360Dry Waterproof Gloves

56g M Black/Grey (as tested) £29.99

The 360Dry Waterproof Gloves are not cycling specific, but I’ve used them in a mixture of conditions from January to March and they undoubtedly do what they say they will. In addition, they’ve offered some adaptability as the weather has changed. Take care when selecting the size, not because the sizing guide doesn’t work, but it is well worth thinking about how you intend to use them. More on that below.

Pros: Good fit, adaptable, waterproof.

Cons: No padding or enhanced grip, care needed with washing and drying.

Specification/materials 4/5

OK, these are not cycling specific, so perhaps the ‘cons’ above are not totally fair. In any case, there are things you can do to further improve performance on the bicycle. The 360Dry Waterproof Gloves are aimed at the outdoor enthusiast who want to keep the rain, snow etc. in its place.

Materials and construction are as follows; inner glove – 75% cotton, 25% spandex, outer glove – 60% polyester, 40% cotton, thumb and index finger – screen touch coating – and a waterproof membrane. Fundamentally, that makes for a waterproof and breathable glove, with plenty of stretch (in the inner). The wrist is especially elastic, making for a nice tight fit.

The thumb and forefinger have a “screen-touch coating” which offers reinforcement for making effective contact.

Sizing/Fit 3.75/5

Measuring my hand, as suggested on the 360Dry website, lead me to the conclusion that /I was medium. This is absolutely spot on and the gloves are a perfect fit. The fingers are just the right length and still have some stretch left if I lent them to someone with longer digits.

I’ll admit that I considered going up to large on the basis that I was at the top end of medium and I like to get a pair of mitts underneath, or even inner/liner gloves. Going up a size has not been necessary. Mitts have fitted fine; inner/liner gloves, too, although pairs with higher wrist cuffs have protruded, and they’ve tended to annul effective touch-screen contact. However, stretchiness makes for an easy fit.

Performance/Comfort 3.5/5

The days of the crisp-packet consistency of waterproof gloves and socks are long-gone, and these are no exception. The cotton content probably helps here. The elasticated cuff keep water ingress out very well, certainly in rain and even a split second of immersion. They are, in my experience waterproof in all cycling circumstances provided that you are not bog-snorkelling-biking (Google it – other search engines are available). In that department there is little else to add.

Touch-screen reinforcements on thumb and index-finger tips function pretty well. Past experience suggests that I am not the most dexterous with these, but these have generally been pretty reliable. As with other gloves with these it takes a little while to get used to.

Durability/Care 3/5

Gloves like this do require a bit more care than some other types. Wash by hand only in cool water. 360Dry warn of dire consequences of failure to follow the instructions. Likewise, drying; drip dry, do not hang over the radiator. I’ve only washed ours twice, after several days of wear. After four hours on the line on a sunlit breezy day, they were nice and dry – I did turn them inside out half-way through. Indoors, you can expect, overnight at least, if not longer. In my experience, that is pretty much in-line with other gloves of this type.

Of course, a dowsing in heavy or prolonged rain – or both, if you are unlucky – is just what these are for. They’ll take a long while to dry on the outside whilst riding, but inside your inner gloves or hands will be nice and dry. Taking care when removing the wet gloves means you can easily put them on next day even if the outside is still wet.

Having worn ours for some twenty hours cycling and another ten or so when walking dogs etc., there’s been no snagging of roughing of the surface. I’ll not be pruning rose bushes in them, but they seem to be pretty robust.

Value 3.75/5

Chiba’s Windproof and Waterproof Gloves are a slightly different concept, and should keep your hands warmer without assistance – an important factor in winter. They cost a few pounds more. Our 360Dry gloves will be cooler when the weather warms up.

More directly comparable are the Showers Pass Waterproof Knit Gloves. I liked these a lot, but they are significantly more expensive. The Dexshells Ultralite Waterproof Gloves are similar in concept, but have textured pals for grip. They are, once again, more expensive.

Summary

In my opinion, the 360Dry Waterproof Gloves would make a hand addition to the wardrobe of the outdoor enthusiast and are very much the sort of thing that I’d take on a cycle tour in the warmer months to keep my mitts dry or for use off the bike when mooching around castles and such like. Of course, on hopes never to need them. They’ve also served well on the commute or on leisure/utility rides. Bear in mind that they are generalists, and don’t expect them to offer the surety of grip for belting technical stuff, for example.

Summary

Though stretchy enough to fit liners or mitts under - especially if you go up a size - the 360Dry Waterproof Gloves are ideal for keeping your hands dry when the water warms up in springier autumn or for chilly summer days or long mountain descents. A handy addition to your outdoor gear wardrobe.

Verdict 3.5/5 Good generalists for general outdoor use, including cycling.

Steve Dyster

https://www.360dry.co.uk/gloves

PUBLISHED MARCH 2023

TESTS

HOME

TOP