Giro Hoxton LF gloves

Giro's long-fingered Hoxtons are comfortable multi-season merino and synthetic suede gloves. They are great for spring, autumn and unseasonably warm winter commuting, and are stylish enough to complement workwear for those who forswear Lycra on the ride into town.

The palms are made of synthetic suede, which is eminently soft, with no padding per se, but there are double thickness layers over parts of the hand that have the most contact with the bars.

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The Hoxtons aren't waterproof, and aren't suitable for machine washing either. The fabric making up the top of the gloves is 9% merino wool, which allows for good thermoregulation. They kept off the chill and I didn't overheat in them, but the palms did get a little sweaty on occasion. I liked the neatness of the leather edging too (though it renders these gloves unsuitable for vegetarians).

Along the thumb is a microfibre surface for the inevitable brow-wiping. There's a good amount of towelling, covering the majority of the thumb.

The forefingers are responsive to touchscreens by dint of some very discreet metallic threading. I found it easy to use my iPhone while wearing them, which is a massive boon for map reading on the move.

> Keep your hands warm and dry. Check out our guide to the best cycling gloves for winter here

The Hoxtons have what would be called a race fit on a jersey – slim and not overly roomy. They are a unisex design, though chaps may well need to size up for a comfortable fit.

There is a little pull tab on the inside of the wrist, which is reinforced to stand many wears, and a discreet Velcro closure with a soft suede backing completes the pared-down look. I would have liked the cuff to be a little longer, to help cover the gap between jersey and glove as they finished just on the wrist line.

Verdict

Smart city gloves that won't detract from your commuter outfit