Ibex vs. Smartwool glove liners

[abejita]

Are you talking about these LLBean gloves?

[redrhodie]

I got mine last year, and they're a little different, but I bet those are the same weight. They're really light, which is perfect for layering. I'm on my second winter of riding in them, and they show no signs of wearing out. Mine also are "one size fits all". Now I'm tempted to get a second pair.

[out_spokin']

No experience w/ Ibex, but I bought the SW liners as a gift and found they run large. I usually wear men's large in most gloves, cycling included, and easily fit in the medium SW. In general I think glove sizing can be the most crazy-making of any apparel -- I've yet to find a size chart that accurately predicts my size. Partially because I have narrow hands compared to the length of my fingers, I guess, but I rarely buy if I haven't tried them on first.

Unless you have a loose outer glove I'd think twice about using them as a liner though, because they're relatively thick and I get colder hands with a liner if inner/outer fits snug.

My favorite liner by far, even though I end up having to replace them almost every year, is the Seirus Outlast Superliner Gloves. I'm generally a natural fibers person, but these are very thin and incredibly warm for their weight. They're so good for so many of my activities that I find them a good value despite the needed replacement.

[kmehrzad]

I'm a big Smartwool fan but not when it comes to their glove liners. The only time I can use them and feel comfortable is when the temps are in the 50's. Today I started out on a ride using my liners, got 4 miles into it and my hands were freezing in the Smartwool liners and neoprene gloves. Fortunately there's a Performance Bike shop nearby so I pulled in and asked for recommendations on gloves. The sales guy says that wool is not really all that it's made out to be and suggested a pair of Louis Garneau Women's Tornado gloves (they run SMALL). The pair he had were Large but they fit me just fine, and I have rather small hands. I rode close to 30 miles in them in the cold wind after my purchase and they kept my hands comfortable.

I told the sales guy I'd be back if they didn't pass the 'test' and he told me no problem. After my ride I determined they're keepers. Check them out for yourself - from someone whose hands get cold very easily.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...551_1089968_-1

[Cataboo]

Manzella liners are the warmest liners that I've ever found. No, they're not wool. I do have the patagonia liners, the arc'teryx wool liners, and the smartwool liners.

I was mountain biking yesterday in some of the knog leather gloves that bonktown has been selling and i was fine. They look awesome as well. I will admit that I overheat when I'm moving on the bike:

There was ice and snow on the ground, which was making mountain biking treacherous - so we weren't going very fast or hard:

[kmehrzad]

Cat,

I love the look of those biking gloves.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't like either the Ibex or Smartwool glove liners because I find the weave to be too loose and 'mesh-y' to be very warm. They tend to get bunchy too when jammed into another glove.
After several years of being out in the very cold winter biking, fitness walking, hiking, or snowshoeing, i have found the very best glove liners (for me) to be a pair of ladies 100% cashmere gloves (not made as 'liners') that I've now been using for several years as liners. They are SO SOFT and WARM. Their softness allows them to slip right into other gloves without bunching, much better than the Ibex or SW liners. Warmer, too.
I've sewn several small holes over the years now, and am starting to search for another soft 100% cashmere pair of ladies gloves to replace them.
I guess we all find different good solutions to our clothing needs. PolarFleece items can be pretty cozy too.

Just as an aside...personally I have yet to meet a 'bike shop sales guy' who knows much of anything about wool. However they always seem to know that what they are trying to sell me is without a doubt far superior.
I remember going into one big bike shop a few years ago and asking if they carried any steel bikes, and the owner informed me that I wouldn't want a steel bike anyway because 'steel bikes aren't being made anymore by anyone'. He then added for good measure that even if I found one I'd never be able to get parts for it. lol!

[kmehrzad]

Just as an aside...personally I have yet to meet a 'bike shop sales guy' who knows much of anything about wool. However they always seem to know that what they are trying to sell me is without a doubt far superior.

I agree with you about 'bike shop sales guys.' I was desperate, though, and asked his opinion while trying on various gloves that looked potentially warm and windproof. He happened to mention a pair of gloves that were returned because they were too small for the person who ordered them online ... guess he needed to make a sale and I was willing to try anything - plus they were returnable if they weren't all he said they were. Fortunately they worked. :-)