FWE Coldharbour Waterproof Glove

The FWE Coldharbour Waterproof Gloves offer decent protection against wind and rain but don't offer much cuff protection, and are really not breathable or durable.

The first thing that struck me about these gloves was the small sizing; a men's medium is normally big enough, but these only just fitted. Once pulled on, I felt like someone had forgotten to attach the cuff; they only just reach up over the heel of the palm before coming to an abrupt halt. However tight you pull the Velcro adjuster there is no getting away from water seeping in on one of those persistently rainy rides or, even worse, feeling the cold air on the skin that might be exposed between glove and jersey.

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Grumbling aside, the lining is soft and snug with a real winter glove feel about it. The gloves are a little bulky, though no more than the average winter glove, offering good protection.

The palm, thumbs, index and forefingers are covered in a multitude of effective thin silicone gripper. Three thick gel pads in each palm do a great job of absorbing impact on rougher surfaces.

Reflective material is well positioned down the outer edge of the glove with signalling in mind. And, of course, the obligatory soft nose wiping strip. All of these features are really well thought out and effective at what they are designed to do.

Practical features aside, the gloves do two of the three things they claim: they are windproof and waterproof, cutting out all chills and withstanding persistent rain for a few hours; any longer that that, in heavy rain, and they were giving in, partly due to water seeping in at the cuff. A waterproof jacket with excessively long sleeves really is a must with these gloves.

What they unfortunately fail to do is allow your hands to breathe. Your entire hand becomes hot and sweaty within a short period of time and removing the gloves becomes a work of art. Trying to hold the liner inside the fingers while pulling your hands out in order to prevent pulling the liner out with your sweaty palms is pretty tricky. Of course, if this is all for a café stop you know what is coming when you try to get them back on again! I have experienced worse with liners, but was disappointed given the 'breathable' claim.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter gloves for cycling

Unfortunately, I have to criticise an already disappointing product a little more. After just three wears and one wash, the seams on the tips of the index fingers began to fray. I thought that perhaps some breathability might kick in, but inevitably it was at the expense of waterproofing...

Overall, these gloves have some good features but they fall short on several vital ones. If they are in a bargain bin (don't forget to try for size!) and you need a spare pair for commuting in the deepest, darkest winter then maybe it's worth parting with your cash; otherwise, I'd put it towards something that's a little more durable and breathable. It's worth noting that if you have invested and the seams have gone, Evans has been offering warranty replacements.

Verdict

Good waterproofing and windproofing outweighed by a short cuff, poorly finished seams and lack of breathability