Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Bontrager Velocis Softshell Gloves Review
    Gear Reviews

    Bontrager Velocis Softshell Glove Review

    Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellJanuary 16, 2020No Comments4 Mins Read

    It’s cold. It’s breezy. But, you can only do indoor trainer sessions so long before you drive yourself batty. To get out in the cold, a good pair of gloves is a necessity and the new Bontrager Velocis Winter Gloves offer supreme warmth and coverage on the coldest of winter days.

    Bontrager Velocis Softshell Winter Glove Features:

    • Softshell fabric is wind- and water-resistant for inclement weather protection
    • 200g Thinsulate traps heat to keep hands warm and dry without compromising dexterity
    • Non-padded design provides ultimate connection and control
    • Soft fleece thermal lining adds next to skin comfort and warmth
    • Soft nose wipe on thumb to rid frosty nose-icles
    • Conductive thread creates touchscreen-compatible fingertips
    • Wetgrip palm provides exceptional bar control and grip
    • MSRP: $79.99
    Bontrager Velocis Softshell Gloves Review
    Da, da, da, dum, da-da, dum da-da.

    Darth Vader approved

    Yes, I’m a Star Wars fan, so naturally, these gloves reminded me of Darth Vader’s famous leather gauntlets. The shape and design is uncanny. So, with the Imperial March ringing in my mind, I ventured out into the cold universe.

    With a variety of cold-weather gloves at my disposal, these are decidedly on the side of “only use them when temps are really cold” spectrum. By that, I mean below 45 degrees. There’s some grey area in the 40-45 degree range, but that’s when I used them the most. On one particular ride, I thought the Santini Acquazero Vega Gloves would suffice only to return to my car after a few miles to swap them for the Velocis Softshell Gloves — boy, were my digits thankful!

    Bontrager Velocis Softshell Gloves Review
    I went back for the Velocis Softshell Gloves, with good reason, on this ride.

    The Velocis Softshell Gloves use a combination of materials to ensure comfort on cold, wet or snowy rides. The softshell exterior offers 4-way stretch to ensure a natural feel. And, the Thinsulate insulation ensures warmth (and does a fine job) without too much bulk. There’s no getting away from the fact that these are bulkier than other gloves, but they are on par with the best cold-weather gloves on the market.

    Something that could be debated is the gauntlet-style design. Yes, it does make for a Darth Vader look, but the added coverage is outstanding when riding in the coldest temperatures. It also helps them be more compatible with a variety of sleeve cuff designs. Adding to that are the butter cuffs (light, fleece inner-cuff) that further aid in weather protection. With some jackets, the inner cuffs did get in the way, but was always easy to re-adjust as needed. A Velcro strap also adds security and protection.

    Santini Svolta Kit and Bontrager Velocis Softshell Gloves
    Velocis Softshell with the Santini Svolta kit were a good combo.

    Bontrager is proud of the Wetgrip palm and I agree, it’s pretty good. The bar feel is better than most winter gloves I’ve used and it plays well with all bar tape I’ve tried. It’s stretchy and grippy and allows you to dance around the bars with the same quality of grip you’d expect.

    I’ve never had much luck with Shimano shifting while wearing thick gloves. Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8070 is okay with these gloves, but still frustrating. SRAM Red eTap AXS is consistent, reliable and smooth. Shimano mechanical is going to remain the most vexing, I’m afraid. That said, dexterity is good overall, but hitting tiny buttons is going to be difficult, no matter how you cut it.

    Keep in mind that these gloves are not waterproof. The gauntlet portion does have DWR treatment, but the fingers and fleece areas on the index/thumb are particularly absorbent. If it’s snowing hard or raining, there are better options, like the Castelli Tempesta Gloves.

    They do include touchscreen-friendly pads on the thumb and index fingers, but don’t count on it for extensive use. On my Google Pixel 3a, it worked pretty well, but my iPhone 7, it was pretty poor. Newer iPhones with FaceID would be better because most of the issues related to TouchID.

    The Good

    • Nice warmth for cold rides
    • Gauntlet length adds more coverage
    • Wetgrip palms offer a nice feel
    • Softshell material is stretchy and natural
    • Awesome with SRAM eTap shifting

    The Bad

    • Touchscreen sensitivity is mixed
    • Still difficult to use Shimano shifters
    • Breathability isn’t the best (but, warmth has its price)
    • Aren’t waterproof (stick to cold, dry days)

    The Bottom Line: Bontrager Velocis Softshell Gloves

    When venturing out in the coldest of conditions, you’re okay sacrificing some dexterity, but you’re not okay with frozen digits. That’s where I’m at with the Bontrager Velocis Softshell Gloves. They do offer excellent warmth for cold rides and they are reasonably dexterous, but don’t expect the same feel you’d expect with a summer-weight glove.

    Buy Now: Visit Bontrager.com or Your Local Trek Dealer

    ShareTweet
    Bontrager gloves
    Previous ArticleArc’teryx Macai Down Ski Jacket Review
    Next Article Sage Titanium Releases Powerline Trail bike
    Jason Mitchell
    • Website
    • Twitter

    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

    You Might Also Like

    Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant Review

    February 6, 2023

    Mountain Hardwear Basin Lined Pants Review

    February 1, 2023

    Polar Pacer Pro Multisport Watch Review

    January 30, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Montec Fawk Ski Jacket and Bib Review

    February 28, 2022

    Patagonia Downdrift Parka Review

    February 2, 2022
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022

    Patagonia Storm Shift Jacket and Pants Review, feat. Gore-Tex ePE membrane

    December 21, 2022

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021

    Ultimate All-rounder? Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket Review

    February 2, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

    September 9, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

    June 18, 2020
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant Review
    • Mountain Hardwear Basin Lined Pants Review
    • Polar Pacer Pro Multisport Watch Review
    • Küat Grip 4 Ski Rack Review
    • Ibis Exie Goes Global
    • Trek Circuit Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey Review
    • Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Insulated Jacket Review
    • Pearl Izumi PRO NeoShell WxB Jacket Review
    • Montane Anti-Freeze Down Hooded Jacket Review
    • Fresh Wheels: Fezzari Veyo is an Aero All-rounder
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.