One of the main features of the Mondo gloves is that they keep your hands cooler than most. That's largely down to the centre of the palm being a mesh panel that Louis Garneau call the Ergo Air Zone – a small window in the Amara synthetic leather. There are also lots of vent holes in the palms, most of them going right through the gel padding.
The majority of those holes are covered most of the time when you're gripping the bars or the hoods, but some of them are always open – which ones depends on your hand position – so you do get some additional air conditioning here compared to most other mitts.
The backs are similarly well ventilated, the white sections being stretchy Lycra Power fabric and the black areas being a highly breathable mesh. The overall result is that your hands usually remain cool in these mitts, and even when they do sweat, the moisture can escape quickly. It's not a massive difference compared to most other summer gloves but it's certainly discernible, and if you do tend to get sweaty hands in hot summer weather, these are worth considering.
The padding is very good. You get gel strips across the base of your fingers and right across the heel of your hand. Crucially, the meatiest padding protects your ulnar nerve and I've never experienced any numbness or tingling in the hands while wearing these, or any aching towards the end of long rides. They're really comfortable.
The backs are seamless; the various sections are bonded together rather than stitched so there are no pressure points there. I wondered whether this would be a weakness but after several weeks of regular use and a few trips through the washing machine there are no signs that this is going to happen. I also thought the silicone discs on two of the fingers of each glove – designed to help you get them off easily – might come a cropper after a while, but that doesn't look likely either.
Problems? The sweat/nose wipe on the thumb is tiny so you have to be a pretty good shot to make it count, and the stitching has come undone next to one of the Velcro fasteners - I should get out a needle and cotton and repair that. And after getting energy drink, chain lube and various other forms of gunk on them, the palms will never be completely white again. They look lived in rather than knackered, but I'd still go for the black version instead.
Very comfortable summer gloves with effective gel padding and good ventilation.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Louis Garneau Mondo gloves
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?
Louis Garneau say, "The Mondo Gloves have a vented gel padding that is engineered to relieve pressure of the median and ulnar nerves, reduce shock, and offer superior ventilation. A seamless upper hand prevents irritation, relieves pressure points, and allows no bulge. Edges of the fingers are laser cut for minimal bulk.
FABRICS:
- Upper hand: Lycra Power - Mesh
- Palm: Digitalized Amara - Amara
DETAILS:
- Seamless back with Air Zone vent
- Progressive and perforated gel padding
- Lightweight microfiber thumb made of open cell foam
- Laser cut fingers
- Integrated silicone finger puller
- Ergonomic Velcro fastener
- Low profile cuff pull tab
- Reflective fingers
- Ergo Air Zone
- Pre-shaped
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The palms are made of Amara which is a synthetic suede microfibre. It closely resembles leather in terms of its look, feel, durability and air permeability.
The Velcro is the smart type that doesn't stick to anything and everything – just to what it's supposed to stick to. It does't catch on the Lycra used for the back of the mitts, for example.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Those Amara palms are really hardy and the bonded seams, which I thought might be a weakness, are not at all.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
9/10
Great comfort courtesy of the gel padding and good ventilation.
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Towards the upper end of the scale for fingerless mitts but not mega-pricey and good materials justify the cost.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The main points are that these provide effective padding and good ventilation.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The gel padding is good at reducing vibration and it's well placed to avoid hand numbness.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The sweat/nose wipe is tiny.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Would certainly consider it.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Age: 41 Height: 190cm Weight: 75kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,
This is why I question the utility of shared-use paths; you're constantly dodging flamethrower-dogs and their operators. Mind you, they're...
If the police only consider that worthy of a warning letter, then I'd have no confidence there's any deterrent to stop that happening again....
It does seem a bit ridiculous having an outright ban on cycles at all times, yet permit holders can drive down there whenever they like and...
Well, yes, that's kinda my point. I think stating that "Norway is socialist" is a questionable perspective. I'd say it was a Nordic social...
The Be Calm section - 100% ...
Now, if we're talking gravel bikes, that's a whole different story. Gimme, gimme, gimme! Apologies for the Facebook link....
The police are operationally independent, in fact the regional Police and Crime Commissioners have to swear in their oath of office that they will...
"'Right", said Fred, "we'll 'ave to get a move on…"
Thanks for the review. I like that Orbea have included aero extras and wish more manufacturers would stick two fingers up at the UCI - at least in...
Excellent - I think I'll replace my emergency tube that is a real squeeze to get into the little Topeak bottle cage bag thingy....