Price: $140
Color: Black/Tan
Size: XS-2XL
Fit: Run large
Insulation Material: 300 g Primaloft insulation, aerogel insulation
Outer Shell Material: Water-resistant distressed goat leather
Shell Lining: Merino wool-blend
Temperature Range: 0°F (-18°C) to 15°F (-9°C)
How Obtained: Company sample
Availability: Online and retail
RBR advertiser: No
When the Temperature Drops, Pull out the Sturmfist’s
Keeping your hand warm seems a constant challenge if you ride in really cold conditions. When biking during Chicago winters, keeping hands and feet warm is constantly a challenge. Now with 45NRTH’s Sturmfist 4 leather gloves, your digits stay protected from the elements.
45NRTH’s Sturmfist’s outer and inner layers are designed for comfort, warmth, and protection when the mercury dips below 0 F. The water-resistant outer shell is made of goat leather. The material protects hands from wind and precipitation.
The inner shell is Primaloft Gold Insulation with Aerogel, which according to the company, is a NASA-grade ultra-thin, compression-resistant, waterproof insulator with extremely low thermal conductivity. The lining is a Merino wool blend (50% wool, 50% polyester), providing a high warmth to weight ratio and wicking moisture.
The four-finger glove design allows for easy gripping of flat handlebars and shifting gears. I only tried the gloves on my fat bike because I avoid my road bike in temperatures below the mid-twenties. Therefore, I can’t attest to riding with drop bars, however my fingers had plenty of dexterity.
These gloves kept my hands warm during winter fat biking. However, I did have a few issues with their performance. First, the leather absorbed moisture if I wiped my nose or sweat from my face. The moisture didn’t penetrate the glove, but the material was too moist and cold to wipe my face as the ride advanced. Second, the light leather shows dirt. I accidentally touched the bike chain, and now there are grease marks I can’t remove. An all-black glove might not be as fashionable, but it wouldn’t show dirt as easily. Third, when ordering, note the gloves run large. I usually wear a men’s medium glove (size 8), and according to the company’s sizing chart, that’s the correct size for me. But in actuality, the medium was too roomy.
45NRTH has a version of this glove without leather, and I’m guessing issues number one and two listed above aren’t a factor with that style.
Bottom Line
The Sturmfist 4 was great at keeping my hands nice a toasty on cold, winter fat bike rides (and shoveling snow). The four-finger design provided excellent dexterity for gripping and shifting with flat handlebars. However, I wasn’t a fan of the goat leather and would prefer the same glove without it. Unfortunately, when the leather got wet, it stayed wet, providing no options for wiping my face or nose. In addition, the leather showed dirt very easily.
Sheri Rosenbaum regularly contributes articles and reviews products for RBR. She’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in the Chicago area and a major advocate for women’s cycling, serving on the board of directors and volunteering with the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Click to read Sheri’s full bio or visit her web site sunflowersandpedals.com.
After buying a closet full of gloves for winter (amfibs, etc) I was thrilled when a friend showed me his electric gloves. I bought the ones like his,
MOTIONHeat Rechargeable Heated Glove Liners were designed in Calgary, Canada. They were originally designed for cyclists to extend their riding season into the cold months.
They are not inexpensive, but have three different heat setting which is invaluable.
My only “problem” was finding a pair of windproof gloves to wear over these liners but I did find some;.
Best investment I’ve made for winter cycling!!!