Waterproof Cold Weather Glove Buyer's Guide 2.0
Keep your mitts toasty on a cool/wet day
Now that summer is officially over (though SoCal riders may not feel the difference), it’s time to switch gears and prepare ourselves for the cooler temperatures that are around the corner. What follows is an update to the Waterproof Winter Gloves Buyer’s Guide Evans penned at the beginning of the year. We realize the timing of that guide might have come too late to those who already packed their bikes away for the winter, and since that time many glove makers have introduced new or updated models for the upcoming winter riding season. Here now, in no particular order, are 10 more winter riding gloves.
Cortech’s contribution to the winter riding glove segment is this, the Scarab winter glove. Constructed from drum-dyed cowhide with a HiPora waterproof and breathable barrier, protection comes from goatskin palms with abrasion-resistant, titanium/carbon panels. Additional protection in the palm area comes from Schoeller Dry Skin Keprotech patches. To keep the hands warm there’s 3M Thinsulate insulation along with fleece interior lining. The glove is pre-curved for form-fitting comfort, with titanium/carbon knuckle, finger and wrist armor. The large gauntlet cuff features a closure strap to help keep the elements out and the glove firmly in place. Visit the Cortech website for more information.
Racer Dynamic II Goretex Glove
Price: $169.99
With a name like Racer Gloves, you’d be forgiven for thinking the company only makes gloves for competition use. However, Racer’s portfolio includes more than just track gloves. Take the Dynamic II Goretex Glove, for example. Incorporating many of the lessons learned from the track, the Dynamic II has a soft Polartec fleece liner combined with Dexfil insulation for warmth. A Gore-Tex waterproof membrane keeps the moisture out. CE 2 certified, the Dynamic II also features a Pittards leather palm with a leather grip patch and gel palm protector. Leather and textile combine to form the chassis, and a hard shell leather-covered knuckle protector helps keep the knuckles safe in an impact. Available only in black, in sizes M-3XL, the Dynamic II comes with a five-year warranty. Go to www.racerglovesusa.com for more info.
Perhaps the biggest value on this list, the Dainese Garda D-Dry gloves have come down in price nearly 50%. Intended as more of a city/commuting glove, the Garda D-Dry is a lightweight glove featuring a regular fit (instead of slim). Dainese’s D-Dry membrane provides waterproofness, while Thermolite thermal lining keeps the hands warm. Elasticated fabric and inserts make for a form-fitting glove, while pre-curved fingers and a tightening strap provide added comfort. The Garda is finished off with reflective inserts for better visibility at night and reinforced goatskin palms for abrasion protection. Dainese.com is where to go for more info.
Olympia says it named these gloves after “a bull of legendary toughness.” Whatever the case may be, the Aventador is “designed for die-hard winter riders to brave freezing temps.” To achieve that goal, Olympia constructed the Aventador with a leather, nylon and suede outer shell. After that, a Gore-Tex insert keeps out wind and water, yet allows the glove to remain breathable. Primaloft insulation and a fleece liner help keep the hands warm, too. Pre-curved fingers with accordion knuckles help with comfort. A full-leather palm adds abrasion protection in a fall, while reflective piping, adjustable wrist strap and goggle wiper are all nice extras not always seen on a glove in this price range. Available in sizes S-XL, visit the Olympia website to order a pair.
The Rev’It Taurus Gore-Tex glove, like many of the gloves here, utilize the ubiquitous Gore-Tex membrane for waterproofness. Its outer shell is comprised of a mixture of drum dyed goatskin, Cordura 500D with Teflon coating, SuperFabric, and a combination of suede, and synthetic leather. Inside, the Taurus features PrimaLoft Gold insulation with a fur/tri-fleece liner for warm hands. Hard shell knuckles with TPU hard-shell palm sliders, help with impact protection, and the little fingers and thumb get Terperfoam for the same purpose. Cleverly, the Taurus features a split double cuff design that allows the outer shell to go over your jacket sleeve, and the inner shell to go inside the sleeve, helping to keep the elements out and warmth in. Available in sizes S-4XL, visit Revit.com for more information.
