Rapha Womens Grand Tour Gloves

OK, so £100 is a lot of dosh for a pair of cycling gloves, especially a pair of short fingered road mitts so what's so special about the Grand Tour Gloves from Rapha, available in both women's and men's versions, and are they worth the extra wonga?

Well, for starters, they are handmade in England, so that in itself is going to whack a hefty premium on the price right from the off. They are made from 100% African Hair Sheep leather, which, while I don't actually know what an African Hair Sheep is (I'm seeing Brian May in sheep form) its leather is reputedly the softest glove leather available, and is also highly breathable and wicks moisture effectively. The padding is road-riding specific and mainly around the thumb and forefinger, a design based rather curiously on army marksman gloves. Seams are double stitched at high wear points. The backs of the gloves feature a perforated design, which doubles as ventilation, and they fasten with a simple Velcro cuff. The Grand Tour Glove from Rapha does just exude quality and it certainly looks the part too, available in pale grey/off white or black, both with contrast trims, it's a streamlined understated glove that wouldn't look out of place gripping the steering wheel of an Aston Martin.

They were comfortable right from the box, and Rapha claim comfort levels and looks both improve with age and wear so I am impressed. The fit is snug, with the gloves needing to be peeled off after wear, but this is how they are designed to be worn and removed so there's no problem with that. The padding isn't too noticeable, but does do the job very well, keeping road buzz to a minimum and protecting the palms nicely, even on a long day in the saddle. I found some tightness between the fingers when riding, but this is something I have occasionally encountered before in gloves so it may be just a personal problem rather than an issue with the gloves themselves. Otherwise, ride comfort was excellent, with hands staying a good stable temperature as well.

The pale grey/off white colour is prone to some dirt and discoloration, especially if you use anything other than pale bar tape, but the gloves are actually washable, with in depth cleaning recommendations available on Rapha's website.

Are they worth £100? Well, that's a bit like asking if a Rolls Royce Phantom is worth £300,000- the answer is that it's probably not worth the money to everyone, but definitely to some, and everyone can appreciate that it's something a bit special.

Verdict

Luxury glove with superior design and excellent performance and with a price tag to match.