If you’re one of the 10 million people in the UK suffering from Raynaud’s, you may be dreading the onset of colder weather. The phenomenon occurs when blood stops flowing properly to fingers and toes. Although it doesn’t usually cause severe problems, once you feel the numbness and notice the distinctive change in colour on your fingers, it can quickly put an end to a bike ride or walk.
If the symptoms sound familiar but you’re not sure it’s Raynaud’s – or the condition is worsening – your doctor may wish to investigate further or prescribe medicine. However, there are things you can do yourself to alleviate Raynaud’s.
Wearing warm clothes during cold weather, especially on your hands and feet can help prevent Raynaud’s from flaring up as can regular exercise, which helps improve circulation.
Editor’s note: I (almost) cured myself of Raynaud’s
I suffered from Raynaud’s until I read a book about the health benefits of cold water therapy. It suggested immersing one’s hands and feet in ice water for 2 minutes every day. It takes some getting used to. Truth be told, it’s a painful sensation – but after a very short time I noticed my Raynaud’s had almost entirely stopped. Using exposure to cold as a treatment for a condition brought on by low temperatures seems counter intuitive. I’m not suggesting it’s appropriate, or will work, for everyone but may be worth a go. There are numerous online guides to cold water immersion therapy for your hands – check with your doctor before trying it if you have any doubts about your general health.
Win a pair of Defeet cycling gloves
We have three pairs of gloves by DeFeet to help keep your hands toasty. Useful features includes rubber grips on the palms and smartphone screen-compatible fabric. To be in with a chance of winning the gloves, simply leave a comment at the bottom of the page and we’ll draw a name next week.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Ben Williams
I suffer from reynauds and it really takes tgd shive off winter cycling. Will try out the cold water immersion therapy!!
Ben Williams
“The shine” 😀
Paul S
Thanks for the cold water therapy pointer. Very interesting!
Yousaf Mirza
As a sufferer with this condition, these gloves would make cycling more comfortable.
Tracy
Just bothered by generally cold hands at this time of year ….. the chance to win a new pair of gloves sounds good to me.
Sidney Harbour
Great gift well worth having to help my white fingers. Good luck to everyone.
Karen Brock
I’m a cold water fan too – really good for connective tissue problems. Still need gloves for winter cycling, though!
Sara Garside
I don’t have Reynard’s but I do have arthritis, and in my fingers. Would love to try a pair of these please
Keith
Give me a hand! Or two.
Donald Woodman
These would be great
James Booth
These look great, I do go out on the bike less as soon as it starts to get arctic!
Johnny
Be great for the commute now it’s cooling off and my old gloves are wearing out
Jenny C
Great giveaway- I could have done with them on today’s ride as bitterly cold with a northerly wind
Torun
I can put them under the Christmas Tree & address it to myself.
Debbie Barry
ooh great tasty colour, hopefully toasty too 😊
Helen Allen
I have a friend who suffers from this condition and she is just about to buy a bike so will a/ get her to insure with you and b/ give her the gloves!
Andrew Magrath
I have Reynauds and yes it does take the edge off winter cycling. I will try the cold water therapy and winning the gloves would be a bonus!
Martin
I am a long term sufferer. It can happen in hot weather too. Two things I am now going to try. 1. Cold water therapy 2. Entering the competition. Let’s hope at least one is succesful.
Peter Clark
I think DeFeet is a fantastic brand. I’ve been using their socks for donkey’s years and they’re brilliant. I don’t suffer from Raynaud’s but I cycle in all temperatures and like anyone feel the cold worst in the extremities so these would be super useful
Stan
Looks snazzy
Guy
Useful to know about Raynaud’s Syndrome. Just need the gloves now…
Bazza
January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow.
These gloves would certainly help. Will look at buying a pair – and the socks.
Richard Barrett
Useful tips on the Cold Water therapy, I will pass on to my wife who suffers from Reynauds. She would also appreciate a good pair of gloves as she cycles through the winter.
Mags
Warm and golden – these gloves would see me through the coming winter in style.
Richard
I can never find my gloves (why? coloured black, kept in a dark drawer) These would help!
Martin Baker
Just one pair will do thanks. 🤩
Sarah
These gloves would keep my hands warm and their bright colour would bring me joy.
Justin
Raynaud’s is a pain
Alan MacDonald
My friend has Reynaud’s and uses battery operated heat in his gloves. However, the Defeet gloves would provide a backup once the batteries are exhausted!
