Winter glove recommendation needed

[OakLeaf]

I've got a pair of these light PI gloves, but I need something a little warmer for these cold starts. My fingers hurt soooooo much Saturday morning!

Waterproof is not so much of an issue. If it's cold and wet and I can't skip another workout, then I'll run rather than get the bike all nasty and gritty and have to wash it in ice-cold water when it's 40° outside.

What is more of an issue for me is my stereotypically feminine thumb placement. Small men's gloves (or gloves that are labeled as "women's" when they're the same shape as men's) just don't work for me, unless the manufacture is more neutral, like Held moto gloves.

Winter gloves of any kind are a struggle for me, trying to find a good balance between warmth, grip and feel. If they're slippery, so stiff I have a hard time closing my hand, or so bulky I have trouble reaching the levers with my short fingers, I usually wind up going for less warmth. Then I come by poor grip honestly, because my fingers are numb.

Recommendations?

[Becky]

I love these for temps in the 35-50 degree range:

http://www.louisgarneau.com/in-en/pr...CO_FLEX_GLOVES

http://www.louisgarneau.com/in-en/pr...CO_FLEX_GLOVES

I've listed both the mens and the womens because the women's run incredibly small. I normally wear a women's medium, but couldn't get the women's large in these more than halfway on. The men's small works well for me though.

I'm not sure what you mean by "feminine thumb placement". Could you please clarify?

[OakLeaf]

I don't really know the anatomical details, but you got me curious - I've only skimmed these links. All I know is that if I try to wear most men's gloves, there's a huge patch of empty fabric between my thumb joint and the gloves' thumb joint, that makes it really difficult to grip things like handlebars, tools, etc., and that women's gloves usually fit me.

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:1517255

http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publication...aspx?id=145748

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...ltNvLOZuH5IQlQ

Apparently there are significant racial differences, too.

http://www.mendeley.com/research/sex...he-human-hand/



I should add that I really prefer a secure wrist closure. I've got small wrists even for the size of my hands, and cuffs tend to slide and drive me crazy (and I worry about them pulling off in a crash). Which is another reason I can't wear men's gloves ... wrist closures just don't adjust small enough.

[Becky]

Oh! Is that why I get that glob of extra fabric in some gloves? I always assumed that it's because my digits are longer than normal. So I'm in trouble either way- men's gloves are often too wide and have the thumb in the wrong spot, and the fingers are too short in women's gloves

I'll read those articles more closely tonight- they look interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[jessmarimba]

I'm same as you, Becky. If they fit my fingers/palm they are huge in the wrist for women's gloves. Men's gloves just fit funny all around.

I have a pair of the PI cyclones and I think they're really warm but they might be more padded and stiff than you'd want for a road bike, Oak.

[Owlie]

I also have the PI Cyclones and they're a little stiff. I also get a bit of extra fabric along the length of my thumb, but I'm betting that's because I have really skinny fingers.

[DebW]

I have a pair of these from REI (though mine are different and have 4 fingers). They are very nice, not bulky or stiff, come in a women's size, and keep my hands warm down to about 40 degrees. Just got a pair of PI Barrier Lobster gloves for temps around freezing.

[loramiller]

I've just started using my new favorite piece of winter gear that I got at a Portland, Oregon bike show last year: bar mitts. They are essentially a neoprene sleeve that fits over your drop bars and gives you a snug cocoon in which to place your hands. My husband and I tandem cycle all winter in Connecticut (weather permitting) and I've had times where even ski mittens were not enough to keep warm. Two weekends ago we were riding at about 47 degrees and he was cold (using lobster claw gloves and no bar mitts). Meanwhile, on the back I had simple full-finger, not-terribly-heavy gloves tucked inside my bar mitts and was quite comfortable. I especially like the fact that I can wear lighter, more responsive gloves and still keep my hands out of the wind. They have a web site...just search Bar Mitts.

[sundial]

Oak, I don't know how the thumbs run on these gloves. I have an older pair of these and they do a good job for wicking sweat and blocking cold air.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=58122

Anything at a motorcycle shop that strikes your fancy?

[malkin]

I recently got a pair of Smartwool lined winter gloves for Brewer. His hands were warm last weekend at 32 F for a couple hours. They're not cycling specific.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I gave my own winter glove recommendations on the other two recent winter glove threads. You might want to check those threads too for more recommendations.
Also- it would be good to tell us your general location so we know what degree of winter you have to deal with.

[OakLeaf]

D'oh. Sorry.

Basically I'm not talking about anything below 25°F, but my fingers can go numb when it's below 60°, so warm is good.

[malkin]

I don't really know the anatomical details, but you got me curious - I've only skimmed these links. All I know is that if I try to wear most men's gloves, there's a huge patch of empty fabric between my thumb joint and the gloves' thumb joint, that makes it really difficult to grip things like handlebars, tools, etc., and that women's gloves usually fit me.

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:1517255

http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publication...aspx?id=145748

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...ltNvLOZuH5IQlQ

Apparently there are significant racial differences, too.

http://www.mendeley.com/research/sex...he-human-hand/



I should add that I really prefer a secure wrist closure. I've got small wrists even for the size of my hands, and cuffs tend to slide and drive me crazy (and I worry about them pulling off in a crash). Which is another reason I can't wear men's gloves ... wrist closures just don't adjust small enough.

This one is written in a bit more accessible style:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_ratio