How to choose cycling gloves for every season

Gloves are one of the smallest items in a cyclist's kit and one of the first you notice when they're wrong. The right pair takes pressure off your palms on long rides, gives you grip when your hands are sweaty or wet, and protects your skin if you come off. Here is how to choose.

Warm weather: fingerless gloves

Short and half-finger gloves cover the palm and stop at the knuckles, leaving your fingertips free for brake levers, shifters and your phone. They are the default from spring to early autumn, on road and on MTB. Look for:

• Palm padding where the heel of your hand meets the bars. More isn't always better: too much padding can make the bars feel vague.
• A breathable back so heat and sweat can escape.
• A grippy palm that doesn't slip when your hands are damp.
• An easy cuff, because gloves are hard to pull on over sweaty hands.

Cold weather: winter gloves

When the temperature drops, fingers are the first thing to suffer. Winter gloves cover the whole hand and trade some dexterity for warmth and wind protection. Leave a little room inside: a thin layer of air insulates better than fabric pressed against skin, so a glove that is too tight will feel colder.

Getting the fit right

• Gloves should be snug across the palm without squeezing your knuckles.
• Make a fist and hold the bars: there should be no bunching in the palm and no strain across the back of the hand.
• Your fingertips should reach the end of the glove without being squashed.

Looking after them

Rinse off sweat after hard rides, dry them away from direct heat and follow the care label. Clean gloves last longer and stay grippier.

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