Five WFX District WP ladies gloves in black / gold

The WFX District is a winter glove with a short, ribbed cuff. It is similar in concept to the ladies' Ghent glove from Richa.

 

This is the type of glove that is appropriate if the sleeve ends of your jacket are not wide enough to accomodate the mid-length cuff of a traditional, winter glove. And that's because the ribbing is designed to butt up to the sleeve end.

 

The glove has a waterproof membrane. It's not a Gore-Tex membrane, but rather Five's own Drytech membrane. The thermal component comes from Primaloft Silver; and this is about as insulating as hollow-form fibres get. Now Five claims to have re-invented the construction of women's gloves. And they have done this by adding more insulation between the fingers. I have to admit that this doesn't sound particularly innovative, but clearly Five believes they have done something clever! There's 170 g/m2 of Primaloft on the back of the hand; 60 g/mm2 on the palm. This is going to make for a pretty warm glove. Less insulation on the palm is fairly standard, but it has the added the benefit of making the gloves more effective with heated grips.

 

The rest is really just detail. The back of the glove is made from a softshell material. This is good for comfort, but it is not the most water-resistant of fabrics. The palm of the glove is full-grain, goat leather. You get a one-piece, ErgoProtech knuckle protector that is backed with foam for comfort. You also get a palm slider made from the same material

 

The ribbed cuff closes the cuff reasonably tightly at the wrist, but you also get a Velcro flap to tighten the wrist more firmly. The index finger and thumb are touchscreen sensitive. You also get a visor-wipe on the left hand although, on a Five glove, this is a moisture-absorbing fabric rather than a rubber blade.

 

Apparently, the logo on the index finger is reflective. There's also a slightly sparkly design on the back of the glove. We normally hate such feminine flourishes, but in truth on the District it's not offensive.

 

For women, winter gloves are not just about warmth. They're also about feel. Too often the manufacturers pack in too much wadding in and around the fingers; and this can make such gloves uncomfortable to wear, and not particularly wieldy on the controls. You'll have to come to your own view as to whether Five has solved that issue with the District.

 

Earlier, we likened the District to the Richa Ghent. That glove has a Gore-Tex membrane, and might even be considered, in terms of its spec. a better glove, but the Ghent costs £140; the District is just £90. The Five version gets the vote when it comes to value.