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The first 35°F morning of the year always catches somebody out. You roll away from the house feeling fine, and by mile three your fingers are stiff and the brake lever feels far away.
Hands lose heat faster than the rest of you, and speed makes it worse. That goes double on an e-bike at 20 to 28 mph, where you pedal less hard and the wind never lets up. I sorted these nine gloves by air temperature (50°F, 35°F and 20°F), then by how you ride: commuting, e-bike or mountain bike. Every pick trades warmth against finger feel, and I say where each one lands.
Prices as of October 2026.
Quick picks
- Best lobster glove: Pearl iZUMi AmFIB Lobster Gel
- Best for cold hands and wet sub-freezing commutes: Bar Mitts Road Dual-Position
- Best five-finger glove for finger feel: 45NRTH Sturmfist 5
- Best waterproof glove near freezing: Giro Proof
- Best five-finger value: Pearl iZUMi AmFIB Gel
- Best slim glove for fast road rides: Castelli Perfetto RoS 2
- Best waterproof glove for wet autumn rides: Endura Deluge
- Best budget waterproof glove: Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather
- Best for mild wet days and layering: Showers Pass Cross Point Pro Wool
Which glove for which temperature
Temperatures here are air temperature, not wind chill. The e-bike column already runs one tier warmer than the commuter column, for reasons I cover below.
| Air temp | Commuter | E-bike | MTB / gravel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50°F | Endura Deluge or Sealskinz (wet), Castelli RoS 2 (dry) | AmFIB Gel | Endura Deluge |
| 35°F | Giro Proof (wet), Sturmfist 5 (dry) | Sturmfist 5, Giro Proof (wet) | Sturmfist 5 |
| 20°F and below | Lobster Gel, or Bar Mitts plus a liner | Bar Mitts plus a liner, or Lobster Gel | Sturmfist 5 plus a liner |
Pearl iZUMi AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves
If you want the best lobster glove for cycling at the cold end, start here. A lobster glove puts four fingers in two shared pockets, two apiece, and leaves the thumb free. The pairs warm each other, so you get near-mitten warmth. The split still lets you reach the brakes and shifters.
Pearl iZUMi lists it at $95 and rates it for below 30°F. The fill is 170 g of PrimaLoft Gold, a synthetic insulation, plus Cross Core, an aerogel-based layer (aerogel is a very light insulating material). An AmFIB softshell, a wind-blocking stretch fabric, covers the outside. The palm is synthetic suede with a 3D gel pad, and the index finger and thumb work on a touchscreen. Commuters report warm hands in the 20s.
The trade-offs are real. The wrist area looks puffy and feels bulky. On flat bars, some riders find the paired fingers awkward for holding on and braking, so I’d think twice before buying these for mountain biking or a flat-bar e-bike. In extreme cold the fingertips still chill, so a thin liner helps.
Plan on sizing up, since they’re hard to pull on. The hook-and-loop wrist strap can also catch on clothing.
Check price at Competitive Cyclist Check price on Amazon
Bar Mitts Road Bike Dual-Position Handlebar Mitts
Handlebar mitts, often called pogies, are neoprene (wetsuit rubber) sleeves that mount on the bar ends. You slide your hands in, and the shell blocks wind and rain. Inside, your hands sit in a pocket of still, warm air. A thin liner or light glove is enough, so you keep the finger feel a lobster glove gives up.
Standard lists at $74.95. It uses 5 mm (about 3/16 inch) neoprene with nylon on both sides. Extreme lists at $125 and uses 6 mm (about 1/4 inch) neoprene with nylon outside and fleece inside. Both are waterproof and windproof, with a Velcro cuff, reflective seams and a vent zipper along the front edge. The road version has a dual-position opening for hoods and drops. You can pick internal or external cable routing.
I’d put these first in line for riders with Raynaud’s (a circulation condition that turns fingers white and numb in the cold) and for anyone with a wet commute below freezing. Standard costs less than the lobster glove, though you still need a liner. On an e-bike, wind off your hands is most of the battle, so mitts make sense there. Check clearance for your display and throttle first.
What to weigh before buying:
- They look odd on the bike.
- They limit where your hands can go.
- The open cuff can let in heavy rain or snow.
- Fit depends on your levers, shifters and grips. The maker suggests size XL for hydraulic disc levers.
- Some riders want more warmth from the mitts alone, so pair them with a real glove when it gets bitter.
45NRTH Sturmfist 5 Gloves
Warm hands matter less if you can’t shift. The Sturmfist 5 is the five-finger glove I’d reach for first when finger feel counts, and it’s my pick for mountain bikers who ride flat bars in the cold.
