Altura Sportive 97 Mitts

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?

From the Altura website: "Celebrating 20 years of performance cycling, Altura deliver their sportive mitt with strapless cuff construction and easy removal finger pull tabs."

I didn't find the finger pull tabs all that easy to pull, actually, but apart from that it's a lovely pair of gloves to use.

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

Altura Dry™ technology enhanced breathability and wicking through perforated palm panels and flexmesh upper panels

* Altura Ergofit™ 3D patterning delivers a palm with less fabric and therefore fewer creases for a more comfortable fit

* Silicon grip print: enhanced grip through silicon palm

* Strategically positioned microfibre sweat wipe

* Easy removal finger pull tabs

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Made in Indonesia. It's mostly adequate but the single-stitching on the fingers isn't the best.

Very nice and comfortable to wear, lightly padded in all the right places, and there was no rubbing or pressure points. The "Flexmesh" backs are quite breathable but not all that vented, so some people might find them a bit warm on hotter days.

After a few weeks' testing they're holding up fine, but over the longer term I fear my constant plucking at them to get them off will split one of those single-stitched finger seams. The backs show signs of plucking. This is so common in road mitts as to be almost beneath mention. Anyway, at under £20 it's more than acceptable.

I often take an XL glove but found the L sent to me fit very well with no creasing or wrinkling in the palm. It did make them a bit difficult to remove though.

I'm not too sure about Altura's sizing guide, which tells you to measure your hand from the base of the thumb to the tip of the middle finger – 21-25cm for large!

Otherwise, I found this about correct for a large.

Unless you are looking for something super-ventilated, there's little to worry about here.

This is what its all about with gloves, and Altura scores top marks here.

If it fits it will be worn a lot and therefore £20 is very good value.

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

Fine, and no Velcro involved so it doesn't attach itself to other garments in the wash.

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

They look good, especially with the matching jersey, fit closely and prevented sore hands, even on rides of 60 miles or more.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fit and comfort, good padding and a soft back.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It was a fiddle to get them off, even with the finger pull tabs.

Use this box to explain your score

Any glove stands or falls on comfort and this one excelled in that area. It helps to have a close fit, which prevents any wrinkling in the palm. The padding is well positioned and the elasticated wrist doesn't cut in or rub. Altogether, very nice to wear and ride in, and taking the price into account too, I think a 9 is fully justified.