REVIEW
Leatt WindBlock 2.0 Wet-Winter Gloves (an update)
Growing Pains
I squeeze into the left Leatt WindBlock 2.0 glove, size medium, and my hand responds with the sure signal that a cramp is coming. The length of each digit is ideal, but my fat fingers feel crammed into the too-tight sausage casings. Cycling the glove between a clenched fist and an open hand everything relaxes. A bit. Am I breaking it in, or is it breaking me in?
All last winter I wore the same glove in a size large. The fact that it bagged out a bit through use gave me hope that a stretched-out medium would fit me magically. Like my favourite summer-weight gloves. Too small until I curve my hands around the bar and experience the flawless fit of a perfect palm.
Leatt WindBlock 2.0 glove in size medium. This colour is called 'Glow'.
The sizes look identical but the medium is a much smaller volume.
Leatt WindBlock 2.0 glove in size large. Photo - Megs & Steve
After the round of fist-to-flat-to-fist hand stretching, the medium WindBlock feels ready to ride. After a couple of wet rides, I am ready to declare my experiment in sizing down a consummate success. Then the temperature drops.
I'll admit that I was generally under-dressed to be out riding in rain which felt like it might be transitioning to the wettest example of sloppy snowfall ever. Still, my hands had a numbness that wasn't in line with the rest of my body. It was still way too warm for them to hurt.
The EVOC Trail Pro 16 pack that I'm wearing has pockets on the waist belt that are superbly sized to keep one pair of gloves in each. I pull off the medium 2.0 gloves and pull out the larges. It's enough of a deluge that the large WindBlock gloves are just as saturated in no time, but my hands are much warmer. There's just enough of an extra gap for warm air around my digits.
Leatt WindBlock 2.0 gloves in size large feel a bit baggy but they do run warmer.
If I was going to own one pair they'd be the large, even though I wear the mediums more often. Photo - Megs & Steve
The medium 2.0 gloves fit much more precisely, but they run colder on cold days.
I generally wear the thinnest gloves I can until it starts to affect my comfort or dexterity and at that point, I'll jump right to the WindBlock 2.0 gloves in a size medium. They're the best-fitting and most comfortable colder-weather gloves I've come across. Until they are not. Then I pull out the size larges and those are good down to the kind of wet and cold riding that has me thinking about installing pogies on my mountain bicycle.
I feel that the medium Leatt gloves have stretched out as much as they will, in which case, as much as they are my go-to for a lot of rides right now, if I were choosing to own one size, it would still be large to cover a more extensive temperature range for my investment.
The fact that I carry both pairs on most rides does make me wonder if at some point brands will differentiate themselves by offering a broader matrix of glove sizes so I could find a less-compromised fit for my meaty but medium-length manipulators. Or, maybe it is simply the case that a bar-molded fold-free fit is never going to be conducive to maximizing warmth in the thinnest possible glove.
For more on the Leatt WindBlock 2.0 glove please check out my review from last winter, or Leatt's website.
Height - Steve Buscemi-ish
Wait - Patiently
Ape Index - T-Rex
Age - The same as DOS
Favourite Trail(s) every week - Pipeline (thank you Ken!) to Lower Crippler (thank you Andy!)
Favourite Song(s) this week - I'm Your Man. Nick Cave (covering Leonard Cohen)
Favourite Colour - Cosmic Lilac
Bar Width - It depends
Reach & Stack & ETT - It depends
Crank Length - 175mm except when it's 170mm
Wheel Size - Hot For Mullets
Comments
Velocipedestrian
5 months ago
I'll go you halves in a pair, I'll take the large length and medium volume, you can have the large volume and medium length.
Like Cr4w keeps saying, isn't it lucky we're all the same dimensions?
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
Would way rather see sizing SKUs than colour SKUs. Give me two volumes in each size and I won’t complain about black.
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Cooper Quinn
5 months ago
"I generally wear the thinnest gloves I can until it starts to affect my comfort or dexterity "
Absolutely. All my gloves are at least a size too small, because any hint of palm bunching turns me into Princess and the Pea, and it makes finding a decent mtb winter glove nigh on impossible.
Also, yes. Most of my gloves eventually fail at the seams.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
"Also, yes. Most of my gloves eventually fail at the seams."
