Winter Gloves

[1speed]

My hands and toes tend to get really cold in the winter - not to the extent of Reynauds or anything that bad, but by the end of the night ride this time of year I'd say chances are about 50/50 that I'll spend 10 minutes sitting in my car fighting back tears as the blood flowing back into my fingertips makes them feel like they're falling off. So I'm always on the lookout for any better gear. I have a set of 45North Sturmfist gloves that are for really cold nights (for those who don't know, Sturmfists are basically the glove choice of the kind of self-torturing psychopaths who do Iditabike) but I don't really like to use them most of the time because, if it's too warm, they get filled with sweat and then I have to dry them out before the next ride, plus they're super bulky and make handlebar grip feel pretty shaky. For the last few years, my go-to winter gloves have been the Gorewear C5 thermo gloves. And they've been great. By the end of a ride, my hands are definitely starting to freeze up a bit but I just figured that's just going to happen with any glove. But back in November, I was at the Philly Bike Expo and picked up a pair of gloves from a company I'd never heard of caled Aerotech Designs. The gloves were really cheap, so I figured I'd take a flyer on them since my current Gorewear gloves are starting to show their age a bit. If these ones sucked, I wouldn't be out too much money and I could just keep them as a backup for warmer nights. I think I paid like $29 for them at the show (they're regularly $40 on the website, so I guess that was a sale thing.) And they don't suck. In fact, so far they're actually better than the Gorewear gloves. I'm really surprised because even at full price, they're pretty cheap, but they may actually be the best gloves I've ever had. I used them last week on a night ride that dipped below 30 and my hands were warm the whole time and didn't even feel any kind of chill at any point. Definitely recommend checking them out - for the price, I think they're really hard to beat. Like any winter glove, they're not really good with a touchscreen for a phone or anything, but I'm fine with that as long as they keep me warm. And so far so good on that front. I've probably used them about a dozen times now and every time they've been perfect - no painful fingers or creeping chill the longer I'm out.

Aerotech gloves

 

[jShort]

How’s dexterity with these? That’s my biggest issue with winter gloves. My hands don’t get that cold so I tend to underglove, but when it’s really cold I wear gore something or other and they kind of suck for working zippers, grabbing a snack from pockets, grabbing my phone, etc

 

[1speed]

How’s dexterity with these? That’s my biggest issue with winter gloves. My hands don’t get that cold so I tend to underglove, but when it’s really cold I wear gore something or other and they kind of suck for working zippers, grabbing a snack from pockets, grabbing my phone, etc

For grabbing things, I'd say they're probably about the same as Gore gloves, maybe a little better because they tend to fit more snugly. But they're definitely not made for typing or anything like that. They're more "ski glove" than "driving glove" for sure, if that makes sense.

 

[MadisonDan]

Just looked at the website... lots of reflective area on there too.. good for night time..

 

[soundz]

Looks like they have a less heavy weight version: https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/heavy-weight-spider-grip-full-finger-cycling-glove.html

 

[stb222]

For grabbing things, I'd say they're probably about the same as Gore gloves, maybe a little better because they tend to fit more snugly. But they're definitely not made for typing or anything like that. They're more "ski glove" than "driving glove" for sure, if that makes sense.

How they do compare to the sleestaks palm? They are basically a summer glove palm, the thinnest warm glove I have found.

What temp do these get down to? I know that differs between people but we talking 15 or 30?

 

[one piece crank]

Gloves are tough. These are my fav Winter riding gloves, $10 from Lowes. Real leather baby...




I do everything outside in Winter and there is nothing worse than swampy hands. I often need a warmer set riding to/from, and lighter set in the woods. In this kind of weather I carry and extra hat and gloves in my frame bag. Several years ago I picked up a set of ski gloves at the Flemington Dept Store (huge selection with price points from $25-$100+) that have formed/curved fingers and a zipper hand-warmer pocket on the back. These are my back-up/SHTF Winter camping gloves. If its crazy cold out I'll even wear them to the trailhead, then switch to my leathers and have the warm ones as backup if it somehow comes to walking out.

