Best Waterproof Gloves for: Backpacking, Bikepacking, Touring, and Running — 2023

4 min readMar 20, 2023

You can wear any gloves for any activity if they fit your hands and need. I have enjoyed cycling gloves on a thru-hike, bike most days with running gloves, and bulky winter gloves are good for all the above.

The only thing to keep in mind for cycling is the dexterity of your fingers for shifting and braking. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter what marketing terms are in the SEO description under a pair of gloves.

Get what appeals to you and fits your hands — get outside.

Quick Reference

Sealskins All-Weather Gloves: https://amzn.to/3LDvESq
PROVIZ REFLECT360: https://amzn.to/40jOAtt
Showers Pass Crosspoint Gloves: https://amzn.to/40pFkEp
C5 GORE WEAR Waterproof Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/42oXHek
Sealskinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Glove: https://amzn.to/3lk9nys
Carhartt Men’s W.P. Waterproof Insulated Glove: https://amzn.to/3yS8vEo

Cycling Gloves vs Regular Gloves

Cycling glove design can be different from other gloves but if the glove fits, use it for whatever you’re doing.

So, what’s special about cycling-specific gloves? They usually have a thin protective padding on the palm to prevent your hands from going numb. Cycling gloves tend to be made of synthetic materials with a ‘technical’ finish and feel. They also usually have a microfibre thumb or patch for wiping your nose. Kind of gross but kind of great when you’re out there.

Materials used to make waterproof and windproof gloves can be complex.

The tried and true construction technology you’re looking for is often a three-layer construction:

Option 1 — Inner: a moisture-wicking and quick-dry interior that also acts as insulation. Middle: waterproof membrane. Outer: abrasion-resistant shell. These are generally more thin and flexible gloves but aren’t as warm for winter.

Option 2 — Inner: a moisture-wicking and quick-dry interior. Middle: warm insulation that is also designed to pull moisture from the inner layer. Outer: Waterproof shell. This is the typical winter work glove construction. Thicker and warmer layers.

All Around Adventure Gloves

Sealskinz All-Weather Gloves

Materials: Outer: 52% Polyester, 27% Polyamide, 18% Polyurethane, 3% Elastane. Middle: 100% Polyurethane Membrane. Inner: 100% Polyester

Windproof: Yes
Water Resistance: Waterproof. These [actually] are 100% waterproof — you can submerge them without moisture getting inside, assuming water doesn’t enter the wrist.
Touchscreen Tech: Yes
Construction & Technology: I’ve been trying to think of how to explain these. It’s a waterproof soft shell with a PU faux-suede grippy palm, with a thin but effective moisture-wicking insulation and soft brushed fleece inner.
Weight: 3.8 oz / 108 g

Shop Sealskins All-Weather Gloves: https://amzn.to/3LDvESq
Price: $70

PROVIZ Reflect360 Waterproof Cycling Gloves

Materials: 80% Polyester, 20% Cotton

Technology:
Windproof: Yes
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Touchscreen Tech: Yes
Construction & Technology: 100% reflective outer layer with a techy smooth feeling outer. The mid-layer is a thin honeycomb-like water-resistant three micro-layer water dispursing shell that prevents water from getting through to the soft brushed micro-fleece liner.
Weight: 1.6 oz / 45.4 g

Shop PROVIZ REFLECT360: https://amzn.to/40jOAtt
Price: $70

Showers Pass Waterproof Breathable Crosspoint Knit Gloves

Materials: 90% Nylon, 9% Spandex, 1% Polyester

Windproof: Yes
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Touchscreen Tech: Yes
Construction & Technology: 3 bonded layers that are still thin and dexterous. First, a wear-resistant knit exterior with silicone palm grippies, a waterproof but breathable micro-porous Artex 100% waterproof membrane in the middle, with a Coolmax moisture-wicking knit interior lining for thermal insulation.
Weight: 1.6 oz / 45.4 g

Shop Showers Pass Crosspoint Gloves: https://amzn.to/40pFkEp
Price: $47

GORE WEAR C5 Waterproof Bike Gloves

Materials: 83% Polyamide, 17% Elastane. Palm: 60% Polyamide, 40% Polyurethane. Lining: 100% Polyester

Windproof: Yes
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Touchscreen Tech: Yes
Construction & Technology: Soft fleecy interior, GORE-TEX membrane mid-layer, and synthetic gore-tex tech outer shell.
Weight: 4.24 oz / 120 g

Shop C5 GORE WEAR Waterproof Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/42oXHek
Price: $80

Heavy Insulated Winter Gloves

Sealskinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Insulated Gloves

Materials: 100% Polyester

Windproof: Yes
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Touchscreen Tech: No
Construction & Technology: Abrasion-resistant polytex outer shell, waterproof polyester middle layer, soft moisture-wicking FastDry interior lining.
Weight: 5.7 oz / 162 g

Shop SEALSKINZ Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Glove: https://amzn.to/3lk9nys
Price: $95

Carhartt Men’s W.P. Waterproof Insulated Glove

Materials: 100% Polyester

Windproof: Yes
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Touchscreen Tech: No
Construction & Technology: Abrasion-resistant polytex outer shell, waterproof polyester middle layer, soft moisture-wicking FastDry interior lining.
Weight: 5.93 oz / 168 g

Shop Carhartt Men’s W.P. Waterproof Insulated Glove: https://amzn.to/3yS8vEo
Price: $30

Company Websites:

Sealskinz All Weather — https://www.sealskinzusa.com/products/waterproof-all-weather-glove

PROVIZ Reflect360 — https://www.provizsports.com/en-us/reflect360-waterproof-cycling-gloves.html

Showers Pass Crosspoint — https://www.showerspass.com/products/crosspoint-knit-waterproof-gloves

Gore Wear C5 — https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/c5-gore-tex-gloves-100263

Sealskinz Extreme Cold — https://www.sealskinzusa.com/products/waterproof-extreme-cold-weather-glove

Carhartt — https://www.carhartt.com/product/800202/waterproof-insulated-glove?categoryCode=

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