Gore Bike Wear Countdown III gloves

These mid-weight Countdown III gloves are the most expensive in Gore Bike Wear’s range and they do a good job of keeping your hands dry in wet weather.

First things first: are they properly waterproof? Well, I’ve been on a few extremely wet rides wearing these, including the Bristol Belter sportive where it rained from start to finish, and my hands have got damp only after well over an hour. We reckon that’s got more to do with sweat building up on the inside rather than rain getting through the Gore-Tex insert. They’re impressively breathable as waterproof gloves go, but we don’t know of anywhere the atmosphere doesn’t get humid sooner or later if you are producing plenty of heat. Take the Countdown’s off once the inside is damp and it’s a struggle to get them back on again but, that aside, these are really good gloves.

They’re fairly low bulk and offer a middling level of warmth. You probably wouldn’t want to head out in freezing conditions wearing these unless you have something like silk liner gloves underneath, but they’re fully windproof, come with polyester insulation, and have a fleecy inner, so they can handle temperatures well down into single figures without much trouble. My cut off point for using these is about 3-4°C, but that’ll come down to the individual.

The cuffs aren’t the longest ever but they reach just over your wrists so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting some overlap with your sleeves, and the hook-and-loop closure allows you to fine-tune things there. The textured polyurethane palms grip damp handlebars and hoods well, a small amount of padding adds a degree of protection, although you’ll need track mitts on too if you want real cushioning. A large reflective panel on the little finger and reflective logos are a handy addition for night riding.

You can get waterproof gloves considerably cheaper, but these are built to last. After a couple of months they're still looking brand new.

Verdict

Mid-weight waterproof gloves that are well-made and durable