Review: Look WinterFall Gloves


A good pair of winter gloves is a vital investment for the four season cyclist; whether you're a mountain biker, roadie or commuter, winter is hard on your hands. The cold, the wet and the wind will attack your extremities, leaving you uncomfortable at best.

Look have long been established in the pedal and frame market (see my review of the Look S-Track Pedals - Link), but have only recently ventured into apparel. Look components are always praised for their build quality and performance, and it seems that the company has thankfully taken a similar tack with their clothing.

The WinterFall Gloves are designed to be worn in extreme weather, when the elements are well and truly against you. They have a windproof and waterproof outer, using a NoWind fabric and a water resistance Hipora membrane. They are lined with Thinsulate Insulation micro-fleece for warmth and the palms feature a synthetic leather material, with gel padding for added comfort and durability.

I've deployed the Look WinterFall gloves on many a cold and wet commute over the past couple of weeks, and they haven't failed to impress. The high cut cuffs provide great insulation for your wrists, and prevent any uncomfortable drafts or water ingress, especially well when tightened shut with the Velcro closure. The fleecy lining keeps your digits warm, even in sub-zero temperatures and the padding in the palms is good at absorbing shock from the bars. 

Little features that set these apart from others include the reflective detailing on the little finger and the back of the hand, the soft suede-like fabric on the thumb, and the quality of the synthetic leather palm, which is standing up incredibly well to heavy use.

In terms of sizing, I wear a large (size 10) in most glove brands, and a large would probably be the best bet if you didn't want to wear liner gloves with these. I opted for an XL, and wear a pair of merino wool liner gloves underneath so that I can wash the liners more frequently than the gloves themselves (ideal for commuting). They fit well; being roomy enough not to affect circulation, but close fitting enough to still be warm.

These then are an impressive bit of clothing engineering; well made, well thought out, and built to last. Look may be new to the apparel market, but they have entered with some great kit. I look forward to seeing more of their products over the next year.

Look cycle kit is sold in the UK through Fisher Outdoors (Link)


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