Other than the odd glove that dies in a crash (always the right), this is the fate of most of my gloves, as well.
"All my gloves are at least a size too small, because any hint of palm bunching turns me into Princess and the Pea, and it makes finding a decent mtb winter glove nigh on impossible."
I've had this conversation a bunch since I started wearing both sizes of the WindBlock 2.0. Is it possible to get the perfect palmage of the medium with the looser, and therefore warmer, backing and digits of the large?!?!
The consensus is no. But I do seriously carry both pairs on every ride.
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AndrewR
5 months ago
I have found that the POC Thermal Glove is really quite good. The palm and inner fingers (the faux leather bits) are thin and match well to the fingers and palm ie no bunching and no excess. The backs of the fingers and the hand seem to be a bit more relaxed which means that they hold the warm air (and do all the wind blocky lightly water proof stuff).
As a total glove hater I find these surprisingly not annoying and will reach for them in autumn for the 3ºC to -8ºC rides whilst we are still mountain biking or just switched to fat biking but don't really need poggies yet.
It looks as if POC have started using aerogel in the gloves now so they should be even warmer for the weight than my five year old pair.
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jrouellet
5 months ago
Long time reader here, but first time commenting.
First off, seems legit reasonning that the larger layer of air in the larger gloves keeps you warmer as air has insulation properties.
Then I'd be very interested to know wich adapter you used to mount your dropper lever to your brakes as Hayes only makes right hand adapters and I do not see any Wolf Tooth branding on the one used in your photos. Thanks!
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
Thanks for reading and engaging.
Thats a simple one, Wolf Tooth makes a Hayes mount for the ReMote Pro. Its a fantastic setup.
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/remote-pro?variant=39933908058147
A few friends have mentioned going slightly larger on shoes really helped with cold toes in the winter.
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jrouellet
5 months ago
Ah I did not know that Wolf tooth had released a new lever!
Then would the Magura adapter for the OG lever work on the Dominion lever?
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
Yeah, ReMote Pro is significantly more ‘solid’ feeling for the same price as the OG (which was then reduced).
In my experiences, the Magura adapter works perfectly with Formula brakes, at least some Hope brakes, and non-MatchMaker compatible SRAM brakes but not with the Hayes Dominion.
There are folks that will argue it does work, but I suppose there are many grey areas in defining compatibility.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
If I was buying one I’d stick with the 22.2mm hinged clamp. My ReMote sits in the perfect spot in terms of inboard/outboard position but I run my levers fairly flat and would adjust the angle of the ReMote Pro just a little bit more if I could.
Here’s a link to the ReMote Pro that shows the construction differences:
https://nsmb.com/articles/wolf-tooth-remote-pro-dropper-post-lever-embargo-april-20th-8am-ct/
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jrouellet
5 months ago
I also just figured that the angle of the dropper lever would be tied to that of the brakes. That makes it a no go for me as I like to adjust them indepedently.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
I was just saying the same :-).
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Cam McRae
5 months ago
That would only be a RH adapter for me. I like my brakes inboard and my dropper as close to my thumb as possible. Do they make both sides?
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
There are three mounting points on the ReMote Pro so it’s possible to outboard the lever more than in that photo, but no that’s the only version of the clamp.
The 22.2mm hinged clamp is still king for maximum adjustment (angle and inboard/outboard).
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Cam McRae
5 months ago
I think it's OneUp that does the same with three bolt holes? It still wouldn't be enough for me. I'm also on the "adjust independently" team because I like my levers quite flat lately.
I'm surprised you don't crush a finger with your brakes so far outboard, although those seem to be long grips. Or maybe you hang off the ends of the bar or brake with two fingers? Interesting how many different set up takes there are.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
Those Chromag grips are very long. I one-finger brake and my hands are on the grips (not hanging over the edge).
Much larger gap between the brake clamp and grip with Renthal Super Tacky I run on my WZRD bar, even larger gap with some other brake lever/grip combos.
Ripbro
5 months ago
If you like thin gloves try Akta. Just got them and wore them in my pogies for a night ride through the snow and they’re awesome. Obviously not the same application your using the wind gloves for, but I’m impressed
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
I haven’t actually seen any of the AKTA stuff in person, but I’ll keep an eye open.
