Sugoi RC Pro Gloves

The design of the RC Pro mitts from Sugoi is based on the technologies used in the company's RC Pro chamois pad in terms of padding and positioning. Maybe you can sit on them if you've forgotten your bib shorts.

Joking aside, you can see the similarities when you look at the palms. There's padding at the back with a central relief channel and less padding at the front where it would cause bunching and discomfort. The two larger pads are near the wrist to protect against numbness of the ulnar nerve and they do a good job of removing road buzz and jolts from poor road surfaces. They're not as thick as the ones on the Formula FX we've also tested though. The gel is firm which I prefer as it it's too soft it can spread to places you don't want it.

Between the pads there is a central channel that runs up through the centre of the pad which makes sense as your palm tends to hollow there. You get more gel padding along the bottom of your fingers which again is slim but firm with another pad on the thumb. These are all positioned perfectly for riding on the hoods.

The rest of the palm is made of a 80/20% mix of polyester and polyurethane which is both comfortable and hardwearing. There are some ventilation holes around the mid palm which allows heat to escape and it works pretty well. The RC Pro gloves do seem to be cooler than ones with solid palms.

The uppers use Lycra as well as nylon to create an anatomical shape. This means they are a nice snug fit and using different panels means they move with your hand. The knit is a mesh so they are plenty cool enough on hot days and the elasticity of it means they are so easy to get on and off.

Holding them in place is a rubber tab with Velcro attached. It's narrow so doesn't get in the way when your hands are bent back at the wrist plus the length is spot on for the size of the gloves.

Overall the Sugoi RC Pros are a decent pair of mitts that are comfortable for long or short rides and offer good padding and ventilation. The build quality is good with robust stitching. They've stood up to plenty of miles and a couple of turns through the washing machine. On the whole the price pretty much reflects the quality and performance.

There are a couple of colour options, red/white and black/white, and sizes of S-XL

Verdict

Nicely made gloves that perform well in the comfort and breathability stakes