100% Hydromatic Brisker Gloves

The 100% Hydromatic Brisker gloves are low bulk and comfortable and they will keep your hands reasonably dry in most conditions.

• Pros: Low bulk, close-fitting cuff, good visibility
• Cons: Cuff isn't waterproof

Let me start with the wet conditions thing. With my review pair of gloves, one was waterproof and the other wasn't. I know this for sure not just because I could feel water getting into the left glove in use, but also because I dunked the fingers (not the tops) into a sink filled with water and there was moisture inside that one pretty quickly. That's a warranty issue; you'd just return the gloves and ask for a replacement pair.

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Once that was sorted, things naturally got a whole lot better. I found that the Hydromatic Brisker gloves would keep out water in most conditions, but my hands did get wet during prolonged heavy rain. Although stretchy and close fitting, the cuffs aren't waterproof so during a storm you need to make sure they're tucked inside a sleeve.

The back section – including the back of the fingers – is made from a softshell fabric with a little low-bulk insulation. A big reflective graphic improves visibility – especially handy when you're signalling at night.

The palm and the underside of the fingers are textured polyurethane, providing good grip on the handlebar even when wet, and silicone print on the index and middle fingers means there's even less chance of slippage when using the levers.

It's simple to operate a GPS or smartphone touchscreen with these on, although there's no palm padding. I'm perfectly happy to do without but you could always wear a pair of mitts underneath if you like. Getting the gloves on and off is easy, even with sweaty hands.

I've been using these gloves on days when it's cold, but not that cold, if you know what I mean. For me, they've been good for temperatures around 5-10°C, a fleecy inner face helping with comfort. The lack of deep insulation meant my fingers got cold at temperatures lower than that. A pair of liner gloves underneath would extend their useful range lower.

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Durability is high. The palm and forefinger are usually the first areas to show signs of wear in my experience, but they look as good as new after several weeks of regular use. The reflective print on the back of each hand is still fully intact after several washes with no signs of peeling or flaking. These are definitely going to last well.

Most of the full finger gloves that we've tested on road.cc recently have been priced higher than these. The Hydromatic Briskers don't excel in terms of performance but I think the price is good for what you get.

Overall, these are decent gloves. They keep your hands comfortable in middling off-season temperatures, they keep water out in most conditions, and they're durable.

Verdict

Decent performance and very good durability at a reasonable price