45NRTH has one goal — keep you warm on your bike during the winter months. In service of that mission, the brand recently released its latest glove: the Sturmfist 3. 45NRTH rates the new lobster-claw soft-shell between 10° F and 30° F, meaning it sits between the Sturmfist 4 and 5 in 45NRTH’s lineup.
Let’s dig in and see what the Sturmfist 3 has to offer.
Lobster Claw = Evolution For 45NRTH
The lobster-claw design is the heart of the Sturmfist 3. The index finger and thumb remain free, while the other three fingers huddle together for warmth like climbers in a bivy. Note that this design is a major difference from the other gloves in the Sturmfist line, as the 5 is a traditional glove, and the 4 clumps the pinky and ring finger together while allowing the middle finger free reign.
45NRTH stuffed the Sturmfist 3 with 6-ounce Primaloft Gold around the fingers and top of the hand, while Primaloft Eco insulates the palms. Bike-specific features abound, like the pre-curved fingers and suede nose wipe on the thumb.
A hook and loop closure and long drawstring cuffs should help keep moisture out if you lay your fattie down in the snow. As a final touch, conductive synthetic leather on the fingertips allows for phone or bike-computer use without exposing your fingers to the cold.
The lining strikes me as a good blend of materials at 44 percent merino wool and 56 percent polyester. In theory, that should be enough wool to combat funk and enough synthetic to add some durability.
The 45NRTH Sturmfist 3 is available in sizes ranging from XS to XXL, comes in black and slate, and runs $110 MSRP.
New colorways for Sturmfist 4 and 5
That slate colorway on the Sturmfist 3 is pretty nice, right? 45NRTH must have thought so too, because the Sturmfist 4 and 5 are now also available in the same icy teal shade.
The Polartech Alpha-insulated 5 is a fairly standard cycling glove, but the 4 is worth a closer look. It’s the glove you want for temps down to 0° F.
The Sturmfist 4 sports many of the same features as the 3, including pre-curved fingers and conductive fingertips. But it uses a heavier 8-ounce Primaloft Gold insulation and comes with a more durable goat leather palm. The Sturmfist 5 costs $95 MSRP, while the 4 will set you back $130.
But hey, as my editorial fellows over at ExplorersWeb say, “cold is…just a shopping list and the right attitude.”
