Cycling is a way of life for some of us. But, as with anything, there are precautions required to ensure safety while riding. One of those is wearing gloves. Not only does it help us from developing calluses, but they help us grip the handlebars better.
We’ll look at some of the best cycling gloves on the market today. But before we do, let’s go over some details.
5 Best Cycling Gloves Comparisons
Brand |
---|
ZOOKKI Cycling Gloves |
Steel Sweat Crossfit Gloves |
Cevapro Touch Screen Gloves |
HTZPLOO Bike Gloves |
GEARONIC TM New Fashion Cycling Gloves |
What Are Cycling Gloves?
Cycling gloves are coverings for your hands when you are riding your bike. Of course, they come in all kinds of styles and materials. Some of them have half finger covers, while others cover your hands completely.
What type of cycling glove is the best choice for you depends totally on what your needs are. Do you ride for leisure or work? Or both?
Your bike is unique to you, and you deserve the best gloves available to protect your hands from whatever your day requires.
Why Wear Cycling Gloves?
There are several advantages to wearing gloves when you ride. They’re the best bike accessories for your hands and bring tons of benefits:
Safety
We mentioned callouses already, but what about blisters? They can form when you grip the handlebars bare-handed. If you get a blister and continue to ride unprotected, you risk infections like sepsis.
Having protection on your hands is also wonderful if you fall off your bike. When you fall, the natural reflex is to put your hands out before you hit the ground. So, when your hands have a protective layering, you’ll be less likely to have cuts and scrapes on your hands when you fall. The same goes for biking shoes, which protect your feet when you’re on the road.
Dryness
Sweating is a normal activity when working out, especially when road cycling. When you wear gloves, the material absorbs your sweat, making them less slippery when trying to keep a handle on your bike and the way it moves.
Also, hands aren’t the only place that sweats. Our whole body expels moisture so, if you aren’t wearing the right helmet/visor combo, that sweat will trickle into your eyes and blur your vision.
If you don’t wear a headband, bandana, or some type of hat, your sweat will start to pour. In times like that, gloves are great for wiping it away.
What You Should Look For
So, you’ve decided you need some gloves for cycling. Well, we’ve put together a list of what you should consider when deciding which gloves are the best for you.
Fingers Or No Fingers?
There are cycling gloves with fingers and those without. Which do you think would be best for you? Typically road riders like gloves without fingers in the warm weather and gloves with fingers for cold riding. However, mountain bikers use gloves with fingers year-round for protection from gravel and branches.
No Fingers
Fingers
Do They Fit?
Your gloves shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. They should be snug and not slip off or cause hand numbness through circulation loss.
Padding
Padding is a personal choice; try them on and see how you feel.
How To Choose The Right Gloves For You
We live in an internet world and, if you are anything like me, you read these articles and choose the option that best fits your needs. Just be aware of what those needs are. Here are a few suggestions on ways to find those needs.
Where Do You Ride?
Urban cycling is a completely different beast than mountain biking. Both come with their own set of risks and challenges, but the needs are different. A mountain bike glove needs fingers to protect hands from hand numbness and the elements, so fingerless gloves are out.
If the weather in your area tends to be warm or hot, then fingers would add to your body heat, and half finger or fingerless gloves would be your best option.
How Often?
Durable material is important when you think of how long you will be holding onto those handlebars. You don’t want to purchase gloves that could wear away easily.
What about your hands? If you ride for extended periods, you might be better off padding to cushion your skin and knuckles.
Style?
Even if you aren’t a fashionista, you can match clothes and have a personal style. Your gloves should reflect that style. While most gloves are black, some come with stripes or other style options. If you have to wear it, you might as well like the way it looks.
Top 5 Cycling Gloves Reviews
Now that we’ve covered what cycling gloves are, the features they offer, and the benefits of wearing them, we are going to move on to our top five choices for cycling gloves. There are features in each you might find similar, while some have aspects unique to that brand. However, all these choices are good for women and men alike.
Here we go with the top 5 cycling gloves.
ZOOKKI Cycling Gloves
The first gloves on our list are made for biking and most sports. While these have fingers, they resemble winter gloves and seem like they have good insulation. They’re designed for support with comfortable compression to keep your hands in good shape.
Made of microfiber leather yet they come with touch recognition, which means you can access your smartphone without removing them. They are also made of lycra fabric with a triple mesh cloth on the outside, which provides more protection and comfort.
