14 Winter MTB Gloves Put to the Test in the Cold, Rain, or Freezing Temperatures

Hestra Bike Long SR Glove

• MSRP: $50
• Available at Amazon and other retailers

Best Affordable Fall MTB Glove

These Hestra gloves aren’t necessarily a fall or winter mtb glove, but I find that they work best when summer has gone. The Hestra Bike Long SR gloves are made of a leather-like Clarino material that wraps around the wrist and fingers and can get a little too hot for summer riding. On warm days when temperatures are upwards of the 60s and 70s, the Clarino soaked up my sweat, and didn’t really allow for evaporation that well, which is why they seem to be a great glove for the fall, and for western or coastal locations where winter isn’t too harsh.

What I like about them is that they are great looking, made by a reliable brand, and they feel like they would last a full two seasons. No doubt about it, the Hestra gloves are tough.

The fit through my fingers is perfect. Be sure to verify with the size chart on their website, because sizes run in numbers rather than S, M, L, and so on. The space between my thumb and forefinger was not cut deep enough on the pair I tested. This resulted in those muscles in my hand working a little too hard to operate shifters and dropper post remotes, and my hands seemed to fatigue more, since they had to stretch the glove when I was shifting. This may vary from size to size.

Otherwise, they have been solid, and should also make a great trail-digging glove. Best of all, it’s a pretty killer price for a glove of this quality. -MM

Materials: Clarino: Hardwearing synthetic material with suede leather feeling. 60% polyamide, 40% Polyurethane. Mesh/Spandex: 85% polyester, 15% elastane.

Gore Wear Gore-Tex Infinium Stretch Gloves

• MSRP: $45
• Available at Gore Wear and Competitive Cyclist

Best for chilly fall rides

Gore’s Gore-Tex Infinium Stretch gloves have been a great fall pair, and also as a liner for winter-weather riding. The Gore-Tex Infinium have a light and thin feel, but offer a pretty decent amount of protection. I have found these best for chilly fall rides above about 50F.

The Infinium cycling gloves also have the slimmest fit of the pairs that I wore in this bunch. They are sized from XS to XXXL and buyers should definitely refer to the size guide listed on Gore’s website before purchasing.

I dig the slim feel of this glove, the all-black look, and the silicone grippers around the fingers ensure a sticky contact with the handlebars. The Infiniums are water-resistant, but I would grab a different pair if I knew thick rain was in the cards for a ride. They do cut the chill from windy rides though and maintain solid breathability. -MM

Materials: Palm: 60% Polyamide, 40% Polyurethane. Shell face: 87% Polyester, 13% Elastane. Shell backer: 100% Polyester

Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Wool

• Price: $52
• Available at Showers Pass and other online retailers.

Simplest all around winter mtb glove

The complexity that’s woven into things that seem simple never ceases to surprise me. These warm little wool gloves form Showers Pass feel fantastic on most cold and soggy outings, and they pack a larger punch than meets the eye. With the appearance of a midweight wool glove, this pair has plenty of stretch to fit well while keeping a good amount of water at bay. The cuff is plenty long to fit under your jacket sleeve, and the whole glove is basically a giant wipe to keep your leaky nose ready for that next selfie. The palm is covered in little grippers, but it’s not touch-screen approved.

The stretchy material moves around a bit on the grips, but the rubberized palm stays put and overall these have a decently connected feel on the bars. There are no seams to leak or snag or to annoy your skin, and if you want winter mountain bike gloves that are as simple as your summer pair these might be ideal.

Sizing with the Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Wool gloves is a little more subjective since they stretch. I am diggin’ the large that fits somewhat tight in the fingers, with space to stretch a heating packet above the palm if needed. These could fit inside another pair of gloves for the gnarliest rides provided the outer layer is a size larger than you need. -BG

Chrome Midweight Bike Glove

• Price: $50
• Available at Chrome and Amazon.

