If there's one thing I'd forgotten about riding, it's how much cold hands ruin a good ride. Fingers go numb, you stop enjoying the road, and all you can think about is getting home. The Richa Cold Protect Gore-Tex gloves are what I reached for — and for the most part, they've done the job.
Richa Cold Protect Gore-Tex Gloves Review: At a Glance
Price
£116.99
Warm Down To
About 5°C, in my experience
Best For
Cold, wet autumn, winter and spring riding
Where I Tried It
Cold-weather riding on the R1250GS, Blood Biking on the R1250RT
Pros & Cons
What's Good
Properly waterproof. The Gore-Tex membrane keeps the rain out, and dry hands are warm hands — half the battle in the cold.
Genuinely warm down to about 5°C, which covers most of the riding year without needing heated grips or anything fancy.
A compact cuff that slips under a jacket sleeve, and a fit that doesn't leave spare glove flapping at the fingertips.
What's Not
Below about 5°C my fingers start to suffer. For proper winter riding you'll want heated grips or a thicker glove.
The insulation makes them a bit bulky, so you lose some feel for small switches, and the touchscreen patch is fiddly.
The wrist strap tab is on the small side — not ideal when you're fumbling with cold fingers.
VERDICT
8 / 10
For a returning rider, this is a sensible, well-priced way to stay comfortable when the weather turns. Know where the limit is — about 5°C for me — and they'll do exactly what you need. Below that, add heated grips or step up to something warmer.
Try them on with your jacket sleeves on — the cuff and strap fit matter as much as the size. For summer, pair your kit with a mesh layer from our Richa Force 2 D3O jacket review, and see our motorcycle kit guide for returning riders.
