Kit guide · Hands
When to wear winter cycling gloves
Hands are the first thing to go numb on a cold ride. They're in the wind the whole time, you barely move them, and riding hard barely warms them. Cold fingers also make braking and shifting harder, which is a safety problem, not just a comfort one.
Updated
Short answer
At a moderate pace, wear winter gloves when the feels-like temperature is below 6°C (43°F). Ride harder and the range moves colder; ride easier and it moves warmer.
Winter gloves by effort
below 7°C (45°F)
below 6°C (43°F)
below 4°C (39°F)
below 4°C (39°F)
Feels-like temperature from the forecast, light wind, no rain. Always cold or warm? Set your warmth tendency in the calculator.
Good to know
Practical tips
kitcheck.cc uses three steps for full-finger gloves: light cycling gloves for the cool range, thermal winter gloves when it's cold (even well below freezing, if it's dry), and waterproof winter gloves when it's cold and wet.
- 1
Gloves stay on all ride. If the ride gets colder later on, start in the warmer pair: you only have one pair with you.
- 2
Thin liner gloves under winter gloves add warmth without the bulk of lobster gloves.
- 3
Put your gloves on inside, where your hands are still warm. Warming up cold hands inside cold gloves takes a long time.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What riders ask about winter gloves, answered with the same ranges as above.
At what temperature should I wear winter gloves cycling?
At a moderate pace, wear winter gloves when the feels-like temperature is below 6°C (43°F). Ride harder and the range moves colder; ride easier and it moves warmer.
At what temperature do I need full-finger gloves?
Light full-finger gloves come in a few degrees above the winter glove range, in the cool band where fingerless gloves let too much wind through. The calculator shows the right pair for your ride.
Waterproof or thermal winter gloves?
Waterproof winter gloves when rain is likely in the cold: wet hands lose heat very fast. Thermal gloves for cold, dry rides, even below freezing.
Full kit lists
Temperatures where you'll want winter gloves
More kit
When to wear the rest
Check the forecast for your ride
The calculator uses the hourly forecast for your location and ride window, including wind, rain and how hard you're going.