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Best winter cycling gloves 2023 — keep your hands toasty on the bike during the colder monthswinter cycling gloves

Best winter cycling gloves 2023 — keep your hands toasty on the bike during the colder months

Our selection of the best winter cycling gloves will help you to enjoy your two wheeled winter adventures no matter how cold it gets
by Charlotte Broughton
UPDATED Thu, Dec 15, 2022 09:01

First Published Dec 15, 2022

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During the winter months (and also sometimes the spring and summer if you live in Blighty), cold temperatures can see us cyclists wrapping up in plenty of layers and of course... reaching for an exceptionally warm pair of gloves! Investing in some of the best winter gloves that your budget allows is the way to go if you want to keep the heat in and cold out.


Yep, as much as that chap at the lights in bare hands might look like a hero, it's a pretty fruitless show of machismo that isn't going to help you get the best out of yourself at all if you decide to venture out in the cold with no gloves. No one wants to be stuck in the big ring up a climb because your hands are simply too cold to allow you to shift and change gear, which we have actually heard of in an ultimate worst case scenario example. 

The best winter cycling gloves will keep your hands both warm and dry no matter how nasty the weather gets; although, it’s important to know that there are usually some trade-offs with regards to bulk and dexterity as protection increases. Look for windproof and waterproof outer shell fabrics, combined with soft, warm liners that keep you comfortable even if the weather seeps in. Reflective patches can also be a useful feature for signalling and general visibility. 

With regards to sizing, luckily most brands will also provide a wide enough sizing range to cater for larger and smaller hands. Therefore, regardless of your gender, age or size, you can pretty much opt for whatever takes your fancy unlike items such as bib shorts and tights, where any worth buying will have been designed with anatomy in mind when it comes to the shape and padding. 

If you aren’t entirely sure where to start, given there are so many different types of cycling gloves around, we've put together some top picks from our best-rated winter gloves of recent times and chosen them on what they're best for: some are very toasty and ideal for deep winter, others are more for mid-season and some could be paired with a thermal liner so you can wear them in a wider range of temperatures.

Be sure to couple whichever pair takes your fancy with some of the best winter bib tights and one of the best cycling jackets you can afford, and you’ll be ready to face the elements... well almost, as some decent overshoes are also absolutely essential for keeping your feet warm! 

The best winter cycling gloves: our top picks

Galibier Barrier Deep Winter Gloves

Galibier Barrier Deep Winter Gloves

9
Best winter cycling gloves overall
Buy now for £28.68 from Galibier
Very warm
Surprisingly cheap
Comfortable
Excellent price
No touchscreen compatibility

With some clever details, Galibier's Barrier Deep Winter Gloves ensure toasty hands when temperatures drop to low single figures and below. They're very affordable, too. 

While no single detail makes the Barrier Deep Winter Gloves stand out, our reviewer was very impressed with the combination of  insulation, total windproofing, reasonable water-resistance, reflective details, a comfortable neoprene-and-Velcro cuff and a grippy palm. You also get things you'd expect in gloves at this price like soft fabric on the back of the thumb to wipe a runny nose, and gel padding at the bottom of the palm to cushion your hands.

They're not too bulky either, and while you can't operate a touchscreen through them you'll be able to operate bar-mounted lights and gadgets perfectly fine. 

Read our review:
Galibier Barrier Deep Winter Gloves
Altura Micro Fleece Gloves

Altura Microfleece Glove

9
Best budget winter cycling gloves for milder temperatures
Buy now for £11.99 from Amazon
Good windproofing
Affordable
Soft fabric
The stitching could be better

Altura's Micro Fleece Gloves may be a lot cheaper than the other gloves on our guide, but they are still a really great option if you were looking for a fleecy, less bulky choice that are soft and comfortable. With an RRP of £16.99, you can hardly go wrong. 

Although they feature a very simple design, they work very well. With grippy silicone covering the palms, these gloves offer fantastic grip, even in the wet. As well as that, they also feature a windproof back to keep you protected from windchill. Easily offering warmth in temperatures heading towards freezing, they are very impressive, especially given the price.

All in all, if you are looking for winter cycling gloves that will cover you for all but really cold days and you're on a budget, the Altura Micro Fleece Gloves will serve you very well. Although cheap, they are not poorly constructed: the material is very soft and comfortable against the skin.

