Alé Nordik Glove

The Ale Nordik gloves are relatively svelte yet cosy, only undone when the windchill hits freezing. To be honest, for me there aren't many gloves that can deal with a sub-zero windchill effectively, and those that can tend to be thick and cumbersome. The Nordiks aren't this at all, which allows good feel and dexterity.

Outside, they're built of a softshell fabric, while on the inside you'll find a thin fleece lining for comfort and added warmth. It's a good combination, and suits everything but the wettest or coldest of weather, making them good for most winter weather conditions. You'll also find a soft snot panel on the back of both hands for seamless nose wiping.

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They fit flush to the skin, offering great dexterity at the fingers, so you can still reach into your back pockets easily and operate things like zips, or peel a banana. You'll also be able to operate your phone thanks to the silver touchscreen fingertips on the forefingers, which is a nice... touch.

Padding is adequate, if not totally plush. You could argue this is in keeping with the aesthetics of the glove, but it's an area that could use a little more padding, especially if you struggle with pressure points on your hands. Nevertheless, unless you're heading out on a winter century, they'll do a decent job in most cases.

Styling is understated – unusual for Ale – but still keeps some flourishes with the upper covered in a shiny black Ale logo, and fluoro yellow grippers on the palm and the topside of the fingers. I can't see how such narrow strips of fluoro is supposed to be high-vis, but it does look stylish. They're also attached to the softshell very well too, although an upper shiny layer began to peel off after a few rides.

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The actual bulk of the grippers have stayed in place, so build quality remains pretty decent across the board – no seams or sticking has come undone, and I would see these lasting for use next year as well.

That's just as well, because £45 is relatively high for a pair of gloves that will probably be defeated by the coldest weather Britain will offer this winter, and could use a touch more padding for the longest of rides.

That said, for everything else they're a decent, stylish pair, with ample padding for anything up to 60-80-mile rides in mid-single figure temperatures. A decent offering from Ale.

Verdict

Despite a few flaws, these are a decent pair of winter gloves that will suit many riders