Winter cycling gloves

Summer gloves (0–5°C insulation): 20–25°C and above; mid-season: 8–15°C; light winter: 3–10°C; severe cold: -10°C to 5°C. Summer gloves (Castelli Superleggera, Assos Summer Gloves) protect the palms and absorb vibrations without covering the fingers. Mid-season gloves (Castelli Velocissimo, Endura Windchill) cover the fingers with a thin fabric. Winter gloves (Assos fleece, Gore Wear Thermo) use fleece or Primaloft for insulation. Extreme cold gloves (Castelli Bora, Rapha Pro Team Gore-Tex) can handle temperatures down to -15°C with waterproof and highly insulating materials.

Waterproof, windproof gloves, wrist cuffs, and, if necessary, overgloves (overshoes for the hands). On long descents, your hands are stationary and exposed to the cold wind: protection is far more important than on climbs, where your muscles generate heat. Waterproof gloves (Gore-Tex) prevent cold air from penetrating and retain residual heat. Tubular Lycra wrist cuffs prevent gaps between the jacket and the gloves. Overgloves (Castelli Squadra Stretch Gloves) slip over normal gloves for very cold descents.

Winter gloves with touchscreen-compatible fingertips allow you to use a touchscreen, but with less precision than with bare hands. Most modern winter gloves feature conductive fingertips (made of carbon or silver fibres) on the index fingers and thumbs, allowing you to use a touchscreen without removing your gloves. This feature is often mentioned on the packaging. The precision is lower than with bare hands but sufficient for basic tasks (confirming a navigation route, changing a song). For more precise tasks (replying to a message), you’ll need to take off your gloves.

Full-finger gloves offer more warmth and protection; fingerless gloves or mittens offer greater sensitivity for precise movements. Full-finger gloves cover each finger individually with insulation and wind protection. They are essential in temperatures below 8°C. Mittens (fist gloves) group all the fingers together for maximum shared warmth: warmer than full-finger gloves with equivalent insulation, but with less dexterity. For cyclists with poor circulation and in extremely cold conditions, mittens are often preferred.

Measure the circumference of your hand at the knuckles and refer to the manufacturer’s size chart. Gloves that are too small constrict the knuckles and restrict circulation, making the cold feel worse. Gloves that are too large will be loose, and the seams will end up in the pressure points on the handlebars. Measure by placing the tape measure around your right hand (if right-handed) at the level of the first knuckles, excluding the thumb. If there is a discrepancy between the size chart and your measurement, choose the larger size to ensure freedom of movement for your fingers.

Gently squeeze out excess water, inflate slightly and leave to air dry or use a shoe dryer. Never wring out neoprene or fleece gloves, as this will distort the fibres. Gently squeeze out excess water, inflate by blowing into them to maintain their shape, then leave to air dry at room temperature. A cold-air shoe dryer can speed up drying without damaging the materials. Avoid direct heat from a radiator or a hot hairdryer, as these can damage the neoprene and waterproof membranes. For cyclists who ride every day in winter, having two pairs of gloves to rotate is a practical solution.

Yes, for the most part, on a delicate cycle at 30°C, but without fabric softener. Synthetic gloves (polyester, Lycra, fleece) can generally be washed on a delicate cycle at 30°C. Leather or partially leather gloves require specific care (leather soap, air-drying). Always check the care label: the Gore-Tex membranes incorporated into some gloves can be machine-washed but not treated with fabric softener, which blocks the pores of the membrane.

Gloves offering maximum insulation with windproofing, long cuffs and the option to add over-gloves are the most suitable. Raynaud’s syndrome causes extreme vasoconstriction of the extremities in the cold, turning the fingers white and causing pain. Cyclists with Raynaud’s should choose gloves one size larger than normal (to avoid compressing the blood vessels), opt for waterproof, windproof gloves with high insulation from 15°C, and consider using disposable palm warmers (HotHands) inside the gloves in very cold weather. Electric heated gloves (Raynaud’s Gloves, Lenz) are a radical solution for severe cases.

Yes, women’s models are generally smaller and slimmer, designed for smaller, less muscular hands. Women generally have smaller hands, less prominent knuckles and often poorer blood circulation in their extremities (making them more sensitive to the cold). Women’s ranges (Castelli Scarabocchio, Assos GT Summer) feature thinner padding, specially adapted palm padding and sizes down to XS. For women with hands of a standard men’s size, men’s models in small sizes (S or M) are often available.