People who deliver food on bikes for Uber Eats (or any other delivery service) have a few things to think about when they’re shopping for the best gloves for cell phone use to wear while they’re working. They need full use of their hands and fingers to grip the handlebars, work their phones, and manage their deliveries.
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Delivery riders work in all kinds of weather, too. It’s usually even busier when it’s cold or rainy because people don’t want to go out to get their own food. Uber Eats cyclists should have gloves that are, at the minimum, waterproof and windproof.
Some delivery riders swear by gloves that offer touchscreen capability, but others find them a bit fussy and frustrating because even the best touchscreen gloves don’t always work the way they should. Read on to learn more about the best gloves for Uber Eats cyclists and whether it’s worth it to try to find touchscreen gloves.
In a hurry?
If you don’t have much time, use the links below to quickly find the best riding gloves food delivery for you on Amazon, these are our top choices. Both these work with touchscreens.
– Best Overall – GORE WEAR gloves
– Good Affordable Choice – SkyGenius Winter Gloves
Why Don’t Gloves Work on Touchscreens?
Touchscreens do not work because of pressure from the fingers; they work through capacitive technology.
This means that the screens recognize fluctuations in the electric field caused by your naked finger approaching the display screen. When you wear gloves, this prevents the screen from detecting and acting on that input.
Touchscreens can’t tell that you’re touching them if there’s a fabric barrier between your finger and the screen. Some gloves are made with conductive yarns in the fingertips, and these yarns are engineered to transmit the necessary signals to the touchscreen.
Are Touchscreen Gloves Worth it?
If you need to be able to operate your phone with your gloves on, touchscreen gloves are the only way to make that happen. Therefore, touchscreen gloves may be very worth it to people whose business depends on being able to use their phones when they are outside.
Some people prefer to use a stylus or a similar device instead. But that’s also one more thing to carry (and maybe drop on the road too).
How Can I Make My Gloves Touchscreen?
If you have gloves that you really like but are not touchscreen-ready, and you need them to be, there are a few ways to convert your gloves.
Be aware that these solutions are not necessarily invisible, and your gloves won’t look the same after this kind of augmentation if that is important to you.
Thermal paste is inexpensive to purchase, and you can work it into the fabric of your gloves. Be aware, though, that it doesn’t ever completely dry, and it will get onto anything you touch with these gloves.
You could also stitch conductive thread into the fingerprints of your gloves. Although conductive thread can be wiry, this is not necessarily difficult; the hardest part might be finding the conductive thread to purchase.
Finally, there is a product known as Any Glove that you can apply to your gloves to make them touchscreen-compatible. It is durable enough that the U.S. Armed Services has approved it for use on combat gloves. Any Glove is easy to apply but takes a very, very long time to dry, and it does discolor the fabric of the gloves.
What Are the Best Touchscreen Gloves?
These are the best touchscreen gloves for bikers and non-touchscreen gloves for Uber Eats cyclists.
Showers Pass Crosspoint Knit Gloves
They are midweight gloves with three discrete layers and are insulated to provide protection in freezing temperatures. Real-world users report that they are good down to about 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
The silicone palm grip helps wearers grip handlebars securely. The gloves were designed and manufactured on a 3-D mold to fit actual human hands.
We are showing black here, but the gloves are available in various sizes and colors to suit most people well. In terms of cost, these are squarely in the middle of the market.
Pros
- Waterproof yet breathable material keeps hands dry
- Ergonomic design and fit with multi-dimensional stretch
- Range of colors and sizes
Cons
- Does not have touchscreen capability
- Are not inexpensive
SkyGenius Winter Gloves
These gloves look great in black, and that’s good because it’s the only color choice available. They come in small/medium/large/extra-large sizes that should fit most adults. At $14.99, they are a great everyday glove, although they may not be adequate for the coldest days or the coldest climates.
Pros
- Thin and flexible gloves with touchscreen capability
- Handsome, non-flashy design
- Buckle to keep gloves secure
- Budget-friendly price
Cons
- Not completely waterproof
- No choice of colors
Endura Men’s Strike Winter Cycling Glove
They also offer a durable (synthetic) leather palm that is padded to reduce vibration. The extended cuff has a Velcro adjuster for a great fit, and there is reflective trim for visibility on the fingerprint area.
The gloves come in a range of colors and sizes, from extra-small to extra-extra-large. They are badged as men’s gloves, but there is absolutely no reason why they wouldn’t work for women as well, especially in the smaller sizes.
Pros
- Great fit with a range of sizes
- Padded palm for comfort
- Waterproof, breathable fabric
- Eco-friendly, PFC-free construction
Cons
- Some colors/sizes are more affordable than others
- There is no touchscreen capability
GORELOX Winter Gloves for Men, Women
They are made with a three-layer composite that is designed to keep users warm even in sub-zero weather. The fingers and palm are coated with anti-slip silicone for a good grip on your handlebars and on your phone, and the thumb and index finger have touchscreen capability.
The gloves come in small/medium/large/extra-large sizes that should fit most adults. Some users do recommend sizing up as they are a little bit short and snug.
They are available in black, blue, and grey. One of the lowest-cost gloves available and is good for daily use.
Pros
- Zipper for a secure fit
- Touchscreen pads on thumb and index finger
- Excellent value for everyday use
- Made with waterproof, windproof, insulated composite fabric
Cons
- Gloves may be a bit short
- Seams and fingertips are not fully waterproof
VEBE Lightweight Winter Gloves
They are made of windproof polyester and waterproof TPU with an elastic cuff for a secure fit. Conductive yarn is used on the index finger for touchscreen capability, and there are anti-slip silicone grips on the palm and fingertips.
The gloves come in small/medium/large/extra-large sizes that should fit most adults, although they may be short on people who are tall or who have large hands. Black is the only color.
These gloves are very affordable, making them a good choice for people who are out and about all the time.
Pros
- Lightweight, comfortable fabric
- Touchscreen conductivity
- Silicone grips on palm and fingers
Cons
- Gloves may be a bit short for some
- There is no choice of colors
GORE WEAR Men’s Waterproof Bike Gloves
The gloves feature an ergonomic design, leather palms for a good grip, reflective details for safety, and a long cuff with a hook-and-loop closure for a secure fit.
They are marketed as men’s gloves but will work just fine for women. They come in extra-small through triple-extra-large sizes, so almost all adults will be able to find a suitable fit. Black is the only color choice.
The price depends on size, so they are somewhat of an investment. If you’re working nearly every day, though, you need good gloves.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Waterproof, windproof, breathable fabric
- Long cuff with secure closing
- Wide range of sizes
Cons
- No choice of colors
- No touchscreen capability
- High price (but you get what you pay for)
Bicycle delivery riders have a set of special needs for their gloves. They have to be warm but stretchy/flexible so that riders can operate their phones and manage the food that they’re delivering.
It’s not easy to meet all those needs with a single pair of gloves, so we are going to recommend our two favorites.
For those who need seriously high quality and are willing to pay for them, the GORE WEAR gloves are the top of the line. They are an investment, but they are worth it.
Click here to start delivering for Uber Eats
Save on gas & groceries: the Upside app gives you cash back when you fill up your tank, buy groceries, or eat out.
For those who want good everyday gloves but don’t want to have to worry if one gets dropped or ruined, we recommend the SkyGenius Winter Gloves.
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