Giro Proof Freezing Weather Cycling Gloves

Winter might finally be on the way out, but chilly mornings and evenings still call for full-finger protection. Handily, Giro's Proof 'freezing weather' cycling gloves provide windproofing, comfortable palms, decent dexterity and, most importantly, warmth down to below zero. They are pretty much perfect for winter riding.

My issues this winter have occurred on my sub-one-mile ride to work. The issue is, it's all downhill and my hands have frozen on any day that isn't above 5°C. So when, on my first ride in the Giro Proof gloves, I arrived at the office with working hands, I was rather impressed.

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Firstly, the fit of the Proofs is ideal for winter riding. They border on bulky, but that means that there is space inside for a liner. I rode these down to 2°C with no liner without issue. That bulk doesn't mean that shifters are unusable, either: I found I could shift accurately, with only the occasional miss.

Feel of the handlebar is also very good, with the Proofs featuring a full leather palm and fingers. The inner thermal material provides minimal padding, and it's just enough to deal with most vibrations. The leather also provides excellent grip, very similar to bare hands.

Sizing is spot on for my mediums. The gloves are just slightly oversized, allowing for a pair of liners inside. Okay, the exterior is a little bulkier than some, but for the warmth it's not an issue. And as I said, it didn't result in many mis-shifts.

Build quality

Providing the warmth is a combination of a wind-resistant, waterproof outer and a fleeced interior. Thanks to the effectiveness of the outer, the fleeced interior can be very thin. Out on the road, this meant I was able to maintain a normal grasp on the bar, with no excess padding inhibiting feel. That feel is undoubtedly much better when your hands are not frozen blocks of ice.

Durability seems very good too. I've had no loose stitching or pulled threads, and the palm feels like it'll last a significant number of miles. That's a very good thing as Giro advertises these gloves as not only ideal for cold winter miles, but also for commuting. Surviving daily use, with weekly machine washing, makes the price worth every penny in my book.

The wrists are tall without being too long. They paired well with long-sleeve jerseys and jackets, keeping my wrists warm. The closure is large and simple to operate with the gloves on. I did find the little clips used to attach the gloves to each other were a little annoying, so I cut them off, with no impact on the stitching.

Touchscreen tips

The touchscreen technology actually works – in fact they're the only gloves I've worn that will work with the notoriously difficult Garmin Edge 820. It's rather nice to not freeze your fingers off when you want to see your maps screen or snap a picture.

The only slight issue with the Proof is on the thumb. Unlike the fingers, the thumb's stitching goes across the top edge. This allowed just enough of a draught onto the end of my thumb. When descending in the cold, it resulted in two very cold thumb-tips. It was never an issue when I was pedalling, generating some body heat, but at the start of rides going downhill it wasn't great for my poor thumbs.

> How to keep your hands warm and dry while cycling

Overall, though, I'm really happy with the Proof gloves. The price might seem high, but you're getting brilliant quality and longevity from robust materials. The feel of the bar isn't compromised by bulk, and there's space for a liner glove.

Verdict

Warm, with great dexterity and a robustness for regular use. The price reflects the quality