Full-finger softshell gloves · Plush fleece lining · Touch-screen thumb and forefinger

The first cold morning of the season is the one that decides whether you keep riding or leave the bike at home, and hands are usually what gives up first. These gloves are built around that moment: a matte softshell outer that keeps the wind off, a thick plush fleece lining that holds warmth close to the skin, and a full-finger cut that covers every finger instead of leaving the tips exposed. They are cut for an adult hand and made unisex, with a wide elasticated cuff that rises above the wrist so no gap opens between the glove and the sleeve. In black or grey, they read as a plain winter accessory rather than sports equipment.

A lining you feel the moment you pull them on

The inside of these gloves is a thick brushed fleece rather than a thin jersey lining, and that difference is the first thing you notice when you slide a hand in. The pile stands up around the fingers, so the glove feels padded without being bulky, and the cuff opening is wide enough to pull on in a doorway without a fight. Because the lining sits directly against the skin, the gloves work over bare hands as well as over a thin pair. The outer shell is a matte softshell with a very fine grain, soft to the touch and supple rather than stiff, so the glove folds naturally when you close your hand around a handlebar or a phone.

Full fingers, and a grip that does the work

Every finger is covered on these gloves, which is what separates them from the fingerless styles that leave the tips cold and exposed. The palm and the fingers carry a raised diamond-pattern grip, so a handlebar, a leash or a phone stays where you put it even with a layer of fleece between your hand and the object. The thumb and forefinger are finished so that you can use a touch screen without taking the glove off, which is the small detail that keeps you from pulling them on and off every time a message arrives. The stitching runs along the edge of the fingers and across the back of the hand, with the cuff set on as a separate band.

Three sizes, one simple fit

The gloves come in three sizes, so the fit is a choice rather than a guess. The size chart measures the width across the palm and the total length of the hand, from the base of the wrist to the tip of the middle finger. As a guide, the medium measures about 20 cm wide by 23 cm long, the large about 20.5 cm by 23.7 cm and the extra large about 21 cm by 24.4 cm, with a tolerance of roughly one centimetre because the gloves are measured by hand. The elasticated cuff stretches to sit close to the wrist without pinching, and the glove is cut to follow the shape of the hand rather than hang loose around it.

A pair of gloves is one of those small objects that quietly decides how much of the winter you spend outside, and this pair is designed to be the one you keep by the door. The matte softshell keeps the wind off, the plush lining keeps the warmth in, and the full-finger cut means you are not trading comfort for dexterity. Because the touch-screen thumb and forefinger let you use a phone without removing them, and the diamond grip keeps whatever you are holding steady, they work as well on a bicycle as they do on a walk to the corner shop. Choose black for something that disappears into a dark coat, or grey for a softer, lighter note against wool and denim.

Specifications

• Unisex full-finger winter gloves, sold as one pair
• Matte softshell outer with a coated surface
• Thick plush fleece lining
• Touch-screen thumb and forefinger
• Raised diamond-pattern grip on the palm and fingers
• Wide elasticated cuff
• Colours: Black, Grey
• Sizes: M, L, XL — Approximate, from the supplier's size chart: M 20 × 23 cm, L 20.5 × 23.7 cm, XL 21 × 24.4 cm (palm width × hand length, tolerance about 1 cm)