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In partnership with Showers Pass
I took a pair of the Crosspoint knit gloves for a spin recently to see if they could live up to Showers Pass’ claims of waterproofness. The conclusion? In a word. Wow!!
And I make no apologies for that second exclamation mark either, because these gloves are amazing. I’ll go into the details in a moment, but, if you’ve been searching for a pair of waterproof cycling gloves that keep your fingers dry in all weathers, then these could be the perfect pair for you.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at them. We’ll run through the key features of the Crosspoint Knit gloves and see whether they live up to the manufacturer’s claims. I’ll add my own thoughts on what I like and dislike about them, and we’ll see who they might be good for.
What do Showers Pass say
“Keep your hands dry while cycling in the rain”
“Feels like a regular knit glove”
“Merino wool lining offers great temperature regulation and keeps stink at bay”
“Silicone grip on the palms offers better grip in wet conditions”
What do I like
I have searched long and hard for a pair of truly waterproof bike gloves. In the process, I’ve spent significant sums of cash (don’t tell my wife…) and have a huge collection of gloves that claimed they were waterproof…and failed to live up to my hopes and dreams.
You know how it is. You get all excited about your new purchase, probably even waiting for an especially wet and miserable day to head out on the bike and go try them. You laugh as the rain dribbles down the windows knowing that, no matter what the weather throws at you, you’ll have dry hands. Then you pull on your ‘waterproof’ gloves, jump onto the bike, and set off into the rain…
…and, in the past, whenever I’ve done this, I’ve always ended up disappointed and with soggy gloves and wet fingers.
So, I must admit, that I was a little nervous trying these gloves out.
But, in order to really test them, I picked a day that was truly horrible. It was a morning when the sky was wall-to-wall gray, the rain was lashing down, and the puddles were deep. This was a day when all sensible folks were tucked up in their beds, not grinding out the miles on damp roads in the name of research.
Twenty miles and two hours later (this was not a day for setting PBs), the skies were still overcast and the rain was showing no signs of easing up. My legs were tired and I need cake and a hot shower.
And, how were the gloves performing? Well, the outsides of the gloves were wet but inside, my hands were bone dry. That’s a testament to the triple-layer construction of these gloves. On the outside, you have a water-resistant knit layer. Next you have a fully waterproof and breathable membrane that keeps the rain out but lets sweat pass through. Finally, next to your skin, you have a merino wool blend layer that wicks moisture away from your skin.
And, all of that, makes a great combo because not only does it keep the rain out but it also takes sweat away from your palms and fingers, so you stay totally dry. As an aside, if you’ve ever had to wear latex gloves for long periods you’ll know how unpleasant it gets as the sweat is held against your skin and can’t escape like it can with breathable gloves like the Crosspoint.
Rain is a great test for the gloves but I also wanted to see how they’d perform with a full immersion experiment. Simulating an entire day’s cycle in the rain or retrieval of a dropped car key in a big puddle.
Again, the Crosspoint gloves passed with flying colors. The outside layer was wet but my fingers stayed dry, even after a lengthy dunking in my bowl of water.
So, we know the gloves live up to the waterproofing claim and that’s awesome. Now, let’s take a look at the other features of the Crosspoint gloves.
I was surprised when I first got them to see how thin they were. I’d assumed that, with the triple-layer construction, they’d feel quite thick and cumbersome. But that wasn’t the case at all and they felt slimline and it was easy to operate gears and brakes. I even carried out a couple minor adjustments to my bike with a small and fiddly multitool and found that I wasn’t losing any manual dexterity with the gloves on. That’s useful, because it’s a pain to have to keep taking gloves on and off to do tasks like that in the rain.
And, in fact, the silicone grippers spread over the palms and fingers on the gloves made the tasks slightly easier as they allowed a much firmer grip on the bike tool than I might otherwise have had with wet and slippery fingers.
The merino wool lining was a bit of an exciting bonus for me as I’m becoming more and more a fan of this incredible stuff. As I write this, I’m sat in a full merino wool outfit (shorts, underwear, T-shirt and hoodie). None of it has been washed for a couple of weeks and there’s no stink like you’d get with cotton or some synthetics. Just ask my wife to confirm the lack of stench (but, please don’t tell her about my expensive non-waterproof glove collection, okay?)
Glove stench is a real and inescapable part of bike riding. Or so I thought until I tried out the Crosspoints. That merino wool layer ‘locks’ away all the sweaty smell and your gloves and hands remain pong-free.
As well as a hatred of soggy digits when cycling, I’m also a sufferer from cold fingers. One of my requirements for bike gloves is a pair that can keep my fingers warm without padding them out so much that I can’t operate the bike. Because the Crosspoint gloves were so slim I wasn’t sure how well they’d do with this aspect and yet I’ve been delighted at how toasty my fingers have been whilst wearing them. Is it the merino layer? Maybe it’s the waterproof membrane? Or possibly the knitted outer layer? I have no idea. What I do know is that my hands have been warm on days out on the bike when the mercury has plunged down to 15 deg F (-9 deg C) and I’m looking forward to testing this out more in the winter.
The only downside to the Crosspoint gloves is that they’re not touch-screen compatible. For me, this hasn’t been an issue. I rarely take my cell phone out with me on a bike ride anyway (someone might call me and ruin my cycle!) And, on the rare occasions when I have done, it’s been easy to slip the gloves off to take the call. A job that wouldn’t be so easy if fingers and gloves were soaked through and clingy.
Not only does Showers Pass make awesome waterproof gloves (and other gear) to allow us to go out and enjoy the great outdoors, but they’re also doing their bit to make sure the outdoors stays just as great for future generations. They’ve just been awarded Climate Neutral certification for their efforts to measure, offset and reduce their carbon emissions. All of which is part of their overall plan to reach their 2025 Sustainability Goals, including making sure that all of their products are made from 50% or more recycled content.
I’ll give a Crosspoint-gloved high five to that.
Who are they for
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, whether on your bike or not, and hate getting wet and cold hands, then the Crosspoint Knit gloves could be a game-changer for you.
They’re perfect for any style of cycling, whether you’re a roadie, a MTBer, or a bike commuter. The slimline 3-layer construction of the gloves allows maximum dexterity whatever your handlebar setup and the silicone grippers help you to get a firm hold on the brakes and gear shifters in wet conditions.
I tested out the Fatigue Green gloves in size Large and found them true-to-size and I really like the color. They’re available in a number of other colors and come in a unisex fit with four sizes (Small, Medium, Large, and XLarge). They’re flexible and have good stretch to them so form well over your hands.
Verdict
Are these the waterproof cycling gloves you’ve been looking for? Yes, Obi Wan, they probably are.
Waterproof, warm, supple and stink-free. I love them and I think you will too.
