The Endura MT500 Freezing Point waterproof gloves are a thermal and waterproof set of riding gloves aimed at brutal winter conditions. The DWR coating and inner membrane keep them dry all day and the insulation never fails to keep the wind chill at bay. Endura have done a great job of keeping these gloves dexterous considering the thermal performance however brake lever and bar feel may not be sufficient for the most technical of riding.
Endura MT500 Freezing Point Waterproof Gloves – Technical Details
As the name suggest, these gloves are designed for some serious winter conditions with features that’ll keep your hands warms and dry. The top of the hand is made from a softshell outer which has plenty of stretch to be non-restrictive and has a PFC-free DWR water repellent coating to keep the water out. Waterproofness doesn’t stop there thanks to an internal membrane which is waterproof and breathable. To keep the cold out and the warmth in, Primaloft Gold insulation is used which is designed to be low-bulk, lightweight and breathable. A long cuff, elasticated around the wrist, with hoop and loop adjustment further aids keeping the weather out.
The palm and fingers use a suede-like outer and a fleece inner lining along with plenty of silicone gripper across the palm, index and middle finger. There is no mention of device/screen compatibility for these gloves, but this will be tested.
To round out the glove, the top of the whole thumb uses a micro-fibre material for wiping away perspiration or clearing glasses lenses.
Endura back these gloves with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee where they’re so confident of the product they will offer a no-quibble refund or replacement policy within 90 days of purchase.
The Endura MT500 freezing point waterproof gloves are available in 6 sizes ranging from XS – XXL and only the black colourway.
Endura MT500 Freezing Point Waterproof Gloves – Performance
Starting with the fit, Endura have got this spot on. With the size large on test, the fingers are a great length and taper nicely to the tip without any baggy material. The finger tips are finished well to not leave any seams which could affect feeling through the glove. The same attention has been applied to the thumb along with a large wipe on the top which is excellent for cleaning lenses, it nice to get more than one or two wipes before they usually stop being effective.
The elasticated wrist and inner fleece lining make putting the gloves on a little tricky requiring some hand wriggling to get the hand in and the inner lining organised. Once settled, the cuff is easily secured and you’re good to go.
The windchill and cold weather performance on these gloves is impressive, they do a great job of keeping the windchill out and manage heat well up to around 6 degrees Celsius. The inner microfleece lining wicks moisture keeping things comfortable when sweaty however I have found the lining to be clingy to skin when moisture is involved. This makes taking off and putting on the gloves a little tricky if your hands are wet. Waterproofness is excellent on these gloves, they showed no problem defending against persistent downpours and I didn’t notice any lack of thermal protection when wet.
Riding feel with these gloves is impressive considering the thicker construction and warmth on offer. The inner fleece lining does move independently to the outer which is noticeable around the palm when gripping the bars but it is minimal. It is clear special attention has been given to seam placement as I’ve found the dexterity on offer with these thick gloves to be excellent. It is certainly not a summer glove level of feel but they’re ok for some light technical riding with enough feel to use brakes and shifters effectively. This is aided by the silicone grippers on the fingers and palm which help, especially when wet.
Endura MT500 Freezing Point Waterproof Gloves – Value and verdict
At £65 the Endura MT500 Freezing Point waterproof gloves aren’t cheap however they’re well priced amongst other gloves offering similar performance and quality. If you’re looking for a thermal glove for the worst weather, the Scott Aqua GTX LF glove is worth considering. At £70 they’re slightly more expensive than the MT500 gloves but they were praised for their waterproofness and ability to seal out the weather with long cuffs but are bulky.
Fo the same money, the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex thermo gloves are another option, they’re less dexterous than the MT500 gloves and are aimed more at touring rather than technical riding but their ability to keep the harsh weather out is impressive.
The Endura MT500 Freezing Point waterproof gloves prove to be a trusty winter companion for less technical riding keeping out the cold and wet. Although they are impressively dexterous given their thermal performance, brake lever and bar feel may not be sufficient for the most technical of riding.
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