gloves to cycle in that aren't bike gloves?

April 19, 2018 3:33 AM

My housemate cycles to work and is looking to buy a pair of gloves for the winter so that her hands don't freeze, but doesn't like the look of proper bike gloves. Alternatives?

We are in Melbourne so it doesn't get SUPER cold, so serious winter gloves aren't necessary. More like regular stylish gloves that you can still cycle with!
Really appreciate any suggestions.

posted by Roger Schredderer to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

Full-finger workmen's gloves sold at the big box hardware stores work surprisingly well for this job, and were my standard cycling wear when I regularly biked in the winter. It'll require some shopping around to find something that has the proper balance of warmth, comfort, and appearance, but the better models both look halfway-decent (since they tend to be plain black or brown, and don't have logos and aggro-looking graphics on them) and even have some measure of padding on the palms. And tend to be cheaper too.
posted by ardgedee at 3:41 AM on April 19, 2018

To clarify, is she objecting to cycling gloves that look like these or something that looks more like this? I have some closer to the latter style (though more subtle than that--I can't find them online, though) and having the bit of "thermal fabric" on the top of your hand for what REI has euphemistically called "moisture transfer" is really quite useful. However, a quick google suggests that unless she's cycling in a cold snap in the middle of winter, Melbourne isn't likely to be cold enough that cycling will prompt watering eyes or a running nose. (I'd expect that when it drops below maybe 10C.)
posted by hoyland at 3:43 AM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

How about lined leather driving gloves? I’ve had a pair (leather with knit cashmere liner) for years and they’re attractive and good for lots of activities besides driving. I can’t recommend a specific brand available in Australia, though. I think mine originally came from TJ Maxx or a big department store like Macy’s. Around here they show up in stores a bit before Christmas (good gift, I guess).

I cycle year-round in a fairly gross climate and I find I can wear almost any glove on the bike - the only problem I have is when there’s a prominent across the heel of my hand (where the thumb is attached) because those tend to be uncomfortable in the handlebars (less of an issue with a upright city bike than an aggressive road bike). I’m really bad at noticing the seam until I’m actually on the bike though.
posted by mskyle at 4:22 AM on April 19, 2018 [2 favorites]

As a Dutch person who uses a bicycle for shopping, I use fleece gloves with some reinforcement in the palm.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:30 AM on April 19, 2018

Windproof. Waterproof. Those are essential, in my experience.

And a *lot* of gloves say that they're windproof but they damn sure are not -- I spent some pretty serious $$ for "windproof" gloves from REI and they're not windproof. A slight breeze? OK, maybe. But wind? Unh-unh. Plus, even if/when they say they are windproof they damn sure aren't, and then if you get into some rain you'll fast find out that they aren't waterproof, either, and it is time for pain. Pain pain pain pain.

I tried a *lot* of gloves this past fall/winter/spring and finally came up with scuba diving gloves -- made of neoprene, absolutely windproof, absolutely waterproof. I bought them XXL because I wear another pair inside of them, thin cotton work gloves, and the scuba gloves still have plenty of room in them so I can move my fingers. Also, plenty enough room for HotHands instant hand warmers.

It may seem like overkill but for me it is not. My hands tend to get cold FAST and then they're numb except not really numb, because numb might lead you to think that I don't feel them, like numbed by novacaine or what-have-you. Nope, the kind of numb I get into my hands is numb and very painful, also.

Windproof. Waterproof. HotHands.
posted by dancestoblue at 5:38 AM on April 19, 2018 [2 favorites]

Fellow Melbourne cyclist here. For short commutes less than 20 min I usually go for some thin merino gloves, I’ve got a couple of pairs, Icebreaker is one brand. Anything longer and I’m looking at cycling specific brands (I favour Specialized because they make an easily accessible women’s range).
posted by WayOutWest at 6:34 AM on April 19, 2018

I live in Houston, and cycle year-round. I tend towards the warm, even when it's 35-40F (2-5C) outside, so I haven't been able to use the serious cold weather gloves on offer for sports -- my hands just get too hot and sweaty.

I solved the problem by pairing some thin merino glove liners with a traditional cycling glove when it's cold. Mine are from Smartwool, and I got them at REI. They're GREAT because merino is WITCHCRAFT -- it never stinks, stays warm even if it gets wet from sweat or rain, and provides plenty of warmth even with wind in the picture.

