Madison Sportive Mens Mitts

The Madison Sportive men's mitts are a lightweight, comfortable summer mitt offering good specification and performance for the money.

Materials and technical specification are pretty much what I'd expect at this price point and broadly level pegging with the Altura Peloton 2 Progel mitts.

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Starting with the backs, we are talking Lycra with mesh ventilation and Velcro cuff closures. Ours are a neutral but classy black and blue with white mesh, but there are several other options to choose from if this doesn't fire your imagination. The thumbs feature a terry 'brow wipe', perfectly angled for stopping sweat reaching the eyes, or taming runny noses.

Flip them over and you'll find a grey synthetic 'Amara' type palm impregnated with ulnar-defending gel blobs. These are quite extensive compared with the Alturas, although of comparable density.

Silicone grippers are designed for optimal purchase in wet weather, and finger tabs assist removal, though I've not found them necessary. Personally, I'd welcome some additional reinforcement between thumb and forefinger.

The double stitching was uniformly good on our test pair, and while the limited lifetime warranty applies to manufacturing defects rather than crash replacement, it's a definite plus just the same.

In the saddle

These ingredients translate into surprisingly competent mitts. Madison has clearly done its homework here and comfort has been consistently good, whether I've popped out for one hour or five. They absorb most low-level vibration, especially washboard tarmac synonymous with country lanes, and the gel padding has never felt obtrusive or, worse still, induced precisely the discomfort it's meant to eliminate.

Marketed as a sportive mitt, they're a more relaxed fit than your typical 'skin' model. I appreciated the additional room, especially on longer outings in hotter weather. Being XL (a size larger than my default) doubtless played a part, but I welcomed the slightly longer fingers, which offered some additional protection. The Sportives are fine for less challenging forest tracks and gravel roads, though there are better options if you're looking toward more challenging rough-stuff on a regular basis.

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I've found the palms harmonious with all coverings, though most notably silicone/impregnated and genuine leather bar tapes. A torrential downpour can turn palms and backs decidedly soggy but does nothing to spoil the tenure, even on fresh, glossy wraps. If anything, purchase improves, so you can focus on a decent tempo and changing conditions.

A stiff breeze or milder air sees them drying in around 15-20 minutes – same story when plucking them from the machine following a 30-degree wash. The inner climate doesn't turn uncomfortably clammy either, something I attribute to the perforated mesh panel and more relaxed cut.

On cooler nights, when the temperatures dipped unexpectedly, old school crochet backs lock in a bit more warmth, but the Sportives haven't let me down on some dusk-til-dawn all-nighters.

Verdict

Impressive mitts with a modest price tag