The best winter mountain bike gloves you can buy - tried and tested

Banish cold digits with a pair of winter cycling gloves from this little lot. We've tried and tested a range of mountain bike gloves designed for use in the cold weather and here we have the top-scoring pairs on test. Below are all the gloves we have tested that score four out of five stars or above, making them well worth a look when you think about buying your next pair.
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(Updated 18th January 2021)
The best winter gloves of 2020/2021
- 100% Hydromatic glove
- 100% Hydromatic Brisker glove
- Endura Strike II winter glove
- Alpinestars Cascade Warm Tech gloves
- Cube X-Shell Long Finger X NF gloves
- Gore M Gore Windstopper gloves
- 100% Brisker Cold Weather gloves
- 100% Brisker Cold Weather women's gloves
- Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Gloves
- Dissent 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack
- Castelli Scalda Pro W gloves
- Madison Zena Women's Gloves
100% Hydromatic glove
£34
The Hydromatic from 100% is a thin waterproof glove that’s built to be light and dextrous. It does its job very well, but the fit is a bit iffy and it can absorb water.
100% Hydromatic Brisker glove
£38
The Hydromatic Brisker from 100% combines all the good bits of the very well-reviewed Brisker Cold Weather, with some of the weather protection of the Hydromatic. It's even more versatile than the original, but it’s a fair chunk more expensive too.
Endura Strike II winter glove
£33
The Strike II is Endura's waterproof winter glove to suit all riding disciplines. The effective mix of materials make the Strike II a comfortable, warm and waterproof choice when the weather really deteriorates, but they’re best left for the coldest of days.
Alpinestars Cascade Warm Tech glove
£50
The Alpinestars Cascade is a warm and comfy winter glove that makes good use of its Primaloft insulation, and for cold and dry rides it's only let down by a slightly short cuff and the lack of a snot pad. It soaks through rapidly in rain, however, and while it stays fairly warm it gets heavy – and wearing wet gloves is never that pleasant.
Cube X-Shell Long Finger X NF gloves
£50
The snappily-named Cube X-Shell Long Finger X NF is a waterproof, windproof and warm glove that effectively shields you from the grottiest weather. They're packed with decent detailing, have a good shape and fit, and come at a competitive price.
Gore M Gore Windstopper gloves
£43
Gore's M Gore Windstopper gloves manage to offer up loads of feel thanks to a minimalist design that uses a windproof and water-resistant backing plus thin, unpadded palm. They're a superb choice for autumn and spring riding for anyone that wants weatherproofing without compromising sensitivity.
100% Brisker Cold Weather gloves
£27
100%'s Brisker Cold Weather gloves use a decently chunky soft shell backing along with a thin, unpadded palm to offer loads of feel while also keeping your hands toasty warm, even when it's wet. They're excellent for keeping you comfortable without losing control in autumn or springtime riding and the price is very reasonable too.
100% Brisker Cold Weather women's gloves
£27
The 100% Brisker women’s gloves are a great set of winter warmers for moderate to chilly days. The softshell backing keeps the worst of the wind at bay, they're hardwearing and a single-layer palm means there's still a great feel on the bars. At this price, there’s no reason not to have a pair for winter riding.
Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Gloves
£34
The Crosspoint Waterproof Knit gloves from Showers Pass are a lightweight answer to a soggy hand problem. Ideal for those that don’t mind a slight loss of dexterity for the sake of warm digits. At £34, they’re a perfectly reasonable price for a durable, warm and waterproof glove that does what it says on the tin.
Dissent 133 Ultimate Cycling Glove Pack
£95
The Dissent 133 Ultimate Glove Pack really is just that, and will easily see you through an autumn, winter and spring of riding. Our tester never found conditions where these couldn't be used, making them excellent value compared with the three sets of gloves you might otherwise buy. In terms of value, it's a hard one to judge; £95 might seem a bit steep, but you're essentially getting three pairs of gloves with a liner pair. Overall, this is a brilliant set of gloves and well worth the money, especially if you suffer from cold hands.
Castelli Scalda Pro W gloves
£60
The Castelli Scalda Pro W women's glove is an excellent fleece-lined winter warmer. The fit is great and dexterity is pretty high too. They are pricey though, and the style's probably best suited to road and gravel rides – although there's nothing bar the look to stop them going mountain biking.
Madison Zena Women's Gloves
£25
Madison’s Zena women’s full-finger gloves are designed to offer “great feel combined with subtle protection” and that’s exactly what they do. The Zenas are perfect for spring and autumn days, just about warm enough for mild wintry ones, and are fairly priced considering their abundance of features.
1 comments
Why are MTB focused winter gloves come without a gauntlet?