In my first winter cycling into central London, I made it about halfway through my commute before I couldn’t feel my fingers. That’s a problem when you’re braking, signalling and then trying to end your ride on a phone app with numb hands. A good pair of gloves fixed all of that, so in this guide I’ve picked the best bike gloves for winter if you commute in the UK, especially if you ride Lime, Forest or Voi bikes and need to use your phone at the start and end of every ride.
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What to Look for in Winter Bike Gloves
For a London commute, you don’t need the thickest ski gloves you can find. You need gloves that keep the wind off, cope with a bit of rain, and still let you brake properly. For hire bike riders, there’s one more thing that matters a lot:
- Touchscreen fingertips: you’ll be unlocking and ending rides in an app, often in the cold. Taking your gloves off every time gets old very quickly.
- Windproofing: on a bike, wind chill is what really freezes your hands, even on a dry day.
- Water resistance: UK winters are more wet than freezing, so some protection from rain helps.
- Grip: a grippy palm makes a big difference on wet handlebars.
- Not too bulky: you still need to pull the brakes and ring the bell.
I’ve left out heated gloves and heavy motorcycle gloves. They’re great for long, freezing rides, but they’re overkill for a London commute and a pain to carry around between rides.
1. Origem Thermal Cycling Gloves (best all-rounder)
These are lined with 3M Thinsulate insulation, which keeps your hands warm without making the gloves too bulky. They have touchscreen fingertips, a water resistant outer and an anti-slip palm, so they tick most of the boxes for a hire bike commute. A good choice if you want one pair to cover most of the winter.
2. FDX Full Finger Winter Cycling Gloves (best value)
FDX make cycling kit at sensible prices, and these winter gloves are windproof and water resistant, with gel padding on the palms to soak up bumps from potholes. They also have reflective details, which help your hand signals stand out on dark evening rides. Great value if you don’t want to spend much.
3. SEALSKINZ Acle Nano Fleece Gloves (best for milder days)
These are lightweight stretch fleece gloves with a water repellent treatment and a grippy, touchscreen friendly palm. They’re thinner than the others, so they’re best for chilly autumn and spring mornings rather than proper frost, but they’re comfortable, easy to stuff in a pocket, and work well as a liner under thicker gloves too. They’re around £30.
4. GripGrab Waterproof Knitted Thermal Gloves (best for wet weather)
If your commute is more rain than frost, these are the ones. They have a knitted outer with a waterproof membrane inside, a silicone grip on the palm and reflective details. The one catch for hire bike riders is that they aren’t touchscreen compatible, so you’ll need to take one off to unlock your bike. GripGrab also say they’re not really warm enough for temperatures below freezing.
Final Thoughts on the Best Bike Gloves for Winter
For most London commuters, the Origem gloves are the best all-round pick: warm, touchscreen friendly and not too bulky. If you’re on a budget, go for the FDX, and if you mostly ride in the rain, the GripGrab gloves will keep your hands dry. Whatever you pick, warm hands make a winter commute so much more pleasant.
If you’re riding through the winter, it’s worth sorting a helmet too, especially due to increased slipping risk! My guides to the best budget bicycle helmets and the best folding bike helmets are a good place to start. And if you’re still choosing which hire bike to ride, my e-bike hire London comparison has every operator’s prices side by side.
