Best winter cycling gloves 2025 - how to keep your hands warm in the coldest months

Cold hands on a bike are at best uncomfortable and at worst dangerous. Numb fingers won’t operate gears and brakes very well and can turn a bracing winter ride into an unpleasant sufferfest.

Unfortunately, it is hard to keep hands (and feet) warm when riding - they are stuck out at the end of our limbs exposed to cold wind and rain, and are largely immobile most of the time. They also have to operate the bike’s controls, unwrap snacks and grip the handlebars so can’t just be the biggest, thickest pair of mitts you can find. Therefore it is well worth finding a glove system that works for you and your riding.

When the temperature starts to drop, it is protection from the wind which is first required; even on a perfectly still day at a reasonable 8°C, a riding speed of 40kph reduces the effective temperature to 3° due to windchill. Thus the outer layer of a winter glove will usually be windproof and/or waterproof, with a layer of insulation underneath it to trap warm air next to the skin. Usually, this will be in the form of some kind of fleece or synthetic insulation such as Primaloft.

So far, so easy, but despite the frigid temperatures you are still likely to generate some sweat whilst slogging uphill so the fabrics will need to allow moisture to escape, otherwise you will get damp and chilled from the inside. It is this combination of weather protection and breathability which is the key balance and which marks out the more performance-orientated products.

You will of course also need to grip the handlebars, control the bike, operate the brakes and shift gears, so you need a decent degree of dexterity. Usually, the best gloves will have less insulation on the palm side to facilitate this. Below we have included our top picks in this regard, and it is worth noting that some of the models below are all-rounders, and some are best defined as 'deep winter gloves' which sacrifice a bit of dexterity for pure warmth.

Additionally if you suffer from cold feet as well as cold hands, have a look at beefing up your winter wardrobe with a pair of the best overshoes or a pair of the best winter cycling shoes if you intend to keep riding through the winter. Also when the weather turns, be sure to have a look at our guides on the best waterproof cycling jackets, and best winter cycling jackets.

The quick list

Best winter cycling gloves 2025

Best overall

Castelli Estremo gloves are billed as the Italian's brand 'warmest cold weather glove'. After testing we found this to be accurate. The Estremos kept our hands warm in below-freezing temperatures, while still allowing us to maintain plenty of bar feel.

The blend of fabrics is spot on. The Gore-Tex Windstopper material on the top of the glove and the cuff keeps out the worst of the weather, while that long, adjustable cuff does a stellar job of sealing the heat in. Inside the fleece material feels luxurious, as do the gloves as a whole. Detailing is high, with regards to the silicone palm grippers and the padding, although a tad more reflectivity would be appreciated.

The Estremo gloves may be expensive but it's hard to put a price on keeping your hands truly warm. If you intend on cycling through the winter then you could do far worse than invest in a pair of these gloves.

• Read more: Castelli Estremo winter gloves full review

Best value

We couldn't help but highly rate these brilliant winter cycling gloves from Endura. They aren't quite as finessed as the higher-end brands, but with both impressive wind and water proof characteristics, they could easily fit into both categories.

The Endura Strike gloves have a gel palm as well as silicone details, making them great at gripping the bars and controls in all weather. They do have quite a short cuff though, which longer-armed riders might find creates a glove-to-jacket / jersey gap.

The stretchy windproof panel across the back of the gloves managed the tightrope balance of providing bitter wind protection without losing breathability. While they wouldn't keep your hands dry indefinitely in a downpour, the waterproofing also punched well above the price bracket assumption, and we found that as long as you didn't remove your gloves, even when they are wet, they will keep your hands warm, again thanks to their impressive wind blocking qualities.

• Read more: Endura Strike gloves full review

Best warmth vs bulk

The Rapha Pro Team Winter Gloves stand-out feature is their lack of bulk. On test we were impressed at how this low profile package was capable of keeping hands warm, performing exceptionally well at really low temperatures.

We loved the minimal padding on these and found them the perfect winter cycling glove for its excellent grip in all weather with zero dexterity compromises, including both navigating a touch screen and unwrapping a mid-ride energy bar. They're certainly a high-performance choice and we found them to be the best winter cycling gloves to pull on for winter league racing.

The windproof back of the gloves does a very good at blocking the cold, but it's worth noting that these are water resistant, not water proof. So in the rain, the backs of the gloves do keep out the water thanks to a DWR coating (which will need reapplying at some point) that makes raindrops bead off, but we did find that the synthetic suede palms absorb it.