The palm area has even more padding with silica gel pads sewn in. The thumb portion is made of terry cloth, so you can easily wipe sweat with it.
Pros
- Full coverage for cold weather and mountainous terrain
- Extra padding in the palm
- Comfortable compression
- Terry cloth is easy to carry
- Good support
Cons
- May wear out quickly
- Sizes may run small
Who Should Purchase These?
These gloves would be a great mountain bike glove for rough roads and cold temperatures. They have layers for coverage and are made with excess sweating in mind.
Steel Sweat Crossfit Gloves
Next, we have a set of gloves that look quite different. This is because of the big hole in the back and the absence of finger coverings. Yet, these gloves claim to have a greater grip and control than the gloves used by professional weight lifters.
Made from a fabric that offers optimal breathability, particularly in the palms, these gloves also absorb sweat, which stops our hands from slipping around. They are also lightweight, which is great when working out.
Even though there are perforations, the material is padded to protect from calluses and blisters. These gloves are washable, too.
Pros
- Breathable fabric
- Perforation in palms for extra breathability
- Sweat absorbing
- Padding in palms
- Lightweight
Cons
- Can wear out
- Material isn’t top quality
Who Should Purchase These?
These gloves would be great for someone who rides on the roads in the heat. That could include mail deliverers, urban riders, racers, and anyone who likes to ride around their neighborhood when the weather is warm.
Cevapro Touch Screen Gloves
Next, we have a pair that fully covers your hands like the first pair we reviewed. Yet, these gloves are made from different materials (95% polyester and 5% spandex). This means that they are not only durable, but they also stretch well.
There is a double fleece liner in these gloves, which provides substantial warmth and breathability. The materials are lightweight and pull moisture away from the skin, which is wonderful when you are sweating.
They also come with sensitive touchscreen tips on the index finger and the thumb, making smartphone use a breeze. Additionally, it has a snug elastic wrist cuff, and they are water-resistant and windproof.
Pros
- Fleece for warmth
- Touchscreen sensitivity for smartphone use
- Moisture-wicking
- Breathability
- Water-resistant and windproof
Cons
- Touchscreen usage isn’t the best
- Fingers can rub together, and it takes getting used to
Who Should Purchase These?
Winter riders need gloves like these. You can use them when you aren’t riding as well. They offer warmth with fleece, which is a material that bikers cling to during the cold months. The sweat absorption and smartphone availability make these more attractive for everyday use and not just when riding.
HTZPLOO Bike Gloves
These gloves are missing the fingers, which is a big trend in biking when it’s warm outside. Made from 55% polyester and 45% nylon, these gloves breathe well no matter what the heat throws at you. The added padding should absorb the shock of riding and make road cycling easier on the hands.
When you sweat, you shouldn’t slip due to the silicone gel on the palm. HTZPLOO gloves also come with small loops on the fingers so you can pull them off without making them turn inside out.
There is also a towel cloth sewn into the thumb so you can wipe the sweat off your brow. They come in five sizes ranging from small (2.95-3.11 “) to XXL (4.13-4.52”).
Pros
- Breathable material
- Padding that absorbs the shock
- Increased grip
- Towel cloth for wiping sweat
- Comes in five sizes
Cons
- Not as comfortable
- Makes hand hot
Who Should Purchase These?
This pair would be a good choice for the serious urban rider. Having a breathable glove that provides padding for my tired hands sounds perfect. Plus, the sweat-absorbing material on the thumb is an excellent bonus.
GEARONIC TM New Fashion Cycling Gloves
Our last pair of gloves are also missing their fingertips made from heavy-duty materials. There’s extra padding in the palms made from foam, which makes them comfortable.
The mesh backing makes these gloves breathable and cozy when riding. It’s designed for quality compression that isn’t too tight but offers support for the fingers and palm. They are also versatile for the new rider or the professional.
Gearonic™ New Fashion Cycling gloves come in size for men, women, and children. They can be used in warm and cold weather and for different sporting activities.
Pros
- Durable
- Breathable fabric
- Padding for the palms
- Compression support for the fingers
- Wearable in all types of weather
Cons
- Too tight if you get the wrong size
- Threads might come undone
Who Should Purchase These?
This pair of gloves are great for anyone out there who is new to biking. They are also a wonderful choice for any child who loves biking.
Conclusion
Our hands do quite a bit for us. So let’s take care of them while riding around the world.
Do you wear cycling gloves? If so, what do you find most helpful? Let us know in the comments section below.
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