Altura Nevis Waterproof Glove

When it comes to winter riding, as long as my fingers are toasty then I'm a happy camper. On a dry day, the Altura Nevis Waterproof Gloves deliver that, even when setting off while the cars are covered in a layer of frost. In the wet, though, it's a different matter, with rain getting through the seams disappointingly quickly.

On the plus side, the upper material works as a wind blocker so you don't feel the chill, and the palm fabric is looped around over the top of the fingertips to make sure any part of your hand facing the windchill is protected. A close-fitting cuff that continues to create the lining also stops any draughts.

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The thumb is articulated in the middle, which means things never feel restricted when you are holding the hoods or drops. In fact, the all-round sizing and fit of the Nevis gloves is pretty spot on.

The downside to all this warmth is that the gloves aren't all that breathable. It's not a major issue while riding as you don't really notice it when the gloves are on, but if you need to stop and take them off mid-ride, when you pull your sweaty hands out the liner comes out with them.

Picture the scene: I'd stopped mid-ride to take a photo, #mycyclingweekend and all that, taken the gloves off, snapped away, tapped 'no filter' and then it was time to get going.

The fingers of the liner had turned inside out as they were stuck to my fingers, and putting the glove back on, they just wouldn't return to normal. It was six degrees with a cold northerly breeze and my hands were chilling quickly, to the point that I actually started searching through my rucksack for a knife to cut the liner out.

Fifteen minutes later, sans knife, and I had my hands back in the gloves but they weren't right. I couldn't get the liner to sit comfortably and everything felt rather restrictive – the only way I can think of describing it is like wearing a pair of shoes that are too small and that feeling of your toes all scrunched up. That feeling stayed with me for the rest of the ride.

Of course, not everyone stops to take pictures mid-ride, but there are going to be times you'll need to stop and remove your gloves even if you wouldn't normally 'choose' to.

Next, waterproofing. Given that they're marketed as waterproof gloves, the Alturas are found wanting. It's not the fabric – the polyurethane uppers are properly waterproof with water beading off them – the issue is the seam between the upper and the palm which leaked like a sieve. When you're riding on the hoods, this seam is totally exposed to the elements so your hands are soaked within a matter of miles.

> Read our guide to the best gloves for keeping your hands warm and dry

It's a real shame because at first glance the Alturas look good, the build quality is high, they fit well, and are warm when it's dry. If they could deliver on the waterproofing and sort those liner issues they'd be hard to knock.

Verdict

Warm gloves but an irritating liner and poor waterproofing mean they don't live up to their promise