7 of the best winter road and commuting gloves

Winter gloves (BikeRadar©.)

Winter gloves are an important part of the seasonal cycling wardrobe. Trying to control a bike using two blocks of ice where your hands should be is a recipe for disaster. It's also no fun cycling with cold hands.

The only downside with some winter gloves is that the extra warmth they provide comes at the cost of extra bulk, but there are some excellent gloves that get the mix spot on. Here are 7 of our favourites that we've tested and highly recommend for winter.

For milder weather we recommend the Adidas Response CP Winds which keep the cold out without much bulk. They're really comfortable; why don't more people put seams on the outside?

Of the more hardcore gloves, the Altura Night Visions don't offer the highest level of insulation but they're still warm enough for most off -season conditions and have a whole bunch of other qualities including great visibility.

Our favourites, though, are the Specialized Radiants. Waterproof, breathable and a touch more toasty, we reckon they're spot-on for most winter road riding.

For colder days, the Chibas make better use of the same material, keeping your fingers toasty even at freezing temperatures. The only downside is they took quite a while to dry out, so our first choice would be the Alturas: warm, waterproof, yet surprisingly breathable and dry inside.

What to look for in a winter glove

Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster | £40.99

The thickest glove on test is also the warmest when dry, providing supreme insulation even when it's freezing.

The fleecy inner is really comfortable, while the lobster claw design reduces surface area and with it heat loss. It's both windproof and waterproof and the leather palms offer good durability. You get reflective trim but there's no palm padding,
although this glove is so thick it's not really an issue. The only real downsides are that it's bulky and the outer soaks up a lot of water during rain, cooling it considerably. And you can't gesticulate properly at errant motorists.

Pearl Izumi

Verdict:

Specialized Radiant | £40

The Radiant has had a makeover for 2008, improving it considerably. The Thinsulate insulation provides lots of warmth down to about freezing point while the fleecy polyester inner is soft and wicks sweat well - this is a really breathable glove.

While still one of the chunkier models on test, the Radiant is now lighter and doesn't become nearly as heavy when it rains, which was our main criticism previously, water running off the Hipora (nylon/polyurethane) shell and only soaking into the sweat-wipe. You also get good cuff adjustability and reflective trim, though the palm padding of previous versions has gone.

Specialized

Verdict:

Gore Bike Wear Vulcano Lady | £39.99

You name it, these gloves have it: they're windproof, showerproof, have excellent and well-placed gel padding, reflective trim - including piping on all fingers - plus a reflective Windstopper logo for real hi-viz performance.

The Velcro strap means they can be tightened down to fit your wrist, but it's wide enough to close over bulky sleeves - a real bonus. A nice detail is the clips on the gloves - not only does it mean you can't lose one while not wearing them, you could also attach them to your sleeves to keep them where they're needed. Rare in a glove, the Vulcano shows a little style in the maple-leaf shaped anti-slip material which is also well placed.

Gore Bike Wear

Verdict:

SealSkinz Road Cycle | £35

These neat gloves stop the wind and, although they don't provide quite the highest level of warmth, they insulate remarkably well, especially considering their relatively low bulk.

Rain rolls off the polyester upper, only soaking into the fleecy sweat wipe, so this is a glove that doesn't get too heavy when the skies open. No water gets through to your hands but vapour can escape outwards when you sweat, minimising clamminess. Palm padding is welcome, while grippy sections on the tips of the first two fingers and the thumb prevent any slipping on the levers.

SealSkinz

Verdict:

Adidas Response CP Wind | £29.99

These autumn/spring-weight gloves don't offer loads of insulation but they stop the wind getting at your hands thanks to the polyurethane in the upper.

The fabric is also water resistant although rain will eventually get in, especially through the seams. The soft, synthetic leather palms have slim but effective padding, while several of the seams are external, adding to the comfort. The towelling sweat-wipe doesn't have a windproof backing, which is a shame because that area's exposed when you're on the hoods, but you get plenty of reflective trim to help with visibility.

Adidas

Verdict:

Altura Night Vision gloves | £29.99

As the name suggests, the Night Vision features loads of reflective trim, but it's by no means a one-trick pony.

This glove is fully waterproof, with Thinsulate's slender insulation providing a middling level of warmth, and there's a handy sweat wipe on the back of the thumb. The durable synthetic leather palm features a reinforcing panel plus gel padding that's well placed to take the sting out of rough roads. These gloves are impressively breathable, the polyester lining is antibacterial, and the cuff offers a generous amount of adjustment. Excellent stuff!

Altura

Verdict:

Chiba Windstopper Gel | £22.99

If you still want to feel your fingers after a cold dry ride, try the Chiba Windstopper Gel.

Rated from -5ºC to +10ºC, they're ideal for harsh winter riding. The double-layer fleece and windproof outer do an admirable job, and they also breathe well. Gel inserts provide adequate palm protection but their placement could be improved, while the anti-slip material was better placed around the palm and thumb. Elasticated cuffs with neoprene finish mean you don't have to fiddle with closures, but you can't leave them open on milder days. A nice design feature is the 'Quick Pull' system - easing the job of putting on and taking off these toasty warm gloves.

Chiba

Verdict:

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