Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Windstopper Gloves

8
£49.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Great gloves for temperatures of around 4-12°C, with impressive windproofing, in a neat package
Weight: 
66g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Windstopper gloves are very good mid-range designs. As you might expect from the name, windproofing is excellent, although on days below 4°C you might be struggling for warmth. They could also do with touchscreen compatibility.

I used these on all kinds of descents, at speed, in foul weather, and there was little to no wind getting through. This was actually a little surprising given that they're considerably thinner than the majority of colder weather gloves; it's closer to what you would find on a summer glove – impressive for something with so much wind resistance.

> Find your nearest dealer here

However, despite them being billed as cold weather gloves, I found they lacked the insulation necessary when temperatures really plummeted. Gore doesn't give a specific temperature range for these gloves, but I would say roughly 4-12°C.

Fit is excellent, with the medium size I used providing a good close cut with decent finger length. The elasticated cuffs are also longer than usual, which keeps everything in place well and also helps to protect the wrists. The close fit helps the look, which is good overall, although the white that I reviewed wouldn't be my choice for a winter glove, for obvious reasons.

There are three reinforced areas on the palm, with the one on the outer edge being gel filled. They all work well and make the gloves comfortable to wear for an extended period. There is also rubberised texturing on the first three fingers, helping with grip on the levers, even in the rain. However, the one thing missing is the ability to use them with touchscreens, something pretty common among modern gloves, especially ones costing around 50 quid.

In addition to these reinforced areas there is also a large wiping area on the thumbs which is useful for wiping your brow or glasses or, more likely let's face it, your nose. There is also some high-vis detailing to help with being seen in the dark.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter gloves for cycling

With an RRP of £49.99 (though they can be found cheaper) they aren't cheap, but they are a high quality, well made pair of gloves, and that goes some way to justifying that price.

Overall, I like them. They work very well for mid-range temperatures from 4-12 degrees, look great, and perform very well on the bike. A touchscreen element would be good, though, and a little insulation could help when temperatures drop, but overall these are very strong performing gloves.

Verdict

Great gloves for temperatures of around 4-12°C, with impressive windproofing, in a neat package

road.cc test report

Make and model: Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Windstopper Gloves

Size tested: 7

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A set of cold weather gloves with a professional fit.

Gore says: 'Top-quality gloves: intricately made, tight-fitting professional gloves for the cold winter months. Optimal hand protection is worth paying for.'

I would agree with this to an extent, although perhaps a little more insulation would help when temperatures really drop.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Reflective logo

Reflective print on fingers

Inner forehand with foam padding

Gel padding on heel of hand

Reflective print on back of hand

Strengthening between thumb and forefinger for better grip

Elastic wrist

Absorbent material on thumb for wiping away perspiration

Silicone coated fingers

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

They are superbly made, fit is excellent, stitching is strong, and material choice is excellent.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performed really well throughout, only lose a couple of marks for not having a huge amount of information for below 4 degrees.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Well made with strong stitching means they are likely to last.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Fit like a...

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

The mediums I tried fitted just like I would expect a medium to fit.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10

Very thin and lightweight for a set of winter gloves.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

Elasticated wrists, reinforcement and gel inserts help make these very comfortable gloves.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

They are expensive, but about where I would expect them to be for their quality.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Difficult to say; white colour meant I did more washes than other gloves. Easy at 30 degrees, but there are a couple of tough oil stains. In black this wouldn't be an issue.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really well, I was impressed with how well made and comfortable they are. Could perhaps have a little more insulation though.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The windproofing, really impressive for something so thin.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Could do with a little more insulation for when the temperatures start to really drop.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Well made, comfortable and good looking. They could perhaps do with a little more insulation for below 4 degrees, but above that they were excellent.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 29  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
Anthony.C | 7 years ago
0 likes

I have had 2 pairs of these. They are not very warm, I can just about wear them in the forties with silk liners, and they get holes in after a winter and a bit of use. On the plus side, you don't lose any dexterity in them.

Avatar
PanchoChigger replied to Anthony.C | 7 years ago
0 likes
Anthony.C wrote:

I have had 2 pairs of these. They are not very warm, I can just about wear them in the forties with silk liners, and they get holes in after a winter and a bit of use. On the plus side, you don't lose any dexterity in them.

 

I totally agree with this, not very warm, did fall to pieces in about two months.

On the plus side, I did feel like a magician while wearing them.

Avatar
davel replied to PanchoChigger | 7 years ago
0 likes
PanchoChigger wrote:
Anthony.C wrote:

I have had 2 pairs of these. They are not very warm, I can just about wear them in the forties with silk liners, and they get holes in after a winter and a bit of use. On the plus side, you don't lose any dexterity in them.

 

I totally agree with this, not very warm, did fall to pieces in about two months.

On the plus side, I did feel like a magician while wearing them.

Thirded-ish: they don't stop properly cold wind but mine are on their second winter of commuting and still going. The gel's a bit battered but no holes.

I recommend trying them for miming, particularly to drivers. They love playing 'guess which appendage and orifice the cyclist is suggesting to bring together' while at the lights.

When it gets colder though, or I'm on a longer ride, or I'm in less of a miming mood, I use my Mavic Aksium Thermos. 

 

Latest Comments