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Altura Nevis Waterproof Glove

4
£22.99

VERDICT:

4
10
Warm gloves but an irritating liner and poor waterproofing mean they don't live up to their promise
Weight: 
125g

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When it comes to winter riding, as long as my fingers are toasty then I'm a happy camper. On a dry day, the Altura Nevis Waterproof Gloves deliver that, even when setting off while the cars are covered in a layer of frost. In the wet, though, it's a different matter, with rain getting through the seams disappointingly quickly.

On the plus side, the upper material works as a wind blocker so you don't feel the chill, and the palm fabric is looped around over the top of the fingertips to make sure any part of your hand facing the windchill is protected. A close-fitting cuff that continues to create the lining also stops any draughts.

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The thumb is articulated in the middle, which means things never feel restricted when you are holding the hoods or drops. In fact, the all-round sizing and fit of the Nevis gloves is pretty spot on.

The downside to all this warmth is that the gloves aren't all that breathable. It's not a major issue while riding as you don't really notice it when the gloves are on, but if you need to stop and take them off mid-ride, when you pull your sweaty hands out the liner comes out with them.

Altura Nevis Waterproof Glove - palm.jpg

Picture the scene: I'd stopped mid-ride to take a photo, #mycyclingweekend and all that, taken the gloves off, snapped away, tapped 'no filter' and then it was time to get going.

The fingers of the liner had turned inside out as they were stuck to my fingers, and putting the glove back on, they just wouldn't return to normal. It was six degrees with a cold northerly breeze and my hands were chilling quickly, to the point that I actually started searching through my rucksack for a knife to cut the liner out.

Fifteen minutes later, sans knife, and I had my hands back in the gloves but they weren't right. I couldn't get the liner to sit comfortably and everything felt rather restrictive – the only way I can think of describing it is like wearing a pair of shoes that are too small and that feeling of your toes all scrunched up. That feeling stayed with me for the rest of the ride.

Of course, not everyone stops to take pictures mid-ride, but there are going to be times you'll need to stop and remove your gloves even if you wouldn't normally 'choose' to.

Altura Nevis Waterproof Glove - cuff.jpg

Next, waterproofing. Given that they're marketed as waterproof gloves, the Alturas are found wanting. It's not the fabric – the polyurethane uppers are properly waterproof with water beading off them – the issue is the seam between the upper and the palm which leaked like a sieve. When you're riding on the hoods, this seam is totally exposed to the elements so your hands are soaked within a matter of miles.

> Read our guide to the best gloves for keeping your hands warm and dry

It's a real shame because at first glance the Alturas look good, the build quality is high, they fit well, and are warm when it's dry. If they could deliver on the waterproofing and sort those liner issues they'd be hard to knock.

Verdict

Warm gloves but an irritating liner and poor waterproofing mean they don't live up to their promise

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura Nevis Waterproof 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?

Altura says, "A versatile warm waterproof winter glove for use on or off the bike."

I'd say use off the bike is the better option because for riding there are issues with the liner and waterproofing.

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

* Altura Shield™ technology is engineered to provide protection from wind and water, whilst still offering high levels of breathability

* ErgoFit™ 3D patterning engineered for a more comfortable riding position

* Winter Cuff construction offers enhanced insulation and warmth through an engineered cuff extension

* Fitted

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

The stitching is neat and tidy, with the overall finish quality looking like that of much more expensive gloves.

Rate the product for performance:
 
3/10

The liner is irritating and the seams between the upper and palm materials on my review pair leaked, so they didn't live up to their promised waterproof ability.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Waterproofing and liner aside, they are well made and should stand up to a lot of wear and tear.

Rate the product for fit:
 
3/10

At first they were fine, but the liner issues after removing them led to them feeling akin to wearing a pair of shoes too small for your feet.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Spot on.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
3/10

Little in the way of padding, which isn't a massive issue on the road, but that liner...

Rate the product for value:
 
2/10

They don't deliver on the promised waterproofing and the issues with the liner mean I wouldn't choose to wear them whatever the price.

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

A 30 degree wash maximum and they cleaned up fine.

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

They don't hit the mark in terms of waterproofing and if you're stuck on the side of the road in sub-zero temperatures trying to get that liner sorted it could ruin your entire ride.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

They're warm.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

That liner.

Did you enjoy using the product? No

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No

Use this box to explain your score

The Alturas are really well made and for dry weather riding there's little to criticise, but being labelled as waterproof gloves they fall at the first hurdle with the speed they let rain in through the seams. Taking the issues with the liner into account, these aren't gloves I'll ever wear again.

Overall rating: 4/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

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: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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2 comments

Avatar
Ratfink | 7 years ago
2 likes

my hands were chilling quickly, to the point that I actually started searching through my rucksack for a knife to cut..........

Worried you were going to do something drastic there.

Avatar
ChasM | 7 years ago
1 like

Spot on review. I bought a pair of these from the bargain bin of my LBS and still felt ripped off. Avoid.

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