Review: ALMSTHRE Full Finger Gloves

With the departure of the cycling road season, and the arrival of cyclocross, we at creakybottombracket.com wanted gloves to do the hard work. Full finger gloves often fit weird. They should be functional, comfortable, and capable of doing the heavy lifting. ALMSTHRE, a California-based company that specializes in bikepacking gear, also produces full finger gloves. Here are our thoughts:

To make a quick statement at any starting line, the easiest approach is to rock full finger gloves. Velodrome racers go full finger to reduce injury. The same can be said for crit racers. When fitted well, full finger gloves are the choice for cyclocross and gravel racers alike. ALMSTHRE speaks to the last two groups with their full finger gloves. It sealed the deal when one of the options, Cosmic Blue, styled blue and orange on the back of the glove.

It is imperative to utilize the ALMSTHRE fit chart. It took several measurements before deciding on the correct size glove. Even then, there is a bit of doubt after downsizing to gain a tight fit. ALMSTHRE recommends measuring the width of the palm, the length of the middle finger, and the length from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist. Featuring five sizes, ALMSTHRE certainly offers a size for each rider. Having measurements all over the sizing tool, I opted to downsize for a snug fit. Conversely, ALMSTHRE recommends sizing up, so be aware sizing may be tricky.

ALMSTHRE offers a standard glove as well as a padded option for each of the three colors: Cosmic Blue, Sterling Silver, and Midnight Black. The gloves reviewed were the unpadded version, and they have four features to them. The first are the perforated palms. This allows air flow as well as quick drying capabilities when the weather turns sour. Plus, when reaching for the top tube of the bike, the ALMSTHRE gloves felt grippy and up to the task.

With the ushering of ‘cross comes runny noses amidst inclement weather. ALMSTHRE added terry backings to both thumbs. And one does not have be surgical, as the entire back of the thumb is the sweat wipe. Further, the gloves are reinforced where the gloves interact with the shifters. The stretch backing finishes the fit. 

ALMSTHRE Full Finger Gloves Cosmic Blue fit in nicely with our color scheme.

Out on rides, the gloves felt light and airy. Despite cooler temperatures, the barrier was enough to block out cool breezes, perfect for the autumnal season. The fit worked out. Having sized down meant the gloves remained in place - none of that spinning or bunching palms when gloves are a bit too large. Once on, these gloves hit the spot for cyclocross action as well as gravel rides.

It was great to ride in such comfort with these gloves, but there were areas that could be improved upon. While the fit came out right, the cuff of the gloves were - and continue to be - difficult to get the hands through. Eventually one of the seams popped, but just a few more millimeters of cuff would be beneficial. Another area is the terry sweat wipe. It is quite abrasive, even right out of the packaging. Think sweat wipe on a glove that’s been washed after every ride for a year abrasive. Lastly, the gloves did hinder interaction with phone screens, though that was a small concern. Due to the cuffs being difficult to get hands in and out of, the possibility is there to damage the gloves trying to answer a call. 

Overall the ALMSTHRE Full Finger Gloves served their purpose. They are great gloves for the all day adventure to the one-hour cross smash fest. Utilizing the size chart and getting the right gloves means a reduced chance at shifting interference or blisters from intense efforts. In a category wedged between insulated gloves and road mitts, ALMSTHRE delivers with a flashy looking full finger glove. It should stand out that the Sterling Silver offering has been queued up for the next purchase. Being off the back of a cross race is no excuse to not rock stylish full finger gloves. ALMSTHRE gets us there.