BUYING CHECKLIST
Do they fit correctly?
A glove needs to fit like a… well, you know the rest. The body of the glove needs to feel evenly snug and secure across both the palm and the back of the hand, while the fingers and thumb of the glove need to be filled out without leaving masses of empty material. Check that any hard armour sits correctly when you make a fist. Ensure that the adjustment and wrist straps give a secure fit, so the glove can’t simply be pulled off. Decide whether you want the glove to go inside or outside your jacket, then check the two cuffs work well together.
Does it offer proper protection?
Knuckle protection comes in two forms: hard and soft. In our experience, hard knuckle armour with a padded backing is much more effective at absorbing and dispersing impact forces. A scaphoid protector on the heel of your palm can help protect one of the wrist’s most vulnerable bones — again, hard armour is preferable to soft but something is better than nothing. Cecertified gloves should have a label mentioning the directive ‘89/686/EEC’ — this is crucial if you plan on riding in France, where Ce-approved gloves have been mandatory since last summer.
Check the waterproofing
If you’re a determined all-year, all-weather rider, our experience suggests it’s worth paying the extra for gloves with Gore-tex. The best-known waterproofing membrane is a premium product (and gloves using it are typically priced as such) but it does tend to ensure an excellent combination of dryness, breathability and long-term durability. Own-brand membranes won’t necessarily be less waterproof, but they could make the glove feel slightly sweatier. However, for some riders, that can be a small sacrifice for the potential savings on offer.