Recommendations for leather cycling gloves
#1
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Recommendations for leather cycling gloves
My Giro LX gloves with Pittard leather last only a year and a half or about 15,000 miles before they become shredded - and this from normal wear. Perhaps their poor longevity is why Giro is no longer making them. The perforations start to tear and then they fall apart.
Any recommendations for good quality leather gloves? The only other quality ones I could find are Brancale but at $180 a pair and no padding - they don't even look the part.
I'll take recommendations for any high quality glove - leather or not.
https://brancale.cc/products/leather-cycling-gloves
Any recommendations for good quality leather gloves? The only other quality ones I could find are Brancale but at $180 a pair and no padding - they don't even look the part.
I'll take recommendations for any high quality glove - leather or not.
https://brancale.cc/products/leather-cycling-gloves

Last edited by Biketiger; 09-05-22 at 12:53 PM.
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I just bought a few pairs of these crochet gloves, but there is also a leather-only set available. I just got them so cannot speak to durability, but they also do not cost $200. They were on sale through Public Bikes, but they’re available other places, too. At first glance, they feel good.
https://www.explorethousand.com/collections/bike-gloves
https://www.explorethousand.com/collections/bike-gloves
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Planet bike is a fine company to do business with. It provides resources for cycling, it provides a solid guaranty on their products, and it sells and stocks small parts for their gear which are fairly priced. I feel like they've earned my business.
Planet bike also happens to make a great pair of old school leather gloves:
https://www.planetbike.com/taurus-cycling-gloves/
Planet bike also happens to make a great pair of old school leather gloves:
https://www.planetbike.com/taurus-cycling-gloves/
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I just wear leather driving gloves. They can be had on eBay for a dime a dozen compared to things that are marketed as eroica ready... Not so sure about long-term durability compared to more expensive products, because I live out in a hot valley and eventually sweat through most of my leather stuff no matter how much it costs. I've had some more expensive pairs and they didn't seem to last any longer than the cheap ones, though, given the amount of sweat soaking into them.
Retro Real Leather Men Fingerless Driving Cycle Gloves Cycling Unlined Chauffeur | eBay
-Gregory
Retro Real Leather Men Fingerless Driving Cycle Gloves Cycling Unlined Chauffeur | eBay
-Gregory
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I had success with a pair from Aero Techs Designs (made in the USA if that matters to you), but I gave them away to a rider who was in the middle of a tour and needed gloves, so I can't comment on their long term durability. I do have a pair of shorts from Aero Tech that are still going strong after more than 10 years, so I'd guess the gloves will be durable too.
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#6
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some options here
https://www.3mcaverni.com/categorie-...oduct_count=24
https://www.3mcaverni.com/categorie-...oduct_count=24
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I had success with a pair from Aero Techs Designs (made in the USA if that matters to you), but I gave them away to a rider who was in the middle of a tour and needed gloves, so I can't comment on their long term durability. I do have a pair of shorts from Aero Tech that are still going strong after more than 10 years, so I'd guess the gloves will be durable too.
I got a pair, and interestingly, the seem to me to be a better fit for vintage levers than for modern levers
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some options here
https://www.3mcaverni.com/categorie-...oduct_count=24
https://www.3mcaverni.com/categorie-...oduct_count=24
#9
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I had the Planet Bike gloves and liked them. They just didn't last as long as I'd like. I'd buy them again, if needed.
I have been using these for a while now and think they are superior to Planet Bike's glove. Certainly, they have outlasted the Planet Bike product. They cost $15.
Prime Sports - Retro Leather Crochet Cycling Gloves - Classic Tan
I have been using these for a while now and think they are superior to Planet Bike's glove. Certainly, they have outlasted the Planet Bike product. They cost $15.
Prime Sports - Retro Leather Crochet Cycling Gloves - Classic Tan