Best thinner winter mtb gloves

While marketed as Midweight, these bike gloves from Chrome are the lightest offering we tested this fall. They are more like a heavy wind layer than a rain or snow glove, fitting in well with shoulder-season temps in most regions. I rode trails with the Chrome Midweight gloves in temperatures down to 40° F when it wasn’t actively raining and my hands were satisfactorily warm. If it were raining at that temperature, or if I was out on a faster road or gravel ride, I would reach for something heavier.

Palm comfort and grip feel are largely forgotten through the winter since gloves tend to be fairly thick and durable where they interact with the muddy handlebar. The palm of this pair is made of far more seams than I would tolerate with a thinner summer set, but the added insulation makes them fairly comfortable. There’s no nose wipe to speak of, so you’ll need to sort that elsewhere. The thumb and index finger pads will actuate a dry touchscreen, but if you need to tap out more than a word or two it’s going to be easier to remove them.

My usual glove size is large and these fit a little snug. They haven’t stretched or broken in much over time, and I would definitely order a size up to have a little extra room for wool liners on brisk rides. You’ll want to be careful with the liners as they seem to pull from the finger slots fairly easily when removing sweaty hands. -BG

Norrøna fjørä Infinium Gloves

• Price: $89
• Available from Norrona

Like a blanket for your hands

Norrona’s fjørå Infinium gloves are aimed at dry autumn and winter riding when blocking wind-chill is paramount. I’ve gripped the bars with them in temps between 30F and 55F (-1C to 13C), and they kept my fingers warm and happy. The shell is not fully waterproof, though these have kept my hands dry on shorter rides in the rain. There is a soft snot-wipe on either thumb so riders can clean their face off without sanding it.

The overall construction of these winter mtb gloves is decidedly tough. Their seamless synthetic-leather palm has worked well for blister-free dirt shoveling sessions. That same material stretches to the fingertips, where it can manipulate a touchscreen with the best of them. The top, or backside, is lined with fleece, which adds warmth while making the glove feel like something you want a full-sized onesie stitched out of.

I ordered a size large, based on the company’s circumference measurement, and the palm fits mine precisely. The fingers are a touch short, and while that’s not a huge issue, I would recommend ordering a size up if you have long piano-pounding digits. -BG

Materials Outer: 51% polyester, 35% nylon, 8%EPTFE, 6% Elastane. Palm: 60% Nylon, 40% PU.

Gore Windstopper Thermo Bike Gloves

• MSRP $90.
• Available at GOREWEAR.

The Gore Windstopper Thermo winter mountain bike gloves are super cozy, feel great next to the skin, and the fact that they are water-resistant makes them a bit less stiff and easier to wear and ride with than a truly waterproof glove. I rode comfortably with and without a liner on a 30° day and a 50° day, respectively. The “moisture control patch” (aka, the snot-strip) is correctly placed and easy on the snout. -MG

• Water-resistant
• Windproof
• Extremely breathable
• Cool 41° – 59°
• Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Silicone coated fingers

POC Thermal MTB Glove

• Price: $90
• Available at POC Sports and other online retailers.

Best winter mtb glove thumb wipe

The POC Thermal gloves have gripped the bars on more than a handful of soggy pedals this fall, and their weight seems right for the kind of weather most folks are willing to get into. While they did eventually soak through on stormy singletrack adventures, it took some time to saturate through to my skin. When it’s not actively raining these hand holsters are plenty warm for a 34° F afternoon, or even cooler as long as you keep the blood flowing.

The palms have a nice feel on the bars — for thicker winter mtb gloves — and the synthetic leather feels well attached to the liner. That attached feel means the gloves don’t have the “floaty” feeling that some of these pairs exhibit when the inner and outer fabric slide around. Like the Chrome gloves, the last two fingers on these are reflective to give drivers one more clue that there’s a bike in front of them. The supple thumb wipe will keep your runny nose happy for the duration of a ride, so wipe away!

These fit closer to my usual large, with just enough space in the fingers to be perfectly cozy. I would size up if there were any chance of needing liners, as the palms are relatively tight. The smaller palm adds to the fairly solid bar-feel.

