After 7 years of cold hands/circulation I need some good gloves

[runner]

I post this thread when we are still having cold weather even thought it is April I really want to find some gloves that will keep my hands warm and have failed to do so for the last 7 years of commuting...and believe me I have tried (even tried battery gloves) I have bad circulation in my hands and they get so sore I can hardly work the bike levers...can you recommend anything? what about gloves shaped like a claw? do they work?...having digits beside eachother seems a good idea? please recommend something it has been so painful these last few weeks...and I commute 6 days a week so I really want to find a solution before this winter...can you help???

 

[I like Skol]

I don't know what you have tried but on really cold days I use an old pair of ski gloves and they work just great. They are unbranded ones that I bought over 10 years ago for a one-off ski holiday and they must be ok as they have been washed dozens of times and are still in good shape with all the lining and stuffing in the right places. As skiing is an activity done in sub-zero temps I think they have the right amount of insulation for our cold days?

 

[Easytigers]

I know that you've probably tried this already but have heard that a thin (silk??) liner inside gloves makes a big difference...also that making sure your fingers have a bit of room in the glove helps as well. Hope you find a solution...

 

[betty swollocks]

Or merino wool inners? A quick Google shows me that there's lots to choose from

 

[gaz]

I usually wear glove liners and a lobster glove when it gets cold. Don't forget to keep moving your fingers in the cold, it helps a lot!

 

[byegad]

Rohan gloves are fantastic, sadly so are the prices! I have their cold weather gloves and they keep my hands toastie, they also do a waterproof version, which inevitably cost a "little" more more.

 

[runner]

thanks guys there are some good ideas here...I see in Bristol there is a store where they sell rohan gloves...that might be worth a call. One thing I have noticed as I get older ...now a mere 57...my circulation does not improve..and this winter in particular (which as we all know has gone on and on...and on....) my hands have really suffered. It's not a good idea to have so much pain that I cannot work the levers so will def have to find a better solution for the autumn/winter months (that's presuming we have some warm weather this year)

 

[numbnuts]

lobster gloves +1 they are the warmest gloves I've ever worn

 

[wanda2010]

Hi Runner, I have circulation problems too. I have a variety of gloves but my best ones are from Blazewear that have rechargeable lithium batteries. I use merino gloves inside them. They saved me on the night ride I did on Easter Thursday. They proved very useful this morning too as it was a little chilly this morning.

Next winter I'm going to try pogies.

 

[runner]

Hi Runner, I have circulation problems too. I have a variety of gloves but my best ones are from Blazewear that have rechargeable lithium batteries. I use merino gloves inside them. They saved me on the night ride I did on Easter Thursday. They proved very useful this morning too as it was a little chilly this morning.

Next winter I'm going to try pogies.

Hi Wanda...I was wondering why you are trying pogies (never heard of them..but did a quick google) if the blazerwear gloves kept your hands warm?

 

[paul04]

I post this thread when we are still having cold weather even thought it is April I really want to find some gloves that will keep my hands warm and have failed to do so for the last 7 years of commuting...and believe me I have tried (even tried battery gloves) I have bad circulation in my hands and they get so sore I can hardly work the bike levers...can you recommend anything? what about gloves shaped like a claw? do they work?...having digits beside eachother seems a good idea? please recommend something it has been so painful these last few weeks...and I commute 6 days a week so I really want to find a solution before this winter...can you help???

I like you suffer with cold hands. mainly my fingers, it got that bad I could not ride the bike, as I could not change gear or use the brakes, and was affecting my job at work.

So a trip to the doctors, and after many tests, I now know I have Raynaud's disease.
The doctors did give me some tablets which really help called Nifedipine
http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/p...?condition=Blood pressure&medicine=nifedipine

I also got some heated gloves, and now I can ride the bike, my fingers do still get cold, but know where near as bad.
Maybe you could go and see your doctor and see what they say.

 

[gbb]

Like you Runner, the winters a nightmare for me, so much so I virtually (and reluctantly) pack up cycling in the winter months. We don't have to be talking sub zero temps either...1 or 2 degrees above will cause me severe discomfort after 1/2 hour.
I guess either spending serious money on serious gloves..or lobster typres are the way to go.
Ive tried all sorts of permutations with moderately priced winter gloves, PVC disposables under silk liners, then winter gloves...not much better. PVC disposables over silk liners..not much better.
Got pair of motorcycling lobster gloves second hand last year and they are a big improvement, not the absolute answer, but much better. I manage ok with ergo levers with them, a tad awkward, but ok.
After that..its spending serious money ..ive tried all sorts of gloves up to £50...they're all useless. I'm not the kind to spend any more without proof and i'm not going to get that without buying them .
I did get a pair of battery operated heated gloves..but havnt tried them in anger..

 

[cyberknight]

I suffer the same and in the winter months i have found the best way for me was to go one size up with some neoprne based gloves with some thinsulate based glove liners that i got from the lbs.
I tried the liners inside standard winter gloves and the tightness aggravated the problem due to lack of circulation
Ski gloves are great but i always found them to warm.

 

[BlackPanther]

After years of commuting by motorbike, I found that the only gloves that kept my hands warm were the lobster style gloves combined with heated grips. Of course, the wind chill factor on a motorbike doing (erm, let's say) 70 mph is pretty horrid. I've never suffered cold hands traveling by pedal power even with the cheap thinsulate £2.99 gloves I use. I did use the motorbike lobsters once in really cold conditions but my hands were uncomfortably hot on arrival at work. Maybe they'd be ideal for you if you have poor circulation though?

Depending on the style of bike/bars/gear shifters you use, there are other wind chill defeating devices, for example
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ...breezeblockers-aeroblade-hand-guards-11-44401
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cycle hand guards&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=GLZhUY2fMc6r0gW5lYDgCQ&ved=0CEsQsAQ&biw=1252&bih=537#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=bicycle hand guards&oq=bicycle hand guards&gs_l=img.12..0i24.11743.11919.0.13675.2.2.0.0.0.0.163.255.1j1.2.0.ekwqrh..0.0...1.1.8.img.j3lYFw5SZVg&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44770516,d.d2k&fp=34164022b0125ab8&biw=1252&bih=537&imgrc=Kx_eSyTIW8SLWM:;HpSFGRpvH3mfmM;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.off-road.com%2Fimages%2Fcontent%2F3-Cycra-Hand-Guards-KTM-8-29-12.jpg;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.off-road.com%2Fdirtbike%2Freview%2Fcycra-racing-dirt-bike-hand-guard-review-53516.html;620;413

.....and if you're a bodge it specialist I'm sure you could make something up or extend one of the above items to block the wind more? I'm thinking coke bottles, tie wraps, and a healthy dose of insulating tape.

 

[wanda2010]

Hi Wanda...I was wondering why you are trying pogies (never heard of them..but did a quick google) if the blazerwear gloves kept your hands warm?

(More) choice . The Blazewear gloves aren't great in the wet cos of the wiring too.