Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves review

The Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves combine fabrics from Gore-Tex and PrimaLoft for effective windproofing and insulation.

The result is a pair of gloves that will take you down to freezing and below, without too much bulk.

The touchscreen fingers are also impressively effective and the well-positioned palm padding aids comfort, but a little more grip would improve these gloves even further.

Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves specifications

Shimano combines Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric on the gloves’ uppers and the sides of the fingers with PrimaLoft Gold 300 insulation below it, concentrated on the backs of the hands.

The palms are made of synthetic suede that’s thin enough not to interfere with grip.

There is an extra pad across the top of the palm, where it can help absorb vibration. A further pad in the heel of the palm, made of Poron XRD polyurethane foam, adds more isolation from road shocks.

Closure at the wrist relies on a ribbed cuff, with a ring of elastic zigzag stitching further up the glove.

Palm grippers are quite sparse, with just a series of silicone strips under the thumb where it meets the palm.

You’ll also find reflective logos on the back of the gloves, touchscreen fingers and a wide glasses wipe on the thumb that’s dense enough not to provide a cold spot.

Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves performance

Shimano has chosen to place its PrimaLoft Gold insulation effectively, concentrating it on the upper side of the gloves, where it doesn’t interfere with grip but still provides plenty of warmth.

The uppers are noticeably puffy, while the sides of the fingers are less padded, so you don’t get the 'sausage fingers' feel that some thicker gloves produce, and your fingers don’t feel overly splayed.

The synthetic leather-like palms are also relatively light on insulation, helping with grip, although this makes them feel colder than the uppers. The extra pads built into high-pressure areas help with bar comfort.

The gloves feel a bit warmer than needed in mid-single-digit Celsius temperatures, although they wick moisture away effectively and don’t get sweaty. They should take you down comfortably to 0°C and below.

There’s relatively little in the way of extra grip provided in the palms. While the silicone details that are present help with grip, it would be nice to have some extra grip on the forefingers to aid control use.

Shimano’s touchscreen fingers are the most effective on any cycling gloves I’ve used.

Most gloves will enable you to swipe between screens on a bike computer, but any more intricate manipulation is beyond them.

In contrast, the fingertips of the Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves are responsive enough that you can select fields on a computer screen or work a smartphone effectively.

Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves bottom line

The Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves are made of quality materials. The insulation is intelligently placed so that it doesn’t get in the way but still provides plenty of warmth.

For rides in colder conditions with temperatures near or below 0°C, they’re a great option.

The effective touchscreen fingers mean this is one of the only pairs of gloves you won't need to remove in order to properly operate electronics.