Waterproof Cycling Gloves
Human beings figured out how to put a man on the moon before most currently-alive people were even born. Now we’re planning to mine minerals from asteroids as they hurtle through space.
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So can anyone tell me why it’s so hard for anyone to invent a pair of waterproof cycling gloves?
I know that to a naive shopper, there APPEARS to be a vast selection of waterproof cycling gloves. Just go into any cycling store, or your local MEC, and there they are: dozens of waterproof cycling gloves, all with hefty prices. I personally have bought at least ten pairs of expensive waterproof cycling gloves, and not one of them has even come close to being waterproof. They all leak, often within minutes of venturing into the rain.
My most recent pair of waterproof cycling gloves cost $60, and for that price, I thought they HAD to work. So I used them to cycle in a Vancouver downpour. By the time I got home, they were so wet, inside and out, that I could fill the dog’s water bowl by wringing them out. I am all for recycling, but this did NOT make me happy!
Not only that, but some of them – like this pair of Axiom “waterproof” gloves – actually have lining that turns inside out when you take them off. I mean seriously, just look at that glove on the left. Granted, this only happens when the inside lining is soaking wet. But the whole point is that the inside lining is not supposed to get soaking wet! Not when you’ve paid $60 for gloves that are completely “waterproof”.
And the problem is that once your glove looks like the one on the left, getting it to look like the one on the right is harder than solving a Rubik’s Cube. My mom, thrifty to the bone, tried for ages to save this glove, using a knitting needle to try and get the lining back inside the glove – but eventually even she had to give up. And I just did not have the heart to spend another $60 on waterproof gloves that weren’t waterproof.
Maggie (Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist) once had a German friend who wrote on a shopping list “Plastic Mittens.” After a lot of confusion, Maggie realized she meant “Rubber Gloves” (the kind you use to wash dishes). Well, I am starting to think perhaps I should invest in some plastic mittens. After all, they may not look like much, but they do at least keep the water out. Considering a pair of these will set you back about $5, maybe it’s time to give up on designer-name “waterproof cycling gloves” and buy some good old “plastic mittens”.
2016 Update: The Best Waterproof Cycling Gloves I’ve Found
After years of trial and error, I finally happened to buy a pair of Gore-Tex waterproof cycling gloves. These are the closest to a solution as I have ever found. They are not perfect, but they are as close to a waterproof cycling glove as I have found so far. They are also extremely warm, and very high quality – I am now in my third winter with them. You can buy them here, and read the full review of my Gore-Tex gloves here.
You can read about how the Gore company invented their waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex fabric in this post about the 7 best waterproof cycling jackets. The technology in this Gore-Tex fabric is pretty impressive!
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Sorry Joe, 8 years of Vancouver to cycle commuting and no luck. I like the rubber mittens idea. I don’t know why I’ve never tried it.
Yes Janine, I seriously think I am going to have to try it too. I am thinking a thin pair of woollen gloves for warmth, with the rubber mittens over top to keep them dry. Similarly, I have found that the only thing that really keeps my feet dry in a Vancouver downpour is a 4-layer setup – socks, plastic bag, plastic bag, “waterproof” boot. The plastic bags are free, so it’s not a bad way to go.
Well, for the feet, I find that the mec shoe covers are pretty good, so long as the shoes you have under them have a reasonably thick sole and you don’t put your foot down in the “rivers” when you are waiting for the light. With that set up, my feet don’t usually get wet in my 50 minute commute, even in epic rain. The mec shoe covers are not too expensive, though I usually go through a pair every couple of years (the bottom straps and toes wear out over time).
Yes, I gather they are pretty good. My problem there is I don’t wear cycling shoes most of the time – I prefer boots – and so the MEC covers do not fit over them
Ah! I bought a mens extra large, and for me they fit over most everything, but even though I have large feet for a woman, there probably small compared to most men’s shoes.