Review Sportful Neoprene Gloves

[CoffinDodger]

Maker claims suitable for 'below 5 degrees C'. I haven't tested them in the rain, but this morning was ambient temperature of 2 degrees and my fingers were painful over the whole 45 minute commute.

It is true that your hands will sweat inside them over a longer ride, as there is no breathability, but I value the warmth over the cold. Probably more accurate to say 3 degrees to 9 degrees suitability. Also, because removing them is a struggle once you start to sweat, the simple task of answering a phone call is made far more difficult as they lack any touchscreen capability.

I have been pleasantly surprised by their comfort though. There's no padding to speak of, just the natural flexibility of the material. After only 4 weeks of use I see a 6mm hole developing at the joint of the index and middle finger, in one glove. So overall, I think these will be going in the bin after next spring.

I wonder which of the glove makers state their temperature ranges including windchill. After all, these are cycling gloves.

 

[theBlob]

Yeah and neoprene will get a stink like no other. So you have that to look forward to, as it will stay on your hands until some serious scrubbing.

I have a set of mavic winter gloves that work really well. Not too thick, can still work the smart phone and nicely insulated. Good until lower than -5. Not too expensive either. Check em out if you eject the neoprene early.

 

[Bruno BQ]

I got a dhb neoprene one recently and they keep me well over some rain when the weather was changing, but I am keeping it for rainy days only.

@theBlob The Mavic ones can support rain well?

 

[Winston Leg-Thigh]

The best cold weather gloves I've got are a pair of the lobster ones from Aldi.

 

[armmewitharmony]

Don’t know maybe I get hot hands but gloves are the first thing after the neck thing to come off as I get hot on the commute and rides / training too.

Rapha merino gloves or pro team gloves work fine in any situation I’ve faced in Japan. Have got the winter gloves too but have never used them on the bike, only walking around town and even then only on a few exteme occasions.

 

[OreoCookie]

I layer gloves: I have Roeckl winter gloves which are fine up to about 5 degrees for about 2 hours and 0 degrees for 30 minutes or less. They are just wind stoppers with some fleece lining, so once they get very sweaty, you can feel the cold.

If it is colder than that or I ride longer, I put on a pair of Northwave undergloves that I bough a few years ago. In cases of emergency, I put on latex gloves which I always carry with me on rides. Last weekend, when I was riding in snow fall, the triple combo worked perfectly. I estimate it was around -2 to +2 degrees depending on the altitude.

 

[theBlob]

I’m not a commuter, and I don’t really ride in the rain but I wouldn’t say their forte is rain.
I have used neoprene gloves on my scooter commute in the rain, besides the stink, I found them pretty useless at keeping the cold out and as soon as it got slightly warm it was an uncomfortable sweat fest.
I’d prefer something that stays warm but then requires sitting in front of a fan to dry out, which is an option for me at my office.

I got a dhb neoprene one recently and they keep me well over some rain when the weather was changing, but I am keeping it for rainy days only.

@theBlob The Mavic ones can support rain well?

 

[CoffinDodger]

Regarding the stink, I think this is just accumulated sweat inside an impermeable membrane, so I washed them in luke warm water with some mild detergent; after drying they seem fine (unscented) but it's a chore I would rather not have.
Which model are your Mavic gloves? Inferno?

 

[Musashi13]

All this talk of stink made me check my Giro Neo Blaze gloves were actually neoprene.

They are and they don't smell, never have.

I usually wear them as an over glove, though. They never struck me as the kind of glove that would keep the cold out on their own so I never used them as such.
The Giro Bravo are what I wear underneath or on their own when it isn't so bad.

Also have some Rapha Deep Winter gloves which are very toasty and a pair of SealSkinz lobster claw type, which are a bit old now but still very warm.

Layering is what I find best. The bigger gloves are bulky.

I have a shit tonne of gloves now that I think about it.

 

[OreoCookie]

Regarding the stink, I think this is just accumulated sweat inside an impermeable membrane, so I washed them in luke warm water with some mild detergent; after drying they seem fine (unscented) but it's a chore I would rather not have.

I just wash all of my clothes after any ride where I sweat (so any ride with the exception of commutes). Since I need to wash my bib shorts and so forth anyway, throwing in my gloves as well is essentially free. I use antibacterial detergent as well. This way the bacteria that decompose the sweat and cause the smell don't even have the chance to do their dirty work.

 

[armmewitharmony]

Don’t know maybe I get hot hands but gloves are the first thing after the neck thing to come off as I get hot on the commute and rides / training too.

Rapha merino gloves or pro team gloves work fine in any situation I’ve faced in Japan. Have got the winter gloves too but have never used them on the bike, only walking around town and even then only on a few exteme occasions.

Also, if we’re still talking gloves I should also point out I had some Windstopper labeled Shimano gloves (not bulky) that were also fine (just as good or better than whatever Rapha gloves - don’t know about how they would be in the rain.

From the regular bike shop - no hasses durable enough and warm enough for winter - just a little race-y looking if you know what I mean.

Washed very well too.

I’d expect newer versions to be just as good or most likely better.

 

[OreoCookie]

Quick question: what properties make neoprene gloves stand out compared to other cold weather gloves (say, wind stopper plus lining)? I need to replace my Gore spring/fall wind stopper gloves.