Last edited by Bad Lag; 09-05-22 at 08:33 PM.
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Are there any other options other than crochet or driving gloves?
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I have a pair of the full finger gloves from here:
https://www.cuerogloves.com/product-...loves/cycling/
I haven't used them much, but they're a comfortable fit and well made.
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My personal favorites:
https://www.cuerogloves.com/product-...loves/cycling/
I’ve also been really happy with these:
https://www.explorethousand.com/prod...itt&size=large
https://www.cuerogloves.com/product-...loves/cycling/
I’ve also been really happy with these:
https://www.explorethousand.com/prod...itt&size=large
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I had the Planet Bike gloves and liked them. They just didn't last as long as I'd like. I'd buy them again, if needed.
I'm have been using these right now and think they are superior to Planet Bike's glove. Certainly, they have outlasted the Planet Bike product. They cost $15.
Prime Sports - Retro Leather Crochet Cycling Gloves - Classic Tan
I'm have been using these right now and think they are superior to Planet Bike's glove. Certainly, they have outlasted the Planet Bike product. They cost $15.
Prime Sports - Retro Leather Crochet Cycling Gloves - Classic Tan
I used gloves of this style back in the 80s and I was just thinking today how out of place my modern Bontrager gloves looked holding a cotton tape wrapped set of bars. I know it doesn't matter what they look like, but it matters.
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#14
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The ones I have are certainly leather and the description shows them as leather.
One thing I like about them, despite the low price, the leather does not bleed color onto your hands the way some cheap leather gloves do.
One thing I like about them, despite the low price, the leather does not bleed color onto your hands the way some cheap leather gloves do.
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Here are a couple of suggestions for FULL FINGER gloves that come in pairs, unlike ordinary golf gloves which are traditionally just for the LEFT HAND(for typical "ordinary" right handed golfer.....and vice versa for a left handed golfer...lefty would wear an ordinary golf glove on his/her RIGHT HAND..)
FootJoy RAIN GRIP (pair)
https://www.footjoy.com/men/golf-glo...ir/003RAI.html
FootJoy Winter Sof Grip (pair)
https://www.footjoy.com/men/golf-glo...ir/000WIN.html
There are also some very inexpensive black colored mechanics gloves sold at Harbor Freight stores, that have the brand name 'HARDY' in light silver, almost white on the back of the hands. These are approximately $8 a pair, and available in about six different sizes. The stated sizes on the gloves' tag on these Chinese Harbor Freight 'HARDY' gloves aren't normal, as the ones that I have are tagged as XXL, while I wear a LARGE in golf gloves & ski gloves & other winter gloves.
I wear these cheapo 'HARDY' black colored Harbor Freight mechanics gloves for winter time riding and for late fall & winter time yard work like raking leaves and gathering/hauling firewood indoors, or cutting/ splitting with the axe and stacking the firewood pile outdoors. I throw these in the washing machine & dryer. I actually prefer the feel of them after two trips thru the washing machine & dryer. You have much more dexterity & flexibility and they are softer and not as rigid. They aren't leather, of course.................they are very good, super inexpensive, all-purpose outdoor activity gloves for late fall through very early spring.
These are merely suggestions that might work well, but that depends greatly on how someone prefers the feel & fit and specific type of glove.
You might hate them. Sometimes you just don't know until you try them. None of the gloves mentioned above are leather or expensive, as all of them are very reasonable and it won't break the bank to try them, as if you hate them for cycling use, I am certain that you would find them useful enough for other outdoor chores that they wouldn't be a total waste of money.
FootJoy RAIN GRIP (pair)
https://www.footjoy.com/men/golf-glo...ir/003RAI.html
FootJoy Winter Sof Grip (pair)
https://www.footjoy.com/men/golf-glo...ir/000WIN.html
There are also some very inexpensive black colored mechanics gloves sold at Harbor Freight stores, that have the brand name 'HARDY' in light silver, almost white on the back of the hands. These are approximately $8 a pair, and available in about six different sizes. The stated sizes on the gloves' tag on these Chinese Harbor Freight 'HARDY' gloves aren't normal, as the ones that I have are tagged as XXL, while I wear a LARGE in golf gloves & ski gloves & other winter gloves.
I wear these cheapo 'HARDY' black colored Harbor Freight mechanics gloves for winter time riding and for late fall & winter time yard work like raking leaves and gathering/hauling firewood indoors, or cutting/ splitting with the axe and stacking the firewood pile outdoors. I throw these in the washing machine & dryer. I actually prefer the feel of them after two trips thru the washing machine & dryer. You have much more dexterity & flexibility and they are softer and not as rigid. They aren't leather, of course.................they are very good, super inexpensive, all-purpose outdoor activity gloves for late fall through very early spring.
These are merely suggestions that might work well, but that depends greatly on how someone prefers the feel & fit and specific type of glove.
You might hate them. Sometimes you just don't know until you try them. None of the gloves mentioned above are leather or expensive, as all of them are very reasonable and it won't break the bank to try them, as if you hate them for cycling use, I am certain that you would find them useful enough for other outdoor chores that they wouldn't be a total waste of money.
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I've had a couple pair of Cuero gloves. Liked them a lot, but they weren't as sturdy as I would have liked considering the cost. That said, they have a sale currently and do offer blems, so I might grab another pair or two.
I do have a small sob story to relate. I took my Griffon to Auburn sans bar tape because I was going to ride Saturday and didn't want to get them dirty before the show Sunday. I had a nice ride, then Sunday morning I taped them up before rolling the bike into the show. I rode at home Monday, but got caught in a downpour. Everything would have been fine except the gloves bled dye all over my nice new bar tape.
I went from this

