Best cycling gloves for comfort and protection

To protect your hands over long-distance rides, you may want a good pair of cycling gloves. We’ve gathered some of the best you can buy online – but first, here are a few things worth discussing…

Should you wear gloves while cycling?

Wearing bike gloves has a number of different benefits, from keeping you comfortable to protecting against long-term health issues. So, if you’re often on your bike, it may be worth investing in a pair.

The best cycle gloves have well-positioned cushioning, which protects your hands in an accident and reduces the risk of developing blisters, handlebar palsy and potential nerve damage.

Bike gloves also mop up any sweat and help you grip the handlebars for extra safety.

Do you need cycling gloves in summer?

Some cyclists prefer not to wear bike gloves to avoid overheating in warm weather or to maintain a close feel with the bike.

But for keen cyclists, protecting your hands is always a sensible choice if you can tolerate the extra fabric.

Should cycling gloves be padded?

Cushioning will give you extra protection against muscle strain, nerve damage and everyday blisters and calluses. It’ll also limit any vibration from your bike for extra comfort.

The best cycle gloves have well-positioned cushioning, but it’s worth paying attention to the padding when you buy a new pair, as different gloves will have padding in different areas.

Best cycling gloves for winter

Castelli Perfetto Max Gloves

• £95 / $79.99

The Perfetto Max use a beautifully soft, high-loft inner (just a shame about the annoyingly-placed care labels) to deliver warmth, and Castelli recommends a temperature range of between 0-10°C.

That feels about right, though obviously this will differ by user.

There’s no waterproof membrane here, but there is Gore-Tex’s Infinium Windstopper tech, which stops cold wind in its tracks.

While they’re not fully waterproof, they did shed light rain well, and it was only in sustained or heavy downpours where our hands got wet, mainly between the thumb and forefinger.

Fit seemed true to size, while dexterity was also impressive for a glove offering this much warmth.

Meanwhile, there’s silicone detailing on the palms, index and middle finger, which works well and
makes usual cycling tasks easy enough.

There’s also touchscreen patches on the thumb and forefinger so you can use your phone or bike computer.

Admittedly, £95 is a steep price to pay for gloves that aren’t fully waterproofed, but the fact is you’re getting decent warmth and windproofing, plus fantastic dexterity, in a much lighter, low-profile package than you are from the Dhb gloves listed below.

If you need full waterproof protection for long periods, though, you’ll have to consider another option.

Verdict: Fantastic warmth and dexterity, yet lightweight and very comfortable.

Score: 84%

Dhb Deep Winter FLT Gloves

• £36 (UK only)

Noticeably thicker than the others on test, these gloves from Wiggle’s in-house brand Dhb are designed with ‘deep winter’ in mind. So let’s first tackle what they’re like to wear.

They felt bulky and admittedly dexterity suffers as a result. Things like shifting up and down with our Di2 105 gearing required a little more care and attention than was needed with the Castellis (above).

Grip seemed to be lacking and grabbing your bottle out of its cage, for example, isn’t the simplest of tasks. It’s also impossible to use a touchscreen while wearing these.

On a slightly more positive note, these gloves make use of a windproof and waterproof membrane,
which largely performs as expected.

In testing we found they stood up well to wind and downpours, though bear in mind that the outer layers of the gloves will soak up that water.

Our hands stayed warm in testing down to around 5°C but below that we’d want a liner.

Breathability isn’t all that great, leading to sweaty hands if worn when working hard or in milder weather, and in such scenarios the lining can pull out slightly when removing them. You’re then faced with a challenge to get them back on.

But that all said, they are only £36, and come with good reflective detailing and a Velcro cuff.

Verdict: Price makes these much more accessible and on the hole, a solid choice.

Score: 76%

Maap Winter Glove

• £85 / $115

These gloves from Maap sit at the pricier end of the spectrum, but they ooze class.

They feature a fleece lining for warmth and a waterproof, windproof membrane.

We found them comfortable down to around 5°C, but on higher-intensity rides you’ll get a couple of extra degrees out of them. Beyond that, you’ll be looking at the brand’s Deep Winter gloves instead.

Comfort was generally good, but we did find the seams pushed into our fingertips a bit, so if you’re between sizes consider going for the larger one.

Protection against wind and rain was also decent, while the large Velcro strap delivered a secure fit.

The gloves also offered high levels of grip and dexterity, though similarly-priced competitors just edge these in that regard.

Verdict: Great gloves for shoulder seasons and milder winter days.

Score: 86%

Castelli Perfetto Light Gloves

• £75 / $59.99

Like the Scott gloves featured below, these are lightweight, windproof options and, as such, they both use some of the same technology.

Gore-Tex Infinium is the tech in question and, as we’ve come to expect from the brand, it does its job impeccably well, stopping chilly breezes in their tracks.

In fact, both gloves offered us just enough protection from the wind and cold down to around 5°C, though that may be pushing it if wind chill is high.

Given the use of the same tech, there are a few other pieces of key criteria to determine which of these two lightweight gloves wins out: dexterity, value, comfort, touchscreen compatibility, grip and quality.

If we take the first point, it’s fair to say that the dexterity on offer from both Scott and Castelli is pretty
much on par thanks to the thin materials. But there are differences elsewhere.

The Castelli gloves use a material on the thumb and forefinger that allows you to use a touchscreen with accuracy, while they also come with some minor padding and decent grip on the palms.

That said, in testing, we did find the Castellis bunched up and moved around a little more at the palm, but comfort was generally high.

We also had no issues with grip while using the brakes or gears.

It’s worth noting that the elastic cuff can feel quite tight, so pulling them on and off can be a challenge, particularly with cold hands.

