Gloves - Gel vs. Padded
 

Saw the other thread on recommending gloves and i didn't want to hijack it so just wondering... What's the deal between gel and traditional padding? Does the gel just add more cushion and shock absorption? Which will deteriorate faster? Will i lose a lot of 'feel' with the gel padding? I've tried specialized BG with the normal padding and they worked well, just wondering how the gel compares.

The main thing I'm looking for is a little bit of comfort, i ride fine barehanded now, but it gets to me a little on the longer rides (50 miles+).

FYI i was looking at the performance century gel or the performance elite pittard if anyone has any feedback :)

thanks!

I have both, and I have to say, I like "normal" padding better. The gel gloves just seem to put pressure on the wrong spots. Maybe it's just the gloves. Both are good quality gloves and, as far as I can tell, fit properly (i.e. not too loose).

I've only tried the gel gloves, they work fine for me - better than bare handed (and safer too).

It's a personal preference thing. Gel gives you a little less feel, but for those like me who have nerve issues (carpal tunnel) they give me maybe another 10-15 miles before my hand starts to go numb. The gel also breaks down over time, so your nice padded gloves turn into more or less normal leather-palmed gloves over six months of use or so. I use the PI Race Gel gloves, and they work for me. If you're used to riding bare handed I'd go with a plain glove first, but I'd definitely get some gloves. It sucks if you take a fall and end up with road rash on your palms.

thanks for the info!!!

Most of the big companies like Performance and Nashbar will accept returns even after you use them. Ask what your local bike shop may or may not be able to do for you. The point is, you can order gel and traditional padding gloves, try both and then return the one you like less.

I dislike gel glovves b/c it feels heavy on my hands. Have friends who swaer by them...to each their own...:)

+1
Best glove I have seen in years.

Padded. With lots of terry cloth. I just bought another pair at Performance today. http://www.performancebike.com/produ...7-RED-BACK.jpg

I am finding that gloves with minimal or no padding are giving me way less hand pain. Specialized Pro for instance.

I had carpal tunnel in 2001-2002 and went through a period of buying and using the Trico Gel gloves because people had been suggesting that they would help. I had two observations:
> The Trico Gel Gloves fall apart faster and more thoroughly than any other glove.
> The next-to-cheapest Nashbar branded gloves or anything else I found last much longer and did the job as well. Don't make my mistake. Gel gloves may be fine, but Trico (which look like they will be very shock-absorbing) don't really perform well or justify the cost.

+1 I went from gloves with lots of padding and lots of hand numbness to gloves with virtually no padding and no hand numbness.

I don't think thick padding causes numbness, but I'm guessing I was gripping the bar harder with the thicker gloves.

I have multiple pairs of both. I use whichever are clean. After a few years they start to accumulate.

I've begun to prefer less padding, too.

The worst for me so far has been a pair of Specialized BG Pro gloves. The big fancy pad under the outer heel of my hand, I'm guessing, was the culprit. After only half an hour, I'm whining like Peter Griffin, wishing I could get back home faster.

i ordered 2 pairs from performance, ended up getting both the gel and pittards.

i'll report back when my testing is done

i don't wear gloves in the summer, but if it's cold and i need to wear gloves in the spring or fall, i use Specialized Ridge mountain gloves. they don't have much padding, and that's just the way i like it...

last year, i tried a few different types of gloves, because i was having problems with numbness. i couldn't find one pair that felt good, so i decided to ride once with no gloves, and i've never used them again unless i needed to because of the weather. personally, no gloves equals no numbness for me, you do the math...

and performance brand gloves are pure garbage. i ordered a few pairs last year, for when i go to spin classes and don't feel like slipping all over the sweaty bars, and they bled in the wash for at least a dozen washes, and would still be doing so if i didn't stop using them...

Gloves are for wussy. No gloves for Pcad unless it's cold. But it's always cold around here so never mind.

That's the main reason why I wear gloves at all, actually. I end up with full-finger gloves in the heat of the summer just so that I can still operate the controls on the bike. ;)

Besides padding, gloves are good for when you crash, I fell and scraped most of my palm and I had to scrub a lot of gravel out of the wound, no fun. Also gloves allow you to wipe off your tires after you ride through broken glass without cutting your hand on the sliver you are trying to brush off.

Another vote for Gel and for gloves in general. I didn't ride with them to start. Now I wont ride without them.

I have also crashed and cut up my hands. I always wear gloves now.

Hope this doesn't start a thread about shaving palms.

alright so just took a 40 mile ride with both and i like the non gel better. The gel feels to bulky when i hold the bars, and like i said, i don't really get numb hands but i liked having the padding there.

i used the performance century gel and the old school classic lycra ones with the terry thumb

I like gel gloves, but they aren't all equal. Specialized bg are my favorite that I've tried so far.

I hate Gloves.....You'd be surprised how good the Non-Padded ones feel.

BG gloves have put me in real pain; I'll bring you my lightly-worn pair if I ever come to Oregon. ;)

(which just goes to show that, like saddles, glove preference is a highly individual thing)