Best cycling gloves: We test 12 of the best short and long fingered options

A collage of the best cycling gloves
(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)

The best cycling gloves, or track mitts, as they are commonly known, have been worn by cyclists for decades to protect their hands and provide extra comfort on the bike. The humble track mitt or short-fingered glove is one of the few pieces of cycling equipmꦓent that has stayed the same over the years. 

We use our hands constantly when cycling. When gripping the handlebar tape and gear and brake levers, wiping our faces, drinking, repairing mechanicals, and wrenching on the bars when sprinting or climbing a steep hill. Cycling gloves can also protect the skin on our hands, particularly in the event of a crash, and add grip and comfort. 🦋Winter cycling gloves do the job of keeping our hands warm in the cold, but when summer arrives, gloves are still very valuable. 

Best Overall

➕ Very comfortable design
➕ Simple, classic styling
➖ No dedicated thumb wipe panel

The Rapha Core Mitts are $50/£40, cheaper than the top-end Pro Tram mitts, but they pack a real punch. They are avai🅰lable in black and navy, in XS-XXL sizes, and each glove features a simple, classic white Rapha logo.🐭 The styling work for on or off-road riding.  

A pe🧸rforated mesh fabric on the back provides great comfort and cooling, whilst a synthetic, lightly padded suede palm provides solid levels of comfort and grip. The gloves are lightly compressive but remain really comfy everywhere, which isn't always the case. 

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Rapha Core Mitts in-depth review.

Best budget gloves

➕ Great value for the features included
➕ Nice Terry cloth thumb wipe panel
➕ Ample Gel palm padding

The Xtract mitts from the Scottish brand En𝓰dura are good quality mitts that have some design features I value. 

The Xtract mitts come in four bright colours an🍬d are competitively priced. They are the only gloves in the test to feature a velcro🐟 wrist closure strap. Seemingly a rare design choice of late for brands but one that makes getting the gloves on and off really easy. 

There's a generous Terry nose wipe 💮panel on the thumb, which really helps if you need to wipe your nose or face. There's also gel palm padding overlaid with a silicone grip. If you wa♏nt a solid pair of gloves that won't break the bank, look no further.