Not so long ago, we set out to discover whether or not it is possible to buy a decent pair of winter gloves for under £100.
We concluded that it is, but just how little can you spend to get a good pair of all-weather gloves?
We selected 10 pairs of all-weather gloves that are between £2.99 (I know!) and £60. Our minimum criteria were that they're full length, feature a wrist-restraint and designed to be waterproof.
We subjected the gloves to five tests; four 'lab' tests to check their ability to keep water and freezing temperatures out and a road-test to get an idea for their fit, feel and performance out in the real world. Each test carried a maximum score of 10, meaning a perfect glove would come away with 50 out of 50.
Test 1: Water Resistance. How do the gloves hold up under a running tap for five minutes?
Test 2: Cold Test. Can our tester keep his gloved hand submerged in ice for five minutes?
Test 3: Waterproofing. Can the gloves withstand being submerged up to the cuff in water for 15 minutes?
Test 4: Wet/dry weight test. How much more do the gloves weigh after being submerged and therefore how much water have they taken on? Two marks were subtracted from the total of 10 for every 50% weight gained over the original weight.
Test 5: Road test. We wear all the gloves riding on a set route and see how they feel out of the lab and into the real world.
Click here to begin with the Alpinestars Radiant Drystar.
Alpinestars Radiant Drystar
The Alpinestars Radiant Drystar feel very light when you first put them on. They are a full-length, 'all-weather' pair of gloves and feature Drystar waterproof and breathable membrane, Thinsulate thermal lining and Bremburg fleece additional lining. Despite their lightness, early signs were promising - they passed the resistance test comfortably. Each glove weighs just 84g, but after the 15 minute waterproofing test they took on water and weighed 202g, and had allowed water in. Not as much as some, but had leaked nonetheless. On the cold test they were very cold, but I survived the five minutes just about.
They have drawstring cuff retention and no wrist strap. Their light weight and thin shell gives excellent control. We would recommend them for autumn riding.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 6/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 4/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 4/10
Test 5 Road test: 8/10
Overall: 32/50
Pros: Really good movement and control, lightweight and well-made.
Cons: Waterproofing isn't 100% and cold protection might not cut it in the deep winter.
Summary: Feels more like a midseason glove frankly. Not totally waterproof and not very warm. Ideal in an urban environment at relatively low speeds, but for longer runs in freezing temperatures they don't cut the mustard.
Price: £34.99
Chorahi Online Shopping
For £9.99 from Chorahi Online Shopping via eBay, these were billed to contain much the same 'technology' as others, such as Thinsulate lining (150g!) and made of real leather. They passed the resistance test with ease, and were acceptable in the cold test, keeping my hands warm up until the third minute when things started to get really rather cold. Not the best, but not the worst. However they came unstuck in the 15 minute waterproofing test, with small puddles of water forming at the tips of each finger. That probably contributed to the fact that the glove that once weighed 92 grams had swelled to a mammoth 345 grams.
On the road, they felt no worse to wear than many branded gloves we have tried. The wrist restraints are abysmal, but overall, they were warm and gave plenty of flexibility. But despite some early promise, it appeared my experiment in cost-cutting had not quite succeeded.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 7/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 2/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 0/10
Test 5 Road test: 8/10
Overall: 27/50
Pros: Cheap, pretty warm, comfortable on the road.
Cons: Not waterproof, poor quality construction.
Summary: A slightly cheeky experiment that very nearly came good - but you will need to spend more money if you want proper waterproofing.
Price: £9.99
Hein Gericke Nagano Sheltex
Hein Gericke's Nagano Sheltex looked to be a solid contender on paper - featuring Sheltex breathable waterproof membrane, Thinsulate lining and plenty of additional padding and soft armour, as well as a neat zipped closure on the wrist area. Hein Gericke are known for their solid, mid-range stuff, so we were surprised when the Nagano Sheltex spluttered through the lab tests. Although they passed the resistance test by the end of the 15 minute waterproofing test they were absolutely sodden - clearly the waterproofing had been compromised and the glove which previously weighed 109g now weighed 285g. In the cold test they were pretty capable - my fingers started to feel nippy at the four minute mark, but nothing too serious and easily passed the five minute cut-off.
Road-wise, they're comfy and have long fingers which could be good or feel cumbersome depending on the individual. The wrist restraint is strong and solid. The inner and outer layers feel 'separate', a slightly odd sensation. Overall a comfortable enough glove.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 8/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 3/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 4/10
Test 5 Road test: 8/10
Overall: 33/50
Pros: Comfortable, quality level seems high, warm enough on test.
