7iDP Chill Gloves Review

The 7iDP Chill gloves are ideal for riding in the UK almost year-round. Remaining warm in temperatures down to around freezing, as long as conditions are damp to dry. They’re not suited for really wet, cold riding, lacking any waterproofing and insulation. They fall short of being a properly excellent winter glove with some premature wear and a short cuff. 

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7iDP Chill Gloves – fabric and build

7iDP Chill Gloves Review 2022 3.JPG, by Jim Clarkson

Using a two-piece (palm and stitched thumb), the 7iDP Chill Gloves are windproof and has worn well. They feel comfortable while remaining thin enough to provide a decent feel on the bars. Inside the glove is a Microfleece backed neoprene material, which is the main reason for the warmth when riding.

The cuff is one piece of neoprene, and whilst it wraps well around the wrist, I’d loved it to have been a little bit longer to get a better overlap with my sleeves. The velcro closure was effective and remained shut, and was large enough for varying wrist sizes.

The braking fingers and thumb have silicone strips to add grip, and they cover a fairly large area. However, this began to peel and wear surprisingly quick. Apparently, the fingertips are touch screen compatible; I didn’t find this the case unless wet. Then, it was pointless and had no real accuracy.

The back of the hand offers a sizeable amount of reflective material, adding a nod to visibility. There is also a moisture wicking area on the thumb, which looks identical to the main body of the glove, in all honesty.

I had a size medium, which was a little snug for me but ended up feeling fine when riding. I was impressed with the level of warmth on faster rides for the weight and bulk of the glove.

7iDP Chill Gloves – on the trails

7iDP Chill Gloves Review 2022 1.JPG, by Jim Clarkson

The 7iDP Chill Gloves felt good to ride in. They kept my hands warm on different cold-weather rides, working well in damp, windy, and cold rides. For a non-waterproof glove, they did well until a certain point, and once really saturated, they quickly lost their ability to keep you warm.

With a definite ability for warmth in drier conditions, if you were riding quicker and generating good body warmth, the 7iDP Chill Gloves are quite capable. While they lack the bulk of proper winter gloves, it’s good to have the low bulk feel of a milder weather glove.

The thinner palm offered a ‘feel’ to the bar, and whilst there are no padded areas, I found the glove comfy right away. It doesn’t feel like a glove for high mileage riding, more for keeping warm for laps on the local hill or short, fast winter rides – gravel or trail type. I didn’t find the ‘moisture-wicking thumb panel’ any different from the main top of the glove – it wasn’t great for wiping off snot, sorry, ‘moisture’.

One thing that was surprising was how quick the silicone grip pattern on the fingers wore off. It began peeling on the second ride – the rest of the glove seems ok, and all the other seams remain solid. Just a little disappointing to happen.

7iDP Chill Gloves – summing up

7iDP Chill Gloves Review 2022 2.JPG, by Jim Clarkson

If you are after a pair of gloves for dry to damp riding conditions, then the 7iDP Chill Gloves are worth a thought. I was impressed with the warmth when it was dry cold, and even when the weather was below 10-C and damp, they remained effective.

They don’t work so well in cold, wet, prolonged rides when the lack of waterproofing and bulkier insulation becomes apparent. Still, for short rides doing laps, or faster rides where you produce more body heat, they are a capable if not amazing glove.

It’s a shame about the premature wear on the fingers and that the touch screen fingertips didn’t work; otherwise, for dry, cold days or faster-paced rides, the 7iDP Chill Gloves are decent enough for consideration. At £30, they are pretty good value, especially when compared to ION’s more recent Haze Amp winter glove at £58, which failed to keep Jessica’s hands warm or very dry. However, the 100% Brisker Cold Weather gloves, at £27, are a highly-acclaimed favourite for providing warmth, comfort and winter protection.

• 7idp.co.uk

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