The 8 Best Winter Cycling Gloves
With colder seasons around the corner, you want to make sure you can still shift and brake your bike safely as your fingers start to get much colder.
There are countless cycling glove options on the market today, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. From considering the material to price and everything in between, the buying process can be a bit overwhelming.
So, on this page, we’ll share some of the popular winter gloves that are on the market today.
How We Pick Winter Cycling Gloves
We focused on established cycling kit brands such as Castelli, Sealskinz, Giro, and Defeet. They’re well-known for producing high-quality winter cycling gloves. We also look at online cycling retailers such as Competitive Cyclist, Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles as well as Amazon to gauge rider feedback.
We also ask and observe around in our local riding bunch for their favorite pair of gloves for winter. With that, we apply our own set of criteria below to come up with this list.
- Outside temperature. Winter gloves are rated to the minimum temperature that they can provide enough insulation to keep your fingers warm and toasty. This is why we split our picks into mild winter and deep winter gloves. Mild winter gloves can also be used during the fall/spring.
- Sizing and comfort. The easiest way to size the winter glove correctly is to measure the circumference of your palm and compare it against the manufacturer’s sizing chart. If you’re on the upper end of the sizing, consider sizing up as winter gloves are thicker and they can be restrictive if it’s too tight.
- Smartphone friendliness. We all have smartphones these days and it’s not a fun feeling having to remove your gloves to access the phones. The index finger is usually smartphone-friendly.
- Insulation. Winter gloves are windproof and water-resistant while still being very breathable. At the minimum, they should be water repellent.
- Waterproofing. The ability to withstand water has an inverse relationship with breathability. Hence, we don’t recommend neoprene gloves unless you plan to ride in a heavy downpour.
We discuss this in more detail in our winter cycling gloves buying guide here.
A Quick Glance : Our Favorite Winter Cycling Gloves
Value for Money Pick
Castelli Perfetto RoS Light Glove
For cyclists with a higher budget, the Castelli Perfetto Perfetto RoS Light gloves delivers on the brand’s stellar reputation.
They are made using a Gore-Tex Infinium fabric, making them perfect for those rainy fall rides. And if your hands get too warm, the fleece backing traps help wicks away any and all moisture.
Like most Castelli items, these will cost you more than the competition. In return, though, you’ll get a versatile winter glove that can be used even when temperatures drop below 40°F.
The one downside of these is the lack of touch screen compatibility. If that’s not a big deal for you, you won’t be disappointed with their performance.
- Pros : Fully windproof gloves with Gore-tex Infinium fabrics.
- Cons : Expect to pay more.
Pick for Deep Winter
Sealskinz Cold Weather Glove
Sealskinz is known for its cold-weather apparel, and this pair of gloves don’t disappoint, especially for cyclists. They are actually designed for more than just cycling and are commonly used as ski gloves too.
The three-layer glove, made of polyurethane, polyester, polyurethane, and eslatine, can keep your hands warm in temperatures that dip below freezing. The suede palm isn’t the best for gripping the handlebars, but it still gets the job done. Of note, they come with a one-year warranty, which is great if they show defects that go beyond normal wear and tear.
These Sealskinz gloves are marketed as being reflective, but the material could be a little better in that category.
- Pros : Very high-quality overall built from the leader of technical fabrics.
- Cons : Expect to pay a premium price.
Castelli Estremo Gloves
Forget the indoor spin class if you end up purchasing the Castelli Estremo. These bad boys will keep your digits nice and toasty warm, even on the chilliest of winter rides.
They are not only water-resistant but also cut down on the wind drastically thanks to the Windstopper X-Fast fabric on the back of the glove. Cutting down the wind helps immensely with keeping your hands warm in the winter. And then the fleece lining is awesome at wicking away any moisture.
Yes, these Castelli gloves are expensive. But if you’re determined to pound out the miles in harsh winter conditions, your hands and fingers are going to need them.
- Pros : Very warm and comfortable.
- Cons : Expect to pay a premium price.
Pearl Izumi P.R.O. AmFib Gloves
The Pearl Izumi P.R.O. AmFib Glove is a hardcore winter cycling glove with a budget price. If you need even more warmth, they also have a lobster gloves version.
