Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Wind
Price: £40
Waterproof?: No
Touch screen compatible?: Yes
What we liked: Very comfortable, breathable, fast wicking
What we didn’t like: Drying time not great after the point of saturation
One of nature’s miracle materials, merino can arguably outshine synthetic fabrics when it comes to technical performance, such as the speed of sweat-wicking and the overall warmth-to-weight ratio of your gloves. As the name suggests, Smartwool are wool experts and have a myriad of merino glove options in their range.
Related: Smartwool Merino Sport 120 Ultralite T-Shirt Review
One option is to go for a simple, 100% merino liner glove, such as the Thermal Merino Glove (£34.99), which promise first-rate “breathability, warmth, and odour resistance”, according to Smartwool. Or, for the best of both worlds, Smartwool sell many hybrid gloves featuring a blend of merino with synthetic fabrics. The Merino Sport Fleece Wind are one such pair, featuring soft-brushed merino next to the skin and a windproof overlay (recycled polyester) on the back of the hand for enhanced weather protection. You also get reflective piping around the wrist for improved visibility in low-light conditions, touchscreen-compatible e-tips on the thumb and index finger, and silicon grippers on the palm and fingers.
Buy the Smartwool Merino Sport: £40 at Smartwool.co.uk
How to Choose a Pair of Running Gloves
Here’s a breakdown of what our running pros look for when it comes to finding the right warm and breathable gloves for running through winter.
The Fit
Putting all the fabric wizardry and high-tech features aside for a minute, the most important thing with any pair of gloves is that they fit well. Aim for a pair that are snug enough for good dexterity, but not too tight as to be restrictive or too loose that they flap around. Consequently it’s best to try before you buy, where possible.
Materials
Gloves come in a broad variety of fabrics, from natural materials such as merino wool to synthetic blends such as polyester, spandex and nylon. Merino is warm and quick-drying, but some people find it itchy. Modern synthetic fabrics tend to feel soft against the skin, and are designed to wick sweat, regulate temperature and deliver a good balance between warmth, weather protection and breathability. A few of the fabric options to look out for include gloves with a fleecy lining for added warmth, softness and comfort, and those with a windproof outer (such as Gore-Tex Infinium or Pertex) for enhanced weather-resistance.
Insulation
All gloves provide some level of thermal insulation, but warmth levels can vary significantly. Thinner gloves will provide a touch of warmth, without the risk of over-heating (a common problem as your hands warm up throughout the course of your run). Thicker gloves – particularly those with integrated insulation such as down, fleece or Primaloft synthetic fill – will trap heat more efficiently and thus deliver far more warmth. But thicker gloves can feel bulky and unwieldy with poor dexterity, and can easily lead to over-heating. Most runners opt for lighter, thinner gloves with minimal insulation.
Breathability
Your hands can easily get sweaty and clammy in gloves. Breathable fabrics are the solution, allowing sweat to wick away from your skin. But take brands’ claims about breathability with a pinch of salt – gloves are rarely as ventilated as the over-confident marketing blurb claims.
Weather Protection
If you want to keep your hands dry, you’ll need gloves with some kind of waterproof membrane or a a rain-resistant coating such as a DWR. Some brands use Gore-Tex while others have their own in-house waterproof fabrics. But proceed with caution – many runners believe waterproof gloves are best avoided because it’s almost impossible to find a pair that won’t leave your hands super-sweaty and mega-clammy. This is because gloves that are truly waterproof probably won’t be breathable enough to prevent sweating.
Touchscreen Compatibility
Some gloves feature touchscreen compatible fingertips (often known as e-tips), meaning you can change your Spotify playlist or mess around with your Garmin smartwatch without taking off your gloves. Tech advances over the last few years mean these e-tips work pretty accurately, but over time their effectiveness can diminish – particularly after washing.
Dexterity
It’s really annoying if wearing gloves renders your hands useless for basic tasks such as unzipping a jacket or grabbing a water bottle. Instead you need a snug, close-fitting pair that enable you to retain nimble, supple movement of your fingers and full functioning of the hand. Normal five-fingered gloves generally provide better dexterity than mittens.
Reflective Detailing
Reflective panels, patches and design touches on gloves enable you to be seen by motorists when you’re running in the dark – a handy safety feature. Some gloves are also available in high-vis colourways that make your hands light up brightly in the dark.
Wrist Cuffs
Elasticated wrist cuffs with a snug, tight fit will help seal in warmth better, while a looser fit will aid ventilation and breathability if that is your priority. Heavier gloves may have a cinch strap, drawcord or Velcro for adjusting the fit around the wrist – but this isn’t common in lightweight running gloves.
Grip
Some gloves feature additional grip – often in the form of silicon overlays – across the palm and inner fingers. This can help with improve traction if you run with trekking poles, a water bottle or phone in your hands.
Other Features
Running gloves tend to be pretty minimalist with not too many features, but some pairs will feature extra design touches. These can include: wrist leashes (for attaching the gloves to your wrist), nose wipes (a soft patch on the thumb for, well, wiping your nose), or a loop that lets you pull the gloves on or take them off more easily. Some gloves have a hybrid or two-in-one design, featuring both in-built liners and a mitten over-glove.
Original article by James Forrest with updates by Will Renwick
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