Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Winter Cycling
Reload this Page >

Gloves for Sub-Freezing Road Rides? Electric?

Notices
Winter Cycling Don't let snow and ice discourage you this winter. The key element to year-round cycling is proper attire! Check out this winter cycling forum to chat with other ice bike fanatics.

Gloves for Sub-Freezing Road Rides? Electric?

Old 11-23-21, 08:36 AM
  #1  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
Thread Starter
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,841 Times in 4,113 Posts
Gloves for Sub-Freezing Road Rides? Electric?

I like to ride in the winter, but my fingers always get cold/frozen when temps go below freezing.. I have tried a few "winter" gloves which are fine down to the freezing point, but for sustained temps below freezing my fingers get cold and painful within an hour of riding.

So far, the best solution I have found is winter mittens with glove-liners and a chemical hand warmer. This works great for temps in the teens and twenties, which is pretty much all I need. But....

My frustration is that with mittens I lose a great deal of dexterity for braking and shifting. It's a compromise that I understand I may need to accept, but I am still hopeful I could find a glove that keeps fingers warm and allows the dexterity I miss when going to mittens on those really cold winter rides.

I know pogies/bar mitts are an option, but as a road cyclist I want to be able to use the drops, hoods, and tops....the ones I have seen pretty much force you to use the hoods only.

Last winter I paid a decent amount for cycling specific winter gloves (Castelli Estremo) that were "rated" down to about 20F but they still give me cold fingers below 30F. Phooey!! Adding glove liners seems to add bulk but does NOT make fingers less cold.

I have seen a wide variety of electric heated gloves and am willing to consider them, the prices and online reviews are all over the place.

Suggestions??
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 08:52 AM
  #2  
2manybikes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
There is only so much space between your fingers. The glove can only be half that distance on adjacent fingers. Nothing you can do about that. Maybe the electric gloves are better than they were 50 Year ago, I don't know.
2manybikes is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 08:58 AM
  #3  
fooferdoggie 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,343
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 679 Post(s)
Liked 945 Times in 552 Posts
been using these for the last three years.
REI carries some and you can test them and return them if you don't like them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
fooferdoggie is offline  
Likes For fooferdoggie:
Old 11-23-21, 09:11 AM
  #4  
MinnMan
Senior Member
 
MinnMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,734

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4265 Post(s)
Liked 2,937 Times in 1,811 Posts
Have you tried lobster claws? Not electric, but a reasonable compromise between gloves and mittens.

And then there are bar mitts.
MinnMan is offline  
Likes For MinnMan:
Old 11-23-21, 09:27 AM
  #5  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
Thread Starter
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,841 Times in 4,113 Posts
Originally Posted by MinnMan
Have you tried lobster claws? Not electric, but a reasonable compromise between gloves and mittens.

And then there are bar mitts.
I tried some Lobster Claw covers a few years ago, and dexterity problem was still an issue as well as freezing fingers. Am hoping for other options but thanks for the suggestion.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 09:37 AM
  #6  
MinnMan
Senior Member
 
MinnMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,734

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4265 Post(s)
Liked 2,937 Times in 1,811 Posts
I'm not sure how much dexterity one needs to ride a bicycle. I can operate my shifters and brakes with lobster claws and I can toggle the switches on my Wahoo. But if you need more than that, then probably electric gloves are your best hope.
MinnMan is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 10:24 AM
  #7  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
I like to ride in the winter, but my fingers always get cold/frozen when temps go below freezing.. I have tried a few "winter" gloves which are fine down to the freezing point, but for sustained temps below freezing my fingers get cold and painful within an hour of riding.

So far, the best solution I have found is winter mittens with glove-liners and a chemical hand warmer. This works great for temps in the teens and twenties, which is pretty much all I need. But....

My frustration is that with mittens I lose a great deal of dexterity for braking and shifting. It's a compromise that I understand I may need to accept, but I am still hopeful I could find a glove that keeps fingers warm and allows the dexterity I miss when going to mittens on those really cold winter rides.

I know pogies/bar mitts are an option, but as a road cyclist I want to be able to use the drops, hoods, and tops....the ones I have seen pretty much force you to use the hoods only.