Verdict: A solid wind barrier with good grip and some handy padding.

Score: 85%

Scott Winter Stretch LF Glove

• £44.99 / $50

As we’ve mentioned, these lightweight gloves from Scott are effective wind blockers, with Gore-Tex’s Infinium technology doing its job diligently.

Given their lightweight nature, they’ll be a handy bit of kit to chuck in a pocket through spring and even on cooler summer mornings as well as mild winter days.

Where the Castelli gloves excelled in touchscreen compatibility the Scotts struggled, but one area these gloves do outperform their competitor in is with pulling them on and off.

The Scotts have a handy pull-tab, so it’s a much easier experience than with the Castellis.

We also felt that these gloves stayed in place on the hand slightly better, with less bunching between the hand and handlebar.

That said, grip and dexterity are pretty much on par with Castelli when it comes to the fingers, though there isn’t as much purchase on the palms due to the smaller surface area of the silicone print.

There’s also no dedicated padding, though that’s not a dealbreaker if you’re used to riding without gloves anyway.

The final point of difference between the two is the price, with the Scotts coming out some £30 cheaper.

While the Castellis slightly edge it in terms of the score, the value of the Scotts, combined with similar wind performance, certainly looks appealing.

Verdict: Decent wind protection and value, but not great for touchscreens.

Score: 83%

Triban 500 Road Cycling Gloves

• £14.99 / $19.99

In the same vein as Dhb’s Neck Tube, the Triban 500 Gloves from Decathlon offer bountiful levels of versatility and we’ve happily used them for winter running as well as their intended cycling uses.

Those two-wheeled outings were in spring and autumn conditions, with the fleece lining fairly thin but warmthproducing enough for about 5°C up to the lower teens.

The lengthy cuffs tuck neatly under the arms of a jacket, and they’ll withstand brief showers before water seeps in at the fingers.

The textured areas on the palm help with handlebar grip, and the imprint on the refreshingly dexterous thumb and fingers is touchscreen-friendly.

There’s also a garish but more visible ‘Fluro lime yellow’ colourway if the black here is too conservative, but overall there’s little to fault in these comfy contenders.

Verdict: Well-priced spring and autumn options with plenty of comfort.

Score: 84%

Endura Deluge cycling gloves

Ideal for autumn and winter rides, the Endura Deluge gloves are one of the thickest pairs on our list. They have multiple layers of fabric, including a waterproof inner and suede-like palm material.

While these cycle gloves have a water-repellent finish, the material doesn’t contain any toxic perfluorochemicals (PFCs). They also come with a sweat (or snot) wipe on the thumb, and touchscreen-friendly fingertips.

As an added bonus, Endura donates 1% of its net profits to good causes.

Giant Diversion cycling gloves

These ‘long finger’ gloves are designed for winter riding, offering both water repellency and windproofing.

Padding in the palms is good and there’s a heavy-duty Velcro wrist tab. The palms themselves are made from natural sheep leather, which is used so the gloves stay breathable while protecting you from the elements.

The ergonomic fit and long cuffs add extra comfort for long rides.

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• Winter-proof your bike

Castelli Perfetto ROS cycling gloves

Designed for 6-10°C temps, the ROS offer windproofing and water-resistance in a neoprene build that resembles open-water kit. Thanks to the elasticated construction, they’re easy to pull on and off for minimum hassle.

Other clever features include the thermoformed single-seam design, grippy silicone palms and reflective detailing. There’s also a warm fleece lining to keep you comfortable in colder weather.

Like lots of the best cycle gloves, these ones have touchscreen-friendly finger inserts, so you can easily check your phone without having to remove them.

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Sealskinz Waterproof Insulated Gloves

These cycle gloves are designed to keep your hands warm in snowy conditions, so they’re perfect for cool days when you need a little extra protection against the elements.

With a goatskin leather palm, they’re also waterproof, yet the materials are breathable for all-day comfort.

Designed with attention to detail, these gloves are cut to suit a relaxed hand position with curved fingers.

You’ll also get touchscreen-compatible fingertips and a PU suede thumb pad for cleaning your sunglasses while you’re on the move.

Bike gloves worth considering for summer

Gore Wear C5 Short Finger Gloves

Gore Wear is another brand to consider if you’re looking for new cycle gloves. This fingerless style is suited to the warmer months when you want something unrestrictive that’ll allow air to escape. The fingerless style will also allow you greater feel and control of the brakes and gears than you’d get with full-length options.

The brand says the materials are also breathable and stretchy, with the design looking ideal to provide comfort over long training sessions.

There’s gel and foam padding across the palm to absorb impact from the road, as well as Velcro closure tabs and reflective strips.

Universal Colours Mono Short Finger Gloves

Helping to reduce waste, Universal Colours repurposes leftover fabric to create these fingerless cycle gloves, and they have plenty of useful features to protect you while you’re on the move.

You’ll get Clarino ‘leather’ through the palms for high shock absorption, as well as silicone detailing for extra grip.

Reflective elements complete the package, helping you increase your visibility in poor weather conditions or after dark.

GripGrab Supergel Half-Padded Cycling Gloves

With Velcro wrist tabs and 6mm DoctorGel padding, these cycle gloves have several practical elements for fuss-free comfort during long rides.

GripGrab has included a dedicated ‘sweat wiper’ to keep your vision clear during gruelling sessions, while the magnetic detailing is another useful addition, as it’ll keep your gloves together when you’re not using them to avoid you losing one.

There are multiple colours and sizes available, allowing you to get the perfect fit and style, while reflective patches help get the attention of other road users.