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review
Bontrager Race Gel Women's Gloves£24.99
VERDICT:
Padding in places you never thought you would need it, but won't want to live without
Weight:
38g
Contact:
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.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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It really isn't the time of year for fingerless gloves, but Bontrager Race Gel Women's Gloves are a little bit special and great for indoor training over winter.
On first viewing the Bontrager Race Gel gloves appear well made and stylish. And a few wears and washes down the line, they look just as good. They are very lightweight and the material is thin on top but thicker synthetic leather on the bottom.
In comparison to other gloves I've used, they appear bulkier and feel it when on. Yet as soon as you put your hands on your bike, the design becomes obvious and the padding feels great.
Made with memory foam padding and gel, the gloves make for a very comfortable ride. The gel sits along the base of the fingers and all along the thumb, with the foam sitting on your palm. There is also a well placed vent on the underside of the gloves.
The tested pair were blur blue floral, but the gloves also come in black floral, white lines or persimmon lines.
They are easy to pull on and off when in real time use and come with a hook and loop fastener. The gloves feel very well made and should easily last a long time.
I rode with them on indoors because they are designed for warmer day riding rather than winter. They dealt with sweaty palms pretty well and seemed to vent it out and absorb it. The material on the top of the gloves is thin and porous so air could circulate well.
It takes a little getting used to the extra bulk around the base of your fingers when it comes to breaking and changing gear. It's neither uncomfortable or difficult, just noticeable.
The extra padding is a blessing. Bontrager claim the gloves are 'pressure-dispersing' and they really are. After two hours on my trainer my hands felt great. Riding indoors usually means I keep my hands in pretty much the same position (which is bad I know) and the gloves proved their worth.
In terms of price, at £24.99, these are a good buy. You will probably get them cheaper if you shop around though. And they will see you through spring, summer and autumn. Of course there are cheaper gloves, however the padding on these really works and makes them stand out.
Verdict
Padding in places you never thought you would need it, but won't want to live without
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: Bontrager Race Gel Women's Gloves
Size tested: Blue 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?
Bontrager say "Treat your hands to the next generation of inForm padding, pairing the pressure-dispersing properties of memory foam and the long-term durability and comfort of gel
inForm design with gel and memory foam provides great durability, reduces pressure on the ulnar nerve, helping to eliminate discomfort and hand numbness". The gel and foam provided me with excellent padding and a comfortable ride. I never suffer from numb hands in general but do occasionally get a tingling sensation. I admit I never felt this once during any of my test rides.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Synthetic leather palm provides great durability
Pieced palm for a no-bunch fit
Soft nose wipe on thumb
Palm venting for summer day comfort
Hook-and-loop closure and molded pull-on feature for easy on and off
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
The gloves feel very well made and wash after wash, came out perfect.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
The gel and memory foam do as Bontrager claim.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
9/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
10/10
These are extremely comfortable gloves.
Rate the product for value:
8/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The gloves preformed really well in terms of what they offered. They did relieve pressure on my hands, making longer sessions easier.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I liked the well placed padding.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
About the tester
Age: 34 Height: 158cms Weight: 61kg
I usually ride: Giant defy My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Under 5 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,
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