Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves review: good-value protection for those with slimmer fingers

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The Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves deliver essential protection from wintry conditions.

Finger dexterity is a real high point, as is the competitive price versus the competition.

They’re not perfect, and the slim-fingered fit might not suit everyone, but these Altura gloves are well worth considering among more expensive, big-brand options.

Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves details and specifications

The Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves feature a softshell outer fabric, which is said to be waterproof to an 8,000mm water column rating, as well as breathable to 8,000g/m2/24h.

Neither figure is particularly high, but in the grand scheme of things, unless you plan on riding in heavy rain frequently, they should be adequate.

The thermal lining is fleecy and there’s some insulation between it and the outer fabric, while there’s a double-cuff design that sees the inner cuff form a seal over the wrist. A jacket cuff can then sit between the two glove cuffs, in theory.

The outer fabric has a small amount of stretch, while the fingers are relatively slim-shaped to aid dexterity.

A toweled section features on the inside of the thumb, with a reinforced wipe area in between the index finger and thumb.

The palm is made from a flexible textile material, with diamond-shaped dots applied to aid grip. The hypothenar and thenar areas feature some padding, while the index finger and thumb tips have fabric covers to aid touchscreen use.

The printing is reflective, which will come in handy for visibility should you have the black version, as I did.

The Altura gloves are also available in light grey and high-visibility yellow colourways, and in sizes XS-2XL. I found a size XL fitted me well, with the all-round fit seeming best suited to those with slimmer fingers.

Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves performance

The Altura Nightvision gloves are impressive performers, and are notable for their excellent dexterity.

This comes from a slim finger design, which fitted me very well, meaning they felt relatively low-profile when worn.

The fabric underside and palm are flexible, which meant it was easy to flex my fingers independently. This was easier than any of the winter gloves I tested them alongside – beating the next-best Assos UltraZ Winter Gloves (which cost a princely £105 / $135 / €120).

This doesn’t come at the expense of essential protection, though. The quoted water column and breathability ratings don’t stand out from the crowd, but they’re adequate for typical winter conditions.

The palm fabric started to absorb water in heavy rain, when the water was being mashed into it under my grip, and the inner cuff can also absorb water if it’s not neatly protected by a jacket.

However, the DWR treatment on the back of the hand has remained effective after washing and the lining offers effective insulation.

I had the misfortune of commuting home through freezing fog while wearing these gloves, with the temperature showing as -2ºC on my bike computer. It felt even colder on my face, but they kept the worst at bay, effectively blocking out the cutting wind.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the ultimate key to warmth is circulation, though, and those with chunkier fingers than me may find the fit constrictive.

But, overall, I enjoyed the dexterity the gloves offered, while delivering a more-natural-than-most handlebar feel and enabling me to use my iPhone with them on.

The toweled nose-wipe zone is a welcome luxury when it’s chilly, and it covers plenty of real estate – from the thumb tip back to the cuff. Should you get especially snotty on a ride, you’ll have a larger area to use.

Palm padding isn’t for everyone (I don’t need it, for example), but I didn’t find it compromised my comfort. If you need it to relieve pressure, it's worth trying these gloves to see if they offer the relief you need.

The Altura gloves don’t cost top-dollar either – they’re half the price or less of the Assos UltraZ Winter Gloves, Castelli Espresso 2 (£110 / $99.99 / €99.95) and Gore-Tex Insulated Gloves (£89.99 / $100 / €89.95).

They don't leave much on the table where it really matters, and represent decent value against much of the competition.

Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves bottom line

The Altura Nightvision Unisex Waterproof Insulated Cycling Gloves have impressed in testing, especially in light of their competitive price tag.

Dexterity is a high point, while they deliver lots of warmth and protection from the elements (if you can put up with water-absorbent palms and inner cuffs).

That aside, it's worth trying the fit before buying to see if the slim fingers work for you – if they do, these gloves could be real winners.

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