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Eric Van Sickle
5 months ago
What temperature did you start to get cold in. I just recently went for a ride where it was hovering around 0C, my fingers froze even with two pairs of gloves on. Once my core warmed up, so did my fingers. I would prefer wearing only one pair of gloves though.
Another ride I using the double method, I would take off the warmer (thick, non riding gloves) pair for the descent and then put them back on for the climbs and to warm up. Once the sun did it’s magic, the thicker pair stayed in a pocket.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
My daughter and I have this conversation often. When our cores are warm and our extremities are cold super-heating our cores is often the best way to warm up those digits.
I’ve worn the WindBlock gloves in below 0C temperatures dry and loved them. When it’s raining and hovering around 0C I suffer… I’m intrigued by poggies for that application. Even a recent ‘feels like 3C’ day in the rain my fingers were screaming at the end. Thats where the larger size of the WindBlock really helps as do the carbon brake levers.
Dry cold I’m fine with alloy, but on the proper raining cold days and nights this winter I’ll only be riding my bike with plastic-fantastic blades.
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axle
5 months ago
I started typing a reply raving about 100% Briskers as they are my go to cold weather glove then looked back to your original review and realized you already made the comparison. Interesting in that you said the Windblocks are almost as warm as the Briskers when dry. Do you find yourself ever going back to Briskers when it is cold and dry? Or are the Leatts warm enough that there is no need?
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
I have a pair of Briskers buried deep in my pack and I’ll dig them out when my WB2.0 gloves are fully soaked and my brain needs to experience dry gloves.
I prefer the palms of the Leatt gloves (either size) but I still think the Brisker is a great option and often the top value in performances Vs. price Vs. durability.
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BarryW
5 months ago
Very serious question here @AndrewMajor
How do you not have a pair of the NF DP4 pants in Fireweed? They are so, so close to cosmic lilac.
Also, thanks for the update on the review. I agree glove sizing is something that's pretty granular when we have so, so many sku's of every possible color.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
@BarryW, it’s for the same reason I don’t own a wicked pair of Leopard-print Dharco pants (currently 50% off), as great as they may be I’m on this kick of buying multi-use clothing and trying to min-max cost/quality/stewardship/longevity/multiple-use cases. I have a couple pairs of MEC Mochilero pants that I ride in, hike in, wrench at the shop in, write NSMB content in, etc.
I mean, I’d love me some Cosmic Lilac pants and NF makes great product here in Van, it’s just something that’s not in my budgets (drawer space or cash) at the moment.
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Cr4w
5 months ago
So wait, these aren't leather?
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
The backing is a soft-shell material and the palms are, I’m 99% certain, synthetic.
It’s not that long ago there was a brand selling MTB gloves with real leather palms. Oakley maybe?
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BC_Nuggets
5 months ago
Choad fingers.
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
Huh, always thought it was spelled ‘chode’ but it turns out both are correct.
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BC_Nuggets
5 months ago
I come here for the education and that really delivered. :)
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Andrew Major
5 months ago
We’re learning new things together. That’s what counts!
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jalopyj
5 months ago
I usually wear a medium size glove. Got the windblock glove in medium and it was really tough to put on and the fingers fit right up to the seams. Maybe I should give it some time to stretch out before swapping it out for a different pair.
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GB
4 months, 4 weeks ago
Tis the season for gloves that fend off the cold and the wet .
My collection of MEC windblocker gloves is exhausted . I always bring two pairs . When my fingers go numb I put on the warm gloves and stash the frozen gloves inside my jacket.
So who makes a thin windstopper glove that is "afordable " and gets the job done ?
BTW I definitely get winter gloves a size too large . Yes you get bunching at the palm but tight fitting gloves wick away heat much faster .
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mutton
4 months, 4 weeks ago
I have a pair of Answer lobster paw gloves with prima loft. So good and I feel warmer when wet. I am nursing them tenderly and only pull them out when I am close to losing digits (carry them as backup). I wish they were still available.
Pogies! I feel i am the only person who "stoops" to that level down here an hr south of the border. Glad to know that despite all the teasing I am not alone in this world.
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