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When the weather gets cooler, a good pair of cycling gloves is a must. Frozen, numb fingers can completely ruin a great day out on the bike.
If you’re going to be riding in the rain often, you’ll want to go for a waterproof pair. Look for waterproof fabrics and double lining constructions for the best protection from rain and spray. Lots of modern gloves also use durable water resistant (DWR) coatings for waterproofing. So, if you’re going to be riding in torrential downpours, we’d recommend looking for a pair with a waterproof membrane to act as a barrier to the damp.
In warmer conditions, you could also consider neoprene gloves. These soak up water while you ride but lock in your body heat to keep your hands comfortably warm.
It’s also worth looking at reflective elements on your gloves – properly positioned on the outside of the hand or fingers, they can make it much easier for drivers to spot you, especially when using your hands to signal.
We’d also recommend going for a pair with longer cuffs to stop draughts going up your sleeves. Velcro fastenings or zips on the cuffs can also make them easier to take on and off. And if you use your phone or a bike computer while riding, touchscreen fingertips will save you the hassle of having to take them off.
How we tested
We tested our selection during the day and at night, in torrential downpours and on chilly autumn days. We looked for designs that kept our hands comfortable and didn’t restrict our movement, control or feel of the bars. We also considered how easy they were to take care of, how durable they were and how easy they were to dry out after rides.
The best cycling gloves for winter 2023 are:
- Best overall – Showers Pass crosspoint waterproof knit wool: £40, Showerspass.co.uk
- Best for serious training – Spatzwear thrmoz : £55.99, Spatzwear.com
- Best for cold weather – Le Col hors categorie deep winter: £80, Lecol.cc
- Best for durability – Showers Pass crosspoint softshell TS : £69, Showerspass.co.uk
- Best budget pair – Madison element soft shell gloves: £9.99, Freewheel.co.uk
- Best for luxury – Rapha winter gloves: £60, Wheelbase.co.uk
- Best for milder weather – Universal Colours mono lightweight gloves: £45, Universalcolours.com
- Best for visibility – Proviz reflect 360 waterproof cycling gloves : £49.99, Provizsports.com
- Best for versatility – Dissent 133 ultimate cycling glove pack: £109, Dissent133.com
- Best for looks – Castelli diluvio C: £29, Wiggle.co.uk