The Fox Racing Defend Thermo gloves are lightly insulated and a near-perfect match for deep winter conditions, with neat features its rivals lack. They're not bad value for money either.
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Fox Racing Defend Thermo glove - Technical details
Ripe for winter use, Fox’s Defend Thermo glove employs an insulated closed-cell foam at the upper of the glove to deliver warmth. The palm is a padded but single-layer Clarino material that promises to be compatible with touchscreen devices.
Polyurethane-lined stretch nylon fingers work to keep the weather out from between the fingers, and a stand-out feature is the glove’s extended storm cuff that’s included to minimise any gap between an outer layer’s cuff and the glove itself. The glove’s cudd is compression moulded and made of neoprene. It’s then completed with a hook and loop closure. Silicone prints are found at the fingertips to improve grip.
The Fox Defend Thermo gloves come in five sizes and a range of four colours.
Fox Racing Defend Thermo glove - Performance
During my time with the Defend Thermo gloves, I rode in temperatures ranging from freezing to around five degrees. Anything warmer, and the glove becomes too warm.
I chose a size large, as I usually would, and the fit is generally good. Each of my fingers fills the glove, and there are no tight spots. A serious benefit of these gloves is the lengthy storm cuffs. They reach well under a jacket’s cuffs to completely seal out cool air, boosting warmth further and improving general weather protection and comfort. The cuffs are a nice touch from Fox.
Where general comfort is pretty great, I have found a weird issue with a pair of seams that run under the wrist. I’ve noticed that they can begin to rub. A quick rearrangement of the seams does fix this but they can quickly rub again.
The single-layer palm maximises bar feel. When white-knuckling a mountain bike’s handlebar, there’s no need for unnecessary insulation. Thus, the Defend Thermo gloves do a solid job of retaining bar feel without sacrificing insulation.
While fit and general performance is among the best, these gloves could have better articulation. During prolonged bike park-style descents, I found my pinkies began to fatigue surprisingly early. That’s due to restriction in the uppers, so it would be good to see perhaps more of a pre-articulated shape which should stop this.
As with any glove, it’s always a positive to see some touchscreen compatibility – especially with winter gloves. This tech on the Defend Thermo glove works, but not as seamlessly as its rivals. It’s not 100% accurate but it’s certainly better than nothing.
Fox Racing states nothing about waterproofing and rightfully so, they’re not waterproof however, they are capable of fending off light rainfall and splashes.
Fox Racing Defend Thermo glove - Verdict
We can’t talk winter gloves without talking about the 100% Brisker. It’s a cracking glove that packs warmth and comfort for £32. It’s better suited to temperatures upwards of zero degrees and doesn’t get the storm cuff found on the Defend Thermo but when it comes to cold weather comfort, the Brisker is still the one to beat.
POC’s Thermal Lite is a contender, too. It’s a lighter-weight thermal glove but costs a fair chunk more, at £60. James was disappointed with the touchscreen compatibility with these and, again, there’s no storm cuff.
Although there’s a minor compromise when it comes to all-out comfort, the Fox Racing Defend Thermo gloves make excellent companions for deep winter riding. They bring warmth and do a great job of general weather protection. They look rather good, too.