Buying gloves to cover your mitts while you ride is typically not something that requires a lot of thought or disposable income. I have a bunch of them sitting in my closet upstairs, although I have to admit some are missing their matching counterpart. Summer gloves, fingerless gloves, winter gauntlets…the list goes on.
The older I get the wiser I’m becoming when it comes to gloves. Perhaps the reason I have so many gloves in my closet is because I haven’t found the best ones for me yet. Maybe it’s an ever-lasting quest to find a pair that fit right, offer enough warmth, without being too bulky, and are still waterproof so that your hands stay dry and free of black dye.
Black-dyed hand: I've been there, have you?
River Road Taos cold weather gloves (for women)
I typically don’t have much of a problem with fit like some women with small hands do. I wear a size large (women’s) because of my fat sausage fingers and these gloves fit comfortably without the tightness around the base of my fingers or the common bulkiness at the tips of the fingers. I’ve only been wearing them for early spring weather (roughly 45-60 degrees) and my hands have stayed mostly warm in that temperature range. I’m not so sure how well they would protect in more frigid temps.
River Road Taos Cold Weather Glove
The Taos gloves are constructed of soft leather, which means you can pretty much put them on and go without a breaking in period. They have Thinsulate insulation to keep your hands warm without all of the potential bulk and a Hipora® glove insert that renders the gloves waterproof (the water does initially bead up and run off), windproof and allows your skin to breathe. The lining in these gloves might be the only drawback.It feels like the lining won’t hold up well to extensive wear and tear.
One neat feature is the rubber squeegee wiper on the left index finger that you can use to clear water from your glasses or helmet visor. Simple and effective. These gloves also have a zippered gauntlet closure and adjustable velcro strap around the wrist area, which I like as extra protection to keep the wind out.
River Road Taos Cold Weather Gloves with rubber wiper on left glove
I did an extreme water test with these gloves (as I haven’t had opportunity to wear them riding in torrential downpour rain). As promised, the liner kept the water out while keeping my hands dry. After long exposure to water the lining was still dry, but the gloves began to absorb the water. Although your hands and fingers will stay dry, I’m guessing that if the temperature is cold enough your fingers will get cold at some point. However, this is a total assumption on my part.
The River Road Taos gloves run about $45 on Rider’s Discount (with free shipping!), which I think is a pretty good price for the quality of glove you’re getting. (The men’s version of these gloves can be found here, for the same price!)
These gloves came in a generous package of gear I received from Rider’s Discount for product reviews.
Related post:
Waterproof gloves: Hugger Motorcycle Gloves