There is no denying the high price tag that the Rapha Pro Team Winter Gloves command, more than both the other 'elite' brands winter offerings, such as the Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves. However, if you want the perfect winter cycling glove for racing, then these are spot on.

• Read more: Rapha Pro Team Winter Gloves full review

Best for mixed conditions

On test we absolutely loved the Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves, finding them so close to being the best winter cycling gloves that we gave them a coveted Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice award.

Using the latest Gore Infinium Windstopper fabric, the Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves manage that difficult balance between adequate insulation, water repellence and windproofing on the one hand (pun intended) and bar feel, ride comfort and dexterity on the other.

With a light fleece lining, there's enough warmth to keep the hands warm and even after hours of light rain, they stay dry. Once the water does make it in, your hands still stay warm and there's enough dexterity to work the controls and keep yourself fed as you ride.

• Read more: Castelli Perfetto RoS Glove full review

Best for breathability

Giro's Xnetic H20 gloves are billed as waterproof, and they are. But they are also more than just something to reach for when the skies threaten rain. Thanks to their lightweight, minimalist design they work well as a go-to-glove for cool conditions, whether you're heading out on a long road ride or popping to the shops on your bike. At just 62g for the pair, they store away easily too.

The Xnetic's low weight also means that once on you barely notice that you're wearing them. This can also be attributed to the high level of stretch, which sees the glove conforming to your hand shape with ease. It also creates a good seal at the wrist, stopping any unwanted drafts from entering.

Unlike traditional neoprene gloves, the Xnetic gloves offer far greater breathability. On test, our hands never got overly sweaty. Surprisingly for a glove that allows this degree of moisture management, they also did a stellar job of keeping our hands warm, working well in temperatures in the low single digits celsius, and keeping them dry through persistent showers and the occasional heavier downpour.

The technology at work here is well disguised. This is a simple-looking glove that will be appreciated by any minimalist. However, the three-layered fabric, which almost has the look and feel of a knit glove, blends a durable outer with a waterproof membrane and a hypoallergenic lining. And it works very well indeed.

• Read more: Giro Xnetic H20 gloves full review

Best for mild weather

We really rated these Specialized Prime Series Thermal gloves for a more of a mild winter option, ideal for late autumn and early spring riding in changeable conditions.

The Polartec Neoshell backs are as waterproof as Polartec claims, the AX suede palms are ‘hydrophobic’; they're not waterproof, so badged as water resistant. On test we found them one of the best winter cycling gloves to happily withstand a light shower or drizzle with no problem, but as we've said with the likes of the Rapha Pro Team Winter Gloves, this style of microfiber will always wet out, so it's a matter of when, not if.

On test, we found the cuff really well done, with its Velcro adjustable closure a break from the current trend of just stretchy. It allows you to fine-tune the fit, without adding additional bulk, allowing the cuff to be over or under your jacket/ jersey sleeve.

Their lightweight nature affords great breathability, especially on the days when it's a colder start and then warms up (or vice versa), although if your hands do get hot the Specialized Prime Series Thermal Gloves are light and packable enough to stash in a pocket.

The only real downside is their lower temperature range limitation, meaning that it's likely that you'll have to invest in something like the Rapha Pro Team Winter Gloves, or even the Rapha Deep Winter gloves for real freezing rides.

• Read more: Specialized Prime Series Thermal Gloves full review

Best for absolute warmth

The Giro Proof is the five-fingered sibling of the previous Giro Proof 100 lobster mitts. Here you get the same level of impressive warmth but with increased dexterity thanks to the traditional glove shape.

The build quality is high, with fabrics that provide plenty of protection against the elements as well as being durable. As with the Proof 100s, we found that one of the only drawbacks is the gloves' nose wipe. It's made from a lovely soft fleece material but is far too narrow to do its job well. Otherwise, this is a sturdy glove that kept us nicely warm through the coldest winter days.

• Read more: Giro Proof winter gloves full review

FAQs

How we test

Testing these winter gloves involved riding in all weathers and temperatures though the winter, checking them for warmth, breathability and water resistance. Each pair of gloves was also assessed on their fit and dexterity, making sure that it was still simple and safe to operate the brakes, gears and GPS trackers (as well as phone cameras for Rule 5 selfies).

See more about testing and how the star rating works.