General Cycling Discussion - rant: Pearl Izumi gloves bite

Well, I figured maybe the last pair just fell apart because of wear and tear, but no. They just suck.
The new pair went all crappy after their first real wash.

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE, PEARL IZUMI GLOVES ARRRRGH, RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!
FOOLS, I'LL DESTROY THEM ALL!

Recomendations for new gloves welcome. Preferably with good padding.

I know, I could have searched for posts on gloves. This was just to rant.

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!

This was just to rant.
Fair enough. I'm not an expert/extreme type of bike guy, but I got a pair with a fox logo on the strap. Fox brand, maybe? Somebody pointed that out to me, actually, as I had been looking at them wrong-way-up, and had assumed that the logo was a starfish in a track suit. Anyway, they're holding up fine after maybe 18 months of daily use.

<---------------<< want nice gloves? :D

I hated my first pair of gloves too, the padding was crap, the piping was bad and the seams were falling apart. They were the "white line" or something like that. The nice people at the local "Perfomance" shop took them back (not were I bought them, but when they asked for my receipt I just said "sorry") in exchange for a new pair of the leather (trademarked name I can't remember) and carbon" pearl" gloves. a little heavy on the logo for my taste but very comfy and well padded so far (about a week)

I like specialized body geometry gloves. they are most righteous. the padding is in all of the right places. I picked up a pair of mtb gloves as they seemed to have better padding...

Sorry to hear 'bout them PIs; I thought the izumi line was among the best; I have a couple of pairs of their shorts and I wouldn't wear anything else over me bum when I ride.

When we first started our department's bike-patrol program, the chief was very generous as far as equipment. We bought a lot of Pearl Izumi gloves, as that's what the bike shop was pushing.

I was never impressed with them, thinking them to be both overpriced and poorly made. In most cases, after a couple of months, the stitching would start to go south.

We've had better luck buying the Trek-branded gloves.

My wife blew through two pairs of Pearl Gel-lite gloves in four days of riding. I don't know what happened to the gel, but after two rides it wasn't there. It looks like the gel pad pattern is just bonded without any stitching and when that goes so does the gel. We can't figure out where the gel went.

Pearl makes nice running shorts though, just got a pair. :)

Fair enough. I'm not an expert/extreme type of bike guy, but I got a pair with a fox logo on the strap. Fox brand, maybe? Somebody pointed that out to me, actually, as I had been looking at them wrong-way-up, and had assumed that the logo was a starfish in a track suit. Anyway, they're holding up fine after maybe 18 months of daily use.
starfish in a track suit :lol: I'll ask in the shops for that, see if I don't get stranger looks than I already do.




I hated my first pair of gloves too, the padding was crap, the piping was bad and the seams were falling apart. They were the "white line" or something like that. The nice people at the local "Perfomance" shop took them back (not were I bought them, but when they asked for my receipt I just said "sorry") in exchange for a new pair of the leather (trademarked name I can't remember) and carbon" pearl" gloves. a little heavy on the logo for my taste but very comfy and well padded so far (about a week)
That's exactly what I had, the "carbon pearl" things. They feel great, until the first wash. I guess the leather (or whatever it is) just shrinks up, then that stresses the stitching too much, and pretty soon it just falls apart. Grrrrrrr!

I buy the Performance brand century gel gloves. They seem to hold up well, even to multiple washings. They run about $20, but they frequently go on sale for about $15.

Second the Specialized BGs (I think mine are full-finger enduro's, or something like that). Been riding with the same pair since late 2001, and they still kick my PI gel-lites. Though they are a bit heavy for summer....

Had the same problem about the PI gel-lites' pad tearing off after about four months of riding with them. Duct-taped the pads back on, and they've been fine since :)

good thread, I was about to get some pearl izumi ladies white line gloves for my mom--Not now!

thanks

Perhaps you should try the gloves that Slovid uses? I've heard they give good tactile feedback. ;)

Any way, I've had two pair of the Pearl Izumi White Line gloves that I have used for years. I alternate them if one pair is wet or too malodorous. I've had them so many years that I literally forget when I bought them. I just make sure that the velcro is closed securely without any of the "hook" side exposed, toss them in the washing machine with my other cycling clothes on the delicate cycle, and let them air dry. Perhaps the pair you had was a fluke? I would definitely strongly consider Pearl Izumi for my next purchase when these finally wear out.

I would wear "Slvoid" gloves, but I'd be too tempted to start doing other naughty things with them.

This was my second pair. Exact same thing. No fluke.

I sweat like a pig when I ride, and the smell gets bad fast. I need gloves that I know are going to take a beating and lots of washing. I shouldn't be afraid of sticking them in the washing machine.

Anyway, thanks for your recommendations. I hope I can find a bike shop with a decent choice somewhere here, and I'll check some of these out.

I have had several types of gloves and have found that not all PI gloves are the same. I like the white line and podium. The pittard are good to. The gel lites hurt my hands beyond belief. I don't really like padding in gloves and only wear them to protect my hands from road rash, debris, and sweaty lost grip. Every person is different but poor construction should be noted. The worst gloves for me are the cannondale gels. Something in the thumb construction really hurts.

i think pearl izumi EVERYTHING bites. i have a junkyard of gloves, shorts, shoes, booties, socks, and expensive knickers...all of them fell apart. the socks particularly suck -- they either get holes or get all stretched out or both after wearing them only a few times.

I've got a couple pairs of the Spenco's, both the Pro & Elite (http://www.spenco.com/ironman/product_line.html). Funny thing, I've found one pair to be more comfortable on a given bike then the other. As if I didn't have enough to keep track of, now I gotta remember which gloves work best with which bike.