The winter of 2025/26 is demanding everything from cyclists between Christmas and New Year. After a record-breaking cold Christmas, winter has Central Europe firmly in its grip. Anyone who wanted to complete the Festive 500 outdoors needed to overcome their inner demons and, above all, one thing: warm cycling clothing. Feet and hands are particularly vulnerable. Good winter shoes are definitely worth the investment (test winter shoes here). Here I would like to present three pairs of warm winter gloves that reliably keep your hands warm in sub-zero temperatures. The gloves have a few notable differences, so I use them in different conditions. Since the Gore Wear brand has announced that it will discontinue its own clothing production, the gloves I tested are likely to sell out soon.
Gore Wear WINDSTOPPER® Thermo Split Gloves
The WINDSTOPPER® Thermo Split Gloves from Gore Wear feature the brand’s own Gore-Tex Infinium membrane. This makes the gloves completely windproof and water-repellent. Light snow showers won’t penetrate the gloves. Since very few cyclists are out and about in heavy snowfall, the gloves are sufficiently waterproof. For extra warmth, the middle, ring, and little fingers are packed together in a 3-finger mitten construction. The thumb and index finger are separate and each has a touchscreen-compatible material on the tip, which works reliably for me—something that is not always the case with other gloves. Silicone trim on the palms provides a better grip. The cuff is made of neoprene and is very comfortable, with no constriction. They are super easy to put on and take off, which I really appreciate in winter. The gloves have a regular fit, which means that the length of the fingers matches and also fits the size of the hand (I have had different experiences with other models and brands). The gloves are thick and warmly padded, but still allow you to grip the handlebars firmly. One disadvantage of the 3-finger mitten design is that when holding the upper handlebar, you can only choose between either using your index finger and the other three fingers to brake hard if necessary, or positioning the 3-finger mitten design below the shift and brake lever, in which case you can only brake with your index finger. However, when riding off-road or on poor road surfaces, it is sometimes necessary to grip the handlebars securely with the 3-finger mitten design below the shift lever, unless you want to ride with your hands on the lower handlebars. When choosing the size, you should select according to international sizes (S, M, L), which in my opinion do not match the measured sizes (6, 7, 7.5). The gloves are available in black and neon yellow. The RRP is €74.95. They weigh 138 grams.
Gore Wear GORE-TEX Insulated Trigger Gloves
The Gore Wear GORE-TEX Insulated Trigger Gloves are made for the coldest conditions. Thanks to the GORE-TEX ePE membrane, they not only resist wind but also all types of precipitation and are produced sustainably without PFAs. The mittens design and thick PrimaLoft® insulation guarantee that your hands will stay warm. Despite the thick padding, you can still grip the handlebars easily. Shifting gears is no problem, but a 5-finger design is still safer. The gloves are available in black and neon yellow. The Velcro fastener is easy to open and close and is soft rather than bulky. The gloves run small. The touchscreen is quite easy to use. The RRP is €99.95. They weigh 111 grams.
Roeckl Sports Vorbach winter gloves
If you are looking for warm 5-finger gloves, the Vorbach winter gloves from Roeckl are the perfect choice. Roeckl Sports has other warm gloves in its range, but I have not tested them. The back of the hand is made from windproof, water-repellent, and breathable ROECK-PROOF® ECO Denali softshell. The breathable ECO ROECK-TEX MEMBRANE is waterproof. The thermoregulating lavalan® insulation ensures optimal warmth. This three-layer laminate is very elastic and does not restrict movement when cycling. The filling is made of virgin wool and an ECO lining for efficient heat storage. The palm is made of ECO.SENSE®, a soft and non-slip yet robust synthetic suede. As part of Roeckl Sports’ eco-friendly ECO.SERIES, the glove uses PFAS-free materials with a very high recycled content, which is confirmed by the “High Recycling Ratio” label. The thumb and index finger are touchscreen compatible. The glove has a Velcro fastener and is easy to put on and take off. It is extremely comfortable. It is available in four color options. The size is true to size and similar to Roeckl short-finger gloves. The RRP is €89.95. The weight is 217 grams.
At this point, I would like to wish all readers a healthy New Year in 2026 and many enjoyable miles on their bikes.
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