The Galibier Roubaix Pro Gloves are a lightweight and fuss free full finger option for when the temperature is bouncing around either side of the 10ºC mark, be that early summer starts or dry spring or autumn days. While their palms might be pad free, they are decorated with a concentric ring pattern that’s both highly tenacious and very visible, and they stick to Galibier’s usual value for money standards too.
The Galibier Roubaix Pro Gloves come in four sizes, so you should be able to find a pair to fit, and there are three colour options of Sand, Heather and Tangerine, which match other Galibier clothing items. A plain black colour would be a nice alternative if they didn’t match your particular colour palette and I was being fussy about things though.
They’re an unsophisticated construction, with a single layer of Thermoroubaix panel front and rear and a separate rear panel stitched in for the back of the thumb. The same material is folded over to form a double layer cuff which is a useful 50mm deep, helpfully bridging any sleeve gap there might annoyingly be and keeping any wind chill off exposed wrists. It’s a comfortably snug fit too, even on my twiglet wrists. That cuff and the thumb also provide a spacious snot wipe.
All the fabric on the Roubaix Pro glove is stretchy, which does a good job of making up for any lack of tailoring or inserts when it comes to fit. My delicate hands err on the small side of medium and the Galibier Pro in medium were a good fit. There’s plenty of stretch all over so getting a good comfortable fit shouldn’t be a problem and there weren’t any annoying seams causing rubs anywhere. But because of this all-over stretch, combined with not much in the way of reinforcements or structural rigidity, there can be a wiggle of movement between hand in glove and bar which may or may not be an issue with you when you’re squeezing out the watts in a death grip.
The tangible and visible highlights of the Galibier Roubaix Pro gloves are the “target” concentric circles of silicone grip on the palms. The palms themselves have no extra pads, gel blobs or reinforcing patches of material on them, so if you’re a fan of complete connection with the bars or have found that added lumps are in the wrong place for your hands and actually increase pressure points then you’ll appreciate these.
Covering the full palm, fingers and thumb, the sticky silicone circles are incredibly grippy to the point of almost having to peel your hands off the bars, and they don’t slip or slide once they’re wrapped round a handlebar, be that dropped or flat.
This quality comes into its own when there’s any damp about – which is a distinct possibility considering the gloves’ seasonal intention – when the gloves become beneficially tenacious. If you can’t avoid the weather when you’re commuting through unavoidable precipitation or due to the wilful stupidity of having subjected yourself to a damp and muddy cyclo-cross race then you’ll appreciate all this grip. The glove isn’t in any way waterproof, but it’s light and tight and doesn’t want to sponge up water, which means it will see you through the odd shower okay without too much squishy discomfort.
The silicone pattern on the fingertips helps with phone use too, and has a handy added benefit as the hypnotic white on black palm is a conspicuous visual aid when indicating – flip your hand repeatedly for both a strobe effect and front and rear observation.
The temperature guide that Galibier gives for their Roubaix Pro gloves of 5ºC – 15ºC will be very personal, but I’d say that’s a little bit optimistic on the lower level and wearing them into single digits might be a bit much for them to cope with, and once the temperatures climbed over the mid teens they did get uncomfortably moist inside.
Value
It’s hard to match the price of the Galibier gloves but the £32.99 DeFeet Duraglove ET Charcoal Wool w/Black Grippies are similarly simple padding free gloves that just keep your hands warm with grippy palms and no frills. Like the Galibier Roubaix Pros they’re good for dry rides only but could be used as liners inside a chunkier pair of gloves when things get proper wintery. Their merino content over the Galibier’s synthetic construction could be a plus for some.
GribGrab’s Waterproof Knitted Winter Gloves (£50) look similar to the DeFeets but feature a waterproof membrane hidden under their knitted fabric. Also pad free in the palm with a patterned grip, they come with reflective details and are available in an eye piercing Yellow Hi-Vis colour.
