Best winter cycling gloves: Keeping hands warm in the coldest months

An essential piece of cycling kit once the thermometer heads south. The best winter gloves provide just the right blend of warmth, dexterity and breathability for your hands for even the coldest rides.

As all cyclists know, in winter it’s the extremities that freeze first. No matter how warm the rest of your body, if your hands become too cold, it’s game over on enjoying your ride. Getting a pair of the best winter cycling gloves to keep your fingers functioning, will make a world of difference in the colder months.

DO CYCLING GLOVES MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Unlike ski gloves, the best winter cycling gloves cannot depend on super-thick padding because we need to retain sensitivity so that brakes, shifters and Di2 buttons can be operated and cycling computer screens swiped.

So keeping out the wind is crucial: fabrics such as Gore Windstopper and the similar WindTex will do this, and feature on the best winter cycling gloves,  as well as offering water repellency and breathability. The inner padding and/or membrane varies from glove to glove and on what sort of temperature the glove is aimed at, whether deep winter or chilly and wet.