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Winter Cycling Gloves

Cold hands aren’t just uncomfortable, they’re a genuine safety issue. Once your fingers lose feeling, your braking response slows down and shifting gets clumsy right when you need it to be precise. A proper pair of winter cycling gloves is less a comfort accessory and more a piece of safety equipment; it’s right up there with a good set of lights or a well-fitted helmet.

This range is built specifically for the cold Melbourne months. If you’re looking for gloves for everyday road or trail riding during the rest of the year, our general bike gloves collection covers that.

We’ve been helping Melbourne riders find the right bikes and cycling gear for nearly 40 years. Starting off life as a small family-owned bike shop in Ivanhoe, we’ve grown with the local cycling community, all while focusing on the same friendly service and expert advice.

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Understanding Windproof vs Waterproof

These two terms get used almost interchangeably, but they actually solve different problems.

A windproof glove - usually built with a windstopper-style membrane - stops moving air from cutting through the fabric and stripping heat out from the hands. It handles a dry, cold morning really well, but it’s not designed to keep out sustained rain. 

A fully waterproof winter cycling glove uses a sealed membrane and taped or glued seams to keep water out entirely. This matters far more on a wet commute than raw wind resistance does. Plenty of gloves blend the two to different degrees, so it’s best to know which problem you’re trying to solve before you buy.

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The Whole Winter Glove Range 

We break our winter range into three broad categories: 

  • Windproof softshells are the mid-weight option most riders reach for. The Castelli Perfetto RoS is a great example. It uses a windstopper-style fabric with a slim, low-bulk fit that keeps a good bar feel while blocking the worst of the chill.
  • Fully waterproof gloves are built for properly wet rides rather than just cold ones. The Castelli Diluvio uses a neoprene construction (the same tech as a wetsuit) so a thin layer of moisture warms against your skin rather than constant fresh water flushing the heat away.
  • Deep-winter thermal gloves are for the coldest mornings. The Castelli Perfetto Max steps up the insulation over the standard RoS with a heavier, water-repellent fabric built for sub-ten-degree starts. The lighter Tutto Nano is closer to a glove liner than a full winter glove and suits the 12°C to 20°C range well. 

You’ll also find winter options from Pearl Izumi and Giro across the range, and each has their own take on the windproof softshell and thermal mitt categories.

Material, Grip and Touchscreen Compatibility

The materials inside a winter cycling glove are just as important as the outer protection. Fleece linings help retain warmth, while DWR-treated shells repel light rain and road spray. On the palm, materials like AX Suede or silicone grip panels provide better control on wet handlebars than standard fabric.

Many modern gloves also feature touchscreen-compatible fingertips, allowing you to use bike computers or phones without removing your gloves.

Cuff designs typically include either a longer neoprene sleeve for maximum wind protection or adjustable closures for a more custom fit. For comfort, gel-padded palms help reduce vibration and hand fatigue on longer rides, while minimalist palms provide a more direct feel for riders who prefer extra feedback.

The Right Winter Cycling Gloves for the Way You Ride

As a rough guide, a windproof softshell suits the 5°C to 12°C range that covers most Melbourne spring and autumn mornings, while a deep-winter thermal glove is worth stepping up to once you are regularly riding in sub-zero starts.

Road riding and mountain biking also ask different things of a winter glove. Road riders prioritise low bulk, strong wind-blocking and a slim fit. Mountain bikers are usually better served by a glove with reinforced, abrasion-resistant knuckle protection and a grippier palm for better lever control on rough terrain, since the priorities on a technical descent are quite different to a fast, smooth road session.

Getting Your Hand Size Just Right

Winter cycling glove sizing comes down to hand circumference and palm length rather than the small, medium, large sizing you might use for a jacket. Measure around the widest part of your palm (excluding the thumb) and check that figure against the specific brand's size chart. Sizing can vary noticeably between brands.

Also consider "finger end-gap" - the small cushion of air that should sit right at your fingertips inside the glove. This isn’t a fit flaw, but a touch of extra room that acts as extra insulation. A glove that fits your fingers too snugly from tip to base will actually feel colder over a long ride, not warmer.

Caring for Your Winter Gloves 

Winter gloves rely on internal membranes to stay windproof or waterproof, and machine washing on a hot cycle will damage them. Hand wash in cold water, or use a gentle cold cycle if the manufacturer's care label allows it. Avoid fabric softener altogether.

Dry them naturally, away from direct heat sources like a heater vent or clothes dryer. High heat can cause the synthetic suede palm and any silicone printing to crack over time, and it can also cause the internal membrane to start delaminating from the outer shell. This is usually the point a glove stops being properly waterproof.

Pairing Your Winter Cycling Gloves 

If you regularly ride in proper sub-zero conditions, consider layering: a thin silk or merino liner glove worn underneath a water-resistant outer glove. Trap an extra layer of warm air without adding much bulk, so you can pull the outer layer off on a warmer return leg without your hands going straight from warm to freezing.

To round out your winter kit, pair your gloves with a proper men's cycling jacket or women's cycling jacket, a set of mens base layers or womens base layers, and a set of warmers for your arms and legs. Together with the rest of our winter cycling gear range, that covers you from head to toe through a Melbourne winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a windproof cycling glove and a completely waterproof one?

A windproof glove blocks moving air to stop your hands losing heat, but it won’t handle sustained rain. A fully waterproof glove uses a sealed membrane and taped seams to keep water out completely.

How do I accurately measure my hand size for winter cycling gloves?

Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your palm, just below the knuckles and excluding your thumb, then check that measurement against the specific brand's size chart. Sizing can vary between brands, so always check rather than assume your usual size.

Will wearing thick winter gloves affect my ability to shift gears or use my brakes?

The best winter cycling gloves shouldn’t noticeably affect braking or shifting. Look for a slim, low-bulk design with minimal seaming around the fingers if control and dexterity matter most to you, rather than a heavily padded, bulky mitt.

Can I use my smartphone or bike computer without taking these winter gloves off?

Most of our winter gloves include touchscreen-compatible fingertips, so yes, in most cases you can operate a phone or bike computer screen without removing your gloves.

What are "lobster" style winter cycling gloves and what conditions are they used for?

Lobster gloves group your fingers into two or three sections rather than separating each one individually. Keeping fingers together like this traps more warmth between them, making lobster gloves a good option for genuinely sub-zero rides where standard five-finger gloves are not warm enough.

How do I properly dry soaked winter gloves without ruining the technical materials?

Let them air dry naturally at room temperature, away from heaters, direct sun or a clothes dryer. Stuffing them loosely with a clean towel or paper can help draw out moisture faster without exposing the membrane or grippers to damaging heat.

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