Read our review:
Altura Micro Fleece Gloves
Bontrager Velocis Softshell Cycling Gloves

Bontrager Velocis Softshell Cycling Gloves

8
Best high-end winter cycling gloves for cold temperatures
Buy now for £46.99 from Triton Cycles
Warm below freezing
Soft liner
Decent water resistance
A bit sweaty at the top end of their range

The warmth, quality and sensible price of the Bontrager Velocis Softshell Cycling gloves lands them our best overall winter cycling gloves gong in this guide at the time of writing. They are incredibly warm, block all wind and stand up to some pretty heavy rain. Not only that, but the dexterity is decent too, and the fingertips work well enough on a touchscreen. 

Benefitting from Thinsulate material, they do their job of keeping you warm impressively well, even on sub-zero days according to our reviewer. Then when stopped or descending down long descents, you shouldn't run the risk of getting cold hands. These gloves also offer good resistance to rain, keeping you dry and warm during heavier downpours, which is definitely needed while riding throughout winter. 

The warmth these gloves offer is impressive, though once it turns a little milder our reviewer reported that they can get a little bit sweaty. They are, however, fantastic for riding in the depths of winter.

Read our review:
Bontrager Velocis Softshell Cycling Gloves
Triban 900 Winter Cycling Gloves

Triban 900 Winter Cycling Gloves

9
Most affordable cycling gloves for deep winter
Buy now for £29.99 from Decathlon
Warm
Water-resistant
Comfortable
Excellent price

The top glove model in Triban's range is still very affordable, and is as good if not better than similar gloves costing twice the price according to our reviewer. 

Decathlon says these gloves are designed to keep your hands toasty down to zero Celsius, and that's exactly what they do. They also do a surprisingly good job of fending off the wet for gloves that make no claim to being more than 'water-repellent'. The softshell outer combines with a fleece lining sewn in, and a soft, flexible palm in Chicron synthetic suede. The fleece lining keeps your hands toasty, the softshell stops the wind and fends off showers, while the palm provides decent grip. You can also operate a touchscreen through them. 

Read our review:
Triban 900 Winter Cycling Gloves
Velotoze Waterproof Gloves

Velotoze Waterproof Gloves

9
Best winter cycling gloves for racing
Buy now for £39.58 from Amazon
Work perfectly in cold and rainy conditions
Exceptional dexterity
Great grip
Sweaty hands in mild weather
Slightly annoying stitching

The Velotoze Waterproof Gloves are excellent winter cycling gloves for cyclocross or early-season racing where rain, cold temperatures and bitter winds are common and expected. The slim design coupled with the stretchy material results in both exceptional dexterity and feel.

Performance-wise, these gloves feature a waterproof outer layer which offers total waterproofing. This outer layer not only offers exceptional waterproofing, but also great wind protection while still being close-fitting and lightweight. They also keep your hands warm in single digit temperatures, which is rather impressive given how slim the material is.

All in all the Velotoze Waterproof Gloves provide excellent grip and dexterity, which makes them perfect for racing in when the weather is less than ideal. They would also make a good choice if you just wanted a very waterproof glove that wasn’t too thick.

Read our review:
Velotoze Waterproof Gloves
Spatz Thrmoz Deep Winter Gloves

Spatz Thrmoz Deep Winter Gloves

8
Best winter cycling gloves for dexterity
Buy now for £79.99 from Merlin Cycles
Fold-out windshell adds extra protection
Small hole for index finger works a treat
Excellent feel for the warmth
Small zip can be hard to use with the gloves on
Limited insulation

The Spatz Thrmoz Deep Winter Gloves may not be the warmest in our guide, but they are impressively dexterous and offer an excellent feel: no longer does opting for warmth mean you can’t move and grab snacks from your back pocket, because our reviewer reckoned these gloves solve that issue. 

Designed and tested in Yorkshire, these gloves feature a really useful fold-out windshell that offers a great extra level of protection for your fingers. Not only that, but the cuff is also really long which helps to effectively keep your wrists warm and allow for a generous amount of overlap of your jacket.

Another great feature of these gloves are the 'peepy index finger hole'. This hole didn't let in the elements, even in the coldest temperatures, and it makes using any type of phone, or other gadgets, far easier and hassle-free. 

If you want to be able to move about and use gadgets like your phone or bike computer while riding throughout the colder months, you should undoubtedly consider investing in the Spatz Thrmoz Deep Winter Gloves. 

Read our review:
Spatz Thrmoz Deep Winter Gloves
Galibier Ardennes Light Winter Gloves

Galibier Ardennes Light Winter Gloves

9
Best cycling gloves for ‘shoulder season’
Buy now for £23.64 from Galibier
Six sizes
Rugged build
Great price
Work really well

The Galibier Ardennes Light Winter Gloves are a brilliant option for those milder in-between days where you need the added protection for your hands, but don’t need a full on deep winter glove. They're warm, comfortable, slim, have a decent shape and are well made. All of this comes at a very reasonable price, too. 

