Whether in motorsport or on the golf course, in archery or at the small bore shooting range: whenever precision, protection or a secure grip is required, athletes put on gloves. This is also the case in cycling. Cycling gloves not only improve grip on the handlebars. They absorb shocks and prevent the hands from tiring too quickly on long rides. In the event of a fall, they also take on a protective function and, at best, prevent painful abrasions on the sensitive palms. You can easily leave fifty euros at the dealer for a top glove. However, as the hand protectors often wear out quickly with heavy use, such a purchase is usually not an investment for eternity. It is therefore tempting to reach for the cheaper models from the manufacturer. But can they keep up with high-end gloves in terms of comfort and features? We put twelve gloves with a price limit of 30 euros to the test to find out.
Washing, spinning, tugging: this is how we tested the cycling gloves
To test the durability of the test candidates, we literally threw them in at the deep end. All manufacturers, with the exception of Giro, allow the gloves to be machine washed in cold or at least 30-degree water. All models had to undergo this procedure ten times, including spinning at 700 revolutions. In the past, we have experienced a few negative surprises during this test. Protruding seams, warped palms and half-dissolved terrycloth inserts were not uncommon. The current generation of inexpensive gloves, on the other hand, are holding their own. As after too many rollercoaster rides on the fairground, some are a little pale, small nodules are forming on the terrycloth thumb of Chiba and Rose and a pair of seams are coming undone on the Agu model. But apart from that, machine washing doesn't seem to be a big problem these days. Even the Giro, which according to the manufacturer should only be washed by hand, is unimpressed by the spin cycle. The first hurdle for a long, happy relationship has been overcome. However, on closer inspection of the quality of workmanship, we did notice a few shortcomings. The frequent putting on and taking off of the usually tight-fitting gloves puts a lot of strain on the seams. If they are not properly sewn, the stitches quickly unravel. When buying, you should take a particularly critical look at the ends of the fingers. With Agu and Pearl Izumi, the first threads come loose after just a few tries. The BBB's pull-off aid is only secured with fairly simple seams and does not withstand the tensile forces for long either. In contrast, the models from Giro, Gore and Roeckl are of high quality. But the seams on the Endura and Specialised models also fit well and the workmanship is good.
Thick padding does not guarantee high wearing comfort
There is unanimity when it comes to features. All manufacturers provide their models with both a wiping thumb and a more or less thick padding on the palm. In practice, however, there are differences here too. While thick terrycloth inserts, such as those from Agu, BBB, Chiba, Gore and Rose, reliably dry dripping noses or sweaty foreheads, the microfibre thumbs from other manufacturers are significantly less absorbent. The fact that less can sometimes be more is demonstrated by the padding. Thick gel pads in the palms can prevent numb fingers if placed correctly, but they do not automatically guarantee a high level of comfort. The feel of the Chiba and Rose gloves in particular suffers from the spongy palm. On the other hand, the testers found the Pearl Izumi's punctual padding a little too hard. The middle way seems to be the best decision here. The padding on the BBB, Giro, Gore and Mavic is thick enough to soften the hard impacts of the road surface, but still gives the rider enough feedback and a secure grip on the handlebars.
Tip when buying cycling gloves: first impressions count
Just like in real life, first impressions usually count when buying gloves. Our testers rave about the perfect fit of the Mavic from the very first time they try them on. The long cuff literally hugs the wrist. But the BBB, Giro, Roeckl and Specialized also fit like a glove and are very comfortable to wear. The Tugio from Agu is cut a little too wide for the testers' hands. Endura, Gore and Ziener, on the other hand, are rather narrow and short. It is noticeable that some models can pinch uncomfortably between the fingers. Agu and Chiba were particularly affected by this. To get to the bottom of this problem when buying, you should pull the gloves a little further over your hands than necessary. If it pinches between the fingers, it's better to choose a different model. Even if Mavic and Giro flatter us with a lot of comfort, they both have one shortcoming: they lack a removal aid. The manufacturers have come up with a few ideas so that you can slip the sweaty gloves off your hands as quickly as possible after a ride. Connecting bars between the individual fingers work well, but can get in the way while riding. With just a small tab on the side of one finger, the other fingers are pushed inwards too much. Roeckl and Specialized have found the best solution. The two small tabs on the middle and ring fingers are sturdily sewn so that the glove can be reliably pulled off sweaty hands. And what about the protective effect? Only four models survive the test relatively unscathed: Chiba, Gore, Roeckl and Ziener have the most stable palms. Agu, Giro and Mavic also extend well over the wrist and offer additional protection there.
The full-length test of the 12 cycling gloves up to 30 euros is available as a PDF download.
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Stefan Frey
Editor
