I've always had padded gloves, but the ones I like (Pearl Izumi Pro Pittards Gel) seem to be gone. I was noticing that many of the higher end gloves *don't* have padding. I'm willing to give it a try, but I'm curious as to why? Is padding supposed to be good or bad?

Most of the cycling specific gloves I've seen have some sort of padding in the palm, though there certainly are some which have none too. I own both styles. Those who prefer the unpadded may like that they can feel the bars a little better, those who like the padded may like that the pads help attenuate road buzz and hits.

After shattering a wrist (Colles fracture), it was supersensitive to jarring for a few years afterward.
During that time I used gloves with gel padding, and found the most durable were these, which are really industrial work gloves: https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...-impact-gloves

Now that the wrist is no longer overly-sensitive, I find that cork bartape provides sufficient padding, and I use cheap work gloves from the hardware store.

Typically, racers like the unpadded gloves simply because they are using them for hand protection in case of a crash. Not for comfort. Generally, if the bike is set up properly, the rider might like a less padded glove, as was already stated, you can feel the bars better.

I've ridden the gloves that are heavily padded, simply so I could feel them. I felt like I was handling a telephone pole, but I've typically used really thin tape and gloves with the least amount of padding I could get my hands on.

This does not always work for all riders. Also, in summer the padded gloves retain sweat. Ick.

Usually I will recommend bar tape that has padding, instead.

I'll never go back to non padding, giro gloves with the gel pads are the best I've worn yet, less fatigue on the hands imo, can still feel everything you want to. If your racing a track or somthing I could see non padded but for outdoor roads I don't see why you wouldn't want the little extra comfort.

Gloves without padding work best for me. I've even removed padding from some gloves. You can try riding with no gloves and see how that works for you. Just don't fall and skin your palms. I don't use bar gel or especially thick bar tape either.

Its just personal preference. Long rides I prefer pads but short rides either way is fine.

I prefer either no padding or very light padding... heavily padded gloves actually make my hands go numb.
The wife actually prefers golf gloves for her riding.

I often ride without gloves so padding or not doesn't bother me.

It's a personal thing. I either ride with no gloves or full fingered gloves with no padding. My hands are super small, so padded gloves makes my hands numb easily.

Bike racers usually have much better core strength than casual riders. The core strength keeps body weight off of their hands, so they don't need padding to protect their hands from their body weight. Unpadded gloves do help to protect your skin from crashes, as well as add some grip in the rain or when your hands are sweaty.

I have the Pearl Izumi Pro Pittards gloves without gel and like them a lot. Good grip on the bars and don't slide around. I thought about getting the ones with gel but have seen that a lot of people describe most padded gloves as squishy and having a lack of road feel so I went without.

Pretty sure you can still find the ones with gel on their website and probably other places though they might be harder to find in common sizes.

Not sure why unpadded make sense. People reference more feel as a benefit, but the padding isn't throughout the whole glove.. you still maintain plenty of non-padded-area hand contact even with with a "padded" glove.

ride naked...hands I mean

padded gloves hurt my hands... I'm gloveless when it's warm and non-padded mechanix gloves when it's not.

non padded for me. pads always seem to bunch up and be in the wrong spot.

<--- competitive

No gloves, unless it's cold. You guys are grabbing the bars too hard!

I usually only wear unpadded gloves or ride barehanded. Agree with TMonk: loosen your grip.

Unpadded Giro's (Giro Zero II) when racing, no gloves at all when JRA

I prefer bare, but will ride with the ultra-thins if I think the protection is warranted. Padded for his pleasure? No way, it just doesn't feel right.