Galibier claims these gloves to be 'Light Winter', and that’s exactly what they are, performing really well in mild temperatures for our reviewer. They also feature a suede palm which extends beneath your fingers for great grip, as well as silicone pads which provide even more grip plus effective, unobtrusive padding where your weight is resting.

Overall, the Galibier Ardennes Light Winter Gloves are just really great mild weather gloves, and best for those days when it's cool but not icy. Not only that but they are robust, comfortable and don't cost much. 

Read our review:
Galibier Ardennes Light Winter Gloves
Dissent 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack

Dissent 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack

9
Best 'ready-for-anything' winter cycling glove set
Buy now for £109 from Dissent
Each layer does its job very well
Excellent dexterity
The closure system could be simpler
Expensive

If you want a layered glove 'system' to cover all bases, look no further than this luxurious set from Dissent. The 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack offers a versatile package to ensure that you're ready no matter what the elements decide to throw your way: be it rain, the cold or wind. It should mean that you and your hands are ready-for-anything the elements can throw at you. 

The pack will easily see you through multiple autumn, winter and springs for road and commuter riding. In the pack you get a silk liner glove, knitted thermal layer, a windproof shell layer and finally a waterproof shell layer. All these layers can be worn individually, and Dissent 133 provides a guide of what to wear in specific conditions. Not only that, but after regular usage and washing our reviewer found that the waterproofing was still almost as good as new. 

Across the board each layer does its intended job very well, protecting your hands from the elements, keeping them dry as well as warm. With so much range and versatility this pack really is a great choice if you want to be prepared throughout the colder months and into spring; although, it's a fair amount of cash to stump up for the privilege. 

Read our review:
Dissent 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack
Castelli Perfetto RoS women's gloves

Castelli Perfetto RoS Women's Gloves

9
Best winter cycling gloves for women
Buy now for £45.99 from Rutland Cycling
Warm
Stay warm when wet
Really well made
Great fit
Expensive

The Castelli Perfetto RoS Women's Gloves are a really well made pair of women-specific cycling gloves. Offering great protection and warmth from the harsh elements, these gloves are a great fit and keep you warm even when soaked through according to our reviewer. 

Performing well in temperatures as cold as 3° thanks to the fleece lining, these gloves really offer great warmth for typical British conditions in autumn and winter. The Gore-Tex Infinium outer shell is also very windproof, and light persistent rain is no problem. Additionally, the palm also features padding which offers improved comfort when holding the bars.

Overall, these gloves are somewhat of a luxurious option, but the quality is great and they perform very well. Perfect for those mornings that start out cold, or afternoons when temperatures quickly fall away. They are also a great fit and really comfy, so all in all a great buy, if a little expensive. They also come in a men's version too. 

Read our review:
Castelli Perfetto RoS Women's Gloves
Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves

Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves

8
Best water-resistant winter cycling gloves
Buy now for £69 from Sigma Sports
Warm
Slimline design
Impressive weatherproofing
Expensive
Not great for use with a watch

The Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves are our best water-resistant winter cycling gloves as they offer impressive weatherproofing qualities thanks to the outer material being water resistant. Couple this with their impressive level of insulation for a thinner glove, and you are onto a winner... but all this will cost you a handsome fee. 

Even though these gloves offer a surprising level of warmth (and water resistance of course), they are also surprisingly streamline, not bulky or restrictive, offering stretch as well as a nice long cuff that zips up, helping to keep heat in and the rain out. They also feature touchscreen inserts on the tips of the thumbs and forefingers which work well for when needing to use your phone. 

Overall, if you want a decent level of rain protection from a mild winter glove, the Castelli Spettacolo RoS are a really great set of water resistant gloves to invest in. They aren’t fully waterproof and do come at a price, but if you do have £110 to spend, or find them in a sale, they are definitely worth considering.

Read our review:
Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves
Santini Fjord Gloves

Santini Fjord Gloves

8
Best deep winter cycling gloves
Buy now for £42.99 from Bike Inn
Very warm
Easy to get on
Handy additional pocket
Adequate dexterity
Expensive

If deep winter cycling gloves are what you're after, then look no further. The Santini Fjord Gloves are a really well insulated pair that will ensure your hands keep nice and toasty, even on the coldest days. Not to mention, for bulkier gloves they also offer reasonable dexterity. 

