When it gets cold, your fingers deserve extra protection. On the coldest of days this winter, I’ve been wearing the Craft Siberian Thermal Split Finger Gloves and my digits have appreciated every minute.
Craft Siberian Thermal Split Finger Gloves Features:
- Wind and waterproof VentAir X-Wind shell fabric
- Fleece lining provides optimal warmth
- Soft, water-protective softshell fabric inside palm
- Silicone print in palm for enhanced grip
- Velcro cuff adjuster
- Soft terry on thumb
- Reflective accents
- Price: $59.99
Vulcans and Lobsters Like Winter Riding Too
I’ll gladly ride when it’s cold outside and have been known to ride — even when the thermometer is in the 20’s. But, for me, nothing gets colder than my fingers and toes. While I’m still partial to full-finger gloves, it’s been great enjoying the extra warmth these split finger gloves provide.
Being a Swedish brand, Craft knows how to make winter-friendly cycling gear. I’ve come away impressed with the Performance Storm Bib Tights and the Extreme Windstopper Baselayer and now the Siberian Thermal Gloves.
Again, yes, they are split finger or lobster claw or Vulcan… whatever you prefer, that’s what we’re talking about. As a result, these gloves can trap and maintain pockets of warm air better than regular gloves. But, you don’t sacrifice all dexterity because at least you’ve got two fingers in each pocket.
In practice, this design does have some good and bad points with the good ones certainly overshadowing the few negatives.
For starters, I’ve found the Siberian’s to maintain excellent warmth in the face of cold. Not once did my digits get numb — not once. That alone is a great accomplishment because I was riding in some pretty cold temperatures. The exterior fabric is also really good and shedding rain. On two different rides, I successfully endured a full hour of near-freezing rain without any water penetration, and stayed warm to boot.
The split finger design is better than wearing mittens in the saddle. But, that said, the design does have some natural limitations due to the split-finger design. Primarily, these limits are most noticeable when braking and shifting. With Shimano, it’s a little trickier than SRAM levers, but I have been able to comfortably shift and brake with both shifters after some minor technique adjustments. During particularly wet rides, the fingertips weren’t as secure at gripping the brakes as I’d like — this is particularly noticeable while in the drops.
During sprinting efforts, I like to wrap just my index finger around the hoods and that’s obviously not possible, so I found myself adjusting my hand placement while sprinting and during standing climbs.
The Good
- Supreme warmth
- Cuff easily slips over jacket sleeve
- Works best with SRAM DoubleTap shifters
- Great weather protection
- Withstood an hourlong downpour — twice
The Bad
- Dexterity is a little funky and makes shifting difficult with Shimano
- Not the greatest fingertip sensitivity
- Braking in the drops is tricky — especially when wet
The Bottom Line: Craft Siberian Gloves
If supreme warmth is what you’re after, these gloves deliver. That warmth does come at the expense of some dexterity and braking comfort, but is worth the trade-off to keep the digits happy.
Buy Now: Available at Backcountry.com
