Recommendation for road cycling gloves with the least padding

[SadieKate]

After nearly 3 years, I got back on a road bike which means my already aging Assos gloves also saw the light of day again. I need to replace them but it looks as if Assos has added padding to their summer gloves.

Can anyone recommend a short-fingered road glove with absolutely minimal padding? I like a thin even layer of foam throughout the palm with no zones, no gel, no pillows of anything.

Thanks!

[maillotpois]

I also like no padding, so here are a couple of suggestions - when I get to a real computer I will try to find and link the specific models:

Sadly, i think I bought all the craft gloves I could fine when I was in Bend. They have zero padding.

I have a pair of capo leather gloves with minimal padding. http://www.competitivecyclist.com/product-apparel/2012-capo-msr-sf-pittards-glove-11182.13.1.html

I also have a pair of castellis similar tot he craft (slip on, no Velcro straps) which fit the bill ok.

PI used to make a "race lite" or some such named glove but I have not seen them in years.

It is so hard to find non padded gloves, I buy a bunch and wear them til they are in tatters.

[SadieKate]

I thought you might have some input. Sounds like your gloves are almost as old as mine. Tatters is right.

These look interesting. http://www.competitivecyclist.com/product-apparel/2012-castelli-s.-uno-glove-10866.301.0.html

Are these the Craft gloves you have?
http://shop.craftsports.us/women/gloves/active-bike-glove-men-bright-red-2-colors.html

It sure looks like Assos has added padding (and $).
http://www.glorycycles.com/asprgl.html

[maillotpois]

I age those castellis look worth a try. Those are not the same craft gloves - mine don't have finger pulls and those look to have padding.

The capo pittards say they have foam padding, but I can tell you it is hardly noticeable.

[pinsonp2]

Giro Zero gloves have no padding and might be worth looking into.

P2

[SadieKate]

And they aren't 5 million dollars (per finger :rolleyes:)!

What about that seam on the palm at the base of the thumb? I ride 90% on the hoods and that's the pressure point for me.

http://www.giro.com/us_en/products/men/gloves/zero.html

[ny biker]

Pearl Izumi Pittards gloves have very little padding. I don't know if theyre available in WSD. I just bought a pair of the men's gloves to use for weight lifting.

[SadieKate]

Hmm, I haven't seen a PI in years that was thin enough but, then, I haven't been paying attention to road cycling stuff either. Maybe I'll just go hit the PI outlet this week before ordering anything.

Generally, whether a short-fingered road glove has a men's or women's version isn't a concern. Any kind of full finger and, yeah, I have to have a women's version.

In the midst of all this, I've also discovered that I have to replace my Sidi road shoes. With all the winter time running (NOT age!), my feet have grown a bit. Sigh.

Getting some good possibilities in this thread. Thanks, everyone.

[maillotpois]

Oh - those Giro gloves look great.

I'm using Giro shoes right now and really like them. The red men's Factors are stunning in person. With my huge feet, I didn't have the chutzpah to go for red, so I went for white. :rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

But what do you wear between Labor and Memorial Day?

[maillotpois]

But what do you wear between Labor and Memorial Day?

Well then I suppose you have to go for the red.

[Crankin]

I have several pairs of Botranger gloves in a style without *any* padding. I can't find them on line to show you, but they come in women's sizes and cost $40.00. They are never on sale, but I was desperate to find gloves without gel or padding and they are perfect.

[Owlie]

I don't know if this meets your needs, but the PI Gel Vent gloves don't have anything I'd call padding. It's really just a piece of plastic that's firm and flexible with a little give.

[SallyRides]

Have you tried riding with no gloves? That's what I do. I can't reach down and wipe off my tires if I ride over glass, but, honestly, that is the only drawback I've ever noticed. I've been riding gloveless (when it's warm enough) for over 5 years now. My hands are happy. I feel like I have a better grip on the hoods/handlebars then with the sweaty, slippery gloves. No sweaty, stinky glove stench when I'm done. And no weird tan lines. :rolleyes: Not that those were a big deal, but still, nice to avoid. I tried all sorts of different gloves. Padded, unpadded. None were as comfortable as no gloves at all.

