Checklist · 11 picks · 4 categories
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Winter riding isn't about toughing it out. It's about your hands and feet, because numb fingers can't work the brakes, and about being seen when it's dark by dinnertime.
Start with real winter cycling gloves: thinner than ski gloves so you can still feel the levers, but built to block wind. Overshoes slip over your bike shoes and stop wind chill and road spray from freezing your toes. With days this short, a bright front and rear light matter just as much. The gloves, overshoes and lights come from Cycling Weekly and BikeRadar, whose testers took the gloves and overshoes through sub-zero rides, gritted roads and a five-minute shower; the balaclavas, which fit under a helmet, come from BestReviews. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out, like gloves that soak through or a light mount that's fiddly to fit.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you'd rather ride indoors all winter; the Indoor Cycling Starter list has the bikes and trainers.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 3 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportful Deep Winter Cycling Gloves | splurge | $50-100 | really cold rides when you need your phone or bike computer | 1 outlet |
| Giro Xnetic H2O Gloves | budget | $50-100 | cold, dry rides when you still want to feel the brakes | 1 outlet |
| Pearl Izumi Summit Alpha Gloves | mid | $50-100 | fall and spring rides, and pushing the pace in winter | 1 outlet |
Best winter cycling glovessplurge pick · XS to 2XL
Best for really cold rides when you need your phone or bike computer
Cycling Weekly's best winter gloves for touchscreens: warm with excellent dexterity, and its tester with Raynaud's had no cold hands even in sub-zero riding.
Heads up. Not fully waterproof
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best winter cycling gloves for screens.
$50-100
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budget pick · S to XL
Best for cold, dry rides when you still want to feel the brakes
Cycling Weekly's best overall winter cycling gloves: warm, lightweight, breathable and waterproof, and adaptable across a range of winter riding conditions.
Heads up. The outer gets waterlogged, and the hands cool quickly once it does
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best overall winter cycling gloves.
$50-100
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mid pick · S to XXL
Best for fall and spring rides, and pushing the pace in winter
Cycling Weekly's best gloves for shoulder seasons: thin Polartec Alpha gloves that stay surprisingly warm as long as you keep moving.
Heads up. Breathability is a tad disappointing: once hands get sweaty, the warmth drops a lot
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best shoulder season winter cycling gloves.
$50-100
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Best overshoesbudget pick · S to XL
Best for keeping cycling shoes warm all winter
Cycling Weekly's best overall cycling overshoes: warm, easy to put on, well-fitting, windproof and water resistant, at a very competitive price.
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best overall cycling overshoes.
$25-50
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mid pick · S to XXL
Best for wet, cold commutes
Cycling Weekly's best waterproof overshoes: fleece-lined neoprene that left feet completely dry after a five-minute shower stress test.
Heads up. The ankle cuff is cut slightly low
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best waterproof cycling overshoes.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravemen K1400 | mid | $50-100 | dark streets and unlit paths | 1 outlet |
| NiteRider Swift 500 | budget | $25-50 | commuting on lit city streets | 1 outlet |
| IGPSport TL50 Rear Bike Light | budget | $25-50 | being seen from behind for cheap | 1 outlet |
| Magicshine Seemee 400 | mid | $50-100 | riding in traffic day and night | 1 outlet |
Best front bike lightmid pick · Front
Best for dark streets and unlit paths
Cycling Weekly's best overall front light: the brightest on its test, with battery life better than advertised and a superb beam.
Heads up. The USB port cover seems fragile
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best overall front light.
$50-100
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budget pick · Front
Best for commuting on lit city streets
BikeRadar's best cheap front light: a cheap, robust commuter light that's simple to use and bright enough for city streets, with a daytime mode.
Heads up. Not enough light spill on either side, and runtime isn't as accurate as claimed
1 outlet. BikeRadar best cheap front light.
$25-50
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Best rear bike lightbudget pick · Rear
Best for being seen from behind for cheap
Cycling Weekly's best budget rear light: surprisingly feature-rich for the price, with a first-rate phone app.
Heads up. The saddle-rail mount is heavy and fiddly to fit
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best budget rear light.
$25-50
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mid pick · Rear
Best for riding in traffic day and night
Cycling Weekly's best overall rear light: high output that works even in daylight, with an eye-catching LED layout.
Heads up. Didn't always connect reliably to bike computers
1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best overall rear light.
$50-100
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Best balaclavabudget pick · One size
Best for thin face cover under a bike helmet
BestReviews calls it super comfortable for moderate winter temperatures in the teens and 20s, fitting like a second skin under a helmet.
Heads up. Glasses fog easily when the nosepiece is in place
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
under $15
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mid pick · One size
Best for a snug fit that stays put under a helmet
BestReviews calls it very snug-fitting, a plus if your balaclava won't stay in place under a helmet.
Heads up. BestReviews notes the nose piece can be too tight, and sunglasses may fog when it's in place
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
You can, but Cycling Weekly says cycling gloves can't rely on super-thick padding, because you need enough feel to work the brakes and shifters. Winter cycling gloves use windproof fabrics and thinner insulation instead.
They're designed for cycling shoes. Cycling Weekly says you can try a standard overshoe over trainers if you size up for the bigger sole, or go for thermal, windproof cycling socks instead.
Pick gloves with a windproof outer layer and wear the cuff over or under your sleeve so drafts can't get in. Cycling Weekly also suggests lobster gloves or heat pads if you run cold.