Cons: Failed the waterproofing test.
Summary: Failure in the waterproofing test mars an otherwise respectable glove.
Price: £49.99
Held Nordpol
The only 'lobster claw' style gloves on test. We've never been 100% sold on the lobster look, so this test seemed a good way to test their mettle. The Nordpols feature upper hand air guards to reduce wind chill, Thinsulate lining throughout and waterproofing. They passed the resistance test and waterproofing test with full marks. The theory behind the lobster claw style is that the reduced surface area of the two-pronged glove lets less cold in and allows the pairs of fingers to keep each other warm. It didn't appear to work in practice in the lab, as they were fairly cold fairly quickly. One glove veritably drank up water during the 15 minute soak test - swelling from 133g to a bloated 366g.
In the real world, the lobster style reduces control - precision clutch work is hard if you're used to one finger and there is almost a 'helpless' feeling in knowing that where one finger goes, another must follow. The feeling is unnatural - but some favour it so it is difficult to be too critical in this area, it is just a matter of taste. Despite all this, they are comfortable - even if you don't like the two-fingered style.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 6/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 7/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 4/10
Test 5 Road test: 8/10
Overall: 35/50
Pros: Waterproof through and through, very solid wrist restraint.
Cons: Pretty chilly; in the lab they weren't very warm.
Summary: Depends on whether or not you like the two-fingered style.
Price: £39.99
Milano Sport Aqua
At the lower end of the price range, the Milano Sport Aqua performed as well as more expensive rivals. Out of the packet, they feature Hipora breathable liner, 40 gram Thinsulate inner liner (not the heaviest out there) and a neat integrated visor wipe. In the lab, they passed both resistance and waterproofing tests with no problem at all. In the cold test, my hands were a tad chilly by the second minute of the five minute test, but not so much so that I felt enough discomfort to withdraw and they lasted the time. The only bad news is that they did seem to take on a fair amount of water - the glove swelled from a relatively average weight of 140g to a pretty hefty 360g.
The rubber rain wipe makes a welcome appearance. The only criticism in terms of feel is the very long thumb and fifth finger sections - as thumb control on the instruments was hindered for those with smaller thumbs. In general, a very good budget glove.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 8/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 7/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 4/10
Test 5 Road test: 8/10
Overall: 37/50
Pros: Comfy, waterproof and very inexpensive.
Cons: Drab-looking, retain water.
Summary: A very good budget glove at the price - let down by a few niggles but nothing drastic.
Price: £29.99
Rev It Nepal
The Rev It Nepal impressed immediately out of the packet - there is a real feel of quality about it. The gloves boast "fiberfill" insulation with tri-fleece lining' and a water and windproof membrane - a fair amount of technology, but they still weigh in at just 101g. In the lab tests, they passed both resistance and waterproofing with flying colours, but the cold test really let them shine. They kept out cold. The amount of water they took on reinforces faith in their waterproof abilities - they weighed just 185g at the end of the waterproofing test.
Out on the road, they performed very well indeed - the feel is good. The nature of the wrist section is such that they are a little tricky to fit over the sleeve of the jacket - a minor quibble perhaps, but when looking at all-weather clothing, creating a seal is vital. Otherwise, excellent.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 10/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 10/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 7/10
Test 5 Road test: 8/10
Overall: 45/50
Pros: Excellent in the lab, very good on the road, high quality.
Cons: Too little 'flare' in the wrist makes them fiddly to squeeze on over your jacket.
Summary: A classy pair of gloves price - high on the list for buying consideration.
Price: £54.99
Richa Carbon
Richa's Cold Protect won our last gloves test by some margin - so we expected big things from the cheaper Carbon. They were not quite as good, it must be said, but are still a very capable pair of gloves. The gloves are pretty feature packed - they sport Thinsulate 70g insulation, Hipora waterproof membrane and Keprotec protective lining - not bad for a budget glove. They started well, passing the resistance test and staying waterproof throughout the 15 minutes. They also succeeded in repelling a fair amount of water, gaining just 121g on their original weight of 147g. However, they were on the cold side during the ice test - I survived the five minutes but they were far from cosy.
