Our Antipodean readers may want to skip this article and come back to it in June as the Austral winter begins. Anybody reading in the northeastern states may want to get down to their closest bike or ski shop stat. But regardless of where you are on the globe, if you ride in, let’s say, sub-freezing temps the lobster claw glove/mitt is the way to go. The origins of the lobster claw mitt are not well documented. I’ve heard they were originally developed for cycling by Pearl Izumi and then adopted by the nordic skiing crowd. But I was first introduced to them over ten years ago while working as a ski-tech and salesperson in a ski shop.
It’s no secret that mittens keep one’s fingers warmer than gloves do. Ten thousand years of circumpolar field testing provides all the data one could ever need to prove that theory. Cycling in mittens, however toasty they may be, is a bit cumbersome and leaves one fumbling about the levers. Gloves, on the other hand, provide the dexterity required but since they insulate each finger separately they don’t allow for finger-on-finger conduction (that just sounds hot doesn’t it?) that keeps hands warm.
This is why our friends at companies like Swix, Toko, and Pearl Izumi developed the lobster claw hybrid. Often times, take hybrid bikes for instance, with compromises the consumer ends up with something that works but does neither function the product is designed to do very well. Not so with the lobster claw mitt. Or is it a glove? They serve both the dexterity function and warmth function very well. The split-finger mitten pairs the pinky/ring finger and middle/pointer finger to provide finger-on-finger conduction that gloves lack. This also allows the rider the dexterity to actuate shifting and braking levers with the middle/pointer combo while still gripping the bars with the pinky/ring combo on slippery road surfaces.
While I’m not tied to any one brand, I know lobster claw mitts come in various weights depending on your insulation needs. Mine have ample insulation over the tops of my hands but have no insulation in the palms. This provides me with a solid grip and feeling for the bars but may not provide enough warmth for some riders. They also breath extremely well. These are designed for riding in cold and dry conditions. Yes, they still provide warmth in wet conditions but they are not waterproof.
So if you’re looking for a system to keep your hands warm whilst riding in cold temps, don’t overlook a good pair of lobster claws. I originally purchased mine for nordic skiing but find they are my go-to mitts for winter cycling. I’ve ridden them in temps down into the teens F and they do not disappoint.
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@Pedale.Forchetta
Too little too late for this article? Time to go shopping.
@Marko
Yes, time to go shopping, my present gloves haven't been enough :)
Bought a pair of snowboard gloves with inner liners 2 weeks ago to replace some Crafts, but still cold at
@Frank Classic
I've got a pair of the Pearl Izumi Barrier lobster mitts and they do all right down to about -10/-15c for me, but I'm not out on my bike for more than 20-30min when it's that cold since I don't have the massive testicles necessary to train outside in those temperatures; I just commute.
Christian VDV recommends a shot of Grand Marnier in the bottle to keep it from freezing on sub-zero days. That's some real hard-ass shit.
Um, yeah, lobster claws. They're great. I have a pair of Crafts now. Some years ago I lived in Wyoming and rode in zero and single digit temperatures, and I don't mean that wussy Celsius, but Fahrenheit. I wore a pair of military trigger finger gloves that came up to my elbows, leather palms, and a thick pair of woolen liners inside. Man were they warm, and cheap, too. Military surplus. Now my daughter wears them riding in the winter in Denver.
I used to get made fun of by my friends (who were always "too cold" to ride in the dark and rain of Portland) for having lobster gloves. I had some PZ gloves for years. Wore them until they wore out a couple of years ago. Black and neon yellow. Ugly, but oh so functional. Snow days, rainy days, no matter. It's not about staying dry, as that's impossible. It's about staying warm. I call liar to anyone who says they can stay dry in a driving 40 degree rain for a 3 hour ride. If your gear is waterproof enough to keep the rain out, then you are now bathing in your own sweat. Wool is your friend.
Got me a pair of lobster claws the other day. And with clear roads, I'd planned a good long ride for Tuesday morning. Woke up at 5:00 to 5-6cm of snow. Too much, I decided, for the road, but it didn't stop me from riding into work...
@Steampunk
What did you think of the claws?
@Marko
Too early to tell. Work is only ten minutes along a flat rail trail, so I didn't really get a sense of how they kept me warm (or not) or the advantages of manual dexterity for gear-changing, etc. They felt nice, though (I bought the MEC ones you identified above), and look pretty slick. I'll report back after I've put them through their paces.
@Marko
Good lord these are sweet! They took a bit of getting used to, as I discovered that I do kind of splay my digits all over the place while riding on the hoods, and rarely seem to have index and middle finger together (this felt a bit weird), and I could have used a bit of a cushion for the palm of my hand (I know: HTFU), but my hands and fingers were warm"”almost to a fault.
And apologies for the negative remarks last week. First week of the term and several since my last substantive ride; combined this makes me cranky. Beautiful ride the morning, even if my lungs let me know I'm at least two months from peaking. -10 before the wind, but sunny and clear. Some dodgy descents, too, but there's nothing quite like a good winter ride.