45NRTH rates it for 15°F to 35°F. It has 100 g of Polartec Alpha insulation, a merino wool-blend lining and a water-resistant goat-leather palm. The back of the hand uses water- and wind-resistant fabric. It lists at $95, and a leather LTR version costs $120. Sizes run XS to 2XL.
Riders praise how well it brakes and shifts. The merino handles moisture well, the leather palm softens with use, and the temperature rating holds up. It suits fat bikes, gravel and commuting on cold, dry-to-damp days.
Know the limits. The liner is fixed, so you can’t pull it out and wash it or swap it. Some riders find it too warm above roughly 30 to 34°F. It resists water and wind, but it isn’t waterproof, so a steady rain will get through. If your commute is wet, the next glove does better.
Giro Proof Winter Gloves
Wet and near freezing is the worst mix for hands, and the Giro Proof is built for exactly that. A waterproof membrane (a thin film that blocks liquid water while letting some vapor out) is bonded to the outer fabric. Under it sits a Polartec Power Dry fleece core. Giro lists it at $94.95 and riders put it at roughly 25 to 35°F.
The palm is synthetic suede, and the adjustable two-layer hook-and-loop cuff seals out weather. Riders call it very warm, with dependable waterproofing and a comfortable fleece lining.
Compared with the Sturmfist, it stays drier and gives up finger feel. Things to watch:
- The inner and outer layers slip against each other.
- Shifting takes more effort than in a slimmer glove.
- It’s bulky and too much for mild days.
- The thick liner is hard to get on over damp hands.
Pearl iZUMi AmFIB Gel Gloves
This is the cheaper way into a warm five-finger glove. It lists at $80, and a women’s version sells separately at the same price. The AmFIB softshell blocks wind and sheds light rain. Fleece insulation sits inside, and riders say it stays warm even when damp.
The palm is grippy suede-style synthetic with 1:1 Control Gel padding. You also get a touchscreen-friendly fingertip, a microfiber nose wipe, reflective BioViz details and a hook-and-loop cuff.
Pearl iZUMi doesn’t print a temperature rating, and some riders report cold fingers in the low 40s on windy days. So I’d treat it as a mild-winter glove for dry days around 40°F, and add a liner or mitts when it’s colder or breezier. It’s bulky enough to make shifting harder, it runs small (size up), and the lining can bunch.
Check price at Competitive Cyclist Check price on Amazon
Castelli Perfetto RoS 2 Glove
This is the slim one. Castelli rates it for 39 to 57°F and lists it at $95, which makes it the glove for cool fast rides, not deep winter. The fabric is Windstopper by GORE-TEX LABS with a PFAS-free waterproof membrane and a fleece lining.
Castelli adds a Castelli Damping System (CDS) pad to protect the median nerve, which runs through the wrist and palm and takes pressure from the bars on long rides. Silicone grip zones, touchscreen fingertips and a thermoformed, reduced-seam build round it out.
The slim fit keeps good dexterity. Riders call the RoS line warm for how thin it is. The earlier RoS gloves could wet out once moisture got in, so I’d keep the RoS 2 for short, fast rides in dry weather.
Endura Deluge Waterproof Glove
Among the best waterproof cycling gloves for wet autumn and early-winter rides, the Deluge costs less than most gloves here. It lists at $70. It pairs a waterproof, breathable membrane with Thinsulate insulation and a brushed tricot lining. The palm uses conductive microfibre for touchscreens.
It reviews well in the rain, and the close fit keeps bulk low so you feel the bar. That slim cut is also the catch. It may not suit larger hands, and owners say it runs small, one estimate being about 15% small. The liner can pull out when you take the glove off, and some owners say it wets out. It isn’t made for the bitterest weather.
Check price at Competitive Cyclist Check price on Amazon
Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Cycle Glove
At $55, this is the lowest-priced waterproof glove on the list. It uses a three-layer waterproof, breathable build called Aquasealz, with a suede-feel palm, a thumb wiper and reflective detailing. The liner is built not to move around inside.
Think roughly 41 to 50°F and wet. The insulation isn’t lofty enough for very cold days, and hands can go soggy by the halfway point of a 30-mile wet ride. If you want a cheaper lobster option, Sealskinz also makes the Guist, a waterproof split-finger glove with PrimaLoft Gold, at $75.
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Showers Pass Cross Point Waterproof Knit Gloves: Pro Wool
This is the mildest glove here, and I’d keep it that way. It’s a waterproof knit wool glove at $59, with conductive yarn on the index finger and thumb. The maker aims it at cool, wet conditions.