The Latitude XL Glove from Joe Rocket is a stylish cold weather glove with some clever features. A hybrid goatskin leather and heavy duty stretch polyester outer shell is combined with a waterproof and breathable insert to keep the elements at bay. A soft brushed antimicrobial lining and Thermolite insulation helps keep the hands warm. The knuckles are protected with padded goatskin, while the palms get reinforced goatskin overlays for added abrasion resistance. There’s an extra wide gauntlet with one-handed adjustment, and the comfort stretch wrist helps keep the glove in place. Pre-curved fingers mean less fatigue on your hands while riding. Available in black or red, in sizes S-3XL, visit Joerocket.com for more information.
The Polar-Tex 2.0 from Tour Master is a no-nonsense winter glove. Constructed from a mixture of 600 denier polyester and goatskin leather, the Polar-Tex features goatskin leather in the palms and thumbs as well. A floating knuckle design and articulated fingers aid in providing maximum range of movement, while an adjustable wrist closure with an elasticized wrist band helps ensure the glove stays put. Inside, 3M Thinsulate insulation and fleece lining keep the digits toasty. Visit TourMaster to learn more.
Alpinestars Jet Road Gore-Tex Glove
Price: $199.95
Billed as a full-length touring glove, the Alpinestars Jet Road Gore-Tex glove features a dual layer gauntlet closure for 100% waterproof performance. A TPU molded knuckle is discreetly housed within the outer shell of the glove for protection, while the outer shell is reinforced with leather. Highly breathable and ergonomic, the Jet Road is designed for enhanced fit and feel. There’s leather placed strategically for abrasion resistance, and new easy in/out lining helps the rider adjust to varying temps during a ride. The left thumb features a helmet visor wipe to help you see through the storm, and the fingertips are touchscreen compatible, allowing the rider to interact with their devices without the need to remove the glove. Available in black or the black/yellow seen above, in sizes S-3XL, Alpinestars.com is where to go for a pair of your own.
Klim PowerXross Glove
Price: $99.99
In its press material, Klim says the PowerXross glove is “guaranteed to keep you dry.” That’s a big claim, but the PowerXross does feature a Gore-Tex membrane, like many other gloves here, to best meet that promise. Combined with Gore-Tex’s Gore Grip technology, Klim asserts the PowerXross provides outstanding dexterity and tactility. Keeping the hands warm is 100 grams of 3M Thinsulate Platinum insulation. A full leather palm and fingers with silicone grip zone provides protection, and the zippered cuff plus pull-on loop make it easy to pull the glove on over a jacket. Visit Klim.com for more information.
If it looks like a racing glove and feels like a racing glove, then it must be a racing glove, right? Wrong. The beauty of the Carbo Winter H2OUT leather glove from Spidi is that it takes its regular Carbo Track leather glove and modifies it for use in inclement weather. The Carbo Winter glove is a full grain leather glove with Spidi’s proprietary H2OUT waterproof and breathable membrane. Inside, Primaloft wadding provides an insulating layer to help keep the hands warm. A carbon knuckle pad helps protect the knuckles in a fall, but also promotes sliding in a fall, helping to avoid a potentially dangerous lift from the asphalt. Three layers of material also line the little finger to help keep it safe during a slide. Available in black/silver or black/yellow, in sizes S-3XL, learn more at Spidi.com.
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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My experience in cold wet environments is that a large cuff with an elasticized closure with a drawcord will seal the best over an adequate jacket. Without a drawcord, there isn't adequate sealing. Tucking cuffs inside of sleeves and large non-sealed cuffs have never seemed to work for me, both either leaking or wicking the water in unless you are on a bike like a Wing or other fully faired tourer. The Olympia and Joe Rocket appear to be the only ones that have this feature. My money is going to the Olympia. I have been always pleased with their gear.
The only thing I know about waterproof gloves or equipment is that they don't remain waterproof for a very long time