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review
Gloves - full finger
Gore Bike Wear Fusion Windstopper Soft Shell GlovesGore Bike Wear Fusion Windstopper Soft Shell Gloves

Gore Bike Wear Fusion Windstopper Soft Shell Gloves

8
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Mar 1, 2013

1
£54.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Versatile, good quality, well-designed gloves for those whose hands are always too cold or too warm
Weight: 
116g
Contact: 
www.goreapparel.co.uk
How we test

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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.

The hood bit leaves the thumb and forefinger free for better dexterity but cosies the other fingers up against each other for added warmth. When not in use, the hood pops back into a pouch on the front of the glove, helped out by an elasticated pull cord near the cuff (which also tucks away).

Foam and gel panels in the palms are intended to give extra comfort, while reflective logos and dashes on the tips of the fingers add to visibility (as does the particularly visible hi viz yellow colour of the option I tested).

The warmth level of these gloves wasn't quite as cosy as some of Gore's other softshell gloves, but was good for anything down to about 7 degrees or so in my opinion, and was very wind resistant as well as decently water repellent. Using the hoods I did notice a small increase in warmth, which was welcome for long descents, and they didn't interfere too badly with braking or changing gear. Try as I might, I couldn't manage to pop the hoods over whilst riding, although taking them off was easier, especially with the help of the elastic drawcord. The whole affair did end up slightly ungainly when done while in motion, but that's a bit beside the point really. The foam and gel padding made for a comfortable ride, and the long neat cuffs worked well with the rest of the design to keep hands a good temperature.

These are unisex gloves, and the size small I tried was roughly equivalent to a Gore women's gloves size Medium, although with a slightly different fit in the fingers (marginally shorter in the fingers than the female specific gloves).

Verdict

Versatile, good quality, well-designed gloves for those whose hands are always too cold or too warm.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Gore Bike Wear Fusion Windstopper Soft Shell Gloves

Size tested: Small/EU6

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?

Aimed at changeable or borderline weather conditions where extra warmth may be required at times.

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

Polyester soft shell fabric

Gel and foam panels in palms

Reflective logos and accents

Silicone coated palm for grip

Elastic drawcord for removing optional extra "hood"

Hood tucks away in back of glove, drawcord tucks away in wrist pouch.

Machine washable at 30

Available in sizes S-XXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made from excellent materials.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Some increase in warmth levels on using the optional extra hood. Otherwise, a good wind resistant glove with enough warmth for most conditions.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Well made, but I have mu doubts about the longevity of the elastic pull cord for the glove hood.

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

Not a bad weight for winter gloves.

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

Very comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Not bad value at all for a versatile glove. A good investment for those who find their hands moving between states of too warm and too cold.

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

Performed very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Versatility, high levels of signalling visibility with hi viz colour option, comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Slightly gimmicky way the optional hood was implemented resulting in a sometimes bulky rear to the glove.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Probably.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

A neat design and a well considered glove, offering protection in a good range of conditions, but just a bit fiddly.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

Gore Bike Wear Fusion Windstopper Soft Shell Gloves
Gore Bike Wear
Gore Bike Wear 2013
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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