Best winter cycling gloves for 2021

By Paul Norman

Published: Tuesday, 07 December 2021 at 12:00 am

The best winter gloves will keep your hands toasty in seriously cold weather. They’re an essential accessory for winter training, commuting and any other riding in the colder months.

Riding with cold hands is miserable, but staying comfortable isn’t as simple as just wearing the heaviest gloves possible, you also need to make sure that you can grip the bars, use your gears and brakes properly and control your bike safely.

There’s no single choice that will work everywhere for everyone. So we’ve tested gloves from the big names that are designed for a range of winter conditions, from wet and mild through to dry and bitter.

Read on for a summary of our top glove picks for winter training, dark commutes and mountain biking if you still go off-road in the cold. There are links to the full reviews too.

Otherwise, if you’re in search of fingerless gloves, check out our guide to the best summer cycling mitts.

Best winter road cycling gloves in 2021 according to our expert testers

Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves: £85 / $89.99
Dissent 133 Glove Layering System: £95 / $123 / AU$181
Endura Deluge II gloves: £49.99 / $64.99
Gore C5 Gore-Tex Thermo gloves: £64.99 / $79.99 / AU$110
Shimano Windstopper Thermal Reflective gloves: £54.99

How to choose the best winter gloves for your riding

Match your gloves to your typical riding conditions

A super-thick pair of gloves is not necessarily the best bet, particularly if you live somewhere where winter temperatures typically hover in the mid-single digits and the climbs and descents are quite short, such as the southern UK.

However, if you ride somewhere where it gets properly cold or are tackling long winter descents, in the Alps or Rockies for instance, you’ll likely need more insulation to keep your hands comfortable. A good overlap with the cuffs of your jacket will also help keep the chill at bay.

Your needs will also depend on how hot you run. If you’re putting in larger efforts, your hands will probably warm up after half an hour’s riding or so, even if they start out a bit too cold, and a thickly padded glove might start to feel sweaty.

Wet conditions will also leave you colder, so most gloves will have a waterproof membrane and/or DWR surface coating to help keep your hands drier.

Materials

The palms of most gloves will be made of synthetic leather, although some are real leather and there are other options too. Synthetic leather typically gives good bar feel, although it may wet-out in the rain. On the plus side, it should dry quicker than the real thing.

The glove’s back will usually be windproof and most winter gloves will include a water-resistant liner to help keep your hands dry. Beware, though, because some liners are more breathable than others.

The best will let sweat out readily, but a cheaper liner may leave your hands uncomfortably sweaty, and they can get sore if you’re out on a long ride.

Grip, padding and other features

In wet conditions, you’ll want to make sure that you have a firm hold on the bars, so palm grip is important. Most gloves will have silicone printing on the palms and fingers for a firm hold on the bars and controls. Plus, it’s nice to have some padded areas in the palms to absorb road vibration if you’re planning longer rides, so look out for gel inserts.

A touchscreen-sensitive fingertip will mean that you can operate your computer as you ride, or use your mobile without taking your gloves off. An absorbent area will let you wipe rain from your glasses (or snot from your nose), while reflective elements or bright colours will up your road presence and help highlight your hand signals.