By Brandon Bilyeu
Hot!
- Excellent grip on handlebars
- Good warmth with low bulk
- Simple all black design
- Reflective logo
Not!
- Not touchscreen compatible
- No palm padding
Cost: $40
How obtained: review sample from company
Available: online, retail
Colors: Jet Black
Website: Monitor 3 Szn
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 20+ hours
Sizing: XS – XXL
Fit Comments: The size chart seems to be accurate for my size mediums. Fit is quite low volume so if you have beefy hands or don’t like a tight fit it might be best to size up. There is no cycling specific size chart, so just use the “batting glove” chart.
Lizard Skins Adds Cold Weather Glove to Their Lineup
A while back I tested out the Lizard Skins Monitor SL summer weight glove and now Lizard Skins has plugged the cold weather gap in their product line with the new Monitor 3 Szn full finger insulated glove. My biggest complaint about the summer Monitor SL glove was the aggressive velcro wrist closure that frayed the glove fingertips. The Monitor 3 Szn solves this issue by incorporating a one size fits all elastic slip-on wrist cuff.
The palm is a one-piece tacky material that provides excellent grip. The visible dots are not through holes for venting, but texture for added grip. Grip when wet remains great and the palm material does not absorb water so there is no soggy feeling. Lack of any padding gives a very direct connection to the bike, but may not suit those who prefer a little cushion in their gloves. The nose wipe is right where you expect it on the back of the thump and absorbs snot and sweat with ease.
Officially the gloves are not smartphone touchscreen compatible. The palm material kind of works with my iPhone touchscreen, but not consistently with about a 50% success rate. Bulkier cold weather gloves are never great for the fine touch needed on a smartphone and these have enough girth that I would not want to write a text with them on even if they did work on the screen. If you require consistent touchscreen usage while riding your bike these are probably not the gloves for you.
The back of the Monitor 3 Szn is a fleece lined softshell that retains heat, blocks the wind, and breathes well. Water resistance is minimal so if rain is expected a dedicated rain glove is a better option. There is ample flexibility and a trim fit leading to good dexterity. A cold snap the whole month of September meant these gloves got a lot of usage much earlier than I expected and I wore them down to 36 F (2 C). Realistically for me the cutoff temperature for these gloves is 40 F (4.5 C), but I always have trouble with cold hands so others will certainly be comfortable at lower temps.
A small reflective logo keeps the all-black styling simple and low key. I appreciate the ‘normal’ look of these gloves as I can use them in non-cycling social situations without looking out of place.
Bottom Line
A great cool weather glove that performs very well at its basic function of keeping your hands warm and comfortable on and off the bike. Lack of palm padding and touchscreen compatibility won’t appeal to everyone.
Brandon Bilyeu is an avid recreational roadie who lives in Regensburg, Germany. He’s a year-round bike commuter and is a mechanical design engineer by trade. Click to read Brandon’s full bio.
“Realistically for me the cutoff temperature for these gloves is 40 F (4.5 C), but I always have trouble with cold hands so others will certainly be comfortable at lower temps.”
Yep, for me it is the cutoff temperature for shortfinger gloves.