First Time Glove Buyer Needs Advice

Hi All. I am buying my first ever pair of riding gloves to wear this Spring/Summer. I am doing my first ever organized bike ride/event in June and it will be 30 miles (longest I've ever gone). I've been to a few LBS and tried on all sorts of gloves (fingerless), both women's and men's styles/sizes. On many of the cardboard tags that the gloves are usually attached to I see an image of what I think is supposed to be a thermostat with a snowflake on it. It's to indicate how well the glove does to keep you warm. Here's the thing - I don't want winter gloves, but summer/hot weather gloves. Are summer gloves that much different than winter gloves (assuming they're all fingerless)? I found a pair I like, but their tag indicates that they're for keeping my hands fairly warm. Do I want warm hands when I'm out riding and it's already 85? The ones I'm thinking of buying are the Pearl Izumi Select Gel Glove (women's).

I'm trying not to over think this, so just smack me if I am! :)

If they are sorta like these...

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPI_14241102.html

I think the cool symbol is refering to the keeping palms cool during sweating. You can click on the technical link when you read the description.

So, yes, if they are fingerless gloves... they should be for warm weather riding. The important thing is if they fit you well, and are comfortable.

I like PI gloves. Mine are not these funky colors. But ones I wear. Think I'm on my third pair now. Repeat purchase.

Happy Shopping:).

I've suffered from nerve issues with my hands and have always used Pearl Izumi Gel Vents. TE has them as well.

Oh, thanks for the quick reply! Yes, those are the ones! I tried on the PI Elite Gel Vent Glove and thought that the padding was too thick. I had one of each glove on each hand and I straddled a bike in the shop and had both hands on the handle bars and really like the thinner gel padding in the Select Gel Gloves.
Okay then, I think they will be fine!
Cheers.

I would just like to add a late +1 for the gloves with the "quick removal" tabs. They are usually little extra flaps of cloth over the ends of the 2 middle fingers. Or along the outside of the 2nd to last finger. These allow you to pull the gloves off of sweaty hands quick and easily - without turning them inside out.

Denise

That's a good point Hulagirl. I have weight lifting gloves that have that type of tab, but the PI gloves I tried and liked do NOT have them. Hmmmm. I might have to further my search. Thanks. ;)

It might take you a few tries to find your perfect gloves. Just start with something that seems to fit, feels pretty good in the store, and is within your budget. Next time, you'll know more about what you like.

Also, what you like might change.

I have a few pairs of PI gloves and to tell you the truth I found a pair of performance womans gloves and I like them better. You can get fingerless gloves and wear wool or liners under them for our still cold (snow anyone) weather. Good luck!

I prefer the less expensive glove with less padding and try to avoid any gel padding if I can. I wash my gloves a lot and the expensive ones with gel don't hold up well. +1 on the gloves with the tabs for pulling them off your hands.

gloves can get tricky, 9 times out of 10 I ride glove-less because the padding is just not where it needs to be, so it may end up being a trial and error thing...the gloves may feel nice in the store but 20+ miles in they might not feel so hot.

I think picking out gloves is subjective to various factors. I own about 8 pairs of gloves...seriously. Half of them I no longer wear and demote them down to wearing for spin classes only. Some like lots of padding, others like very little padding, and some like no padding at all. I've tried just about every level of padding in gloves, and I still haven't really concluded how much padding I prefer. PI gloves don't rank very high on my list. I've had several pairs and none of them seem to suit me quite right. I've also tried several pairs of Giro gloves, which I probably would not buy again. The single pair of gloves that did stand out for me, were the Spenco Ironman T.2 Elite. I wore those for almost an entire season before they really started looking ratty - gloves don't last very long...if I get 1 season out of them I consider it decent. But they do have generous padding, but more importantly I think, is the placement of the padding...it just seems to work for me on the Ironman gloves.

I have found that a lot of the less expensive women's gloves either have too much padding, or it is in the wrong place. I DO like PI Gel Vent gloves, but have found some small men's Gore gloves that I like much better.

I cannot seem to find the gloves on Gore's website, so will post a picture tonight after I get home and go for a ride. I REALLY like them, the padding is minimal and what there is feels very good. There are also tabs to help get the gloves off.

I have a pair of Specialized BG gloves I've been using for 5 years. :eek: They will not die. I wash them at least weekly in summer. I alternate them with a few other pairs, but they are still my favorites. They have a really nice absorbent fleecy fabric (for nose wiping) which is divine. :rolleyes: Really, it's all about that for me. I'm a runner, and I don't mean marathons. :D

Okay,this is great advice. I'm going to spend time tomorrow going to some different LBS to try different brands. I see that Gore has some "summer" gloves I could try. I'm not in a big hurry, so I can go and try. I looked again and the PI gloves apparently DO have a tab to help pull off, however when I tried them on in the store I didn't notice it.
It's a good idea to probably just get the ones that feel the best, wear them, then I will learn more about what feels best.

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with this newby.

These are the gloves I love. Sorry for the quality of the photo, it could be better. The padding is actually quite light but is in all of the perfect places for my hands and doesn't bind or bunch up. These feel better than any gloves I've tried yet, though I know there are far more gloves out there than in my imagination :)

These are men's gloves, and are size small. I cannot seem to find them on Gore's site, so it may be that they have been discontinued.

Thanks for the photo. I can see them clearly with no problems. I went to a LBS tonight for a free "flat repair" class and tried on more gloves. I'll let you know what I finally decided. Thanks again.

Riding gloves are like bras. The moment you find a style you like, it'll be discontinued.

I have four pair of my current favorite glove, two pair which have yet to be worn. :cool:

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Originally Posted by jobob

Riding gloves are like bras. The moment you find a style you like, it'll be discontinued.

I have four pair of my current favorite glove, two pair which have yet to be worn. :cool:

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Ain't that the truth! I found a cheap pair of Cannondale gloves that I loved only to rip them and then not be able to replace them. I wish I'd had your foresight back then!

Oh that's funny! I'll keep that in mind. As I read your post I thought you were going to say, "once you try one on you'll know right away if it's the perfect fit" lol.

Okay...so I've been to 3 LBS and REI to try on bike gloves. At one place I tried on a pair of Specialized Women's Gel Gloves (fingerless & $35) and I LOVED them! I narrowed it down to two different gloves and had one brand on one hand and the other brand on my other hand I held on to handlebars and closed my eyes to focus on feel. I immediately knew that these will be the ones. It was the first of my four places I stopped and I resisted buying them until I finished my mission of trying on! So, my mission is complete and I am buying these gloves tomorrow! I will post pictures too.

Thanks to everyone who advised. You're all sort of like more experienced sisters....;)

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I wish I'd had your foresight back then!

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So did I, the first couple of times that happened to me!