Price: £59.90 / $69.00 / €65.00
Sizes: XS-XL
Weight: 130 grams per pair - M
Colours: Black
The Cyclingnews tech team Slack channel lit up during stage 22 of the Giro d’Italia this year. Some rainy stages had plagued the race and my colleague Will Jones remarked on Tadej Pogačar's wet weather gear. "Pog's racing in short sleeves and marigolds," he exclaimed. Playfully claiming the long black gloves the triple-crown winner was wearing looked a very similar length to the UK's number one selling bright yellow household cleaning gloves.
Those ‘marigolds’ were the Velotoze Neoprene Waterproof Cycling Gloves and the Slovenian had chosen them to keep his hands warm for part of the rainy day in Italy. Gobik supplies UAE Team Emirates' clothing and team kit, but the riders are apparently very happy with Velotoze products and still use their overshoes and gloves.
Velotoze is probably best known for its light and tight latex overshoes, but the brand also offers a range of cycling accessories, like gloves and even a cooling vest.
Neoprene gloves are a popular and effective option when riding or racing in wet weather in certain conditions. They do a great job of keeping water at bay and although you'll probably get sweaty hands, they stay warm when wet. The Velotoze waterproof neoprene cycling gloves retail for £59.90 / $69.00 / €65.00.
I'm testing dozens of winter gloves this winter to create our best winter cycling gloves guide and the Velotoze neoprene gloves have been coming with me for my wet and rainy rides of late.
Design and aesthetics
Neoprene gloves often aren't the most eye-catching pieces of cycling kit, but one of the talking points for Velotoze's version is the long cuff which extends several centimetres up the arms. Velotoze recommends wearing the gloves under your jacket or jersey sleeves. I wore them against my skin for three hours and the soft neoprene was comfortable and added good protection on the wrists and lower forearms.
Some neoprene gloves can feel oppressively tight but the Velotoze pull on comfortably and while they are compressive, they're very comfortable and still allow good dexterity which is key. The fit is nicely done and I find they're better than the Endura FS260 Pro Nemo in this regard. Velotoze also produces a knitted waterproof glove with more breathability which I am also testing currently if neoprene isn't your thing.
I tested a size medium pair and they fit true to size, I'm almost universally a medium in gloves, so when it comes to choosing the right size, the size guide is accurate. The gloves' textured grippy material also works with smartphone screens when dry, although I found I had a bit more trouble when everything was wet.
The seams are all blind stitched and glue-sealed, some stitched neoprene gloves I have used in years gone by came apart at the seams with use. This solution appears to be very solid and looks neat. The glue sealing should ensure there's no water ingress from around the seams, and the neoprene will take care of the rest. Holding my hand under a running tap for several minutes didn't bother the gloves one bit; my hand was completely dry inside.
Branding-wise, there are a couple of reflective Velotoze wordmarks on the sides of the gloves, and that's it.
Neoprene is waterproof but isn't particularly breathable. This means sweaty hands can be expected after some time, especially if you are riding with a little more intent.
Neoprene also isn't the best insulator from the cold. These two points narrow the ideal usage range, but like nearly all cycling kit, there's a trade-off to be made at some point. Neoprene gloves aren't a magic one-stop solution for all wet and cold.
However, when the rain is coming down and you are about to step out into it, as I did in the dark before daybreak recently, pulling on a sturdy pair of neoprene gloves helps you feel protected and your hands are then ensconced in protective waterproof material.
Sweat might be an issue on warmer or harder rides, but if you're riding in the rain in cooler conditions and at a steadier pace, your hands are going to stay dry.
Performance
I've spent several hours riding in the rain and dealing with lots of road spray in the Velotoze neoprene gloves. I have worn them for three hours straight on a very wet and rainy ride where I was going hard for about 30 miles of it. If you read any of my reviews you'll be familiar by now with mentions of my Saturday morning training loop and it's a great test for performance kit.
The gloves do an excellent job of actually stopping water, and I really like the long cuffs which extend nicely up the arms.
If you're riding harder, or in warmer temperatures you are almost certainly going to end up with sweaty hands, but crucially they will be wet and warm which was the case for me. Importantly, the gloves do provide a solid barrier against the wet from the outside.
They aren't the easiest gloves to take off, and unless you slow right down and take your time, putting them on whilst riding the bike may be a tall order too.
Given their neoprene construction, the care instructions for these gloves state 'hand wash with cold water and air dry' I found they take quite a while to fully dry, but it's important to wash them as neoprene gloves can easily get pretty stinky if left and re-worn multiple times.
I've also been using the Sportful Lobster gloves which are a thin waterproof lobster glove as the name suggests. These are designed to be worn as a waterproof outer barrier, and pairing neoprene gloves with the lobster glove outer layer makes for a formidable combination in very cold, wet conditions. You can of course use the lobster gloves on top of any other thinner base glove.
Value
With an RRP of just under £60 in the UK, though they can be found for a little less, the gloves sit at the upper end of the neoprene glove price spectrum.
For comparison, The Spatz Neoz gloves used by Pogacar's WorldTour rivals Alpecin-Deceuninck on occasion are priced at £54.99. The neoprene gloves that currently feature in our best winter cycling gloves guide, the Castelli Divulio come in at £44 but can be found for a bit less at the moment as well.
But the Velotoze gloves do feel a bit more premium and are better fitting than some lower-end neoprene competitors, so if you head out whatever the weather and want to invest in a solid neoprene option, it's probably money well spent. You are investing in your own comfort on the bike, after all.
Verdict
These are good gloves that will protect your hands well in the rain. I have been impressed with the fit and dexterity the gloves offer, despite their neoprene construction. I also value the long cuff which adds insulation under your jacket sleeves.
They have performed well for me so far and show no signs of wear, but I will keep testing up through the winter to see how they get on after several months. The fact they are good enough for Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates teammates shows the gloves have been tested by the best... now, where are my marigolds?
