Santini Deep Double Layer Winter Glove

The Santini Deep Double Layer Winter gloves are some of the toastiest I've worn, which considering their rather svelte construction is something I find pretty amazing. With the weight and bulk of a spring/autumn glove, the double layer construction does an excellent job of keeping the cold out and the warmth in.

• Pros: Super toastie digits, reasonably priced online
• Cons: Yellow gets grubby (only this colour available), hand wash only

I bet that any cyclist who rides whatever the weather has an entire selection of gloves in their kit box for winter, as no one glove seems able to do it all. These Santinis aren't going to change that, but if you need a glove that's going to cope with probably the coldest temperatures you're going to find yourself riding in, these are the kiddies.

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Santini claims a temperature range of -8°C to +5°C. Living in the south-west of England I haven't seen the mercury drop to those levels for a good few winters, but on the odd -3°C morning ride these have been exceptional.

The outer fabric is a polyester/elastane mix, which creates a kind of softshell material. There is some water resistance from light rain and the like even though Santini doesn't actually claim any. It'll keep you dry for half an hour or so in moderate showers.

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It's windproof, though, and even descending into the chilliest of Arctic winds your fingers will stay totally warm and comfortable.

The inner lining is a fleece-backed Roubaix-style fabric and it is great against the skin: soft and warm. It's breathable enough when the temperatures are below freezing, aided a little by the tiny vent holes found on the palm, but if you do get close to that upper temp of +5°C things can get a little on the clammy side.

The palm uses what feels like silicone 'S' logos for grip and they do a good job if you've got wet, shiny handlebar tape. It is also found around the thumb and along the side of the index figure for grip on the hoods, plus it'll resist wear and tear.

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The thumbs also have a 'snot wipe' too, which is a must for riding in the chilly air.

Padding isn't overly generous, but then again it often isn't on winter gloves. All you get is a round pad to protect your ulnar nerve. It does the job and I never really felt the need for any more.

It's also good to see a long cuff that'll fit up under the sleeve of a winter jacket. This stops cold air and water entering at the wrist and Santini has just used a single layer of fabric here to keep bulk down. You also get tabs for pulling the gloves on with.

> Buyer's Guide: 21 of the best winter cycling gloves

The Santinis only come in this black and yellow colourway, which is great for a bit of high-visibility but it does get grubby if you are out riding on wet, salt-covered, muddy roads. This is compounded by the fact that Santini only recommends hand washing the gloves, and even with plenty of scrubbing I couldn't get them to come up looking fresh.

I've been bunging them in the machine on a 30°C wash cycle with no ill effects.

Priced at £39.99, these Santinis sit around the same area as a lot of other gloves that we've recently tested. The Gore Universal Windstoppers at £42.99, for instance, or the Altura Thermo Elite gloves at £34.99.

The Santinis are great quality and the fit is spot on to the sizing chart found on its website, so I'd say they are well worth the investment. If you shop around you can find them for around £25 too.

Verdict

Great gloves for sub-zero temperatures, but they can get grubby