Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Windstopper Gloves

The Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Windstopper gloves are very good mid-range designs. As you might expect from the name, windproofing is excellent, although on days below 4°C you might be struggling for warmth. They could also do with touchscreen compatibility.

I used these on all kinds of descents, at speed, in foul weather, and there was little to no wind getting through. This was actually a little surprising given that they're considerably thinner than the majority of colder weather gloves; it's closer to what you would find on a summer glove – impressive for something with so much wind resistance.

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However, despite them being billed as cold weather gloves, I found they lacked the insulation necessary when temperatures really plummeted. Gore doesn't give a specific temperature range for these gloves, but I would say roughly 4-12°C.

Fit is excellent, with the medium size I used providing a good close cut with decent finger length. The elasticated cuffs are also longer than usual, which keeps everything in place well and also helps to protect the wrists. The close fit helps the look, which is good overall, although the white that I reviewed wouldn't be my choice for a winter glove, for obvious reasons.

There are three reinforced areas on the palm, with the one on the outer edge being gel filled. They all work well and make the gloves comfortable to wear for an extended period. There is also rubberised texturing on the first three fingers, helping with grip on the levers, even in the rain. However, the one thing missing is the ability to use them with touchscreens, something pretty common among modern gloves, especially ones costing around 50 quid.

In addition to these reinforced areas there is also a large wiping area on the thumbs which is useful for wiping your brow or glasses or, more likely let's face it, your nose. There is also some high-vis detailing to help with being seen in the dark.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter gloves for cycling

With an RRP of £49.99 (though they can be found cheaper) they aren't cheap, but they are a high quality, well made pair of gloves, and that goes some way to justifying that price.

Overall, I like them. They work very well for mid-range temperatures from 4-12 degrees, look great, and perform very well on the bike. A touchscreen element would be good, though, and a little insulation could help when temperatures drop, but overall these are very strong performing gloves.

Verdict

Great gloves for temperatures of around 4-12°C, with impressive windproofing, in a neat package