There’s almost nothing worse than having cold or wet digits on a bike ride. It’s uncomfortable, it makes shifting and braking more challenging, and on a cold enough day, it can be downright painful.
VeloToze was formed by a group of cyclists in California who wanted to stay drier on wet rides, and their new wet weather riding glove seeks to make adverse-weather rides more comfortable. The gloves have a much different look than other cold or wet weather gloves that tend to blend the lines between snow and bike gloves. Instead, the VeloToze gloves blur the lines between SCUBA and bike gloves.
- 5% nylon (inside of glove), 95% neoprene
- Waterproof, windproof
- Blind-stitched seams
- $48USD (available at Amazon.com)
There are a few plusses to the unique nature of the VeloToze gloves. The neoprene outer material is very wetsuit-like. Whoever coined the term “fits like a glove” was probably talking about a glove like the VeloToze. There isn’t a millimeter of extra room inside the glove. It hugs every knuckle and lines the crevices between fingers.
The best part about the fit is the dexterity it allows. Since it is so tight, it’s like a second skin. It’s easy to shift and operate levers on the cockpit. It’s also easy to work with small objects, like a tool bit, or fishing a set of keys out of a pocket or bag at the end of a ride and selecting the right one.
The neoprene material is also very sticky, which means no slipping from the brake or shift lever and enhanced friction on the grips.
VeloToze uses neoprene because it traps heat in and keeps moisture out, and the gloves do exactly that. My fingers did get a little cold at times using the gloves in 20-30°F weather, but as long as I was moving and my heart was pumping, they stayed warm. VeloToze does say that the gloves are best in conditions between 20°F and sunny, to 60°F and cloudy with rain.
I’d say this is a fair description of how the gloves will perform in the low range. The black neoprene soaks up more heat in the sunshine, but on cloudy days they stay cooler.
The flip side of that “heat in, moisture out” neoprene concept is that a lot of moisture accumulates from sweat inside the gloves and has nowhere to go. This couples with the downside of the very tight fit and makes for a glove that isn’t very comfortable to wear.
At best, buyers will be choosing between the discomfort of wearing a glove that doesn’t really protect from the elements, or wearing a VeloToze glove that is tight and gets a little sweaty. If you’re itching to ride in wet weather, then it’s an easy choice.
Final word
Compared to other wet or cold weather gloves, the VeloToze gloves lose comfort, but gain dexterity. For riders who want to get out no matter the conditions, they deliver on the promise that they’ll keep fingers warm and protected from the rain.
