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Giro Zero CS Mitts

8
£29.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Very good minimalist design for those who like to feel everything coming through the handlebar
Weight: 
24g

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 Zero CS gloves are Giro's latest version of its pro-level glove for riders who want minimalism when it comes to their hand coverings. You get a small amount of protection should you crash but with none of the ride feel from the bike taken away.

  • Pros: Great breathability, excellent fit, like riding bare-handed
  • Cons: Minimal crash protection, the white gets dirty quickly

Now this is my kind of glove. A pair of mitts that are so thin you lose nothing from the ride through thick gel padding, with such a good cut and fit that there is no bunching of any material or irritation from Velcro cuff fasteners. If you've read some of my other glove reviews you'll know that I often ride with bare hands because I like as close a connection to the bike as I can get, and these are about the best I've found.

> Find your nearest dealer here

With a thin mesh upper these mitts have been great during the recent heatwave, letting the breeze remove any sweat and heat from your hands as it passes over. The fabric has a close fit but with so much stretch that it moves with your hand, never feeling overly compressive.

The fingers are snug too, to stop any slippage, but the thumb gets a more relaxed fit for unlimited movement and I found the contrast very comfortable.

The fabric used for the palm isn't exactly a lot thicker than the upper but it's tough enough to offer some abrasion resistance and it's really well cut. Don't expect a whole lot of padding, though. High-wear areas, where you are going to be holding the handlebar, are covered, and the heel of your hand – the part that is likely to hit the tarmac first – has a more robust material to stop road rash.

giro_zero_cs_white_cycling_mitts_-_palm.jpg

The cuff section is quite large and uses a section of fabric with a high elastane level which fits snug. This means that once on everything stays in place so you don't need any straps or anything for retention.

On the palm side there is a small tab for pulling them on, and for removal there are finger tabs but unlike most gloves they are on the top rather than between the fingers. It's a clever design as I often find loops and the like between or beneath the fingers can get in the way when riding. You need them, too, as getting the gloves on and off can be a little tricky because of the close fit.

giro_zero_cs_white_cycling_mitts_-_back.jpg

As usual, less costs more, but the Giros at £29.99 aren't overly expensive considering the quality and performance. In a similar vein are the Lizard Skins Aramus Elite gloves which'll set you back £25 for minimal padding. If you want some kind of shock absorbancy then there are the GC versions for £30.

> Read more road.cc reviews of summer mitts here

Size-wise there is a good spread: S-XXL, or 178mm to 267mm palm circumference. There are quite a few colour options too: Dazzle Black Reflective, Blue Jewel, White, Black/Highlight Yellow and Black.

The only thing I'd say about the white is that they don't stay clean for very long, you'll be washing them after every ride, but fair play to them they do scrub up okay.

Verdict

Very good minimalist design for those who like to feel everything coming through the handlebar

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Giro Zero CS White Cycling Mitts

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Giro says, "The Zero™ CS is the latest version of our pro-level glove for riders who want the ultimate in ventilation, control, bar feel and durability. The supple, micro-vented Cool Skin™ palm is matched with a moisture wicking 4-way stretch woven upper that offers compression and an exceptional fit, so that the glove practically disappears when you put it on. With materials that can handle being thrown in the washer after a big ride, these gloves will always be ready for race day."

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

From Giro:

Palm

Super Fit™ engineered three-panel design, Cool Skin™ palm, Microfiber heel patch

Upper

Lightweight, slip-on design, Moisture-wicking 4-way stretch woven backhand, Fingertip tear-off pockets, Highly absorbent microfiber wiping surface - 54% Nylon, 25% Spandex, 21% Polyester

Padding

none

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Sizing was spot on to Giro's chart.

Rate the product for weight:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

The white colour takes a lot of washing but they did come up clean every time.

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

They deliver exactly what Giro has specced them to do.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Barely feels like you are wearing mitts.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The white gets grubby quickly.

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 overall score

The quality, performance and fit are absolutely spot on: they're very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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