I'm not sure I'd ride in JUST the liners, but that's because I'd want something more substantial through the palm than just thin wool. Pairing them with a leather work glove, though, could be a real winner.
posted by uberchet at 6:35 AM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

Any leather winter gloves in the style of your preference (lightly lined, according to your weather /preference) work great for this if not biking in heavy rain. I haven't had very good luck with synthetics for windblocking, including several advertised as such, though I'm sure the technology exists if you can find it. Anything that doesn't block wind is useless for cycling, you may as well have bare hands.
posted by randomnity at 6:38 AM on April 19, 2018

The few times I got out in very cold weather a random old pair of grey "puffy" fleece gloves were wonderful. Mostly look around for something that looks really warm for the very cold days.

I saw a sort of windscreen for hands that attaches to the bike handles, I'd hunt for those if I was biking a lot, what randomnity says, protection from wind is key.
posted by sammyo at 7:42 AM on April 19, 2018

Chicago cyclist, 4ish mile/ 6.5ish km commute that takes me 20 minutes or so--on warmer winter days 35F (what 2 C?) I wear Icebreaker merino gloves over silk glove liners, unless the wind is really strong, in which case I wear the liners inside a wind resistant pair of gloves I picked up at the department store. But if the winds are gusting below 12 miles an hour, I don't do anything special with my gloves.

On colder winter days like 20F (-6 C, right?) or windier ones, I wear skiing gloves (like trigger mitts or lobster gloves--a modified mitten that keeps three fingers together and your index finger separate for gripping) because I can't get comfortable with bar mitts. Then when I'm walking around at lunch or whenever, I just wear the liners and leave the mitts in my bag.

I don't find I need anything "special" about my gloves for cycling in temperatures above freezing. Anything that keeps my hands warm and lets me use my brake levers is fine.
posted by crush at 7:47 AM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

When you say Melbourne doesn't get "super cold", what are we actually talking about here for an average daytime winter temperate? 10C? 0C? -10C?
posted by tobascodagama at 7:53 AM on April 19, 2018

I've never worn cycling-specific gloves (I'm not a cyclist, I just like to ride bikes) so I wear whatever gloves are weather appropriate considering the wind chill from riding. Frequently that's an older version of these softshells from OR or these basic fleece gloves from Rab. I've also worn lined deerskin work gloves.
posted by a halcyon day at 7:55 AM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have a pair of Specialized Body Geometry full-finger gloves that I've had for at least 6 or 7 years. I wore them for reasonably-good-cycling-winter-weather in Chicago and now in NL (so I'd say they're fine to ... oh, -5C? Maybe a bit lower?). A bit of stitching on one thumb failed a couple years ago, probably because of my nails, and I stitched it back up and they've otherwise held up like champs. They're not waterproof... though, now that I think of it, I ought to go dunk them in a Nikwax bath, because that stuff is magic. Anyways, two big thumbs up for Specialized.
posted by sldownard at 9:55 AM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

Smartwool glove liners are fantastic but if you wear them alone they have terrible grip, wear out quickly, and are not windproof at all. Paired with Atlas 370 work gloves, they make an incredible lightweight glove that is durable, grippy, warm, reasonably windproof, and which offers excellent dexterity. Not waterproof, but merino does still work when wet. You can text through them, even.

You can put the liners under anything, of course. If she doesn't like the look of work gloves she could get unlined leather gloves or whatever she does like to put over the liners. And the liners work great inside a heavier glove on those really cold days, or just by themselves for general walking around on cool days. They're great, everyone should get some.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:55 AM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

I should add: mine are plain black and just look like gloves. Not as sleek as leather driving gloves, but definitely not like my goofy summer bike gloves. I think they're worth checking out even though they are, indeed, bike gloves.
posted by sldownard at 9:56 AM on April 19, 2018

Cycling gloves get GROSS. Probably the grossest bit of my kit even when regularly washed.

I'd go for a pair of those really cheap white cotton glove liners - I think you can get them at Coles/Woolworths for like $2 - inside of whatever nicer gloves go on the outside. They will provide an extra layer of warmth, be easier to clean, and super cheap to replace.
posted by trialex at 3:42 PM on April 19, 2018