Dakine White Knuckle gloves
£35 » unisex
+ Excellent breathability and unbeatable bar feel
- The palm is far from waterproof
Dakine have really hit the nail on the head with this winter mountain biking glove, and it has been gracing our paws when the temperature drops for a few years now as a result.
By putting all the insulation on the back of the hand and wrapping it in a windproof layer, they have protected the hand nicely from the chill, while leaving the palm – usually wrapped around a nice rubber grip anyway – wafer thin.
On the bike this equates to unbeatable bar feel – there is no soft and spongy layer between you and your bars, which always makes for better control and better feel for the nuances of technical mountain bike riding. It also gives them a great breathability, and they are never damp with sweat no matter how hard we ride.
Teko MTB Merino cycling socks
£16 » unisex
+ Good for cold weather and relatively pong-free!
- Expensive for socks
The Teko Merino MTB socks are supremely comfortable socks designed for mountain biking in cold weather. The medium weight provides good insulating performance for colder rides as well as a decent amount of cushioning.
The merino material breathes well ensuring that the socks stay sweat free for longer, and of course a sock is a great application for the magic wool’s anti-pong qualities –an attribute that makes them a good choice for multi-day touring wear.
The fit is snug and comfortable and we haven’t encountered any bunching or chaffing during use. The mid-shin length is good for warmth, not to mention bang on for the current long sock trend.
Endura Hummvee Waterproof Pant
£75 » men
+ Great fit for riding and lightweight fabric
- We felt the full length zips were unnecessary and bulky
These waterproof trousers are excellent for those slower days on and off the mountain or touring bike where you would otherwise chill down in cold, wet weather. We find that, with only moderately breathable fabric, for anything more strenuous they tend to get a bit warm and sweaty.
Made from light yet tough fabric to keep the weight down, the Hummvee doesn’t trouble our packs too badly when stowed, which is a good thing as – hopefully – that is where they will spend a chunk of their life.
The seat area is reinforced with an extra-durable and stretchy panel which also runs across the base of the back for improved fit. We find the fit excellent on the bike, with oversize articulated knees giving plenty of room for pedalling. Velcro adjusted ankle cuffs do a fine job of keeping stray fabric out of the chainset.
Lizard Skins La Sal 1.0 Short Finger
£30 » unisex
+ Oozing class and style, comfortable and tough
- They need a few rides to bed in to your hand shape
With a wonderful retro feel – all real leather, perforated back and terry cloth wipes – we love the look, feel and even smell of these road gloves from Lizard Skins.
Fortunately their groovy looks are backed up by performance. The leather only improved over the test period, forming to the shape of our hands and getting more and more comfortable with use. Don’t be concerned if they are a little on the snug side when you first try, we find they loosen up slightly with time and wear. A few good wet rides with warm hands and they’ll fit, well, like a glove.
Padding generously placed around the palm proves to be just right for all-day protection, while the perforated leather back keeps everything reasonably cool and sweat-free, so they are ideal for touring.
Madison Addict Waterproof Trousers
£90 » men
+ Lightweight fabric with ventilation options
- Slightly cold without thermals underneath
With a lightweight 2.5 layer ripstop fabric and durable panels of three layers on high wear areas such as the saddle, inner thigh and knee, these waterproofs are seriously well thought out.
We really appreciate the ventilation zips down the side of each thigh – easy to open up if the weather abates slightly to let off some steam – and like the zipped hip pockets.
The cut is excellent, with a high waist band silicon grippered into place at the back and articulated knees making for an impressively unobtrusive ride. They are roomy, with space under for leggings, but never too flappy in the wind.
We do find the thin sections of face fabric transmit the cold through quickly so make sure you wear some thermal leggings underneath.
Altura Windproof Skull Cap
£19 » unisex
+ Very thin fabric doesn’t interfere with helmet fit
- If anything the cap is a bit too warm!
Although described as a windproof skull cap, after a bit of experimentation we discover it is only the forehead section of Altura’s Skull Cap that is completely windproof. The rest is a light and stretchy microfleece, which is breathable yet warm insulation.
Although slightly wary of the Skull Cap, in freezing highland temperatures we were soon convinced. Anything above or around freezing point though and we found the Altura too warm to wear under a helmet and had to remove it. So perhaps it’s just as well it isn’t completely windproof!
Easily thin enough to go under any helmet, it barely bulks out the adjustment, and certainly does the job of avoiding ice-cream headaches without drenching us in sweat. A great depth of winter addition.
Gore Bike Wear Road Gore-Tex Overshoes
£65 » unisex
+ Light and easy to pull on, with unbeatable protection
- The stiff material leaves them looking a little baggy
Through several wet winters these have proven to be an invaluable addition to our cold weather wardrobe. In the absence of warm footwear they really do kept our feet warm and dry, sealing out freezing puddle splashes and the chill wind perfectly to make the whole experience far more palatable.
A tough, abrasion resistant band wraps around under the shoe to help reduce wear and tear while the upper is a much lighter fabric. All seams are taped as we would expect and they resisted everything we threw at them with ease.
A Velcro cuff seals them onto the leg, and using this adjustability they are made to seal perfectly to whatever we are wearing even if they do look a little baggy with some shoes. A large reflective logo at the rear finishes them off nicely.
Endura FlipJak Reversible jacket
£100 » men
On the face of it this could be just another insulated jacket so perhaps an unusual choice for a cycling magazine.
Actually we think it’s a stroke of genius. In high-vis mode it is a great cold weather jacket with its Primaloft Silver insulation – just enough for chilly rides, and yet highly compressible for packing in a pannier.
The dropped tail and long arm length mean it’s genuinely useful for casual cycling.
The genius of this jacket is that its reversible. If you’re cycle touring or bike camping it makes a brilliant, good-looking evening thermal layer and the windproof and showerproof shell provides basic protection from the elements.
Gore Bike Wear Power Trail Windstopper Light gloves
£50 » unisex
+ Thin but protective glove with touch screen fingers
- Would have liked a bit more stretch in the material for comfort
This glove is ideal for bridging the gap between light and airy summer wear and bulky winter protection.
Beautifully thin and close fitting it is excellent for every type of cycling, from mountain biking to touring, although it is mainly aimed at the off-road market.
Articulated fingers give excellent freedom of movement for braking and grip, while thin foam and gel padding on the palm aids comfort without sacrificing too much feel. A Velcro wrist is easily snugged up, and the lack of stretch in the material means it’s needed each time they are pulled on.
Handily the fingers are touchscreen compatible, so consulting a GPS is a glove-on, faff-free experience and hugely appreciated in the cold.
