Review of Pearl Izumi Barrier Lobster Gloves
I finally got a good chance to put my Pearl Izumi Barrier Lobster Gloves through their paces today and I’m very happy camper.
At first glance, the gloves seem well constructed and very warm. The palm has a soft yet grippy finish and the back of the thumb section is covered with soft fleece for easy nose wiping. The gloves don’t have any cycling-specific padding, so they can be used for other purposes without the possible inconvenience of a bulky palm. Even though it’s a lobster glove, each finger has its own interior pocket.
On my test ride, the temperature was about 32 degrees with overcast skies. At first, I thought the gloves might be too warm. They’re on the bulky side and soft; they feel like my Burton ski mittens. I didn’t notice any issues that were the result of the gloves not having any cycling-specific padding. I rode for almost an hour and for most of the time, my hands felt warm. At the end of the ride, the tips of my fingers and thumbs felt a little cold, but I think I could have ridden another hour without any problem.
The one problem I had with the gloves was their bulk made it more difficult to shift my Shimano STI levers, specifically the smaller levers (for up-shifting on the rear or down-shifting on the front). I’m comfortable accepting that drawback to get the warmth they provide.
Jeremy, after trying at least a half dozen gloves in my lifetime, even with chemical warmers inside, I decided to purchase some Bar Mitts. Best decision I ever made.
Last week I rode out to Pyramid Lake with the temp being 24 degrees. Problem solved. I only wore an uninsulated full finger glove and my hands were the warmest part of my body. There things are great! No obstruction of my STI shift levers and I can work the buttons on my shuffle!
@grae: I had never heard of Bar Mitts before, but they look very funky and interesting. I’ll keep them in mind.