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GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves

7
£48.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Good gloves that'll keep you comfortable when it rains, but they're not truly waterproof
Warm and comfortable
Somewhat water-resistant
Not really waterproof
Not touchscreen-compatible
Weight: 
65g

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There's really no such thing as a fully waterproof glove, but judged as winter models, these GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves are good at keeping your hands comfortable even if water does eventually get through. But there are loads of good gloves out there, which is one reason our best winter gloves buyer's guide is so popular.

These GripGrab gloves are surprisingly warm given their light weight and low bulk. Starting a morning ride at 8°C I expected to get cold hands until the sun got up. I was wrong. My hands were completely warm and comfortable.

However, 'waterproof' is a bit optimistic. After two hours of riding in the rain, they were soaked right through, inside and out, despite my jacket cuffs being over the wrists to try to provide a bit of a seal.

2022 GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Thermal Gloves - cuff.jpg

This isn't very surprising. Short of a double layer of Marigolds sealed around your forearms with multiple turns of duck tape, it's impossible to make gloves that are properly waterproof. Those Marigolds would get sweaty and unpleasant very quickly, and that's the problem: if you want gloves to be nice to wear, you have to make them out of fabric of some sort. That means seams and flexibility, both of which eventually let water through.

But while I had wet hands at the end of that ride, they were still fairly warm and comfortable and I really don't think you can ask more of that from winter gloves. (I'd love to be proven wrong, though. If you've found gloves that truly resist hours of rain, let me know.)

2022 GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Thermal Gloves - fingers.jpg

What I really like about these gloves is how free the movement of your fingers is in them. I literally typed this paragraph while wearing them and while I had to fix a few typos they didn't slow me down by much, which is not something I could say about some of my favourite winter gloves. That freedom comes from the sheer flexibility of the knitted layers, something you don't get with gloves made from waterproof hardshell and softshell fabrics.

It's a bit annoying that the GripGrabs aren't touchscreen-compatible. A few years ago, this was okay as you probably didn't want to take your mobile phone out in the wet, but modern phones are far more water-resistant. I've seen an iPhone completely unharmed by half an hour in the bottom of a hot tub, so a bit of rain's not going to hurt. GripGrab makes merino glove liners with touchscreen-compatible tips so it seems odd that these gloves can't get the same treatment.

2022 GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Thermal Gloves - back.jpg

I asked GripGrab why there were no touchscreen tips on these gloves and in one of the fastest customer service interactions ever I was told: 'At that time, it was not an option for our supplier to put it into the glove. We know it's a shortcoming, but we're working to change it.' Maybe next winter then.

Double up

I'm going to take this opportunity to relay the best tip I've ever come across about winter gloves: carry a spare pair. Your hands are going to get wet and when you set off after a coffee stop it's a huge morale-booster to slip your hands into warm, dry gloves instead of the wet (and therefore cold) ones you took off half an hour ago. (Thanks to the cycling community on Mastodon for that one – join us at toot.bike.)

Construction and details

The Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves are made from a knitted nylon/Lycra outer shell and a blend of acrylic, nylon and Lycra for the inner, with a breathable membrane in between. Both inside and out appear to have been woven in one piece, which must involve some serious knitting-machine wizardry

2022 GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Thermal Gloves - palm.jpg

The palm, thumb and first and second fingers have silicone gripper print that holds on to your handlebars very nicely, and there's a small reflective flash on the back of the little finger, so remember to pretend you're having tea with the vicar when signalling.

There's no padding, which is both blessing and curse. Too much padding on winter gloves and they get bulky and awkward but without any you do feel every bump. I don't ride for more than a couple of hours at a time in the winter; if you're a winter mega-mile-muncher then you might want more padding.

Rivals

There are so many winter gloves out there that you're spoiled for choice (and it's one of our most popular buyer's guides). Restricting the scope to lightweight gloves at around the same price, George really liked the Castelli Tutto Nano Gloves; Rob was impressed by the Sportful WS Essential 2 GlovesMike liked the Stolen Goat Climb & Conquer 4 Seasons Gloves; and if you want good touchscreen compatibility check out the Q36.5 Anfibio Winter Rain Cycling Gloves that Shaun reviewed.

Who should buy GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves?

If you keep riding through the winter good wet-weather gloves are essential. These do a decent job of keeping your hands comfortable, and while they're not completely waterproof, they're effective enough in light rain. Good then, for commuting riders and those who don't embark on 100-mile wet-weather epics.

Verdict

Good gloves that'll keep you comfortable when it rains, but they're not truly waterproof

road.cc test report

Make and model: GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves

Size tested: M/L

Tell us what the product is for

Waterproof winter gloves for keeping your hands warm and dry when it's damp and cold out.

Grip Grab says:

Knitted for comfort but with a waterproof membrane to keep your hands warm and dry on wet rides

The Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves are your go-to companion to have dry and warm hands when cycling on chilly damp mornings.

The versatile gloves are made from a knitted fabric with a waterproof membrane; they provide a soft and insulating layer to keep windchill and precipitation from chilling your fingers.

With a simple gripper print on the palms and subtle reflective details; they will help to keep you in control and also make your hand signals stand out in the dark. Great gloves for changeable conditions.

With a simple gripper print on the palms and subtle reflective details; they will help to keep you in control and also make your hand signals stand out in the dark. Great gloves for changeable conditions.

FEATURES

* Waterproof

* Insulating

* Windproof

* Ideal for wet conditions

* Reflective details

* Silicone enhanced grip

* Breathable

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

GripGrab says:

FAQ

Will they keep my hands dry?

Yes. The glove is made from a knitted fabric with a waterproof membrane to keep your hands dry and comfortable.

Will they keep my hands warm?

Yes. This glove provides a soft and insulating layer to keep windchill and precipitation from freezing your fingers. It is best for cool conditions such as those encountered in late autumn and early springtime.

How should I wear them to get the best performance?

Make sure the cuffs of the gloves are tucked underneath the cuff of your waterproof jacket to ensure water doesn't run down your wrist and into the gloves.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Your hands get wet, but they're still comfortable.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Like a ...

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Spot on.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Warm, cosy and comfy.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

These gloves keep your hands comfortable – as long as your definition of comfortable doesn't exclude being wet.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Having warm hands even when soaked.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They don't live up to the 'waterproof' billing. Nothing does, but I keep hoping...

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Restricting the scope to lightweight gloves at around the same price, George really liked the Castelli Tutto Nano Gloves; Rob was impressed by the Sportful WS Essential 2 Gloves; Mike liked the Stolen Goat Climb & Conquer 4 Seasons Gloves; and if you want good touchscreen compatibility check out the Q36.5 Anfibio Winter Rain Cycling Gloves that Shaun reviewed.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, insofar as anyone enjoys riding in the rain

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Warm, snug and comfortable, these gloves make a decent stab at water-resistance, and they help make wet-weather riding bearable as long as you don't mind actually getting wet. They're Good.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 56  Height: 5ft 11in  Weight: 100kg

I usually ride: Scapin Style  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, mtb,

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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2 comments

Avatar
Freddy56 | 1 year ago
0 likes

I am afraid the reviewer has spelt the title wrong. It should read sealskinz

Avatar
rivers | 1 year ago
1 like

I haven't found truly waterproof gloves especially yet. However, a set of bar mitts means you always have dry (and warm) hands. I haven't needed to swap gloves at the cafe stop since I bought them.

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