What are the best types of gloves? Wool+leather or some fancy synthetic material? What is the most durable? Least sweaty? Easiest to keep clean? Survives in a washing machine?
What temp range are we talking about? I've been using some Dakine ski mittens between 0-25F with good results. Usually add wool liners below 10F.
I have never washed my gloves, not even after several winters of cycling with them on, in weather down to maybe -15°C.
Regular ol leather gloves do me fine in winter on a motorbike, so I'd imagine they'd be fine for a bike too.
👆 good leather motorcycle gloves that cover the ends of your sleeves and you'll never be cold
Get some handlebar covers. They keep the wind off of your hands which is the main reason they're so cold.
damn they look cool as hell but what is the difference from an extra pair of big gloves? do they keep the handlebar itself warmer too? it seems like rain could easily creep in too
No they just keep the wind off (in my experience). Use them in conjunction with winter gloves. It's not a perfect solution but it makes it much more comfortable to ride in the cold.
I use these, been buying a variation of them for like 15 years for cycling. They're cheap, small enough you can text with them on but they're thicker on the outside (the side that faces the wind).
I don't bike in subzero temperatures though unless it's been dry for a while, even then no colder than -10 C.
For fall weather I generally just use a pair of lined leather gloves. When it's below zero I use these Pearl Izumi lobster mitts, which are these best I've found. Spendy but I cycle all year and they do the trick in the colder months. Below -15C you might want to add a liner or bar mitts or something heavier duty.
Winter cycling gloves work for me.
The top end is Castelli but the knock offs work for a season or two.
I wear Sealskinz gloves; specifically designed to be waterproof, they'll hold up quite well. If you think they might not be quite warm enough, get a larger size and wear wool undergloves.
Don't get anything that is knit. The wind will go right through them