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Pearl Izumi AmFIB Gloves

• MSRP $75
• Available at Pearl Izumi and other retailers

The Pearl Izumi AmFIB Gloves are advertised as a fall or spring glove and I rode with them in the high forties and was snug as a bug in a rug. These handsome winter mtb gloves run true to size and feel great on the handlebar thanks to the grippy leather palm and fingers. They are good for a misty day, but not a deluge. The snot strip is well located, but not as absorbent as one might hope.

Claims of “touch screen compatibility” fell short. Try as I might, I could not get my iPhone to respond to thumb or index finger input. I even tried giving it the middle finger. -MG

• 60g Primaloft Gold w/Crosscore technology insulation
• 35% post-consumer recycled polyester
• AmFIB Softshell back of hand fabric protects from wind and water
• Ax Suede Laredo synthetic leather palm for durability and great grip

Race Face Conspiracy MTB Glove

• Price: $50
• Available at Performance Bicycle.

Best grip feel

Race Face doesn’t mess about with their namesake, and these Conspiracy winter mtb gloves feel like they were designed for racing. They aren’t the warmest we tested, but they are definitely warm enough for a cold and rainy winter day if you keep the heart beats relatively high. The waterproofing is decent, and the lack of seams helps keep your hands dry for a little longer than some of the other pairs here. The wrist cinch pulls things together for a snug fit under the tightest rain jacket cuffs, which is clutch to keep water from running down the jacket and into the glove.

There are no palm seams to speak of, and the material layers integrate well to create a great fiil at the grip. These are some fo the best feeling winter mountian bike gloves we’ve tested, with solid grip that instills more confidence than most warm hand layers. The index and middle fingers look like they might engage a touch screen, but you’ll need to take these off to check your texts.

The Conspiracy gloves fit fairly tightly in size large, which is what you likely want if you’re racing in the rain. Riders with larger hands might be out of luck, as these only go up to a size XL, and the palm portion isn’t super roomy. For anyone who they do fit these will likely become a favorite bit of kit for cooler adventures.

Velocio Zero+ Cycling Glove

• MSRP: $79
• Available at Velocio

Best winter mtb glove for low 30s to low 40s

The Velocio Zero+ glove really builds up the winter resistance. The outer material feels similar to Neoprene but handles heat much better and is more breathable.

At this point in the lineup, when you need a winter mountain bike glove that will really handle cold weather riding, you’ll notice that dexterity becomes compromised, as is the case with the Zero+. These gloves, however, strike a great balance between warmth and dexterity. Though there is certainly more material than a summer or fall riding glove, my fingers could easily distinguish the shifters and brake levers and were never fighting against the material.

Velocio sizes these from XS – XL, so they aren’t as slim or calculated of a fit as the Gores, but the size medium gloves I tested aren’t too baggy feeling either.

Velocio is spot on with their temperature recommendation. The Zero+ gloves started to be defeated when temperatures were right around the freezing mark, especially if there was a descent and oncoming wind. These would be my choice for temperatures from the low 30s to low 40s. -MM

Materials: 85% Polyamide, 15% Elastane + Spacer, Membrane. Palm: 50% Polyamide, 50% Polyurethane. Made in Italy.

Gore Wear C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Bike Glove

• Price: $95
• Available at GOREWEAR and other online retailers.

Best winter bike commute glove

These Gore C5 Gore-Tex Thermo gloves take the carrot cake as the best commuter or road ride gloves in the test, thanks to the large reflective strip on their pinky to shine back at the drivers behind. There’s also nice soft wipe on the thumb to clear your nose or wipe sweat, and the wrist enclosure cinches tight to fit under the cuff of a rain jacket. Speaking of rain, these winter mtb gloves are among the most waterproof in the bunch. I left for a few rides amidst a storm and my hands stayed warm enough on all but a few of the wettest days when nothing would have done better.

The palms of the C5 Gore-Tex Thermo gloves are similarly stitch-heavy and padded to create a fatter winter hand feel. The synthetic leather palm provides decent grip on the grips, and the stitching seems plenty tough to last at least one fully messy season of riding — or more.

