Caratti Deep Winter Gloves

Caratti's Deep Winter Gloves are warm, windproof and comfortable, and they come at a very good price.

As the name suggests, these are gloves for cold weather. Caratti say they're for days when the temperature is 10°C or below. I feel the cold about as much as anyone I know – usually suffering in silence, I might add [cough! – Ed] – but even I found these too warm at 10°C. About 8°C is the warmest I'd be wearing these, lower for many other people. Of course, it might depend on how far you're going and how hard you're riding too.

They're made from a mixture of polyester and nylon with 3M Thinsulate providing the insulation. The fleecy interior is very comfy and you can't pull the inner away from the outer when you take your hand out because they're joined together (there's little more annoying than that halfway through a ride).

The exterior fabric is windproof and water resistant, although rain does seep in gradually on very wet rides. Textured palms and fingers help with grip on damp handlebar tape and reinforcement in key areas should help with durability.

The elasticated cuffs are plenty long enough to avoid draughts around your wrists while the wipe on the back of the thumb is handy for shifting sweat and – let's be honest – snot.

The reflective piping on the back of each hand is a useful addition for night riding while the logo on the forefinger is stitched rather than stuck on, so it's there for the long haul.

You'd have to say that these are pretty bulky gloves, and I sometimes found it difficult to distinguish between the two Shimano STI levers while wearing them, but I'd rather that than cold hands. Once your hands get cold, you're on a slippery slope to a cut-short ride or, at least, you're going to start enduring it rather than enjoying it.

All in all, these are really good gloves for the price.

Verdict

Warm, windproof and comfortable gloves at a very good price