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Neoprene Gloves

by Madu
Thu, Dec 05, 2013 12:24
7

I'm sorely tempted by the Castelli Diluvio Deluxe gloves, particularly because they extend up past your jersey/jacket cuff so rain water doesn't run off the jacket and straight down inside the glove, as happens with me at the moment. But I just can't bring myself to fork out £35-40 for them. Essentially they are 3mm neoprene gloves and loads of other people make these much cheaper. Surfing companies have loads of options. Such as these: http://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/alder_4mm_spirit_dl_wetsuit_glove which are thicker and half the price.

I understand from reviews that these don't keep hands completely dry, but they still do an excellent job of keeping them warm, which is fine by me. I'm not really bothered if they are wet so long as they are toasty warm on cold days.

Does anyone have any experience firstly of neoprene gloves, and their effectiveness of keeping hands warm when it's zero degrees, windy and wet outside? And secondly, more to the point, has anyone successfully used other cheaper neoprene gloves from a non-bike (surf/canoe/wetsuit) company like those in the link above? How do they compare to bike specific gloves for warmth and handle bar grip?

Thanks.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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7 comments

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smiley_boy2501 | 10 years ago
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I have some SKY branded versions of the castelli gloves and they are my favourite long fingered gloves. Very warm, moderately windproof and warm when wet. I would probably use them down to -2 but i generally run hot. The grip is very good and they are surprisingly comfortable.

I've had other cheap neoprenes ones - fishing ones from gooutdoors. For me the castellis are worth the extra expensive just because of the fit and comfort. Plus they have lasted much longer.

But if i was suggesting someone cheap winter gloves i wouldn't hesitate to suggest any old neoprene gloves.

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divingrob | 10 years ago
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I wear "wetsuit" gloves this time of year and I would recommend them to anyone doing more than just a few miles in the cold. Mine were about £13

However you do need to wash the regularly as they can smell.

For me the positives are far greater than the negatives

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divingrob | 10 years ago
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I wear "wetsuit" gloves this time of year and I would recommend them to anyone doing more than just a few miles in the cold. Mine were about £13

However you do need to wash the regularly as they can smell.

For me the positives are far greater than the negatives

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William Black | 10 years ago
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When I know I am going to get very (-0) cold and very wet I just stick my wetsuit gloves on. But it has to be pretty shitty outside /snow/hail sort of thing as the cut is not designed for holding onto handlebars and they aren't really designed to withstand abrasions like you get with a leather palm.

As a material it's very very good at keeping you nice and warm as the material is 100%water and windproof. but yes it's not breathable so you will eventually get sweaty and can squirm around inside, but at least they'll be warm.

(Having said all that I am still wearing Summer XC gloves)

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dave atkinson | 10 years ago
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(they stink if you don't wash them though)

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dave atkinson | 10 years ago
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i use the castellis and i like them, but my hands run pretty hot so i don't normally need huge amounts of insulation. they're good for me down to about 3–4°, colder than that and i go for merino inners and outer shells.

are they better than cheap wetsuit ones? probably not massively, there's not anything hugely bike-specific about them

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bollandinho | 10 years ago
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I have the Castellis, and they've done a pretty great job so far this winter in Glasgow.

I'm not sure they'll do the job for a long time at zero degrees like you say, but blasting around the city in mid winter, normally wet, having sweaty hands has been a much bigger problem than cold.

The only time they've failed me is when I was at a market, and my hands got very cold off the bike. Once I put them on and started riding, they didn't heat up in them at all, and I've just ordered some thicker gloves for really cold days like that. However, times when my hands have been reasonably warm before I start, they've stayed warm very well.

The Castelli logo looks great, and the high cuffs are really useful, but I'm sure you'd get a similar result with other good neoprene gloves.

Hope that helps.

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