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Glacier Glove Premium Cyclocross Glove

6
£44.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Good for a short blast, with weather resistance and feel. Dexterity blighted by elasticated fingers
Weight: 
72g
Contact: 
www.2pure.co.uk

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I was expecting to be wowed by the Glacier Glove Premium Cyclocross Glove. I like a thin glove. I like to be able to feel the handlebars in my palms, like to be able to feel the brake and lever levers at my fingertips.

This presents a problem in the winter though, especially as I suffer from poor circulation in my extremities, so I need well insulated gloves to stop my fingers from falling off. As a result, I've been on a constant quest to find a glove that ticks both boxes.

The Glacier Premium Cyclocross Glove appears to tick both boxes. This American company specialises in cold-weather gloves, and they have several winter variants. Don't let the cyclocross tag put you off, these are just as at home on the road bike. In fact I've used them more on the road than off it.

They combine a weather resistant fleece-lined neoprene back with a perforated palm, with reinforced leather fingers, thumb and key areas of the palm. There's just a hint of padding. The palm is very grippy and gives a good feel on the bars which useful when it's peeing it down and you want a secure grasp on the bar tape. I've tried them off-road and they give a very good grip on mud covered bars.

The back is made from a thin neoprene that keeps the wind and rain out. They're not able to compete with chunkier winter gloves when the temperature is down below about six degrees, but above that they're just the ticket for shorter rides. I wouldn't want to be out in them for five hours, but a quick lunch hour blast around the park sees them coping just fine.

Across the top of the fingers the neoprene is interrupted with a section of elastic. The idea behind this is surely to increase dexterity, but I found it worked counter to any such benefits. The elastic works against the stretch of the fingers and as a result produces a restrictive feel. It's enough to ruin the gloves for me.

Fit is mostly good. Around the thumb it is excellent, but the fingers are just a touch long, with a small amount of space at the fingertips. I like the large panel of towel fabric on the thumb for wiping a runny nose.

The elongated cuff stretches to fit and ensures a decent seal around the wrist, as well as ensuring some overlap with the sleeves of jacket. They're very well reinforced around the thumb area, with the leather palm overlapping with the neoprene to prevent any wear in this area. The stitching is all solid and they've so far stood up to plenty of abuse. I've used them mountain biking as well and they've stood up just fine to the abuse.

Ultimately, they're not warm enough for longer training rides, but for an hour or so around a cyclocross race or a winter/spring crit race, where I would place fit and freedom of movement above insulation and warmth, they're ideally suited. The fit is just ruined by the elasticated fingers for me.

Verdict

Good for a short blast, with weather resistance and feel. Dexterity blighted by elasticated fingers.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Glacier Glove Premium Cyclocross Glove

Size tested: Medium

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?

The best Cyclocross glove on the market. Breathable palms with durable leather reinforcement. Weather resistant back utilizing G-tek neoprene. Designed to make the most out of the worst conditions. Breathable palms allow you to regulate your temperature while you pedal hard. Good for cold and wet weather.

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

Breathable palms with durable leather reinforcement.

Weather resistant back utilizing G-tek neoprene.

Designed to make the most out of the worst conditions.

Breathable palms allow you to regulate your temperature while you pedal hard.

Good for cold and wet weather.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Theses are a rock solid pair of gloves, with plenty of reinforcing around the thumb and palm. Ideal for cyclocross and road riding.

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

They're warm enough for short blasts with the desired 'thin glove' feel that I crave. The elasticated fingers prevents freedom of movement quite a bit though.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

As per my construction comments, these are very durable gloves.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
5/10

Comfort is really very good in all aspects expect the fingers, the elasticated sections hampers the comfort quite a bit. Not to be worn on very cold days either.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

They're very nicely designed gloves with great attention to detail and they look great too, and there's a nice combination of the neoprene and perforated leather palm.

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

For shorter rides on less cool days, for cyclocross and winter/spring road racing, they're tick the boxes.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The level of insulation for such a thin glove.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The elasticated fingers. Without this elastic, I reckon they would be a very good product. With them, dexterity isn't what it could, or should, be.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, mostly.

Would you consider buying the product? Probably not.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

If they sorted the elasticated fingers, these could be a top performing glove.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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2 comments

Avatar
euanlindsay | 11 years ago
0 likes

I've been experimenting with various gloves this season and have really been impressed with winter sailing and kayaking gloves. They are warm, especially with a thin liner. They also allow you to retain a fair amount of dexterity as you need to be able to do rope work with them on

Avatar
Vin Cox | 11 years ago
0 likes

I have a pair of these I got in the states and I really rate them. To me, they seem as warm as much thicker gloves and feel as nice as summer mitts - just what you were looking for but didn't find. Pass your rejects on via our mate Matt please Dave  3

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