These gloves are very warm and the inner lining stays in place, instead of moving around as they do with some gloves, which makes putting them on much easier. They also feature a big thick strap at the cuff which secures the gloves very well. As well as that, although they don’t claim protection from rain, they still hold up impressively well during rainy rides, likely due to their thickness. 

Overall the Santini Fjord Gloves are a really solid option for anyone who feels the cold particularly badly. Yes they are maybe a little on the pricey side, but they are an impressive pair of gloves for deep winter, keeping your hands toasty without overheating.

Read our review:
Santini Fjord Gloves
Assos Assosoires Winter Gloves

Assos Assosoires Winter Gloves

9
Best luxury winter cycling gloves
Buy now for £49 from Assos
Great warmth to weight ratio
Fit
Windproof
Showerproof
Dexterity and touchscreen fingers
Price
No nose-wipe

The Assos Assosoires Winter Gloves are both windproof and water-resistant, and thus are perfect for the majority of winter riding including freezing frosty mornings. Not to mention, as expected from Assos, the quality and fit of the gloves is excellent. 

Even on cold frosty mornings, the Assos gloves were brilliant according to our reviewer. They easily keep your fingers toasty in temperatures right down to freezing, which given they aren’t a bulky glove is rather impressive. These gloves also offer windproof and showerproof protection, thanks to the water repellent fabric that has been used on the outer of the gloves. Yet despite all of this protection, these gloves offer a solid level of breathability. 

Overall, if you often opt for luxury items and tend to dislike wearing gloves, especially thicker winter ones that offer little in the way of dexterity, then these are a great option for you. Yes, they might be pricey, but they are definitely an investment worth making if your budget allows for it.

Read our review:
Assos Assosoires Winter Gloves

How to choose from the best winter cycling gloves

faq-icon
What are the best winter gloves for cycling?

As mentioned in our introduction, there's no definitive answer here as it depends on what temperature you're riding in and how much dexterity you're prepared to sacrifice for glove thickness.

If most of your riding is commuting at a more sedate pace, it's probably better to go as warm as you can because you're not going to be needing to do rapid shifts, or operate a cycling computer. If you mostly train hard outside in winter then you'll want to make sure your gloves still allow you to operate skinny road bike levers with little hindrance. Even so, there aren't too many situations where overdressing your hands is going to lead to sweatiness that could wreck your ride, whereas overdoing it on your body can lead to a pretty unpleasant boil-in-the-bag feeling. To clarify, it's better to err on the side of slightly too warm than too cold when it comes to extremities. 

Gloves such as our top recommendation, the Bontrager Velocis Softshell, offer inner liners which coupled with water-resistant outers, work to keep you both warm and dry during unforgiving weather conditions. A good set of winter gloves will also have a windproof outer, ensuring cold winds keep out and warmth stays in. Look for these key features when picking your winter gloves if you want to give your digits the best chance of staying toasty.

faq-icon
What fabrics are used in winter cycling gloves?

You'll find the usual range of wind and waterproof fabrics on offer in the glove market, including Gore-Tex and other waterproof/breathable fabrics.

Much as with jackets, windproof fabrics with water-resistant coatings are popular thanks to lower bulk and a softer feel. Gloves often have reinforced areas of heavier-duty fabric at key points: between thumb and forefinger, on the palm, and at the fingertips. Inside, some form of synthetic insulating fabric is the norm, although you'll also find natural materials like Merino wool and silk.

 

faq-icon
What are the best padded cycling gloves?

We've nominated the Galibier Ardennes Light gloves as our most impressively padded option in this guide, thanks to their padding on the inside of the palm directly where you would rest your weight when holding onto your handlebars. This helps to reduce your chances of getting numbness in your palms and helps to relieve any pain that resting your weight on your hands may cause.

It's also worth noting that the padding itself doesn't always need to be really thick to be effective, as some thinner padding that is just well positioned can make a huge difference for your comfort levels. On the other hand (pardon the pun), if you find the padding in gloves doesn't fully offer the comfort you require, you might have better luck replacing your current bar tape with a thicker, more comfortable one. This will help to absorb any vibrations from the road, and add an added layer of protection for your hands while sucking up the lumps and bumps from underneath you. 

> Best bar tape

faq-icon
Should cycling gloves be tight or loose?

Cycling gloves should be reasonably close-fitting, to keep warmth in and the cold elements out. Similar to how a base layer works on your body, you want your gloves to be a nice snug fit to help retain your heat. Although some gloves will have a closer fit than others, which is just down to the design and the purpose of the gloves: fleecy or neoprene gloves tend to he a lot tighter fitting than big thick deep winter gloves, for example.

