Like much of its cycling stuff, the Boardman Winter Cycling Gloves are keenly priced. At a third of the cost of some competitors, they insulate and protect your hands from wind and rain, fit well and aren’t short of features. However, their lack of flexibility, visibility and usability with touchscreens makes them hard to fully recommend.
These £30 unisex winter cycling gloves have a 100% polyester membrane which Boardman claims is windproof and water-resistant, while the outer layer is 84% polyamide and 16% elastane. Water beads over the neoprene-style back of the gloves but this material doesn’t cover the thumb area, which faces upwards while riding on drop bars and soon gets waterlogged in the rain. (Though in drier weather this piece of absorbent microsuede works fine for wiping a streaming nose.)
A grippy silicone pattern covers the palm and fingers – apart from the so-called touchscreen-compatible patch on the tip of the index finger and thumb. Oddly, I could only swipe my Google Pixel touchscreen with my finger horizontal, making it hard to do anything useful on the phone. Bike computer touchscreens were easier to use.
The fleecy lining is 93% polyamide and 7% elastane. Their long, snug and adjustable cuff with a Velcro closure leaves no skin exposed between your sleeve and glove.
Being only available in black, the visibility of these gloves is inherently minimal. There is a reflective Boardman logo at the bottom of the back of the palm, but when I gripped the hoods or drops it faced down and inwards – probably not ideal for catching other road users’ attention. Plenty of other winter cycling gloves, in fluoro and darker shades, have multiple reflective elements – like the Cafe du Cycliste Audax gloves that Ben reviewed in 2022.
The Winter Cycling Gloves are bulky, perhaps because Boardman has packed in the insulation. As a result, they felt restrictive like mittens as I braked and changed gear on my drop bar bikes. When using larger disc brake shifters, like Shimano Ultegra R8000, I could adapt to this lack of flexibility, although I would prefer thinner, more manoeuvrable gloves. But I didn’t have the dexterity to confidently operate smaller rim brake shifters, such as SRAM Red eTap.
Otherwise, comfort is good from the soft lining with no open stitching. They don’t have padding, which didn’t bother me because I don’t ride with padded gloves, but bear this in mind if you get hand pain from cycling.
Value
Their price tag of £30 places the Boardman Winter Cycling Gloves at the lower end of the market, and they slightly undercut both the Bodylitegear Reflective Winter Gloves (£42) and Proviz Reflect360s (£39.99), although those are claimed to be waterproof.
Gloves featuring more technical fabric – like the Rapha Gore-Tex Insulated Waterproofs and the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Thermos – cost two to three times more, but are likely to keep your hands warmer and drier in bad weather.
Check out more of our favourite choices in our guide to the best winter cycling gloves.
Conclusion
For a relatively low price the Boardman Winter Cycling Gloves have plenty of insulation, some weatherproofing, and decent features, and they fit well. However, their stiffness means they can be difficult to use with drop-bar shifters and touchscreens, and they’re not very visible.
Verdict
Toasty with some rain defence and decent features, but not very flexible, or visible
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Boardman Winter Gloves
Size tested: M
Tell us what the product is for
Boardman says: “Stay warm and comfortable on colder rides with the Boardman Winter Gloves. Engineered to provide excellent insulation while allowing for optimal dexterity, these gloves feature windproof fabric that effectively blocks out the chill. The longer, adjustable cuff creates a snug seal, preventing drafts and keeping warmth locked in. With a full palm silicone grip, you can maintain control in any weather, while touchscreen-compatible fingers ensure you stay connected without removing your gloves.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Boardman:
Windproof and water-resistant fabric
Insulating layer for warmth in cold conditions
Longer adjustable cuff to retain heat
Silicone-printed palm for superior grip
Touchscreen-compatible index finger and thumb
Absorbent microsuede thumb wipe
Reflective logo for added visibility
Impressive insulation adds bulk, which compromises your dexterity.
I found these gloves very restrictive and stiff.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
No problems in testing.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They’re excellent at keeping out the cold, and decent in the rain, but their stiffness and restrictive fit means they’re not very usable.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
They’re snug, warm and grippy.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Not having freedom of movement in my digits.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They’re a bit cheaper than the Bodylitegear Reflective and Proviz Reflect360, but those promise better waterproofing. Gloves featuring a more sophisticated construction, such as the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Thermo, are double the price.
Did you enjoy using the product? No
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No
Use this box to explain your overall score
They’re good at keeping your hands warm and dry, but this comes at the cost of dexterity and shifter operability. Personally, I’d sacrifice some warmth for more flexibility.
About the tester
Age: 31 Height: 190cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: Fairlight Strael 3.0 My best bike is: Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (2016, rim brake)
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: time trialling, cyclo cross, touring, club rides, Gravel
1 thought on “Boardman Winter Gloves”
If these are the ones I tried
If these are the ones I tried in store they were way too tight to get on even though I don’t have overly big hands… At least I think.
Seems to be a common problem with budget/own brand gloves.