Some of my Most Trusted Cold Weather Gear

~ Tim H.

I’ve been cycling year-round for close to five decades. My coldest ride was 3 hours at 7° F with countless rides into the high teens. This doesn’t make me an expert in cold weather survival but I think it qualifies me to say a thing or two about riding in the cold.

Below is a list of my most trusted cold weather gear. These are the pieces which I’ve come to rely on in remote locations and the dead of winter, often at night.

All disclaimers apply. Links are to manufacturer’s websites. There may be better performing or less expensive gear available elsewhere. The list below isn’t a claim that anything is the best but is simply a compilation of gear which has worked well for me. YMMV.

Head & Neck

A neck gaiter is probably one of the most overlooked and underappreciated pieces of cold weather gear. I don’t know why more people don’t use them. Insulating the neck keeps the head surprisingly warm and often renders a beanie or cap superfluous. Whether in a jersey pocket or in place around the neck, the Smartwool version accompanies me on almost every ride below 60° F, while the Buff Polar gaiter is extra long, windproof and mandatory for rides below freezing.

Hands

  • REI Flash Powerwool Gloves – Polartec Powerwool is amazingly warm for its weight and blocks most, if not all wind. They are expensive but the price is easily justified given the performance.
  • Swany X-Change Gloves with Chemical Warmer Pocket (discontinued). These are gauntlet ski gloves with enough dexterity to work shifters and brakes with relative ease. My first pair lasted 25 years. If I had to replace them I’d consider Swany’s Apex Pro gloves.

Like many riders, I’ve got a drawer full of gloves. Those listed above are the one’s I reach for the vast majority of the time.

Upper Torso

  • Under Armor Cold Gear Mock Turtleneck Base Layer – Several were found at the local used clothing store for about $10 each. This is a workhorse piece – used multiple times per week and still in use after more than a decade.
  • Isadore Thermerino 2.0 Jersey (discontinued) – Mostly worn as a mid layer. Fit and feel are luxurious and I sometimes wear it when working in the home office.
  • Isadore Signature Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey – Somewhat lighter then the full Thermerino 2.0 jersey linked above but equally as luxurious.
  • Castelli Alpha RoS 2 Light Jacket (discontinued)
  • Castelli Alpha RoS Jacket (discontinued).

Castelli “Alpha” products feature an second, zippered lining inside of the front, much like a motorcycle jacket. The inner lining allows the front to be partially unzipped to dump heat while still preventing cold air from striking the chest. It works amazingly well in practice.

The “Light” version has Gore-Tex infinium on the front facing surfaces and features breathable Nanoflex fabric in the rear to allow heat and moisture to escape. The non-Light version fully encases the rider in Gore-Tex Infinium for very cold rides. Both are discontinued but a few can still be found on clearance.

The only product in the current Castelli lineup with the inner, zippered lining system is the Alpha 150. I’m a huge fan of Polartec textiles and the Alpha 150 uses them throughout. This is a jacket I’d really like to try. The Assos Equipe RS Johdah Ultraz Winter Jacket S11 EVO has a similar inner lining and would also be a contender if it weren’t for the eye watering price.

Lower Torso & Legs

  • Castelli NanoFlex Bib Knickers – sadly discontinued due to PFAS concerns.
  • Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind Knickers and Sorpasso RoS Wind Tights – also discontinued due to PFAS concerns. I consider these to be the gold standard for dry/cold weather.
  • Assos Equipe RS Winter Tights S9. These take everything that’s great about the Castelli Sorpasso RoS tights above and add a bit more warmth and a level of wet weather protection.

The Assos Equipe RS Winter Tights S9 are worn in the most challenging conditions, when nobody in their right mind should be on a bicycle. S9 is the previous generation and at the time of this writing, are available at AssosOoutlet.com. The current generation is called the Equipe RS Johdah Ultraz S11.

Feet

GripGrab shoe covers are fairly unique in that the are slipped over the leg prior to putting on shoes and then pulled down and over the feet after having put the shoes on.

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