It's Going to Rain & Get Cold - Gloves?

[Velocivixen]

So last Autumn & winter I tried on all sorts of cycling and even non cycling gloves. The problem with women's gloves is that while the fingers are long enough, the webbing part is too short on me (in essence the fingers are too short I guess). I have been to REI and literally 10 bike shops which all carry different items. I tried on a pair of men's Fox mountain biking gloves and the fingers were long enough. I think a thin pair of either Smartwool or DeFeet wool liner gloves, then men's mountain bike gloves over those. I need dexterity, so "lobster" gloves and the like are out. I don't need much in the way of padding. My current fingerless gloves are Specialized BG Gel gloves and they are great.

Any thoughts or ideas. I would totally consider non-cycling specific gloves too. Spending $$$ for bike specific gear makes me crazy sometimes.

[OakLeaf]

I totally love my Ibex Kilometer II gloves. Breathable enough for 60°F, warm enough for 30°. That's really important in spring and fall when the temperature might easily reach both of those on a ride.

They're "unisex," which in this case means a true compromise - I can't wear men's gloves at all, but these are close enough.

You might check out the rest of the Ibex catalog too, the Kilometer gloves are synthetic palm, but they have a couple of gloves with weather-resistant leather palms that might work on the bike, too.

[Grog]

As far as commuting to work is concerned (15-45 minute ride), after trying many expensive options, my favourite option is.....

the dishwashing glove!

Available in multiple colours (awesome for hand signals), extremely cheap, pretty good grip, windproof, and, above all, totally waterproof. I buy it in a bigger size and wear a thin (or thick, depending on the temperature, wool or fleece) liner underneath. I fit the opening under the cuff of my rain jacket, creating a perfectly warm and cozy environment for my hands.

This works well when the temperature is between 3 and 8 degrees Celcius (35 to 40F?), which is to say most of the time in the Pacific Northwest's winter. Sweat hasn't been a problem for me using this scheme for the past two years, but your mileage may vary depending on how hard you are working out.

Other options include the kayaking neoprene glove (which I haven't tried). I was also quite successful with my red Vancouver Olympic mittens, also with a thin liner underneath, in all weather but total downpour. For some reason, despite being cheap, cotton, and wet, it would never be really cold. My husband goes for surgical gloves on top of his winter padded cycling gloves for long rides in the cold rain.

[jelee1311]

Most of the time in winter I use a smartwool liner under my fingerless bike gloves. When it gets really cold I swipe my husbands water and windproof Louis Garneau or PI gloves and sometimes with a liner.As with a lot of my winter gear I'm more comfortable if its warm and windproof(mostly wool) as opposed to waterproof. I have never heard of using dishwashing gloves but it seems genius as long as I didn't sweat too much. I have used my neoprene flyfishing gloves but they were a little hot.

[Becky]

@V: I have the same problem with finger length. Men's gloves are usually the way to go, and it gives me room for a merino wool liner glove underneath if I wish. My "workhorse" winter gloves are men's Louis Garneau Windtex something-or-other. When it gets really cold (below freezing), I wear a pair of women's Pearl Izumi Amfib gloves.

[SheFly]

Have you tried any x-country ski gloves? These are traditionally a bit thinner, warmer, and provide the dexterity I'm looking for. My favorites are a pair of Swix gloves that I bought a couple of years ago. I also have a thin pair of CRAFT gloves that I love!

I have the opposite problem of most people - my hands tend to overheat, so I need a lighter vs. heavier glove, even in the cold conditions.

I also have big hands, and tend to buy women's gloves but one size larger than what actually "fits". I can get my hands into a women's medium (but barely), so typically wear a large or XL. If I use men's gloves, I look for Mediums usually.

Grog - I like your idea of the dishwashing glove, but I fear that my hands would look like prunes!

SheFly

[Bike Writer]

Have you tried golf gloves? Most aren't suitable for wet weather but they are thin, flexible and quite supple. I believe you can find them in a water proof version also. Then there are also the neoprene water ski gloves, though most have some padding, but not all of them.