Last winter I paid a decent amount for cycling specific winter gloves (Castelli Estremo) that were "rated" down to about 20F but they still give me cold fingers below 30F. Phooey!! Adding glove liners seems to add bulk but does NOT make fingers less cold.

I have seen a wide variety of electric heated gloves and am willing to consider them, the prices and online reviews are all over the place.

Suggestions??
What are you wearing on your arms? It's possible you're losing more heat on the way to your hands than you think.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 10:30 AM
  #8  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
Thread Starter
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,841 Times in 4,113 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
What are you wearing on your arms? It's possible you're losing more heat on the way to your hands than you think.
I wear a long-sleeve jersey as well as an outer jacket/shell. I don't think it's an arm issue as my arms and even my hands are comfortable. It's the fingers/thumbs that are the problem.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 10:42 AM
  #9  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
I wear a long-sleeve jersey as well as an outer jacket/shell. I don't think it's an arm issue as my arms and even my hands are comfortable. It's the fingers/thumbs that are the problem.
Okay. I just know that I can lose a fair bit of warmth from my arms before they feel chilly, and my fingers are more sensitive, too.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 11:31 AM
  #10  
2manybikes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Ride a mountain bike with big knobbys. You can put out the same amount of effort with less wind chill. Ride in the snow and ice with studded tires. That will have you sweaty in no time. Next spring you will be nice and strong. It will improve your handling skills on the road bike.

Oh, almost forgot, it's fun too.
2manybikes is offline  
Likes For 2manybikes:
Old 11-23-21, 11:38 AM
  #11  
MinnMan
Senior Member
 
MinnMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,734

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4265 Post(s)
Liked 2,937 Times in 1,811 Posts
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
Ride a mountain bike with big knobbys. You can put out the same amount of effort with less wind chill. Ride in the snow and ice with studded tires. That will have you sweaty in no time. Next spring you will be nice and strong. It will improve your handling skills on the road bike.

Oh, almost forgot, it's fun too.
Excellent point. Your tastes and preferences most assuredly would be true for everybody else if they would only follow your example.
MinnMan is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 11:50 AM
  #12  
2manybikes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Those poor people,
2manybikes is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 11:57 AM
  #13  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
Thread Starter
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,841 Times in 4,113 Posts
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
Ride a mountain bike with big knobbys. You can put out the same amount of effort with less wind chill. Ride in the snow and ice with studded tires. That will have you sweaty in no time. Next spring you will be nice and strong. It will improve your handling skills on the road bike.

Oh, almost forgot, it's fun too.
I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't have a mountain bike. And the fanciest gloves are going to be less expensive than a new bike.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 12:04 PM
  #14  
2manybikes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't have a mountain bike. And the fanciest gloves are going to be less expensive than a new bike.
If you do get some electric gloves I would like to hear about them.
2manybikes is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 03:10 PM
  #15  
Nyah
QR-disc must die!!!
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia.
Posts: 703

Bikes: '99 Trek 520, '20 Kona Sutra (FOR SALE 48cm), '21 Simon-Bikes mini-velo and a chromoly-framed folding bicycle with drop-bars and V-brakes, that rolls even while folded.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 199 Times in 147 Posts
I ride in mittens every Winter, yet, don't recognize any relative issues with braking, shifting or anything else.
Nyah is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 07:07 PM
  #16  
datlas 
Should Be More Popular
Thread Starter
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,957

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22513 Post(s)
Liked 8,841 Times in 4,113 Posts
Originally Posted by 2manybikes
If you do get some electric gloves I would like to hear about them.
Ok, I ordered a pair. Will report once I have used them on a subfreezing day.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Likes For datlas:
Old 11-23-21, 07:13 PM
  #17  
2manybikes
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138

Bikes: 2 many

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times in 169 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
Ok, I ordered a pair. Will report once I have used them on a subfreezing day.
Excellent.
2manybikes is offline  
Old 11-23-21, 07:37 PM
  #18  
fooferdoggie 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,343
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 679 Post(s)
Liked 945 Times in 552 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
Ok, I ordered a pair. Will report once I have used them on a subfreezing day.
if you like them get an extra set of batteries. I have found mine accident get turned on when I carry them in my bag and get d=draiend sometimes when I need them. but thats because its portland where the weather changes all the time so I have to carry two pair,
fooferdoggie is offline  
Old 11-24-21, 07:37 AM
  #19  
b88
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 214

