I have cold hands, that’s an understatement. I have been using a mix of mountaineering gloves for years on the bike. My favorite being OR Endeavor Mittens with OR PL 400 Fleece Mittens beneath, which I use hiking and snow shoeing, etc. But that is a big glove to use on a bike. It looks like I am ready to go boxing not ride a bike.
Bar Mitts are neoprene covers that fit over your handle bar. They go on in just a few minutes and stay put really well. They attach on the outside with a zipper and velcro loop. On the inside, there is one loop going over the end of the bar.
Bar Mitts for the mountain bike come in a few different versions, there is the standard model(which I use), a model designed to work with bar ends and another model for Ergon grip riders. They make road bike models too. If you have any questions about which model you need, contact Ward or Patti at barmitts: [email protected] . They can set you up with the perfect model for your ride.
The first time you use bar mitts, it is slightly unnerving. But 5 minutes in to the ride you totally forget about it and all you can think about is how happy you are riding with warm hands in the winter.
It is a bit of a tight fit, but that keeps your hands warm; really warm. I wear them with a thin fleece mitten and my hands are not the slightest bit cold even on long rides.
If you ride in the cold, buy them. They will keep your hands warmer than anything else you can use. I will be picking up a pair for my CX bike.
Bar Mitts are made of neoprene, a synthetic rubber often used for waterproofing or weather resistant clothing (wetsuits). The neoprene has a closed cell construction, meaning it is filled with closed air bubbles. These bubbles serve as insulators, just as styrofoam does. Since the cells are closed, the neoprene itself is waterproof. The thickness of the neoprene is 5.5 mm with nylon laminated on each side. Due to the body of the neoprene, the Bar Mitts stay open allowing easy access and removal of hands.