Mid-weight Windstopper gloves, the Sportful WS Pursuit Techs do a good job of keeping the cold air of your hands in moderate autumn/winter conditions while the fleecy lining adds a bit of extra warmth.
The backs are made entirely from a Gore Windstopper fabric and, as is always the case with Windstopper, it lives up to its billing by keeping the cold air out. The fabric is water resistant too. The gloves won't stop rain leaking through but they'll handle spray, fog and light showers fine.
The lowers – the palms and fingers – are made from a soft, synthetic suede and you get a small amount of gel padding in both the ulnar area and along the base of the thumb. It's not the thickest padding ever – the bit on the ulnar area is pretty thin, actually – but I found it effective enough. If you're prone to cyclists' palsy you'll maybe want more cushioning than you get here.
Three silicone patches on the palm add a little grip and you get a 'touchscreen dot' on each index finger. As you could probably work out for yourself, that allows you to use touchscreen devices, like a lot of mobile phones, that would be impossible to operate in most other gloves.
The back of each thumb is made from what's called ultrasuede which is halfway between a synthetic suede and a fleecy fabric. It's soft enough that you won't rub your nose raw. Unlike some materials of this kind, it also keeps the wind out.
The cuffs are mostly made from a Roubaix-type fabric rather than from Windstopper, but they reach about 5cm up from your hands to avoid any chills around your wrists. Velcro tabs allow you to draw them in close with your jersey sleeves either inside or outside.
The insides are fleecy so you get more warmth than you might expect here. We're not talking about massively deep insulation, but enough to make a difference. For me, these would do the job down to about 6 or 7°C. You might be happy in these a few degrees cooler.
Overall, these gloves have a lot to recommend them, most obviously the Windstopper fabric that really does its job well. Windstopper is rarely cheap and you might argue that you're paying a little for the name here, but I reckon this is a pretty decent price for gloves of this quality.
Verdict
Effective, comfortable fleecy Windstopper gloves for intermediate autumn/winter temperatures.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Sportful WS Pursuit Tech Glove
Size tested: large, white
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Sportful say:
* Mid weight Windstopper glove for moderate conditions.
* Fleece back for warmth.
* Synthetic precurved palm for great feeling on bars.
* Touchscreen dot on index finger.
* Ultrasuede wipe on thumb.
* Reflective print on back.
* 5cm velcro cuff.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
7/10
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The Windstopper fabric really works, and I like the fact that the cuffs plug any gaps between your jersey sleeves and your wrists.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The Velcro can catch on the panel that surrounds it if you're not careful... and I'm not careful.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Perhaps.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Age: 43 Height: 190cm Weight: 75kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,
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