Joe Rocket Windchill Glove Test
If you ride in territory where spring and fall can require a tolerance for some cold weather, or if you are looking for a good motorcycle glove than can do double as a snowmobile glove, check out Joe Rocket’s Windchill gloves.
The Windchill is a gauntlet style glove with both a hook and loop closure wrist retention strap, and a toggle and drawcord around the top of the cuff to seal cold drafts out. A leather accordion panel at the wrist assures a snug fit, even if the wrist strap is not tightened.
The body of the glove is drum-dyed cowhide leather with no vents, textile stretch or mesh panels — serious cold weather gear. Leather reinforcements are located across the palm to the base of the thumb and along the edge of the glove up the little finger.
High density flexible knuckle protectors are integrated in the back of the glov, and articulated FullFlex leather expansion panels at the knuckles of each finger ease finger flexion. The fingers are also pre-curved to further aid grip comfort. Gel panels at the heel of the palm and edge of the little finger help soak up any handlebar vibration. The thumb of the left glove features a neoprene visor wiper.
Inside the supple leather exterior is a Drytech waterproof midliner and 100g Thinsulate insulation. A plush polyester liner covers the entire interior of the glove, adding to the warm feel and keep all seam stitching from causing friction or pressure on palms or fingers.
I wore the Windchill gloves in temperatures four degrees below zero, and my fingertips never got cold. Of course, cold tolerance is a very individual thing. Having grown up in northern Wisconsin where temps can be colder than parts of Alaska in the winter, my cold tolerance may be better than most, but the Windchill is one of a small group of motorcycle gloves I’ve seen that work well enough for snowmobile and snowblower duty.
At a MSRP of $79.99, that makes them a good investment. For additional information, visit the Joe Rocket website.