to this

In the future, I will stick with undyed leather gloves.
I do have a small sob story to relate. I took my Griffon to Auburn sans bar tape because I was going to ride Saturday and didn't want to get them dirty before the show Sunday. I had a nice ride, then Sunday morning I taped them up before rolling the bike into the show. I rode at home Monday, but got caught in a downpour. Everything would have been fine except the gloves bled dye all over my nice new bar tape.


to this

In the future, I will stick with undyed leather gloves.
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My Giro LX gloves with Pittard leather last only a year and a half or about 15,000 miles before they become shredded - and this from normal wear. Perhaps their poor longevity is why Giro is no longer making them. The perforations start to tear and then they fall apart.
Any recommendations for good quality leather gloves? The only other quality ones I could find are Brancale but at $180 a pair and no padding - they don't even look the part.
I'll take recommendations for any high quality glove - leather or not.
https://brancale.cc/products/leather-cycling-gloves
Any recommendations for good quality leather gloves? The only other quality ones I could find are Brancale but at $180 a pair and no padding - they don't even look the part.
I'll take recommendations for any high quality glove - leather or not.
https://brancale.cc/products/leather-cycling-gloves
One thing with all of this is to soak and clean them from time to time to get the salt and sweat out and rehydrate the synthetic materials so they don't disintegrate as these did. Yanking them off and stretching them out after using for awhile can hasten their demise as well.
I use Dawn style dishsoap sparingly, soak, squish, not wring and air dry, YMMV.

I don't ride that much or that hard at all so my gear tends to go a lot of miles.
I wear the thickest padded glove I can find now days, hands still go numb, current riders are these.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...love?v=KXL0000
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I'm the exact opposite. If I didn't care about road rash in a crash, I'd ride bare hands. My favorite gloves were some old Diadoras with kangaroo leather palms and Lycra or some other stretchy fabric for the backs.
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I prefer these.



Bought these cheap, I thought €15, some years ago at Eroica Germania or Eroica Limburg, I'm not sure. Great Itlaian made reproductions with some, not too much, oadding as you see.
I got much more expensive modern Rapha leather gloves without padding but I really prefer these ones.



Bought these cheap, I thought €15, some years ago at Eroica Germania or Eroica Limburg, I'm not sure. Great Itlaian made reproductions with some, not too much, oadding as you see.
I got much more expensive modern Rapha leather gloves without padding but I really prefer these ones.
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Many years and miles have been shared with these guys...

Same goes for the SPD shoes...

Same goes for the SPD shoes...

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#25
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I prefer these
Bought these cheap, I thought €15, some years ago at Eroica Germania or Eroica Limburg, I'm not sure. Great Itlaian made reproductions with some, not too much, oadding as you see.
I got much more expensive modern Rapha leather gloves without padding but I really prefer these ones.
Bought these cheap, I thought €15, some years ago at Eroica Germania or Eroica Limburg, I'm not sure. Great Itlaian made reproductions with some, not too much, oadding as you see.
I got much more expensive modern Rapha leather gloves without padding but I really prefer these ones.