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GripGrab Urban Softshell Gloves

9
£39.95

VERDICT:

9
10
Very warm and very well made winter gloves
Weight: 
104g
Contact: 
www.wiggle.co.uk

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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 are made from a softshell material with a luxuriously soft fleece lining. The sizing is absolutely spot on, and the fit is really very good. Onto the bike and there's a good amount of feel of the handlebars and shifters/brake levers through these gloves. Some winter gloves can be so bulky that they isolate you from the controls of the bike, which isn't something I like much.

On the palm is a grippy material that offers excellent purchase on the bar tape; there's no chance of your hands slipping with these on. That, combined with the thinness of the padding, really boosts confidence when you're riding in tricky conditions at this time of year. There are very few seams, just one at the base of the thumb which fortunately you don't notice when riding. There's no gel padding, but then the gloves are padded enough that they're comfortable on long rides.

There's a generous elasticated cuff and the wrist is elasticated too. They easily fit over a bulky softshell jacket with ease, and the elasticated wrist keeps them snug, so there's no gaps to let warm air out/cold air in.

These gloves have been a blessing these past few weeks, with the constant sub zero temperatures. I suffer from poor circulation. It doesn't have to be that cold before I lose the feeling in my hands and feet, and many winter rides have ended with pretty bad discomfort. There's been days when I've been unable to get back into my flat because my fingers are just too numb to fumble the keys into the lock.

I've tried many, many pairs of winter gloves in the pursuit of ones that will keep my poor little fingers insulated from the cold. But these GripGrab gloves have been very impressive with their insulation and lack of bulk. They've kept my fingers and hands from getting cold on my rides, which typically range from 2 to 4 hours. Usually I lose the feeling in my hands and feet at roughly the same time. With these gloves, I've kept the feeling in my hands long after my feet have frozen.

Verdict

Very warm and very well made winter gloves.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: GripGrab Urban Softshell Gloves

Size tested: Medium

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?

Versatile glove adapted for urban lifestyle activities. The Urban Softshell offers excellent grip and a soft microfleece lining which combined with a softshell back provides good insulation and protection from the elements.

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

GripGrab is a Danish company founded in 2000 by Kristian, Martin and Bjørn Krøyer. The company designs and develops gloves and accessories for cycling and running.

GripGrab is based on a passion for sports and the dream of building a brand of products that makes sports more enjoyable no matter how cold, wet or windy it is.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Winter is hard on clothing and these are very sturdily built gloves.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

I suffer from poor circulation. I've tried many winter gloves. These are easily one of the best pair of winter gloves I've yet tried. Warm hands on typical 2-4 hour rides.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

I've been wearing them for a couple of weeks and they're standing up very well. Winter gloves get hard treatment, but everything about these gloves suggest they'll still be going several winters later

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Very comfortable, with a fleece lining and excellent fit.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

They're not the cheapest but what price for warm fingers?

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

They exceeded my expectations.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Insulation and fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There isn't one aspect I dislike. Maybe some gel padding on the palm.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Good winter gloves that aren't too bulky are hard to come by.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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7 comments

Avatar
mattsr | 11 years ago
0 likes

I've got the GripGrab Windster winter gloves, and they are superb,way better than the Altura gloves I had before. Warm and waterproof.

Avatar
ubercurmudgeon | 11 years ago
0 likes

Sounds like an Altura Cresta, only twice the price (and they only seem to make a kids' version these days.)

Avatar
Shwa | 11 years ago
0 likes

It's strange that they aren't even listed under 'Winter gloves' on the Wiggle site. Only their winter gloves mention handling sub-zero temperatures. I really want to believe that they'd work for me, but I naturally assume that my circulation is just the worst!

Do you know if any shops plan to stock these?

Avatar
David Arthur @d... | 11 years ago
0 likes

They're not waterproof. Softshell's generally aren't waterproof. They're water resistance up to a point though, more than adequate for a light drizzle.

Avatar
amazon22 | 11 years ago
0 likes

As there is no mention of even water repellence at wiggle or on their own site, its safe to assume they are not. Their Polaris glove uses Sympatex and they say that is waterproof - but its another £18.

Avatar
Pisiform | 11 years ago
0 likes

Sound ideal but, before I rush off and buy a pair, are they waterproof

Avatar
Chuck replied to Pisiform | 11 years ago
0 likes
Pisiform wrote:

Sound ideal but, before I rush off and buy a pair, are they waterproof

'Softshell' suggests that they're not.

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