Another reason for gloves needing to be a snug fit, is because it reduces the risk of the gloves rubbing against your skin and causing chafing. Therefore, not only is ensuring your gloves have a good close fit to your hands important for warmth, but it's also important to ensure your overall comfort, because no one wants irritation from gloves. 

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What other features do winter cycling gloves have?

Adjustable Velcro cuffs are pretty much de rigeur with gloves, and full-on long-cuffed winter gloves will often have adjustable drawcords at the base of the cuffs too. These can be useful (pull in for extra snugness, let out for ventilation) but can get tangled up with jacket sleeves. You'll often find gloves that concentrate insulation and weatherproofing on the back and keep the palm thin.

This works well for dexterity. Most manufacturers have their own variant on ergonomically-designed padding, with pads positioned to align with common pressure points. Watch out for gloves designed for flat bars, though – different bits of your hands take the weight on drops and you can find that what would be a useful pad on flats becomes a slightly annoying lump on drops.

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What are the different types of winter cycling gloves?

There's a lot of choice in gloves. Here's a look at the full spectrum:

Thin or liner gloves
If it's merely a bit chilly out, you may need no more than a full-fingered summer-weight glove – it's amazing how much difference just covering your fingertips can make. Moving a step beyond that is a whole range of thin, lightweight insulated gloves that typically lack much in the way of weatherproofing but will keep fingers warmer than summer gloves in autumn or spring conditions.

While some thin gloves feature closely-woven fabric and a water-resistant coating to extend their capabilities, usually they're overfaced by strong winds and proper rain. But they're useful things to have in your glove armoury for less chilly days. Some gloves can double as (or are marketed specifically as) an extra insulating layer under a wind- or waterproof pair. If you're looking for gloves to do only this job, the thinner the better – silk is a good option.

Windproof gloves
The advantage of windproof gloves over fully waterproof ones is that they usually breathe a bit better, keeping your hands from getting all clammy. They're also often less bulky and with a softer feel than full waterproof gloves.

The obvious disadvantage is that rain can get in, although most windproof gloves have a water-resistant coating that keeps rain at bay up to a point. A good choice for cold but dry days, and the naturally warm-handed will benefit from the better breathability.

Waterproof gloves
Waterproof gloves come with varying amounts of insulation, with that being a trade-off between warmth and bulk.

Many riders will find that keeping wind and water out means that they can get away with less insulation, while others will need all the help they can get. Bear in mind that you can always boost the warmth of gloves by adding liners, but it's usually trickier to cool them down.

Two-part gloves
Two-part gloves are exactly what they sound like, with an outer shell glove to ward off wind and rain and an inner liner glove contributing thermal insulation.

You can of course assemble a glove 'system' like this from separate bits, but an off-the-shelf two-part glove will have components that are designed to work together – you can be sure that there'll be enough room inside the shell for the liner and that the shapes of the two layers are complementary.

Two-part gloves are a great, versatile choice but if you're a warm-handed person then you may be paying for extra insulation that you'll rarely need.

faq-icon
Are cycling gloves good for winter?

We hope you've gathered by now, but for those at the back... yes, cycling gloves are not just good, but absolutely essential for the winter! It's a good idea to wear some form of full-fingered gloves whenever the temps drop below the mid-teens, and it's especially important to protect your hands when those temps drop even lower. 

First and foremost, wearing a pair of gloves can help to keep your hands warm due to the insulation they offer, as well as dry if they have water resistant or waterproof qualities. This of course helps to keep your body temperature regulated during cold rides, which is really important when exercising in the cold. Not only does wearing cycling gloves in the winter help you to keep warm, but they also help you to stay comfortable thanks to padding that is often featured on the palm on the gloves.

Another great reason for wearing cycling gloves in the winter is the elements can irritate and damage the skin on your hands. No matter how much hand cream you use, riding for hours in harsh winds will irritate and dry the skin on your hands out, which is not something anyone wants to deal with. With this being said, if you were thinking of venturing out on your bike into the cold without gloves... don't! Invest in a great set of gloves, take care of them and enjoy your cold weather riding. It's never going to be fun if you have freezing cold hands.  

Gloves
Winter cycling gloves
Cycling gloves
warm cycling gloves
Charlotte Broughton

Having learnt to ride a bike in order to race age 4, Charlotte is no stranger to life on two wheels. Racing across multiple disciplines over the years, she now focuses her time on road racing. Racing at the UCI continental level with her British based team. Not only that, but Charlotte has many years experience working within the cycling industry alongside her racing endeavours. Therefore, it’s fair to say that anything with two wheels is right up her street.