Bontrager JFW Winter Gloves and Garneau Bigwill 2 Winter Gloves (unisex)

By Sheri Rosenbaum

Bontrager JFW Winter Glove

Hot

• Warm down to the mid-20s
• Zippered pocket for handwarmer or store key, money
• Flexibility to use both flat and drop bars
• Soft fabric on thumb for runny nose200g 3M™ Thinsulate™ Platinum insulation
• High warmth-to-weight ratio so not bulky
• Slides easily in and out of Bar Mitts
• Can use for other activities besides cycling
• Palm and finger fabric provide firm grip

Not

• No padding on the palm
• No wrist clip to join gloves when not in use
• Difficult to remove/insert hand once lining gets wet
• Not touchscreen compatible
• No reflective elements

Price: $94.99 MSRP

Sizing: XS – 2XL

Fit: True to size

Weight: 2.2 oz/glove (used my scale)

Color: Black

Availability: Online or local Trek bike shop

How obtained: Company sample

RBR advertiser: No

Garneau Bigwill 2 Winter Glove

Hot

• Warm down to the mid-20s
• Flexibility to use both flat and drop bars
• Large over cuff fits over outerwear
• ENCE2L – 200g PrimaLoft® Gold Active + insulation
• High warmth-to-weight ratio so not bulky
• Soft fabric on thumb for runny nose
• Can use for other activities besides cycling
• Palm and finger fabric provide firm grip
• Reflective element

Not

• No padding on the palm
• No wrist clip to join gloves when not in use
• Too bulky to use with Bar Mitts
• Not touchscreen compatible

Price: $89.99 MSRP

Sizing: S – 2XL

Fit: True to size

Color: Black

Weight: 2.6 oz/glove (used my scale)

Availability: Online or LBS

How obtained: Company sample

RBR advertiser: No

Warm Hands and Dexterity

As with most riders, keeping my hands warm on cold winter rides can be a challenge. That’s why I’m always on the look out for warm winter gloves that also provide dexterity to shift gears and securely grip the handlebars. I found two models that met the criteria, Bontrager’s JFW and Garneau’s Bigwill 2 winter gloves. My testing included cycling (road and fat), snowshoeing and shoveling snow, demonstrating they both serve as multi-use gloves.

Both pairs of gloves kept my hands warm down to the mid-20s F and are priced within $5 MSRP of each other. Further similarities between the two brands include fabric with a high warmth-to-weight ratio which reduces bulk thus lowers the weight. I weight each glove on my scale and the Bontrager was 2.2 oz and the Garneau was just slightly heavier at 2.6 oz.

They both provide good grip even when wet on the bars, poles or shovel handle. Always a plus with winter gloves is a good absorbent surface for a runny nose. Yep, the soft fabric on the thumb and outer part of the index finger provided ample surface to wipe your nose. Lastly, both brands are unisex, and they fit true to size. Consult the company’s sizing guide prior to purchase.

Neither pair of gloves have a wrist clip to join them together when not in use and yes, I’m one of those people that seems to lose one glove. They also are not touch screen compatible, so I found myself having to take off a glove in order to take pictures or answer calls. Lastly, neither had padding on the palms, which seemed odd since they are sold as cycling gloves.

While both brands of gloves have a lot of similarities, each had their own nuances. Let’s start with the Bontrager JFW gloves. These are full finger gloves which enable dexterity when shifting gears both on flat or drop bars. A zipper pocked on the top of the hand is perfect for a chemical hand warmer or to store a key and money.

On a few windy and very cold fat bike rides I used the gloves with Barr Mitts. I was able to slide my hand in and out of the mitts with ease and no worries of getting caught up.

A knit cuff kept the wind and snow from getting inside but since the glove is not touchscreen compatible, I’d remove the glove numerous times to take pictures. Sliding my hand out wasn’t bad but had more difficulty sliding it back in when the lining and cuff got sweaty…even when using the pull tab sewn into the cuff.

The Garneau Bigwill 2 is a slightly different design, then the Bontrager, with 3 finger slots, kind of a modified lobster glove (index, middle and one for both ring and pinky). Also, there’s a high cuff with a drawstring. This let me pull it over my outer layer and cinch closed. I liked this design except when I needed to access my Garmin watch. The Bigwill 2 has a reflective element on the index finger which is useful in low light.

As with the Bontrager glove, I tried the Bigwill 2 with Bar Mitts. There was just enough bulk that it made removing my hand a little harder. This may not be an issue with riders who have smaller hands. I wear a medium, but note Garneau does not offer XS in this unisex glove.

Bottom Line

If you enjoy riding in the winter, but have difficulty keeping your hands warm, both Bontrager and Garneau offer a solution. Tested down to the mid-20s, both the Bontrager JFW and Garneau Bigwill winter gloves kept me warm without the added bulk.