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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: OCTOBER 10th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
SHOWERS PASS CROSSPOINT WATERPROOF KNIT WOOL GLOVES
70g XL Grey (as tested) £38
Also available in black, the Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Glove are a new take on an old favourite. The addition of Merino fabric promises warmth and comfort. Things have come a long way since the days of crisp packet, rustling, wqterproof knit gloves. Thirty-eight pounds is quite an investment, but these have proved popular with hikers and runners as well as cyclists. That very fact hints at compromises with the cycling perspective from which this review is written.
Pros: good construction and fit.
Cons: multi-discipline, rather than cycling specific.
Spec 3.5/5
Three bonded layers are not unusual at this price point, in my experience. A wear-resistant knit exterior and a wicking, antibacterial Merino lining that sandwich a waterproof-breathable membrane. Despite all this, the profile is shallow in profile, with a nice stretchy ergonomic fit.
Wicking comes courtesy the Merino inner via the Artex membrane; grip is offered by silicone prints on palm, fingers and thumbs.
For the record, ingredients are; inner: 38% Merino Wool, 38% Acrylic, 2% Lycra, 20% Nylon, 2% Spandex; outer: 95% Nylon, 5% rubber.
At around 7cm, the cuff offers great weather protection.
There’s no reinforced digit end or cycle specific padding, nor reflective strips.
Size and fit 4/5
Sizes run from small to extra-large, via medium and large. Whilst they are stretchy, there’s no point not consulting the sizing guide on the website. It seems to be pretty much spot on. I could probably have got away with large, but that would only have tempted family members with small hands to nick them.
A good fit should not be overtight, but you’d have to get your size serious wrong to have any sag.
Care and Drying time 3/5
To keep things nice, cold machine wash and air dry to avoid shrinkage. A tumble dry is fine, but keep the heat low.Washed and spun according to the guidance, things dry pretty quickly.
When damp from drizzle or a shower, half an hour or so on the bike sees the outer dry. Mind you, when soaked through by a proper downpour you are looking at several hours to air dry, even after a hand-wring. That is not as bad as it sounds. Putting on soaked gloves may not be pleasant, but they do not seem to wreck insulation.
Performance 3/5
Waterproof? Well, ends of fingers felt, emphasis on felt - damp inside after two hours of steady heavy rain. In fact, this was external, with just a chilly-wet feeling being translated through the fabric. This phenomenon is not, in my experience, unusual with this type of glove. I have found similar with Seal Skinz models. By contrast. The rest of hand felt absolutely dry.
Dank, as opposed to deluge, does not really challenge defences: fingers are nicely warm and there’s no hint of chilly dampness. I’ll look forward to seeing how they go below 0C. I suspect they’ll be very good at snowball time, though the temperature may be a bit of a challenge. On that front, the sleek fit argues against use of a liner.
At 11C felt comfortable, not clammy, even when damp. With the mercury down to 5C they felt warm enough at twelve mph. Whether they’d go much lower, especially in heavy rain or at higher speed, I doubt. In fairness, gloves of this weight are for autumn, spring, and milder winter days.
Palm gripped nicely on wet cork and silicone bar wraps, whether on flats or drops. Without specific padding, long or rough mileage can take a toll on the contact points. In that sense, I have found them best suited for shorter rides; shopping, commuting, or a few miles to the café with the family. I’ve tried a pair of oversized mitts over the top to some effect, however, that’s not ideal so try it out before heading off for a hundred-miler.
Broad elasticated wrist band effective at keeping water out without hinting at cutting-off circulation. Cuffs well up the wrist, too, for a water tight finish – certainly when combined with the Showers Pass Elite 2.1 jacket.
Operation of iPhone and touch screen devices is not really a starter. Use of button operated hard-wear, such as an Active 10 GPS, is a different matter. Similarly, I’ve operated a remote, like that on the Ravemen CR500 easily.
Value 3/5
Coming from a different angle in terms of build and concept, Oxford’s Bright 3.0 gloves are considerably cheaper. However, they are not technically totally waterproof, and have a shallower cuff. They’ll not cross so well into other outdoor activities either. On the other hand, they are cycling specific, with padding, for example. Oxford’s Bright 4.0 gloves may be worth a look, in that context, too.
Phew’s Early Winter and Lobster gloves offer a different concept, but certainly have the kind of flexibility that the knitwear of the Crosspoint gloves brings, albeit in a different format.
Seal Skinz generally come in a little more expensive, but some have specific cycling features. Perhaps the closest rival to the Crosspoint Waterproof glove is its Showers Pass sibling Crosspoint glove.
Conclusion
Very comfortable gloves, well-made, and matching their design brief. From a purely cycling perspective, this makes them Jack’s of All Trades. Cyclists wanting something for long or rough mileage will find cycling specific alternatives. However, as a do all glove with good potential for the commute or the leisure ride, these are worth a look.
Verdict 3/5 Not cycling specific, but well-made and effective, for shorter rides and use in other contexts – and if you are into running and hiking, too, then value will be higher.
Steve Dyster
https://showerspass.co.uk/collections/mens-gloves/products/crosspoint-waterproof-knit-wool-gloves
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2019