We really like how the engineers of this glove figured out how to make the fleece lining so warm, even in the event that it gets wet. And then there’s the Ax Suede Laredo palm. It’s super flexible but has an incredible silicone print grip that will give you confidence on potentially dangerous roads in the winter.
As an added bonus, the folks at Pearl Izumi added a microfleece pad to the thumb, which can come in handy if you get a smudge on your sunglasses. There is no touch screen compatibility with these Pearl Izumi gloves.
- Pros : Leather palm provides plenty of grip on wet days.
- Cons : Not touch screen compatible.
Giro Proof 2.0
A super-flexible glove that falls between a budget and premium price category, the Giro Proof 2.0 delivers on warmth and proficiency when it comes to braking and shifting.
Your fingers won’t freeze in these gloves thanks to the 100g of Polartec Power Fill insulation. But don’t expect these to be bulky. They are lined with a thin microfleece, which is quite comfortable.
As an added bonus, these gloves are designed for cold temperatures around the freezing point and also include touch screen compatibility. The suede palm provides a decent grip, but other materials are better. If it’s not too rainy (or snowy!) outside for your ride, it should provide adequate grip.
If you plan on riding in sub-freezing temperatures, then definitely check out these Giro gloves.
- Pros : Value for money for those with a tight budget.
- Cons : Palm grip can be slippery when it’s wet.
Picks for Mild Winter
DeFeet E-Touch Dura Wool Grippies
As the winter weather starts getting colder and temperatures dropping below 40°F, you’re going to want something warmer than these DeFeet gloves. But the pair’s wool insulation combined with a durable Cordura nylon gives your hands the perfect amount of warmth to stay steady on the brake levers and shifters.
These multi-season riding gloves are great for road and mountain bikers, but also are perfect for hikers and runners. Touch screen compatibility, which is included, is a must-have feature these days.
As temperatures start dropping below 40°F, you’re going to want something warmer than these DeFeet gloves. But the pair’s wool insulation combined with a durable Cordura nylon gives your hands the perfect amount of warmth to stay steady on the brake levers and shifters.
- Pros : Many colors to choose from.
- Cons : Fabric prone to tearing overtime.
Gore Wear Infinium Stretch Gloves
The Gore Wear Infinium Stretch Gloves is a very breathable option that can also keep your fingers warm on those brisk rides.
There are a few things we like about these. First, the foam padding in the palm makes it really comfortable while gripping the handle.
Second, the fleece lining not only keeps your fingers warm, but it just feels really nice. And then the overall stretchiness of these gloves makes them perfect for all hand sizes. The silicone strips on these are lacking. You want something tackier that can safely hang onto the bar, especially in rain.
These Gore Wear winter gloves are on the pricier side when it comes to mild winter gloves, but their comfort might make them a great purchase.
- Pros : Very high-quality overall built from the leader of technical fabrics.
- Cons : Expect to pay a premium price.
Pearl Izumi Thermal Lite Gloves
The folks at Pearl Izumi have made the ultimate fall weather cycling gloves, offering just enough warmth to keep your hands working during those crisp workouts.
For the price, you’re not going to find a better liner glove that’s as durable. Many cyclists report they can get three to five years out of these gloves.
There’s no touch screen availability with these, but that’s not totally uncommon with budget-friendly gloves. Gripping is decent with these gloves, which is important when trying to hit the brakes, especially if there’s rain in the forecast.
If you’re looking for a super-comfortable glove that can keep your fingers warm in 45 to 50°F weather conditions, then look no further than these Pearl Izumi gloves.
- Pros : Excellent value for money for those on a budget.
- Cons : Not touch screen friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are neoprene gloves good for cycling?
Neoprene gloves are generally not recommended for cycling unless you’re riding in the pouring rain. Neoprene has zero breathability (while having very good waterproofing capabilities) and will cause your fingers to sweat from the inside, causing you to feel uncomfortable.
2. Are neoprene gloves waterproof?
Neoprene gloves have excellent waterproofing capabilities and are ideal for riding in the pouring rain.
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