SR

[Blueberry]

Have you tried riding with no gloves? That's what I do. I can't reach down and wipe off my tires if I ride over glass, but, honestly, that is the only drawback I've ever noticed. I've been riding gloveless (when it's warm enough) for over 5 years now. My hands are happy. I feel like I have a better grip on the hoods/handlebars then with the sweaty, slippery gloves. No sweaty, stinky glove stench when I'm done. And no weird tan lines. :rolleyes: Not that those were a big deal, but still, nice to avoid. I tried all sorts of different gloves. Padded, unpadded. None were as comfortable as no gloves at all.

SR

I've crashed too many times to ride with no gloves. I have no desire for roadrash on my palms - I sort of need those to work, and when I crash I tend to land on them.

I need to look for some new minimal gloves too. The gel ones I wore this weekend were causing numbness issues.

[Crankin]

OK, these are the gloves I have:

http://pedpow.com/product/bontrager-sport-wsd-gloves-76692-1.htm

It says there is closed cell foam in them, but really, they are almost flat. Every other glove i have tried caused numbness and increasing hand pain. I started off using the basic Terry gloves, even went up in size, but it didn't help.

[SadieKate]

Those Bontragers are the only gloves of all the recommendations that I've actually found in person so far. Way too much seaming and partitioning going on.

Yes, I've ridden without gloves: 1) too slippery and I get blisters and 2) gloves are for protection from crashes and the sun.

I haven't made it to the PI Outlet yet (too many other fun things going on this weekend). If they don't have anything, I'll probably have to mail order a bunch and hope.

[Becky]

I have a pair of Giordana Silverline gloves (http://www.amazon.com/Giordana-Silverline-Cycling-Gloves-GI-GLOV-SILV-SILV/dp/B000KX8Z2M) that I really like. They're not padding-free, but it's pretty minimal. Alas, I'm not sure that they're making them anymore.

[malkin]

I just ordered two more pairs of my favorite R J Classics gloves. Plain leather palms, no padding, cotton crochet backs, made for some equestrian purpose, about ten bucks.

I love them.

[ny biker]

I've actually decided to return the PI Pittards gloves. Giant seem running across the palm. My princess-and-the-pea skin will not deal well with it.

[nscrbug]

I've actually decided to return the PI Pittards gloves. Giant seem running across the palm. My princess-and-the-pea skin will not deal well with it.

Oh crap!!! Wish I had seen this sooner....I just ordered a pair of these TODAY...ughhh. Along with a pair of Giro Zero gloves. I hope the Giro's don't have any funky seams on the palms.

I rode 87 gloveless miles today. Other than my palms being tender and red, my hands didn't feel all that terrible. Some minor tingling in the fingers on both hands, but nothing as bad as how they normally feel when I'm wearing heavily padded gloves. I'm beginning to think that my fingers just don't like having any type of snug and constricting material around them. Which makes me wonder if even the non-padded Giro gloves will work.

[SadieKate]

Just popping in to say thanks to everyone providing input. Bubba and I haven't had the time to track down all the recommendations. He's in the same boat I am so we'll probably try to consolidate our orders.

[nscrbug]

I've actually decided to return the PI Pittards gloves. Giant seem running across the palm. My princess-and-the-pea skin will not deal well with it.

ACK! I'm in total agreement with you! My PI Pittards and Giro Zero gloves arrived on Friday. Rode 63 with the Giro's yesterday...not too bad, think they might be a "keeper". Tried the PI Pro Pittards on today's 100-miler...OUCH! I felt that stupid seam on the palm, for every damn mile of that ride. :mad: They're going back for sure. I think I'll hang on to the Giro Zero gloves for another test ride tomorrow. I also ran across a non-padded mountain biking glove from Fox Racing called the Tahoe...might order a pair to give them a whirl.

Linda