45Nrth Nokken winter gloves
Equipment
With the Nokken, 45Nrth has a glove in its programme that is designed to provide warmth down to freezing point. To achieve this, the winter gloves have a classic softshell outer shell that is designed to block 100 per cent of the wind. Merino lining inside the glove provides additional warmth. The Nokken has a sufficiently long cuff that also covers the wrists, but does not have a Velcro fastener. The palm is made of soft AX-Suede, a synthetic leather that is designed to provide a lot of grip and a direct feel on the handlebars. The thumb and index finger are both touchscreen-compatible and covered with silicone strips to provide grip on the gear and brake levers. A large, soft trim keeps your nose dry and your glasses clean. There is no reflective material, but there is a silicone band on the cuff to help with donning.
Weather protection
Even if the DWR impregnation of the Nokken only works moderately, it takes a while for light rain to reach the inside. The thick outer material therefore offers a certain degree of protection. However, if it gets really wet, the Nokken can become uncomfortable, as the fluffy outer skin is very absorbent and absorbs a lot of moisture. If it is also really cold outside, it can be uncomfortable for the hands. The 45Nrth is therefore not the right choice for rainy days. It feels more at home in temperatures down to zero degrees and when the sun is shining. Even though the Nokken feels thick, the merino lining provides only moderate warmth. Surprisingly, the index finger got cold during our test runs.
Fit
When you slip them on, the 45Nrth winter gloves prove that you don't necessarily need a Velcro fastener to get into the glove easily. The neoprene cuff is flexible and fits snugly around the wrist. The Nokken has a soft, fluffy lining on the inside, making it very comfortable to wear. There are no creases on the palm when gripping the handlebars. However, the seams on the fingertips are quite bulging and can be clearly felt while riding. The thick finger ends are also a little annoying when shifting gears and braking. There is no really direct grip feeling. Otherwise, however, the glove fits well and accurately, is slightly pre-shaped and is comfortable to wear without being too tight.
45Nrth Nokken - Details and price
- Sizes XS to XXL
- Weight 105 grams (XL)
- Equipment Wind/water-repellent; softshell outer material; AX-Suede palm; silicone fingers; stretch waistband; merino lining
- Price 79,99 Euro
Valuation at a glance
Conclusion: 45Nrth Nokken winter gloves
With the Nokken, the cold weather experts from Minnesota deliver a comfortable glove for temperatures down to freezing point. Despite the soft merino lining on the palm, the Nokken provides a direct grip. The shift and brake fingers as well as the palm are nice and grippy, on the trail only the somewhat bulging seams on the fingers are annoying. Touchscreen fingers, nose wipe area and the long neoprene cuff are further useful details. The softshell material is slightly water-repellent and the workmanship gives no cause for criticism.
Stefan Frey
Editor
