Ok...finally wore a hole through palm of gloves yesterday and its time for a new pair. In past, I've always gotten the best of the cheap gloves ($10-$20 range) I could find. I've gone through two pairs of gloves so far...in about two years. So they've basically lasted roughly a year each.

Question....is it worth it to spend extra $$ and get better gloves? Will they last longer? Are they cooloer? Better padded? What's the difference with the $50 gloves versus the $15 gloves?

$5 CCM string back ones from Walmart. These give the distinctive cyclists tan to the back of the hands. Unlike previous cheap gloves I have had, they are made with colorfast dye, so the hands dont take the colour of the gloves when they get wet. Put your weight onto the pedals, not your hands.

Nashbar gloves were okay, but they stretched out and the padding moved around by 6 months of usage. I bought Specialized gloves(low end ~$20) and they are much better. The padding is just right, doesn't move, they don't stretch out, and they are far more comfortable.

My main concern used to be gloves that fitted. Bought them out of the sale bin and always had 3 or 4 pairs about. Then I had a problem with thorn and bramble bushes one year and got an expensive pair of full finger gloves. They were not only expensive- they were good. Padding in the right place- fitted perfectly each time I wore them and on top of that they have lasted. I now have 3 pairs of expensive gloves- but that is all I have bought in the last few years.- The cheap ones were only lasting a few months before they fell apart or did not fit.

If you're looking for full-finger gloves, the Fox Digits are the best I've used. You can usually find them for about $25 thru mail order. They're nicely vented, have padded palms, and with an occasional washing will last for years. They do have the look of a mountain bike glove, with some bulky protection on the top of the fingers. If that's not what you want, I'd look at some of Fox's other gloves (they have models that are "plainer" looking than the Digits, or some with more padding and protection), they're not overly expensive, and at least in the case of the Digits, they'll last several times longer than cheaper gloves..........I don't know if you read "Dirt Rag" magazine, but the "Dirt Rag" gloves are actually re-branded Fox Digits-

Lately I haven't been using gloves when I ride, but when I do use gloves I use Iron Clad gloves which are available at your nearest Ace Hardware. I also use them for work. They cost 25-30 dollars depending on what type you get and they are totaly worth the extra money. They last me 3 or 4 times longer than the Pearl Izumi gloves I used to buy.

It depends. My most expensive gloves, Specialized Ridge long fingered gloves ($30) are wearing fast and I've had them since March. I wouldn't buy them again. My short fingered gloves, Specialized BG gloves ($20) also see a lot of use and they have stretched out a bit, but are still comfortable. I've had those since February and I would definantely buy some again.

I also have a pair of Nashbar crochet gloves I use for summer and Performance brand long fingered gloves I use for mountain biking. These gloves don't get used as much so I went cheap with them.

I lose gloves. This means I buy cheap gloves. But not quite so cheap that the dye comes off in your hands.

I dunno about regular gloves, but I tried on a ton of full fingered gloves for winter commuting, and the only ones that were good were the Fox Racing gloves, so that's what I buy.

I think it's a crapshoot. I bought two pair about the same time last year in the same pricepoint/function. The PI jobs are pretty well shot. The Descente ones are going strong, but wouldn't buy 'em again. I'm convinced genuine leather is the way to go on the palms, though.

I just checked these out. They are really nice!!! I will be getting a pair for winter riding.

For me, commuting puts the most wear on gloves. Its the pulling them off that seems to rip the seams on the fingers. I use some fingerless mountain salsa gloves for that type of cycling and they hold up great... more expensive pearl gel vent gloves for road riding.