The Coziest Run Gloves You’ve Never Heard Of

Turtle Gloves: A Review

‘Tis the season for freezing…hands that is. One of the things I have regularly struggled with while running in winter is cold hands. So how do you keep your hands warm while running? Well gloves obviously, however not all run gloves are created equal. I have tried all sorts of gloves for running and none of them have really been great. Fingered gloves leave my digits cold, and those “touchpads” never work for me. Mittens tend to be bulky, too hot, and their convertible feature usually flops around, and for someone who turns sensory while running, that just won’t do. Luckily I was given a pair of Turtle Gloves Midweight Winter Soft Turtle-Flip Mittens to try. Want to know what I thought? Read below to check out my experience testing them out…but first!

"Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!"

I will be honest before this campaign was announced I had never heard of Turtle Gloves, but my first reaction to them after researching the product was “Oh wow, that’s brilliant” and I wanted in.

The Unboxing

I was super excited when my gloves arrived because it had just started cooling off here in Kentucky and it was the perfect time to try these gloves out. The gloves came in a nice package including a coozie, sticker, and pen along with instructions for care and using the flip, all wrapped up in a cinch sack. *side note: I love cinch sacks because they are great for dirty trail shoes, or drop bags*

The Good

I love mittens, they have been my glove of choice since I worked at an ice skating center where an instructor once told me to wear mittens to keep my hands toasty because “the fingers help to keep themselves warm”. I have been a mitten fan ever since, it is sound advice. However, when it comes to running gloves, mittens have been a no go for me. First, they aren’t the easiest of gloves to find, and when I have they are bulky, non-functional, or have that flap thing going on when you convert them to fingerless. So what makes Turtle Gloves different? Here is what I like about them.

The Polartec Power Stretch Pro fabric is super breathable, wicks moisture away, dries fast (I ran twice in the rain), and is super soft.
This fabric is also absorbent and soaks up sweat and will whisk away snot (sorry, but it’s true) I hate to have sweat on my forehead or lip, and in a time of COVID, snot rockets are frowned upon.
The flip system is sound and easy to maneuver. Most convertible gloves have you peel back the mitten and attach it with a button or Velcro patch. These never stay put and cause your glove to flop around. I get super sensory when I am running and everything needs to be in place or it starts to annoy me as I get tired. ADHD for real! These gloves don’t have that!
This color is fire! I love orange, and these custom gloves with the BibRave logo was just what a fangirl needed!

The Bad

Y’all know I have to have my yin and my yang and always try to find a solid critique for the products that I review. However, as much as I tried to find something to be a little critical about I just couldn’t. I did see online where some were talking about how the glove covered their watch, personally, I have actually enjoyed this feature. Since I am currently in a comeback and I am in rebuild mode, not being able to easily flip and see my watch has kept me from obsessing over pace, pushing too hard, or getting discouraged because I am not where I used to be. On the flip side (see what I did there) when I do want to see my watch it is really easy to pull the glove back and it will stay in place, and I don’t feel like I am losing any warmth whatsoever. See photo below.

Another bonus feature I really like is the hook loops they have. Where I live we tend to experience all 4 seasons in a single day, sometimes in a single workout. One day while wearing these gloves it went from cold, brisk, and rainy, to warm and sunny. I was running and didn’t have pockets to put my gloves in, I was stressing about zoning out while running and dropping one, so I found a little hack. I looped them over my finger like a ring and they hung comfortably without bouncing around. You can thank me later.

All in all, I have been super happy with these gloves. I have worn them everywhere on the days it is cold here and use them for way more than just running. Actually, at any given moment when I am going somewhere, you can hear “Where are my turtle gloves” about 10 times before I leave because I tend to use them enough for them to get misplaced. These are a great pair of functional gloves that come from a great company. They are super cozy without being overly hot and work great on my runs and for daily outdoor activities. If you are looking for the last pair of running gloves you will ever buy, these are the ones you need. I rate them 5 out of 5 lanes!