The Spatzwear Glovz2 Race Gloves With Fold Out Wind Blocking Shell (£74,99) are there for you if you want something with a fistful more sophistication and able to handle chillier temperatures. Their usability in colder weather is extended by a fold out blocking shell that emerges from their pocket to wrap around your fingers, providing another layer of protection.
The £25 Altura Road Merino Unisex Liner Gloves are even more basic – soft merino gloves with no padding or even any palm grippers. They can be used on their own or as glove liners, with a long cuff ensuring they tuck cosily under sleeves.
Overall
For the money the Galibier Roubaix Pro Gloves are excellent value, which seems to be the firm’s raison d’etre. They’re not the most detail rich or complex, and there are moments where their price shows with some stitching coming undone, but the silicone is all still intact and hasn’t started to peel off, which is a common occurrence in high wear areas on other gloves – I’ve worn some lightweight gloves of twice the price whose whole purpose is wanting to fall apart.
I’m a big fan of a lightweight and minimal glove, so I got on really well with the Roubaix Pro as they’re comfortable and lightweight enough to feel invisible over the course of a ride, with no uncomfortable palm lumps or rubbing seams, and they’re warm enough to shield your hands from the chill of temperatures that hover either side of 10ºC as long as it’s dry.
Despite their light weight and lack of any reinforced areas, they seem to be wearing well so far, although it does limit their use to rides where there isn’t much rufty tufty stuff – be that bumpy terrain or prolonged wrestling with the bars – as longevity will be compromised.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Ideal for spring, autumn, chilly summer mornings, or rainy races.
Excellent grip, even on wet bar tape
“Best warmth/ low bulk glove on the market”
Super light mid season cycling gloves. Experience a tactile connection with your bike without compromising on protection. When all you need is just a little extra warmth and weather protection, Our Roubaix gloves are made from two thin layers of Luxurious Thermoroubaix® fabric. The versatile multi-use gloves have our durable ‘target’ silicone palm prints for grip and a touch screen for finger. Our lightest fall/spring glove. Three colours to match our GrandTour range and your speed. Hardwearing and fully machine washable, and perfect for both on and off-road adventures.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Materials: 83% polyester, 17% elastane.
Weight – 38g
High-quality Super Roubaix fabrics for optimal performance
‘Target’ Silicone-printed palm for grip
Suitable for moderate to slightly cold weather
Stretchy, form-fitting fabric for comfort
Soft-touch Roubaix cuffs for warm wrists and a clean nose!
Reflective details on the knuckles for increased visibility.
Any further comments on quality?:
Not the most sophisticated glove you can put your hands in and they show their price after a while.
Any further comments on performance?:
As a lightweight grippy glove for dry but nippy rides they were great.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
They’re a lower price than anything comparable.
Any further comments on comfort?:
If you like a pad free glove you’ll like these, the grip is great too, cosy as well.
Any further comments on fit?:
Stretchy fabric all round means they fit like, oh, you know…
Any comments on sizing? Did it size up too big or too small?:
Nope, snug yet stretchy fit should suit everyone.
Any issues with durability?:
They’re wearing okay so far, although there are some signs of wear in high friction areas.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?:
Easy, just bung in the wash with everything else.
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 Galibier Roubaix Pro gloves are excellent value for money, they’re lightweight yet warm enough for nippy rides and the hypnotically patterned palm is incredibly grippy. Their svelte weight, minimal construction and lack of reinforcements doesn’t encourage notions of longevity though and the lack of any water resistance could limit use.
About the tester
Age: Height: 70cmWeight: 68kg
I usually ride: It varies as to the season.My best bike is: The one I’m on at the time
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 yearsI ride: Most daysI would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: Cyclocross, Gravel riding
1 thought on “Galibier Roubaix Pro Gloves”
In my 5th year with a pair of their Roubaix gloves. They are starting to look a bit tatty not but have outlasted, by 2 my Castelli winter gloves.