DexShell Thermfit 3.0 Gloves

The DexShell Thermafit 3.0 gloves are lightweight, comfy and withstand a decent amount of rain. Whilst not being cycling-specific gloves, they are perfect for functional riding and perform as well as several significantly more expensive options from leading cycling clothing specialists.

The Thermafit 3.0s resemble everyday knit gloves rather than ‘serious’ winter cycling kit – indeed DexShell intends them to be used for, “hiking, running, cycling, dog-walking, or any outdoor sports and recreational activities where keeping your hands free from cold and moisture is needed.”

I’ve loved testing them. They are exceptionally versatile and were rarely left at home during a recent cold snap. When it comes to durability and price they beat many leading cycling-specific options.

The Thermafit gloves first appeared in 2019 and the three-layer construction remains unchanged: a knitted outer layer and a merino-blend inner lining sandwiching a Porelle waterproof membrane.

Comfort and dexterity

Pull on the Thermafit 3.0s and you quickly notice how flexible they are, while still being cosy against the hand. You can easily wrap your fingers around the bars, operate shifters and brake without feeling like your hands are fighting the glove.

I own an older pair of DexShell Thermafit Neo Gloves and there is a significant difference; the 3.0s offer more freedom of movement. My fingers don’t feel as squeezed or restricted.

I’ve been testing a size medium. I would recommend staying true to size. With so much give in the fabrics, there’s little danger of feeling like you should have sized-up. The cuff is really generous too, so they’re easy to pull over a sleeve.

Made to last

Palmside, there’s a plethora of small silicon tab grippers. They do exactly what grippers should and continue to be effective when wet. If I hadn’t been using the Thermafit Neo (which feature the same tabs) for over three years I’d be sceptical about their durability, but I can vouch for them being near enough bombproof. It’s also worth mentioning that my Thermafit Neo gloves are still like new in every other aspect too.

The absence of seams makes the gloves infinitely more durable than many traditional cycling-specific gloves. I’ve had gloves from Castelli that have been literally falling apart after a couple of winters; strain on the seams as the hands move inside the gloves proving just too much for them. The Thermafits are wholly immune to this kind of demise.

Given their ‘general-purpose’ tag, it’s no surprise that there is no palmside padding. I’ve never suffered on the road, but I wouldn’t want to use them for prolonged, rough gravel or off-road riding.

Touchy, touchy

Both the thumb and index fingers are made to be touchscreen compatible. They’ve been 100 per cent reliable on my GPS screen and smartwatch, but it’s a different story with my smartphone. This may be related to the fact that I have a screen protector on it – although the Thermafit Neo are noticeably more reliable.

This meant I invariably took a glove off whenever I needed to use my phone. Thankfully, getting them back on is a breeze.

Waterproofing and breathability

The merino-based lining has its pros and cons. It feels warm without being stuffy and feels more luxurious against the skin than a wholly synthetic liner. My hands weren’t immune to sweating in milder temperatures, or when riding intensively, but they didn’t feel a chill if I stopped, despite the gloves taking a while to dry out.

Pulling the gloves off doesn’t pull out a lining, and getting them back on isn’t a battle. I’d certainly opt for these over something with a liner that transforms into a wet cloth, comes out as you remove the gloves, and can take an age to prise back on.

DexShell gives the Thermafit 3.0s a ‘thermal rating’ of 3 (out of 5), suggesting a range of 0°C to 10°C. I’d say the lower limit is right if you are walking or hiking, but it doesn’t really align with my experience while cycling. I found the lower limit to be about 4°C here.

They’re not deep-winter gloves. If you’re riding in sub-zero temperatures for hours, you’ll want something thicker or layered. It’s a similar story at the upper end of that recommended temperature range. The 3.0s are overkill on the bike nearing double digits, but fine for walking or hiking.

A 30- to 40-minute commute in continual rain is no problem for the Pourelle membrane, but a two-hour training ride in the same conditions results in wet, though thankfully not too cold, hands, providing the temperature is above 5°C.

In short, they have a narrow window of performance on the bike – I’d say between 5 and 8°C, but off the bike, this window is much wider.

Comparisons

Most of the gloves we review are cycling-specific. However, there are one or two that compare directly. The Velotoze Knitted Waterproof Gloves are one example. Since they are marketed as cycling-specific gloves, Steve’s review isn’t so glowing. The £45.90 price tag isn’t as attractive as DexShell’s £35 either.

Defeet’s DuraGlove Grippies are much closer price-wise, but they don’t offer anything close to the level of protection that DexShell’s do.

While we haven’t reviewed them, GripGrab’s £50 Waterproof Knitted Gloves look very similar. For that extra £15 you get a tiny bit of reflective detailing, or arguably the better high-vis yellow alternative.

Dexshell has actually added three more colours since sending these for review, although none is super bright.

> Keep your digits toasty on the bike: the best winter cycling gloves for riding through the colder months

Conclusion

The DexShell Thermafit 3.0s are solid grey-weather gloves that get the basics right. They’re waterproof, flexible, comfortable and exceptionally durable – pretty much ideal for commuting.

Whilst they won’t handle the coldest of temperatures that you might want to ride in, they will get plenty of use off the bike too, if you enjoy being outdoors in winter. That makes the price very attractive.