GripGrab Urban Softshell Gloves

The GripGrab Urban Softshell Gloves are possibly the best winter gloves I have ever used.

GripGrab is a Danish company, they've been around for a couple of years, and now the online retailer Wiggle is bringing them into the UK. They only make gloves and other accessories like overshoes and hats, and their range is comprehensive. There's a glove for most conditions and weather types.

These are made from a softshell material with a luxuriously soft fleece lining. The sizing is absolutely spot on, and the fit is really very good. Onto the bike and there's a good amount of feel of the handlebars and shifters/brake levers through these gloves. Some winter gloves can be so bulky that they isolate you from the controls of the bike, which isn't something I like much.

On the palm is a grippy material that offers excellent purchase on the bar tape; there's no chance of your hands slipping with these on. That, combined with the thinness of the padding, really boosts confidence when you're riding in tricky conditions at this time of year. There are very few seams, just one at the base of the thumb which fortunately you don't notice when riding. There's no gel padding, but then the gloves are padded enough that they're comfortable on long rides.

There's a generous elasticated cuff and the wrist is elasticated too. They easily fit over a bulky softshell jacket with ease, and the elasticated wrist keeps them snug, so there's no gaps to let warm air out/cold air in.

These gloves have been a blessing these past few weeks, with the constant sub zero temperatures. I suffer from poor circulation. It doesn't have to be that cold before I lose the feeling in my hands and feet, and many winter rides have ended with pretty bad discomfort. There's been days when I've been unable to get back into my flat because my fingers are just too numb to fumble the keys into the lock.

I've tried many, many pairs of winter gloves in the pursuit of ones that will keep my poor little fingers insulated from the cold. But these GripGrab gloves have been very impressive with their insulation and lack of bulk. They've kept my fingers and hands from getting cold on my rides, which typically range from 2 to 4 hours. Usually I lose the feeling in my hands and feet at roughly the same time. With these gloves, I've kept the feeling in my hands long after my feet have frozen.

Verdict

Very warm and very well made winter gloves.