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review
Gloves - full finger
Polaris RBS Windgrip GlovesPolaris RBS Windgrip Glove

Polaris RBS Windgrip Gloves

7
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Nov 17, 2014

2
£22.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Bright and warm for a decent price, the lack of padding might be an issue for some though.
Weight: 
35g
Contact: 
www.polaris-apparel.co.uk
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Polaris' Vortex Windgrip gloves have had a bit of an RBS makeover — that's Really Bright Stuff to you and me. They certainly stand out in low light conditions. They're warm too though you might want to beef up your bar tape.

Filling that middle ground between summer mitts and full on winter gloves the Windgrips use a fleece backed polyamide/polyester mix for the main body to keep the wind out and trap warmth while still keeping the overall bulk down. It's good to see a fleecy snot wipe too, something that is often missing on this style of glove.

The palm is purely polyester covered in silicone Polaris logos which grip your bar tape even when it's wet. It's thin though with no padding whatsoever so if you suffer from numbness around the ulnar nerve for example you might struggle with these.

The fit is close without being tight which is good for warmth, you need a bit of space to trap warm air and at 22.5cm circumference I fit nicely inside these size large gloves (22-24cm) though if you have long fingers you might want to go up a size. My fingers are quite short and wide (sausage fingers according to my kids) and I was very close to end of the gloves.

The cuff comes about an inch past the wrist so will fit nicely under a jersey sleeve without any flesh being left exposed.

As far as warmth is concerned I found them most effective between 7 and 15°C and I'd say I have a reasonable resistance to cold fingers. They are comfortable, giving you plenty of dexterity plus you don't have to take them off to use your smartphone screen.

If you do get caught out in the rain they hold on to heat well when wet thanks to that fleece lining and they'll also dry quickly.

As far as the price goes they are on par with other gloves of this style that we've tested. They look well put together with a nice fit and are comfortable for long rides provided you can ride without padding.

The fluoro yellow colour stands out at dawn or dusk for signalling your intentions known to following drivers.

Overall then they are comfortable, fit well and keep your hands warm in autumn and spring temperatures plus help out on the visibility front. Check for finger length though.

Verdict

Bright and warm for a decent price, the lack of padding might be an issue for some though.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Polaris RBS Windgrip Glove

Size tested: Large

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?

These are windproof gloves which are ideal for the temperatures we see in spring and autumn, mid single figures to the mid teens. They've been given Polaris' Really Bright Stuff treatment meaning the hi-viz yellow highlights your signalling in low light conditions.

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

Polyester/Polyamide body

Polyester palm

Silicone grips

Snot wipe

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Tidy stitching and finish.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Good windproofing and fit though the lack of padding won't be for everyone.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Polyamide is renowned for its durability so these should stand up to general wear and tear well.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

lightweight and easily stowable in a jersey pocket.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

A good fit though agin that thin pad requires some decent bar tape.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

On par we've others we've tested and I'd happily pay the rrp for the fit and performance.

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

They are great in the wind and highly visible in low light conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit is good and a good amount of dexterity.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They worked for me but short fingers and unpadded palm might effect others.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

They do the job that they are designed to do well covering a decent temperature range and plenty of comfort. Like I've said in the review though they could probably do with a small amount of padding to provide the full package.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  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,

 

Polaris RBS Windgrip Gloves
Polaris
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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2 comments

Avatar
Freddy56 | 10 years ago
0 likes

Look like my next commuting glove. Below 5 degrees im on the chu-chu so these will do great.

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bendertherobot | 10 years ago
0 likes

I'm waiting for the Castelli HSBC and the Assos Barclays before clicking on the buy button.

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