Altura Peloton Progel Waterproof Glove

I've worn a few pairs of gloves over the years that were claimed by their makers to be 'waterproof' but really weren't. Here, the Altura Peloton Progel Waterproof Gloves do live up to their name, stopping any water getting in. Unfortunately, they seem to stop any moisture getting out too, so any sweat that builds up stays inside and makes for a soggy liner.

Despite that, I've been quite happy wearing them, choosing them on wet days over non-waterproof but more breathable ones.

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Their waterproofing is so good that I could stick my finger over the end of the hosepipe to spray down my bike after the muddy commute home, and nothing got through. Impressive.

But that does come at the expense of breathability. It was really only a problem if I wanted to take the gloves off briefly and then put them back on again. Given a few hours on a radiator – throughout the working day, say, or overnight – and they were fine. Try it too soon – after a stop for coffee or a snack mid-ride – and they feel cold and clammy, though they do soon warm up.

They're warm gloves, but on really cold rides I have noticed a bit of a chill in the fingers, so I wouldn't recommend them for deep midwinter.

> How to keep your hands warm and dry while cycling

In terms of comfort, the fleecy inner is nice and cosy, and tethered to the ends of the fingers so it doesn't come out with your hands; it just needs a little manoeuvring to get back into place comfortably, but not too much of a faff.

The gel pads in the palm provide plenty of cushioning – possibly a bit too much at the base of the fingers, where it's quite chunky.

There's plenty of grippy silicone in the palm too, so no problem keeping your hands on the bar on wet rides. The touchscreen-compatible fingertips on the first two fingers work well – which is good as you really don't want to be taking these gloves off mid-ride to make a call or check your GPS – or rather, you don't want to be putting them back on again...

At £39.99 they're about what I'd expect to pay for a pair of good waterproof gloves for commuting – but their lack of breathability means I'd probably opt for the Night Vision versions at the same price, as it seems they're better on that score.

Verdict

Excellent waterproofing and a good fit, but lacking breathability