 

[icebiker]

What I’ve found works best for me are gloves that have a removable inner liner. This is true for both riding as well as skiing/boarding. This enables the glove to “breathe” inside so moisture management isn’t a problem, plus:
-creates a layer of warmth akin to how the layers we wear on our bodies help retain heat
-gives you the option to use the inner or outer glove independently if conditions warrant.
-Enables them to dry faster
-Enables you to place a heat back between the liner and the outer glove if it’s really cold out

My Lake gloves are over 20 years old and still going strong. Too bad they don’t seem to make them anymore. I use similar gloves from Mountain Hardware for boarding.

 

[Bike N Gear]

If it's really cold, just put a pair of pogies on your bike and wear your summer gloves.

 

[1speed]

How they do compare to the sleestaks palm? They are basically a summer glove palm, the thinnest warm glove I have found.

What temp do these get down to? I know that differs between people but we talking 15 or 30?

I don't know the sleestaks palm, so I can't say on that.

As for the lowest temp they go down to, pretty low. I'd say 15 is fair game. It was 18 degrees here at noon with a wind chill closer to 10 and I was out for a ride over lunch and they were perfect - never felt even a hint of a chill in my hands.

 

[BananaFred]

Changing from gloves to mittens made a HUGE difference for me boarding as my fingers sweat on the way down and freeze on the way up.
Once I get my fat butt moving my issue is managing the heat rising off my carcass.
For winter riding these work pretty well for me (added advantage of knuckle padding and "demolition" rating) -> https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Large-Demolition-Gloves-48-22-8732/206613534

 

[Citytrikeguy]

If it's really cold, just put a pair of pogies on your bike and wear your summer gloves.

I second the Pogies. I have Bar Mits brand and they are excellent. I was out this morning in 18 degree weather and I wore my summer gloves.

 

[one piece crank]

If it's really cold, just put a pair of pogies on your bike and wear your summer gloves.

I second the Pogies. I have Bar Mits brand and they are excellent. I was out this morning in 18 degree weather and I wore my summer gloves.

I used to think pogies were silly, but in reality, I should probably try them. Hmmmm...

 

[stb222]

I used to think pogies were silly, but in reality, I should probably try them. Hmmmm...

I had bar mitts and they didn’t provide enough warmth to override the dork factor. I also found the limited handle positioning was uncomfortable. The obvious downside with Pogies is it is just one more thing to manage taking on-off for a ride. So you have a day like today where is it was cold enough to use them early, but you really don’t need them later in the day. So now you the guy riding at 40 with pogies

 

[Bike N Gear]

I had bar mitts and they didn’t provide enough warmth to override the dork factor. I also found the limited handle positioning was uncomfortable. The obvious downside with Pogies is it is just one more thing to manage taking on-off for a ride. So you have a day like today where is it was cold enough to use them early, but you really don’t need them later in the day. So now you the guy riding at 40 with pogies

Set up one bike with pogies and one without.

 

[stb222]

Set up one bike with pogies and one without.

I have one mtb

 

[Bike N Gear]

I have one mtb

Buy another. These are all first world problems with easy solutions. $$$$

 

[clarkenstein]

Another alternative - buy electric motorcycle gloves. They work really well.

 

[JimN]

I bought pogies a few years ago, but I can't bring myself to try using them on the mountain bike. I'm too afraid of my hands getting stuck in an OTB situation.

Can't go wrong with these for $20:

Answer Sleestak Winter Cycling Mitts Red MTB NEW | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Answer Sleestak Winter Cycling Mitts Red MTB NEW at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

My new pair just arrived. Thanks @goodvibe for the heads-up, and thanks @stb222 for posting about these back in 2015. I'm still using my original pair, but they are getting pretty beat up and have been overdue for replacing.

 

[stb222]

I bought pogies a few years ago, but I can't bring myself to try using them on the mountain bike. I'm too afraid of my hands getting stuck in an OTB situation.

Can't go wrong with these for $20:

Answer Sleestak Winter Cycling Mitts Red MTB NEW | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Answer Sleestak Winter Cycling Mitts Red MTB NEW at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

My new pair just arrived. Thanks @goodvibe for the heads-up, and thanks @stb222 for posting about these back in 2015. I'm still using my original pair, but they are getting pretty beat up and have been overdue for replacing.

View attachment 176077

After messaging @whatevertheFspencersscreennameis I came across these:

Answer sleestaks with a “work glove material” called the chopper trail mitt. Same design as the sleestaks otherwise. The only complaint I have with the sleestaks is I destroy the uppers when I do TM and these should help with that. Discontinued too but all sizes available on eBay. Should get them soon.