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Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gel Glove

8
£34.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Well made, windproof and warm gloves for intermediate temperatures and lighter showers
Weight: 
96g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gel Gloves are well made, decent looking and offer good protection from wind and even showers, although they could perhaps be a little easier to take off.

The gloves are Pearl Izumi's model for middling temperatures, ranging from 5 to 15 degrees, so are best suited to milder winter days and autumn/spring riding.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Thanks to the Elite Softshell fabric on the back of the hand, they kept my hands warm even below the recommended temperature range, helped by the slightly fleecy lining.

This softshell material is also designed to keep your hands relatively dry. In lighter rain there was never an issue, but there were a couple of times when my hands got soaked after a particularly heavy downpour. However, even though they were wet my hands didn't get especially cold, as what the material may lack in total waterproofing it makes up for in windproofing, even when the gloves are sodden.

As the name suggests, one of the key selling points of these gloves is the use of gel pads on the palms for comfort while riding. There are five across the palm: a large one on the outside of the palm, two under the thumb and two under the knuckles. These provide cushioning on rough roads but are firm enough not to remove all road feel, which you need for control.

Elsewhere on the palm there are grippers on the first two fingers, which work well to help maintain grip on the shifters in the wet. The first finger and thumb are also made from 'conductive synthetic leather', which means the gloves can be used with smartphones, bike computers and the like. These work well; I didn't have any difficulty in using either my iPhone or touchscreen Garmin while wearing the gloves, even in the wet.

> Read our guide to finding the best cycling gloves for winter

They fit well too, and keep out cold air nicely, not only because of the decent fabric choice but also thanks to the closure system, which reaches back further around the wrist than many gloves and creates a tight bond with a Velcro-style flap. The long cuffs certainly help to keep warm air in and cold out, but with this additional slightly elasticated material it makes the gloves more difficult than some to take off. Given that the fit of the gloves is relatively close and there are no pull tabs, it can take a while to remove them, though it's worth it for the extra protection you get.

As for value, £35 seems about right for a pair of well made, warm gloves, especially ones with some good innovative features such as the smartphone-friendly fingers and gripper pads, plus decent material choice.

I'm a fan. The Cyclones fit well, the materials used are well chosen, and they seem well made. Perhaps they could be more waterproof, but they were only really found wanting in torrential rain, and even then the windproofing stopped my hands from getting too cold.

Verdict

Well made, windproof and warm gloves for intermediate temperatures and lighter showers

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gel Glove

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A pair of windproof and showerproof gloves for spring, autumn and milder winter days.

Pearl Izumi says: 'Our most popular cool weather cycling glove, the men's Cyclone, adds touch screen compatibility while retaining its renowned fit, protection, and comfortable 1:1 Gel padding. For intermediate weather conditions the Cyclone Gel Glove is the discerning cyclist's choice.'

I'd say this is an accurate description: they provide an impressive level of protection, fit well and are well made.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

ELITE Softshell fabric on back of hand provides superior wind and water protection

Conductive synthetic leather on index finger and thumb works with touch screen devices

1:1 GEL Padding creates bridges over Ulnar and Median nerves for superior riding comfort

1:1 Glove fit maximizes finger dexterity for shifting and braking

Synthetic leather is soft and durable

Hook and loop closure

Long gauntlet design keeps wrists warm and prevents air leakage

Reflective elements for low–light visibility

Soft, windproof fleece wiping surface on thumb

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Very well made, with strong stitching, good material choice and some smart elements like touchscreen compatibility.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

They are comfortable, kept the warm in and the cold out.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Strong stitching and decent material choices make these gloves dependable and durable.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

They fit like a...

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

The medium fitted exactly as I expected.

Rate the product for weight:
 
5/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

The long cuffs and slightly fleecy inners are very comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

About where I would expect them to be.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

No problems in a 30 degree wash.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, kept my hands warm and dry (unless it was in a horrific downpour).

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The windproofing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not totally waterproof.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

A good pair of gloves that have decent windproofing, waterproofing and comfort, easily justifying an 8.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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