Bar Mitts Extreme Review

Like many cyclists, I have trouble keeping my hands warm when the temperature drops. It’s my winter cycling Achilles heel. Montreal winters are cold and wet, to say the least, and the temperatures fluctuate constantly between 0 and -40ºC without a warning, not to mention all the snow we get. In a never-ending quest to figure out how to keep my hands warm during cold Quebec winters, I decided to try Bar Mitts and not complain so much about my hands. 

I reached out to the friendly folks at Bar Mitts to get their opinion. After chatting with them about their various models including versions for flat bars and drop bars with both internal and external cables, I decided to try both the mountain extreme and drop-bar extreme mitts which are the neoprene, fleece-lined mitts. 

PART 1: Mountain Extreme flat bar version

The extreme mountain mitts came with expanding bar end plugs to keep them in place. After installing the bar end plugs, I easily and quickly installed the pogies by using the zippers and two Velcro strips to position and secure them in place.

I decided to put the Bar Mitts through many different temperatures and conditions to see how they would stack up to wearing my usual big and cumbersome winter mitts and I immediately started riding with the pogies and never looked back. My hands felt extremely comfortable, liked they were being tucked into a comfy sleeping bag. I wore a light wool flip mitt underneath so I could see the difference in heat. I usually found my hands ultra-comfortable and toasty, even if I was outside for several hours. There was one instance where the temps came to 0ºC and they were a bit too warm… something which I will never complain about. They even kept my hands, wrists, lower arms, and bars dry and ice and snow-free.

They do take a short time to get used to, of taking your hands in and out. But after awhile it was just second nature. I never found them cumbersome, in fact, it was quite the opposite as I had light mitts/gloves inside (or nothing!) to brake or shift. Handling actually became easier. 

I definitely consider the Bar Mitts Mountain Extreme to be the biggest contribution to curing the common problem of cold hands. It was an eye-opener, to say the least, and allowed me to stay out longer and have more fun plowing around the frigid Quebec landscape. 

PART 2: Extreme drop bar version

The extreme drop-bar mitts, like the mountain bike version, are basically big warm pockets for your hands. I used the x-large version which allowed for plenty of set-up space with room to maneuver. They easily slip over your hoods and provide a warm, dry, insulated space for your hands while you ride in those cold and wet winter conditions.

The material of the Bar Mitts is thick 6mm neoprene, which is exceptional for waterproofing and insulation properties, and fleece to keep warm and toasty with a nice soft texture. The strong stitching along the seams creates a wind tight seal and, with the removable cuffs, keeps your wrists warm and out of the elements as well.

Installing these mitts was quite simple. It took me less than a minute to get the mitts on. My bike has internally routed hydraulic Shimano shifters/brakes, so installation was simple as sliding these over the hoods, starting at the bottom, and securing the velcro strap around the top and bottom of the handlebars. These velcro tabs are all it takes to keep the mitts in place and they do a great job of staying in place without having the mitts shifting around on the bars. Also, because of the strong nature of the thick neoprene, the mitts hold their form and leave plenty of room inside to move your fingers and shift.

For most of my rides, I was riding in -10ºC to -20ºC, and my fingers stayed perfectly WARM for the entirety of the 2-3 hour rides with just a thin glove on. I could see these being overkill if the temperatures hovered around 0ºC though. But, the zippers were a nice touch for ventilation and temperature regulation. What’s best about these mitts is their ability to provide much-needed warmth along with great dexterity since you can wear a thin glove or no glove at all! I was happy to find I was able to shift my Shimano levers as far as they went, both ways, without any trouble. They are easy to get in and out of, so it was easy enough to take my hands out grab some water or a snack, or just to signal in traffic. 

Final thoughts

Warm, dry, and surprisingly comfortable, my hands will never be the weak link in my winter riding with Bar Mitts again. Whether it be on my mountain bike or drop bar bike the extreme Bar Mitts perform better than anything else I’ve ever tried for ease of use, warmth, and dexterity. You still get the feel of your bike and the trail or road, but your hands won’t freeze on those cold winter rides. Plus, with the solid construction, I can see them lasting for many seasons to come. Now I just need something like this for my feet!