much use, and they aren't cheap to be sat in a drawer.

That being said, the last couple of winters in the UK have started early and dragged on a bit so these gloves would get plenty of use. And perhaps the thought of extra-warm hands will encourage some to get out of the door when they might otherwise not.

Verdict

Excellent winter gloves, hitting that all-important criterion of possibly being a bit warm for UK winter. They excel at being warm and dry and really come into their own at temperatures below 5°C. They are reliable in the wet and don't let cold air in when descending. Expensive, but do the job.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Showers Pass Men's Softshell WP Gloves

Size tested: X-Large Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Cold hands rejoice! The ultimate in winter weather hand protection has arrived! CrosspointTM Softshell Waterproof Gloves, made with OutDry waterproof breathable technology, will keep your hands dry and warm thanks to a seamless waterproof membrane bonded to the outer shell material. This means no more rain saturated gloves sloshing around about and weighing you down.

Reflective logos and trim keep you visible when signaling. Designed to be form fitting with articulated fingers and knuckle flex for maximum dexterity. Silicone grip on fingers with strategically placed padding keep your hands in good shape to go extra miles in nasty weather.

The description of the gloves are accurate, and the claims are not outlandish. They appear to be aimed at experienced riders who will be out in all conditions regardless of what is thrown at them. Committed club cyclists and all-year commuters spring to mind.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Simple, mainly black gloves, with small areas of yellow highlights and reflective text on the back. Silicone grippers on the fingers. The gloves extend beyond the wrist where there is a Velcro closure.

The inner material is a light fleecy-type and quick comfortable. The gloves are a little bulky, but small enough in the fingers for reaching into pockets.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

No issues with materials or build quality. The Velcro closure has shown no signs of damaging any of the fabric around the glove. There are discrete catches on the side of the hand for keeping the gloves together as a pair.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

They keep hands dry from the rain and warm from the inside, and are particularly effective at around freezing. Ideal for a ride in hard winter conditions, but I'd probably avoid using them in warmer weather.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

No signs of the gloves getting heavy wear on the palms or finger seams.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

They aren't the lightest or lowest-profile glove, but they do offer performance in weather where weight may be less of an issue.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Lovely and toasty, unless the temperatures are nearer 10°C in which case they are more humid. The window of the year for using these gloves can potentially be quite small depending on the sort of winter we experience.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

They aren't all that cheap – over £50 – but they do offer excellent performance for the money.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The gloves are very warm and keep even persistent rain out.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I really appreciated the insulating qualities on crisp, frosty mornings.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Commute to work on a crisp frosty morning with warm hands - commute home the same day several degrees warmer with rather hot and humid hands. It seems unfair to complain that they are too good at what they claim to do, though.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes - it's a steep price, but every year I find that the gloves I have just bought that will definitely keep my hands warm actually don't. There is a lot to be said for meeting expectations.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 182cm  Weight: 69kg

I usually ride: Specialized Allez Sport 2008  My best bike is: Moda Tempo 2010

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, Triathlon

 

Showers Pass Men's Crosspoint Softshell WP gloves
Showers Pass

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