Chill Out: Roeckl Winter Glove Review

Warm Those Hands

Montanans take winter seriously, so our riding gear needs to take it just as seriously.

For about four years now, I’ve been rotating two pairs of SSG Winter Riding Gloves. They may not look very fancy, but they’ve done a great job keeping my hands warm(ish) at the barn. 

Note: For the coldest days, I have battery heated Savior winter gloves.

When my regular gloves started to show real signs of wear (the leather exterior split on one pair, and the other won’t be far behind), I headed to the tack store for a replacement.

Coverage Meets Comfort

After trying on nearly every glove in the store, I decided on Roeckl Whitehorse Winter Gloves.

Here are a few things I liked about them: 

• Longer cuffs so wind doesn’t sneak up my sleeves
• Close contact feel vs. bulky
• Quality construction and stitching
• Adjustable elastic wrist strap
• Available in half sizes
• Windproof
• Machine washable

Fun Fact: Though not specific to my winter gloves, I love that Roeckl is now using more ECONYL® yarn in their products. This regenerated nylon is made from recycled plastic waste, like old and broken fishing nets, and it’s still breathable, stretchy, silky, and smooth. Check it out in their Melbourne and Munester gloves, and watch for additional earth-friendly innovations from this brand. Now you can look good and help the planet!

Where Rubber Meets the Road

Or, I suppose we should say where rubber meets the reins?

No matter how good gloves look on the shelf, I had to make sure they’d work well for riding.

Here’s what I noticed:

• They run a bit large, so go down a half if you’re not sure which size to get.
• They’re really comfy and supple compared to most winter gloves. 
• The fabric is thin enough to handle the reins well. 
• The adjustable wrist strap keeps the glove in place and insulates your hand from the elements even more.
• The long cuff is awesome. My sleeves rise up a bit when I bend my arms to ride, but these cuffs keep my wrists warm and toasty!

Want to see our favorite winter riding coat? Check out the Ovation Tyra Jacket review.

Any Downsides?

No product is perfect. On the whole, though, these gloves exceeded my expectations big time.

The cuff and wrist strap are the shining stars, but there are a few things that missed the mark for me: 

• Obviously, they aren’t as warm as my battery heated gloves. On really cold days, I still reach for a heated pair.
• They do pretty well shielding you from wind, but the coldest and strongest of gusts can still chill your hands.
• Even after going down half a size, I find that the main hand fits perfectly but fingers are still a tad long.

Parting Thoughts

This was my first time trying the Roeckl brand, and it likely won’t be the last. 

In addition to the product exceeding my expectations, their customer service did too. I reached out with a question, and their team was super responsive and helpful. They definitely stand behind their products!

P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to:

• 5 Best Winter Horse Riding Jackets
• What is a neck strap for horses & how do you use one?
• Can you put English stirrups on a Western saddle?
• 8 Best Safety Stirrups for Adults
• Compositi Stirrups Review: I’ve Never Jumped Better
• How Safety Stirrups Work (Pros/Cons, Uses, Features, Brands)
• Horseback Riding Safety Equipment That’s Worth Every Penny

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