Like the Chrome gloves above, these are a touch on the smaller side. The fingers feel slightly shorter than other size large options i have tried. Fortunately, Gore sizing extends all the way to XXXL so there is something to fit everyone.

Pearl Izumi Amfib Lobster Gel Gloves

• Price: $85
• Buy from Pearl Izumi.

The Pearl Izumi Amfib Lobster Gel gloves are not messing around. Featuring 170g of Primaloft Gold insulation and a heat-pooling, split mitten design these are easy on the bike controls while keeping paws warm. There’s a nice snot cloth on the thumb, a velcro closure for keeping wind and snow outside, a vibration damping and heat conserving aerogel palm, and a wind and water resistant construction. Reserve the Amfib Lobster Gel gloves for the coldest, sub-zero rides of the year; otherwise you may find yourself with seriously sweaty palms.

Sealskinz Waterproof Heated Cycling Glove

• MSRP: $240
• Available at Amazon and other retailers

Best for Freezing Temps

The Sealskinz Waterproof Heated Cycling Glove is out to defeat winter lethargy and excuses. Yes, you could remain stuck to the couch, watching old episodes of Seth’s Bike Hacks, or you could don something like the Sealskinz and pedal off those holiday cookies.

The Sealskinz start with an outer made of half leather and half Polyester, for a durable and waterproof material. The inside is lined with micro-fleece feeling Polyester, which is very comfortable. Fit is pretty basic with these gloves, and they are sized from S – XL. The mediums I wore fit true to size, and conform like a hefty winter or snowboard/ski glove.

My biggest worry was dexterity. Obviously, these are a last resort glove and if you’re willing to ride in a temperature that demands the Sealskinz glove, then you probably don’t care about losing a little shifting performance. That said, the digits move comfortably, and I didn’t have much of an issue operating levers, but snacks and phones will require you to take the gloves off for a minute.

Out on a freezing temperature mountain bike ride around 30F, with plenty of wind chill, I upped the glove strength by pressing the button. The heat from the warmer feels most prevalent around the wrist and palm. I didn’t think it was super noticeable, but my hands were never cold, even after a few hours. When I pulled them off after getting home, my palms were sweaty — not what I expected.

The Sealskinz do a great job at keeping digits warm and dry. They aren’t a cheap glove, but are certainly valuable when it’s frigid out and you want to get moving. -MM

Materials: Outer: 50% Leather, 46% Polyester, 4% Elastane. Membrane: 100% Polyurethane. Inner: Lining: 92% Polyester, 8% Aluminium.

Showers Pass Crosspoint Hardshell Waterproof Glove

• Price: $85
• Available at Showers Pass (softshell) and other retailers.

Best waterproof mtb glove

The Crosspoint waterproof gloves from Showers Pass kick the cold weather protection up another notch or two. They are more like skiing gloves that work well on the bike, and apart from heated mittens these will likely keep your hands as warm as they can get. The shell is bulkier than some, which contributes to their warmth while making it trickier to fit them under some jacket cuffs. The velcro cinch gets them tight enough to slide under some jackets, but it’s not something you’ll want to do multiple times per ride. I managed to soak these through during one mountain bike ride, but in any weather I actually want to ride in they do the trick. There’s no dedicated nose wipe, but the material is soft enough that it works if you work it.

The material layers in these gloves do tend to slide across one another on the grips which isn’t ideal, but those are the same layers that provide warmth and winter comfort. The palms are padded, which likely works well on harder drop bars but it feels unnecessary for mountain biking. The synthetic leather grip holds fast in the wet despite allowing your hand to shift around inside somewhat. For riding or racing in frigid conditions, these are likely your best bet.

Following the theme here, these winter mtb gloves are a little tight. I like snug gloves, and the Crosspoint Hardshell delivers what I would expect in a size large. There is a little extra space in the palm in case you want to insert heating packets, but the fingers are tight enough that you’ll want to size up to add a liner. -BG