TESTED SCOTT MINUS LF GLOVES REVIEW
Winter riding can dish out some very changeable conditions here in the UK and poses some difficult decisions when getting kitted up for a ride. Your extremities are the areas which are most noticeable as control is often compromised as well as your comfort levels. We’ve often finished a ride early in wet or cold conditions not due to tiredness but through chilled hands that can’t control the brake levers or gear shifters effectively.
Let’s knock this on the head lads, I’m freezing…
So, you want control and good feel of the grips but need to stay at a comfortable temperature? Staying out till late afternoon to get the most out of the day but feeling it when you lose any warmth from the winter sun after 3pm? It’s a tough one when your standard full finger trail or DH glove gives all the control you need but provides little weather protection.
CONSTRUCTION
As with many clothing products from Scott they work with premium fabric brands to offer the best technologies available. With a range technical clothing from snowsports to running and mountainbiking Scott choose fabrics from Gore (GoreTex, Windstopper) where appropriate.
The Minus LF glove uses Gore Windstopper for the back of the gloves and Clarino (hard-wearing synthetic suede) for the underside. Windstopper is a well proven 3 layer fabric which gives maximum breathability and comfort but resists showers and blocks the wind. The wrist has a stretch cuff which gives a snug but not tight fit and blocks cold air. The combination of the two fabrics, along with minimal style gives the glove a light feel like a trail glove (around 60g a pair) but with added weather protection. You can wash the winter trails away at 40 degrees in the machine with your regular kit.
FIT
As with your favourite trail or DH gloves you may have been through a few brands over the years to find a pair that suits you. As mentioned above, these gloves feel a lot lighter than your usual winter offering with no padding (which we liked) and a trim fit from the fabrics. The Windstopper fabric looks thin and allows a lighter glove but sure does pack some serious weather protection, maybe not down to the temperatures some gloves go to but enough for most high output rides.
The cuff sits higher up the wrist than a trail glove and covers an important area helping hands stay warmer. The fabric bunches very little and both Clarino and Windstopper are well proven to keep their shape after countless washes.
TESTING
We tested these gloves in a broad range of temperatures and conditions. They soon became the go-to choice for most rides whether a short blast in the local woods or a longer trail ride. There was no time we felt a less bulky regular glove was needed to give me the control and feel we were after. When the temperatures dipped below zero or the sleet came down on an exposed climb we had all the weather protection we needed and on milder days or when pressing on hard we never overheated. The Windstopper fabric has its limits in terms of all out rain protection but a fully sealed waterproof glove usually comes with added bulk and reduced feel. We have gloves for those conditions but have to say that they rarely leave the kit bag.
CONCLUSION
Light, well constructed, close fitting gloves with proven fabrics that will last you many winters. Great feel from the bars with enough weather protection for 95% of UK winter conditions. A ‘less is more’ approach that gets the thumbs up from us.
Any negatives? Well, at £45 a pair, if you are the kind of rider who is always losing gloves/socks/kit in the depths of a dark van then maybe they are not for you…but get a pair, hold onto them and they will keep you out there whatever the weather.
Weight 50g/pair
Price £44.99
