10 Best Cycling Gloves for Summer UK 2024
To make sure you get the right cycling gloves for your summer rides, we’ve hashed out the reviews and discovered the key features to look for whether you’re a road commuter, weekend rider or mountain biker. Our countdown of the best mitts on the market from Amazon and eBay should also come in handy, with Giro, Castelli and Endura all making an appearance. So, let’s clip in and get going!
Quick List - Top Cycling Gloves for Summer
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How to Choose Cycling Gloves for Summer in the UK – Buying Guide
Choose Between Real Leather, Suede or Synthetic Alternatives in Warmer Weather
The underside of the glove comes into contact with the handlebar grips, so it needs to be hard wearing, non-slip and comfortable during humid summer rides. Typically this half of the glove is either leather, suede, or a synthetic alternative such as polyurethane, sometimes known as PU or PU leather. So, which is better?
Leather Is Long-Lasting but Heavier
Synthetic Leather Is the Lighter Option
Synthetic Gloves Are Washing Machine Friendly
Mountain or Trail Bikers Can Find Full-Fingered Summer Gloves, But They’re Less Breathable
Evidently these full-fingered gloves will be stuffier than half-fingered mitts, but they can be useful for between-season cycling or the spontaneous rainy or windy summer days that we often experience in the UK!
Look for Good Ventilation Features, Such as Mesh Panels or Entire Mesh Uppers
Otherwise, you can also look out for mesh ventilated fingers and palms. They’ll further help to circulate air through the glove, which will reduce the perspiration and heat build up that usually ends in discomfort and blisters on longer rides.
Some Gloves Have Sweat Wipes to Mop Your Brow Whilst on the Road
Sweat wipes can be made from microfibre, terrycloth, or suede, which are all proficient at doing the job, but microfibre is the most absorbent and moisture-wicking of the three so is our preference.
Decide if Padding is a Priority, Such as for Extended Rides
Higher levels of padding will be more comfortable for extended rides or those who are prone to joint aches, as well as providing a thicker barrier against cuts and scrapes. Gel pads are very comfortable and considered the best of the best, but will usually be on the more expensive side, and will add more weight.
Road Cyclists Can Increase Visibility in the Dark With Reflective Gloves
Finger Tabs Can Make Quick Removal Much Easier
In warm and sticky climates, our hands swell and perspire, making the removal of gloves a bit of an ordeal to say the least. Add to that the fact that short-fingered mitts don’t have fingertips to tug on, and you’ll see why some cycling gloves feature finger tabs or loops for quick removal.
There may also be times when you really need to get your gloves on or off quickly, so look for these features to make bike life on the road altogether less stressful.
Top 10 Best Cycling Gloves for Summer in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Castelli Arenberg Gel 2 Cycling Gloves | | Light and Impact Absorbing for Road Riders | |
2 | Giro Zero CS Cycling Gloves | | Barely-There Pro Level Mitts | |
3 | Giro Monaco II Gel Cycling Gloves | | High Performance, Tough Leather Gloves | |
4 | Endura Hummvee Plus Cycling Mitt Glove | | Athlete-Approved Hot Weather Mitts | |
5 | Pearl Izumi Ride Women's Pro Gel Vent Gloves | | Combines Gel Padding With Full Ventilation | |
6 | Luroon Cycling Gloves | | Gloves That Will Stretch and Bend to Suit You | |
7 | Rolson Fingerless Cycle Gloves | | A Budget-Friendly Option With All The Essentials | |
8 | FREETOO Full Finger Gel Padded Cycling Gloves | | Lightweight Yet Fully-Covered Gloves | |
9 | Van Rysel Road Cycling Gloves 500 | | Cheap and Cheerful Gloves for the Summer | |
10 | Giro DND MTB Cycling Gloves | | Breathable and Protective Summer Mountain Biking Gloves |
Light and Impact Absorbing for Road Riders
They’d be a great pick for road cyclists and cyclocross racers alike, and are definitely worth the price tag for serious pedal heads as they’re so well constructed they’ll stick with you ride after ride.
Barely-There Pro Level Mitts
The specialist fabric is moisture-wicking, and there’s an additional microfibre wipe, plus you can throw them in the wash when they need freshening up.
High Performance, Tough Leather Gloves
They’re double stitched in all the right areas for proper reinforcement, and have 3mm Technogel padding to protect and support. All in all, a modest-looking but thoroughly hard-wearing glove with all the latest features you need to keep your ride easy breezy.
Athlete-Approved Hot Weather Mitts
There’s also a “monster” (translation: very large) terry sweat wipe across the thumb and upper, and a pull tab on the wrist as well as several on the fingers.
Combines Gel Padding With Full Ventilation
They’re very well padded with fully ventilated gel inserts for the perfect balance of comfort and breathability, and a microfibre sweat wipe is positioned on the thumb. The reflective sections on the upper will get you noticed, too.
Gloves That Will Stretch and Bend to Suit You
The high elasticity of these gloves makes them incredibly comfortable. They will stretch to work with your movements so much that you'll forget you're even wearing them. The anti-slip suede will help to lock your hands in place so you can feel fully in control of the handlebars, no matter what sort of terrain you decide to explore next.
Whilst there are a number of vents and quite a bit of mesh, the synthetic leather and thick palm pad might mean your hands get rather warm at times, especially in the summer heat, something to consider if you cycle in hot conditions.
A Budget-Friendly Option With All The Essentials
Another more affordable option on this list, these gloves are great for the occasional cyclist that doesn't want to spend a fortune. They have all the essentials you could want from summer gloves: they have good ventilation, they're lightweight and they have fingers tabs to make getting them off easier.
Although these gloves do have some level of cushioning on the palms, their lightweight nature means that it is not much. You need to make sure that, if using these gloves at night, you have other reflective items of clothing on you as these don't include any reflective material.
Lightweight Yet Fully-Covered Gloves
They’re enhanced with shock absorbing palm padding so would again be an excellent choice for hot weather trail riders or mountain bikers, as well as being both very affordable and very well made.
Cheap and Cheerful Gloves for the Summer
For fair-weather cyclists that pursue the sport more casually, look no further than these summer-friendly gloves. They are incredibly good value, come in a choice of bright colours and have breathable palms and backs.
These gloves are a more basic option and their affordable price means that they don't have the advanced technology that some of the others on this list do. They also don't have a huge amount of padding on the palms, which some riders might find uncomfortable.
Breathable and Protective Summer Mountain Biking Gloves
There’s also touchscreen fingertip pads, a microfibre wipe and a simple pull on design with no fastenings to struggle with. They will probably be too hot for cyclists without the need for protection, but are one of the most breathable full-fingered types out there.
Make Sure You're Ready to Keep Cycling All Year
Cycling during the summer means encountering different conditions to those you might experience at other times of the year. If you want to continue your cycling adventures into the colder months, take a look at some of our recommendations that will keep you warm and safe.
Summary
Author: Natasha Dziubajlo
Top 5 Cycling Gloves for Summer
No. 1: Castelli ｜Arenberg Gel 2 Cycling Gloves
No. 2: Giro｜Zero CS Cycling Gloves
No. 3: Giro ｜Monaco II Gel Cycling Gloves
No. 4: Endura｜Hummvee Plus Cycling Mitt Glove
No. 5: Pearl Izumi ｜Ride Women's Pro Gel Vent Gloves
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