The wrist protection is excellent, the drawstring at the end of the sleeve is fantastic for creating a seal. The rubber visor wipe is on the left hand glove is a nice touch. But to wear they are a bit on the inflexible side.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 5/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 10/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 7/10
Test 5 Road test: 7/10
Overall: 39/50
Pros: Proved waterproof, great wrist features, plenty of protection.
Cons: Pretty cold. Doesn't offer the best feel out there.
Summary: An extremely good glove let down to some extent by its cold protection. They did not keep the cold out that well in the lab or on the road.
Price: £34.99
RST Alpha Slice
The RST Alpha Slice WP employs a Hipora waterproof membrane and Thinsulate lining - a popular combination. Unusually among the rivals here, they are leather-based rather than textile. Although they passed the resistance test easily, they leaked halfway through the cold test, and failed the waterproofing test: at the end of 15 minutes they could be wrung out like a wet flannel and the weight had increased from 139g to 344g.
To wear, they provided a decent level of warmth and comfort, looked good on the hands and are equipped with reassuring knuckle armour - although the stitching on the fingers looks slightly on the cheap side.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 2/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 0/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 4/10
Test 5 Road test: 7/10
Overall: 23/50
Pros: Look good, fit well and provide a decent level of warmth and comfort on the road.
Cons: Do not deliver on the 'WP' in their name.
Summary: Not at all bad - but cheaper gloves did not leak.
Price: £49.99
Unbranded gloves from eBay
The lowest price we could find that fulfilled the criteria. The above gloves cost a miserly £2.99, again from eBay. Totally unbranded, they were advertised as waterproof, thermal, with a wrist restraint and full length. They felt light but flimsy and the thermal lining was scratchy and uncomfortable. In the resistance test, water hit my fingers in under 10 seconds. In the cold test, they leaked moments after entering the watery ice. After that the 15 minute waterproofing test was purely academic - from an original featherweight of 53g they had swelled over three times to 180g, after which they were sodden for days.
Out on the road, I could feel the wind forcing its way through the shabby stitching even at low speed. The lack of grip on the palms was at times approaching dangerous - my hand slipped on the throttle constantly. Half an hour or so in, I had to stop, chastened, and stick my normal gloves back on.
Test 1 Resistance test: 0/10
Test 2 Cold test: 2/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 0/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 0/10
Test 5 Road test: 2/10
Overall: 4/50
Pros: They cost £2.99!
Cons: They failed all the tests without the semblance of a fight and were appalling out on the road.
Summary: Don't buy the cheapest gloves on eBay!
Price: £2.99
Weise Legend
The Weise 'Legend' is a new pair of gloves from Weise for 2013. Featuring unusual 'mcFit' technology which attaches the linings securely without stitching to improve fit and flexibility, Hipora breathable membrane and Primaloft thermal padding among others, they certainly offer a laundry list of features. Luckily it's not all show - they performed very well in our tests, passing the resistance test and waterproofing test with flying colours. Throughout the cold test they remained watertight and comfy - my fingers only began to acknowledge the ice outside the glove approaching the five minute mark. I was also impressed with how little water they took on despite the 15 minute soak - they gained just 87g of weight, from 103g to 190g.
Having performed well in our lab tests, the Legend did not disappoint out on the road - I found them very flexible, affording me good control and comfort. They strike the right balance between reassuring thickness and manuverability as far as I am concerned, staying sealed over my jacket snugly. With the wrist restraint pulled tight, they saw me through a particularly cold day with little complaint.
Test 1 Resistance test: 10/10
Test 2 Cold test: 9/10
Test 3 Waterproofing: 10/10
Test 4 Wet/dry weight test: 7/10
Test 5 Road test: 9/10
Overall: 45/50
Pros: Waterproof, warm, comfortable.
Cons: Not much to speak of. Although at the top of our price limit, it still seems like good value for gloves of this quality.
Summary: A very strong pair of gloves offering superb value for money.
Price: £59.99
Conclusion
Visordown sub-£60 All-Weather glove test
The test results reveal a pretty broad spectrum of capability within our sample gloves. Some truly excelled whilst others were made to look poor. The biggest hurdle came in the form of the 15 minute waterproofing test, which was ruthless in exposing some and inspiring confidence in others.
We have joint winners in the form of the Rev It Nepal and the Weise Legend - both exhibited truly exceptional quality considering the budget price.
Honourable mentions go to the Richa Carbon and the Milano Sport Aqua, which have earned our approval with strong performances across the board.
Now there's really no excuse not to keep warm and dry this winter!