Vincent
Do you draw the name at random because I never ‘win’.
Barry Winter
I feel it quite bad on my hands both when cycling and on the motorbike. Takes a lot of time to normalise after the commute.
John Darby
Suffer quite badly from Raynauds. These gloves would be great!
Alastair
I have suffered for years despite (or because of?) leading a very active life, including cycling both summer & winter. These look they would help immensely, be great to try them.
Owen
These would help me keep a good hold on the handlebars. Many thanks.
Anne
Thanks everyone for entering the draw but the gloves have my name on them 😜
Dave Anthony
Those hands look so hot they have gone orange!
Will
Yes please! Diabetes means my feet are cold anyway … but cold hands are worse!
Jill Canney
Nice high vis gloves too
Jane Green
I never knew about these gloves maybe I can start cycling out in the cold temps 👍😂🙏🙏
Terry Smith
Why aren’t they called Dehands?Would love a pair anyway.
Steve
Yes! I suffer from Reynaud’s and cycle through the winter. These gloves might help big time. Intriguing suggestion about cold water therapy, will investigate further.
JohnB
Never been diagnosed with Reynauds but my extremities certainly go grey and numb very quickly in the cold! So I’d love to try a pari of these.
Janet
These look great. I suffer from Reynauds and really struggle cycling in the winter.
Boyd
Defeet for Dehands – you know it makes sense!
H.Newson
Interesting treatment
Dave
Lovely stuff
Will embiss
Just been kayaking on the Exe my finger tips are still a bit numb
John
Strange name for a pair of gloves. Do they go on your hands or feet lol they sound lovely and warm and I would love a pair
Fred
No more nub fingers!
Lonnie
Yes please stop my fingers going white
Dave
Yes nice toastie gloves are essential, mine are getting a bit old so I’d love some new ones please!
Pamela
White finger protect and prevent.
Steve
They look glovely and warm!
Jonathan Hunt
As a age, I find myself astonished at the variety of aliments people suffer from. It’s a tough world out there and I wish everyone well with their health. There is nothing more important.
Now, as the risk of switching gears quite drastically. I love the look of these gloves and the colour would be a match to how my recent cycling wardrobe has gone too. Any I hate cold hands! Wishing myself luck 🙂
Gary
I too get Reynauds – first time was after a winter 100km sportive and since then it’s quite unpredictable – always a weird feeling when it happens.
Cold therapy sounds like a good idea to try.
And some nice new warm gloves please 😊
Brian
I get painful chilblains due to my Reynards so would love these gloves.
Sam
Nothing worse than cold hands and feet.
Pete G
These gloves sound like the answer to my numb fingers
Diane Whateley
With a combination of hot flushes and z Reynaud’s syndrome, I cannot comfortably and cycle, dry, outside in the winter. I’m either overheating, sweating which can simultaneously be with the cold fingers, or completely cold and damp. Wearing merino does help a little, jut what is needed is lightweight smart wear which can heat or cool depending on your body temperature!
Peter Chisnall
Very warming!
Andy Brown
I’d love to take that/these, to avoid the freeze and relight my fire for winter cycling
John Davidson
I’d love a pair of these as my hands get very cold.
Steve K
Warm hands in any weather – yes please!
Colin
my hands are frozen !!
Glyn
I would be good to have some gloves I would a good grip with and not have numb fingers.
Paul V
On World glove day… give generously! 🧤
Susan Edwards
I lost my winter gloves last spring…. Today my hands are frozen 🥶 desperately longing for amazing winter gloves so I can feel the gears and brakes!
Jamie J
Got to hand it to them these look just like debeesknees…
Lesley
Only today I had decold hands while on debike. Good timing!
Theresa Dorgan-Davey
I’ve not found a glove that works…yet! Hoping these can be the ones…🤞🏼
Kelly Smith
Would love a pair of these!
Kelly Smith
These look like they would do the trick in keeping my hands warm and toasty
Margaret Turner
Who was or is Raynaud? Does it help to have a name for our cold numb hands and feet? I just know that if only I had warm gloves I might no longer need to ask a neighbour to turn the key for me so I can go through my own front door!
John stables
Named after the French medical student who first described it in 1862, Raynaud’s phenomenon sees blood vessels react in an exaggerated way (called a vasospasm) to cold or sometimes emotional stress. Much more pronounced symptoms than the numbness a non-sufferer experiences in the cold
Jon Pennycook
My cycling gloves are only any good in Summer, so it would be good to get some better gloves for Winter.