It’s light and waterproof, but it has little real insulation. In persistent cold rain the outer can hold water and feel cold. The fit is tight with a rubbery feel and slightly reduced dexterity, and the knit sticks to Velcro on jacket cuffs. Use it for shoulder-season commutes or as a spare layer.
How to choose winter cycling gloves
Five-finger, lobster or handlebar mitts
A five-finger glove gives the best control, and the Sturmfist shows how warm one can get. Below roughly 30°F, a lobster glove or handlebar mitts do more for warmth. Mitts keep the most finger feel because the glove inside stays thin.
Waterproof, windproof or water-resistant
Windproof softshell fabric blocks wind and sheds drizzle. A waterproof membrane stops heavy rain, but it breathes less, and water still creeps in at the cuff. On hard climbs you sweat, so mountain bikers often do better with a water-resistant, breathable glove. Even the best waterproof gloves lose to hours of steady rain. On a long wet ride, carry a dry spare pair in a bag.
Insulation and temperature ratings
Insulation is often listed in grams: 100 g of Polartec Alpha in the Sturmfist, 170 g of PrimaLoft Gold in the Lobster Gel. More grams mean more warmth and more bulk. Ratings assume dry hands and steady effort. If you run cold, I’d step down one tier from the rating.
Touchscreen fingertips
The AmFIB Gel, Lobster Gel, Castelli RoS 2, Endura Deluge and Showers Pass all have conductive fingertips. They’re handy for a quick tap. A thick glove still makes small buttons hard to hit.
Layering and liners
Winter hands do best with layers, just like the rest of you. A thin liner (merino wool is a common choice) sits against the skin and moves sweat away. The glove adds insulation, and a shell or handlebar mitts block wind and rain.
Start with warm hands. A glove holds heat in, but it doesn’t make any. Put your gloves on indoors, and keep your core warm too, since cold torsos pull blood from the fingers.
Liners take up room, so try gloves on with the liner you plan to wear. Carry a spare, because a sweat-soaked liner turns cold fast. Cold feet follow cold hands, and good cycling socks cover the other end of the problem.
Why e-bike riders need warmer gloves
A Class 2 e-bike assists up to 20 mph, and a Class 3 up to 28 mph. At those speeds your hands sit on the grips taking the full wind. Pedal assist also lets you coast through effort, so you make less body heat than on a regular bike.
The standard wind chill formula puts numbers on the wind part (it’s built for exposed skin, so gloves soften it a little):
- At 35°F air, a 12 mph commute feels like about 27°F. At 20 mph it feels like 24°F, and at 28 mph about 22°F.
- At 20°F air, those speeds feel like roughly 8°F, 4°F and 2°F.
The speed adds five or six degrees compared with a brisk commute. The bigger gap is the lower heat you generate yourself, so I’d pick from the next colder tier. Flat-bar e-bikes also have throttles, levers and displays to work, so a full mitten gets in the way. A lobster glove or mitts over a thin glove solve that best. For more on gear, see our guide to winter e-bike riding.
Sizing and fit
Many of these run small. The AmFIB Gel and the Endura Deluge both run small, and the Lobster Gel is easier to get on a size up. The Showers Pass fits tight, and the Castelli and Endura are cut slim. Check the maker’s chart and try the glove with your liner.
A tight glove squeezes the fingers, which cuts circulation and makes hands colder. Leave a little room at the fingertips, and check that you can fully close your hand around the bar. Bar Mitts need a different check: the maker suggests XL for hydraulic disc levers, so confirm fit against your brakes. 45NRTH sells the Sturmfist from XS to 2XL.
Questions riders ask
What are the best winter gloves for cycling?
It depends on the temperature. Around 50°F, a slim waterproof glove like the Endura Deluge works. Near 35°F, the Sturmfist 5 or the Giro Proof fit. Below 30°F, go to the Lobster Gel or handlebar mitts with a liner.
How do I keep my hands warm when cycling in winter?
Block the wind first, since wind carries away the most heat. Keep your hands dry, wear a liner, and carry a spare pair. Our full guide to keeping your hands warm goes deeper.
What are the warmest gloves to wear in the winter?
Lobster gloves and handlebar mitts. The Lobster Gel has 170 g of insulation. Bar Mitts Extreme, with its fleece lining, is the warmest option here when you run a thin liner inside.
What if it’s colder than any glove can handle?
Move the ride indoors. A 4-week indoor cycling plan keeps your fitness up, and our comparison of Zwift or Peloton helps you pick a platform.
Photo: Christiania Winter – Cycling in Winter in Copenhagen (3296897865) by Mikael Colville-Andersen from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.
