Are neoprene gloves good for cycling?
If your goal is to stay warm while riding in cool, damp air, then neoprene gloves are excellent. If you happen to get caught in a storm, you are going to be wondering are neoprene gloves good for cycling right now. What they do in the rain act like a wetsuit (wetsuits are also made of neoprene) when they allow some of the water to soak through and actually warm the hands. Because of this, I have been happy with my pair of neoprene gloves when I am caught in a blow over on Mt. Tam when the east side of Marin is clear. Neoprene gloves are breathable, reasonably priced and lightweight.
Int his post, we will go over all the details that you wanted to know about cycling gloves, neoprene and how to stay comfortable while riding with your hands. By the end of this post you should have a firm understanding of gloves and cycling.
Invest in your Knowledge
These articles will be useful to you:
- Best All American Winter Cycling Destinations
- Best Cycling Gloves for Numb Hands [Top 5]
- Best Cycling Facemasks for the Cold
- What to Wear Cycling in 50 degree weather
- Best Wool Cycling Shorts
What gloves should I wear for cycling?
There are plenty of options for cycling gloves to keep you warm and dry while riding. Neoprene are great options, although there are also synthetic liners, down liners for the extreme cold and wool gloves available. All have their different reasons for being great for cyclists depending on the different climates that they are anticipating cycling in. The guide pointed to at the top of this paragraph gives a great idea of the range of gloves that you will want to look at if you are planning on riding in colder temperatures.
Are neoprene gloves good for cycling?
Neoprene gloves are great for cycling. Gloves can be purchased at different thicknesses in the same way that different wetsuits can be purchased at different temperatures. I personally wear a 1.5 mm glove and if I need to be warmer, then I will put on another glove on top of that. This takes advantage of the lining and layering effect, along with the water resistant effect that the neoprene lining gives to the gloves while cycling. If your feet are cold as well, there are neoprene for cold foot options for cycling as well to learn about.
Should cycling gloves be tight or lose?
It is important to keep your gloves snug, and comfortable, though not too tight like a second skin. Cycling gloves should feel snug to fit, though not too tight that any circulation is cut off. If your cycling gloves feel that they are as tight as your pro fit cycling jersey then your cycling gloves may be too tight. If your cycling gloves are too loose, then you also risk them not insulating your heat as well and you will lose some of the heat from inside the glove that you purchased them for.
Should cycling gloves be padded?
You do not need cycling gloves to be padded. If you are anticipating a fall, it is recommended to get a helmet, wrist pads, elbow and knee pads, though padded gloves may not be necessary. What is most important is to protect the area of your body that are keep you vital – namely a helmet on your head. If you choose to wear padded gloves, these are my favorite padded gloves for riding if I am going through the forest that also wick sweat well.
Conclusion
Are neoprene gloves good for cycling? Neoprene gloves are great for cycling to keep water out of your hands and keep yourself warm. They are great to keep you comfortable and can be purchased at different thicknesses to enjoy the warm or cool air around you. There are many other options for gloves outside of neoprene to help you ride and be comfortable, while maintaining your dexterity.