How to Choose the Right Winter Cycling Gloves
Words: Soomom Team
Cold hands don't just hurt — they stop working properly.
Once your fingers get cold enough, braking and shifting get noticeably harder, and that's before you factor in how miserable the rest of the ride becomes. Gloves are one of the few pieces of winter kit where getting it wrong has an immediate, obvious cost.
The trick is picking the right weight for the ride, not just the warmest option on the shelf.
Why winter gloves aren't one-size-fits-all conditions
A glove warm enough for a genuinely cold, wet commute will feel overbuilt and clumsy on a hard, dry training ride where a higher riding intensity means you need less insulation. Go too light on a freezing descent, though, and you'll be shaking out numb fingers at the bottom.
As with the rest of a winter kit, the right choice depends on temperature, effort level, and how long you'll be exposed to the cold — not just how low the number on your weather app goes.
A glove is only one part of staying warm — see our guide on choosing the right winter base layer, or our complete guide to what to wear cycling in winter, to build out a complete cold-weather setup.
Lightweight and reflective: for changeable conditions
Our Base Reflective Thermal Gloves are built around a reflective flyknit upper — useful for early morning or low-light riding — with a brushed thermal lining and 4D panel construction for a close, natural fit on the bars.
Touchscreen-compatible fingertips, 3D palm support padding, laser-perforated ventilation and anti-slip grip detailing round it out. This is the glove for cool-but-not-freezing rides, or as the lighter option in a two-glove winter rotation.
Windproof and insulated: for genuinely cold, wet rides
For colder or wetter conditions, the All-Around Windproof Winter Gloves step up the protection. The back of the hand uses a brushed, wind- and splash-resistant fabric, with a fleece-lined interior for warmth and an extended wrist design that closes the gap between glove and jacket cuff — a common spot for wind to sneak in.
They keep a three-finger touchscreen panel, so you're not forced to strip a glove off just to check a route or answer a call.
Matching gloves to the ride
As a general guide:
- Cool mornings, transitional weather, harder efforts — the lighter reflective thermal glove, especially where a higher riding intensity means you need less insulation.
- Genuinely cold, wet or windy rides — the windproof, fleece-lined glove, particularly for longer or lower-intensity riding where you won't warm your hands up through effort alone.
Fit matters as much as warmth
A glove that's too loose loses dexterity on the brakes and gearing, while one that's too tight restricts circulation — which ironically makes your hands colder, not warmer. Look for a snug fit through the palm with enough room in the fingers that you're not restricting blood flow.
Winter cycling glove FAQs
Can I use my winter gloves with a touchscreen bike computer?
Both the Base Reflective Thermal Gloves and the All-Around Windproof Winter Gloves include touchscreen-compatible fingertips, so you shouldn't need to remove them to operate a phone or touchscreen head unit.
Should I size up for winter gloves to add a liner underneath?
Generally no — both gloves are designed to provide sufficient warmth on their own for their intended conditions. Sizing up to layer can loosen the fit enough to reduce dexterity and let in wind.
How do I stop my gloves from staying damp between rides?
Turn them inside out to dry after wet rides rather than leaving them balled up, and avoid drying directly on a heater, which can damage the fabric and padding over time.
Don't leave gloves as an afterthought
Of all the pieces in a winter kit, gloves are one of the easiest to get wrong by grabbing whatever's warmest rather than what's right for the ride. Matching the glove to the conditions — not just the cold — is what actually keeps your hands working for the whole ride.
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