Tobi James
These might tempt me out of the shed over winter. Or just keep me warm while I’m in there.
Clive
I’m too old to be cold.
ChrisB
I do suffer from Raynaud’s so these would be brilliant, cycling or at any time.
Les Gunbie
My current gloves are fingerless!
Rev
I have been cycling using old motor bike gloves with silk gloves inside. It works but is a bit clumsy, And certainly is no good with a mobile phone! Something purpose made would be much better.
James
Looks a useful tool to add to warm clothes
Philip Gregg
Thank you for the opportunity to win the gloves. They look great.
Trish Arnold
Every winter is worse than the last with regard to cold hands and feet. I’m willing to try anything to keep me cycling, so would love to try these gloves.
james
have you got a pair for feet
Bill
The onset of white finger seems to come at higher temperatures as I age. Hoping these gloves might be a good way to wrest back some control (though it’s not just de hands, it’s also de feet)
Mark B
I’m fed up with numb fingers!
ROBERT PEEL
yes i would like to win a pair ,for my winter ride to work
Fiona McLuckie
Raynauds sucks for cyclists because your hands don’t move when you cycle and can quickly become extremely painful
Roz
My son in law suffers with Reynauds so these would be a perfect gift for him.
Jill Canney
Nice high vis gloves too
Helen
Could do with these for my son who – since it’s become colder, now stops me half way on our bike ride home because he can’t feel his hands anymore…
David Price
These look just the thing for winter rides
Bill
I didn’t realise there were so many of us Raynaud’s sufferers out there. Fingers crossed…Whilst I can still feel them!
Stephen Wardrobe
These look great, I’d love to win a pair.
Nicholas Kilpatrick
Would love to win these for my gf to come cycling with me.
John Francis
I’ve always suffered from cold hands and feet no matter which gloves Iv’e bought. It would be nice to find a solution.
Anna Green
I’ve never been diagnosed with Reynauds but I am pretty sure that I have it. I have arthritis in my hands now too. I would love a new pair of winter gloves for cycling.
Darren C
Yes please! Perfect timing, had to rummage through my drawers this morning for my tatty black woollen gloves, first frost of the autumn this morning.
Wayne Fox
I’ve had a stroke and since then I’ve been pre-diagnosed for Parkinson’s disease because of my shakes.
These gloves would be invaluable.
Thank you.
Mary wild
Well done for highlighting the very small rear window in cars. Thank you
Debbie L
NO WAY, i thought i was the only person who’s fingers turned white, were painful and could barely pull on the breaks when i cycle home in the winter. I now i found out it has a name AND i might be able to do something to stop it. 🙂
Best article ever – off to do some research
Pete
I’ve had white fingers/toes for years at anything under 5C and no gloves have stopped it. My only answer has been to increase the main body clothing to be uncomfortable indoors. That seems to push the warm blood to the extremities. I’d love to find some gloves that work.
Vick
You’ve got to hand in to them, these look great,
Mona
I would really appreciate a pair of the gloves shown. I use my mobility scooter to get around, shopping & walking my dog, and I dread the winter . I get awful chilblains on my feet and my hands become very cold and painful. My scooter is now 22 years old but is still going strong, if a bit slow, and the colour is a match for those gloves 🙂
Peter
My partner has Raynaud’s, so this would make the perfect early xmas gift!
Andy Day
I find I suffer more with cold hands as I grow older. Probably not Raynauds syndrome, but it does limit my enjoyment of outdoor activities.
John stables
The cold water therapy idea is intriguing – will give it a go.
Tim Earl
Cool!
John Webber
Those numb fingers are a feature of every winter ride! I wonder whether I could stand the cold water immersion therapy? Interesting idea. Some lovely new gloves would be good though!
TD
Both of us (husband and I) can use the same gloves and both of us have Reynaud’s, my husband’s is worse than mine. Share and share a like – we don’t usually cycle at he same time!!
Nadine Smykatz-Klos
Brilliant colour on a dull winter’s day!
Anne Symonds
These gloves are just what I need in the cold weather and feet warmers would be nice also
Iain
I am a Raynaud’s sufferer and would love to find some gloves that are warm and bright.
Ema A
I still have not found winter gloves that keep my hands warm so a pair of these would really help.