Bikes: Specialized

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't have a mountain bike. And the fanciest gloves are going to be less expensive than a new bike.
The fancy cycling specific gloves I tried so far do not work for temps approaching freezing, like the Estremo, Q36.5, Gore and Assos Ultraz winter gloves.
b88 is offline  
Likes For b88:
Old 11-24-21, 08:34 AM
  #20  
fooferdoggie 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,343
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 679 Post(s)
Liked 945 Times in 552 Posts
Originally Posted by b88
The fancy cycling specific gloves I tried so far do not work for temps approaching freezing, like the Estremo, Q36.5, Gore and Assos Ultraz winter gloves.
same with me but that may just be me. I found no glove but my heated ones that help below 40
fooferdoggie is offline  
Likes For fooferdoggie:
Old 11-24-21, 09:50 AM
  #21  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,527

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
for some unknown moronic reason I like riding in storms. I've grown quite fond of bar mitts. they are like a rain coat for your hands. you can still wear gloves, but it opens up more possibilities. the protection from the wind, precipitation & cold have been life changing. ok maybe a bit dramatic but a bunch of us use them. you might find them useful too




before I got barmitts I got these


they are very good


I guess it's almost time to put them on again ... (post #67 was a fun reminder what March around here is like)
https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cy...r-mitts-3.html

Last edited by rumrunn6; 11-24-21 at 01:57 PM.
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 11-25-21, 09:42 AM
  #22  
Lazyass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,337
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times in 395 Posts
A couple of weeks ago I bought some Giro Ambient's. I've always avoided temps below freezing but for this winter I decided to finally get some proper winter gloves and shoes (Lake MXZ176). This morning it was in the 20's so I decided to put them to the test. The weather website said it was 27 degrees but my gps read 22, my water did start to freeze on the ride. So it was cold.

The first couple of miles my fingertips were starting to get a little cold but by mile 4 or so my hands warmed up and were good to go for the rest of the 28 mile ride. My hands actually sweat a little, the inside of the gloves were wet when I got home so I wouldn't even want anything warmer. Giro says they're good from 35-45 degrees but they're good in the 20's.
Lazyass is offline  
Likes For Lazyass:
Old 11-25-21, 01:01 PM
  #23  
Mike_Kelly
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 124
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times in 27 Posts
The pearl izumi's mentioned above are no way warm enough for me in 20 above let alone cold weather. After years freezing hands, my wife and I use Warmspace heated gloves. It has been a while and I don't remember which model. The batteries are lightweight LiPo's with zippered pocket on the back to charge with a two headed charger that will do both batteries at the same time. Many places to get them just showing link to one store at random, but a place i have bought from successfully. Takes a few weeks to get anything from asia.
good luck
https://www.banggood.com/search/warm...l?ab_version=1
Mike_Kelly is offline  
Likes For Mike_Kelly:
Old 11-25-21, 01:20 PM
  #24  
_ForceD_
Sr Member on Sr bikes
 
_ForceD_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Posts: 2,305

Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1012 Post(s)
Liked 758 Times in 407 Posts
I concur with Mike_Kelly above WRT to Pear iZumi “lobster” gloves. I have a pair…but as my winter rides got longer they just weren’t keeping my hands warm enough. Eventually I decided to try a pair of regular wind-proof mittens that I got for like $10 at the local close out store. They work great. I just think the physics of all the fingers being in contact…instead of separated like a glove…makes for a warmer experience.

Dan
_ForceD_ is offline  
Likes For _ForceD_:
Old 11-26-21, 03:35 PM
  #25  
b88
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 214

Bikes: Specialized

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 141 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
for some unknown moronic reason I like riding in storms. I've grown quite fond of bar mitts. they are like a rain coat for your hands. you can still wear gloves, but it opens up more possibilities. the protection from the wind, precipitation & cold have been life changing. ok maybe a bit dramatic but a bunch of us use them. you might find them useful too




before I got barmitts I got these


they are very good


I guess it's almost time to put them on again ... (post #67 was a fun reminder what March around here is like)
https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cy...r-mitts-3.html

What size bar mitts you have. Do you just match up
your glove size. Ie. Med for Med gloves.
b88 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.