By Cid Cardoso, Jr.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!” Most of us, who have been involved in athletic activities that take place in cold weather, have at one point or another heard this. When I researched it, there was reference to being something that people say in Norway. Apparently, this proverb also appeared in the Washington Post in Feb 1980. Either way, I can tell from personal experience that this is absolutely true. And I’m not talking about trying to climb Everest or reach the South Pole in Antarctica. If you’re brave or foolish enough to ride a bike outside this past December, you will know what I mean. Riding in 30 degree weather is not fun. Riding in 20 degree weather can be downright miserable. Yet, some of us will occasionally do it. We get tired of running every day and we’re not quite ready to start swimming yet. And sometimes we just can’t stand the sight of the indoor trainer any longer. So on a sunny, 30 degree day, we want to ride. After a few miles, I find that the layers and wind breaker do their job and I warm up comfortably. The booties still keep my feet warm and even the thin skull cap under the helmet prevents my melon from freezing. The hands however, are in severe pain and discomfort. The fingers are stiff and hurt to the bone. How can that be? I’m wearing winter riding gloves. Well, the truth is that not all winter riding gloves are the same when it comes to keeping our hands warm.
Sugoi’s Firewall Z Glove is definitely on the high end when it comes to winter gloves. It is designed to be as warm as it gets. It provides what Sugoi calls the S3+ protection, which involves a combination of layers that offer the ultimate protection for the harshest winter conditions. This group of layers called Firewall, includes a Polyester Face and a Polyurethane laminate that keeps rain, wind and snow out while trapping body heat in and moving sweat vapor away from the skin. It also includes a lining of G100 and G80 Thinsulate, which provides extra warmth.
The gloves are pre-curved for an ergonomic fit and grip on handlebars and aerobars and Sugoi’s VControl pad is strategically placed to protects the ulnar nerve while supporting the median nerve. The Firewall Z Gloves utilize the split-finger mitt design, which fits the thumbs and index fingers individually and groups the other 3 fingers together in a mitt like compartment. The mitten like design has proven to be the warmest since grouping fingers together provide greater body heat and offer less restriction of blood circulation. The individual thumb and index finger are critical in offering the rider better freedom to operate different types of shift levers without restriction. The upper thumb part is lined with a synthetic material that is wind resistance and still allows for the all important nose wipe during cold days. Finally, the slip-on wrist cuffs accept long sleeves nicely and the draw string/lace lock system seals it tightly, preventing wind and cold exposure while still providing uninhibited movement.
The Sugoi Firewall Z gloves are by far the warmest and most comfortable winter cycling glove I’ve ever worn. This was more than apparent on my first ride, a 35 degree day with light winds when my hands were literally sweating. This was actually more surprising than uncomfortable since the wicking inside lining kept my hands fairly dry. I had been wearing a $35 dollar, full fingered conventional pair of winter gloves and my fingers had been cold on pretty much every ride. I had even tried glove liners but felt that the fingers got tighter and not really warmer, feeling almost less comfortable. For low 40 degree days they were fine but anything below that, they just did not cut it. It is important to remember that the air temperature can feel 10-15 degree colder than the actual temperature when riding, due to the wind chill. I then tried my new Sugoi gloves on a low 30 degree days and they were again unbelievably warm. I didn’t even need glove liners or hand warmers. They were perfect in keeping me warm throughout the entire ride and it was amazing how keeping my hands comfortable made the ride so much more enjoyable. The foam padding on the palm and other pressure zone also felt good in providing that substantial cycling glove feeling and in dampening road vibrations and the outside material gripped the handlebars well.
The biggest drawbacks of Sugoi’s Firewall Z Gloves are their $70 price. Most people in North Carolina are not used to paying that much for a good pair of cycling glove but the other old saying “you get what you pay for” applies here as well. $30 and $40 gloves are fine for those 40 degree days. However, they will not keep the rider from suffering cold hands and fingers on 30 degree days. So if you’re content with running or riding on the trainer during those days, save your money. If you want to experience the joy of riding on a cool 30 degree day comfortably, invest on some nice gloves. And the Sugoi Firewall Z Gloves are a nice as they come.
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Cid Cardoso, Jr., owner of Inside Out Sports, has been doing triathlons for over twenty years. Last October, he competed in his 21st Ironman – his sixth appearance at Kona. A veteran of ultramarathons, he has competed in Team RAAM twice. He has seen equipment evolve with the sport and continues to test new products to assess their impact on performance. He trains, works, and resides in Cary, NC, with his wife, two daughters, and son. You can reach him at cidjr@insideoutsports.com.
