Really toasty: GripGrap Nordic 2 lobster gloves take on low temperatures

The GripGrap Nordic 2 windproof deep winter lobster gloves kept me warm in temperatures lower than I expected. I’ve long been a fan of lobster-claw gloves. I dig their look, which is nicely weirder than gloves or mitts. I’ve run quite a few pairs out throughout many winters seasons. On the bars, lobster claws keep your digits dry and comfortable, while giving you enough dexterity to work shifters and brakes. You get some of the benefits of both gloves and mitts, and naturally, some concessions. Usually, lobsters are warmer than gloves and less toasty than mitts.

The GripGrap Nordic 2 windproof deep winter lobster gloves are the most recent addition to my collection of handwear. The company, founded 26 years ago in Denmark, knows a thing or two about riding in the cold. “In Denmark, I ride all year—communiting, training, racing,” writes GripGrab CEO Martin Krøyer in a note commemorating the company’s 25th anniversary. “Even with the best gear and mindset, winter can wear on you. The cold settles into your bones, the rain hitting your face and the darkness wraps around your days.” Sounds familiar, eh, my fellow Canadians?

Lobster versus trigger finger

Now, since I am such a fan of lobster-claw gloves, allow me to quibble about the name of this pair. They are not, in fact, a true lobster-claw design. No. Proper lobster-claw gloves feature the fingers grouped in pairs. A Nordic 2 gathers the pinky, ring and middle fingers into a trio, while the index finger goes it alone. These hand coverings, my fellow glove nerds, are trigger-finger mitts. But, whatever you call them, they are great for hunting cold-weather KOMs.

GripGrap Nordic 2 windproof deep winter lobster gloves design

Inside the mitts, Primaloft Gold insulation traps the warmth. In the trio-finger area, dividers separate each digit. I thought this was a curious design choice at first. Shouldn’t those three fingers huddle together, skin to skin, keeping each other warm? Isn’t that the power of the mitten-like design here? GripGrab argues that the dividers help to boost grip and dexterity. The company’s not wrong. With my fingers in their own dividers, that mitt section moves more in unison with my digits. An open, non-divided inside, can let the fingers slip around within the mitt.
Having my index fingers free, I can brake and shift with ease, especially with an electronic setup. The fingers have touchscreen tips. They work as well as…