Sugoi RS Glove

For days when the weather is warm, it's great to wear lightweight short-fingered gloves (or track mitts, as die-hards still like to call them) - and a pair of Sugoi RSs might be just the thing.

They're very comfortable to wear with no protruding seams that may chafe. Although turning the gloves inside out for a close inspection, some of the seams are a bit untidy, while others have stitching very close to the edge of the fabric, meaning seams might split if you pull on the gloves with too much gusto.

These gloves are made from a range of materials. The palm is protected by faux leather, perforated to help disperse sweat. The back is covered in a thin slightly stretchy perforated fabric, which is breathable and good for protection against sunburn. The cuff is held tight by Velcro tabs.

Between the fingers is extra-thin perorated fabric, this time more stretchy (which helps get the gloves on and off, and is more comfortable when riding), although there's no hem so it looks likely to fray. Meanwhile, the side of the thumb is covered with a softer fabric, which is good for wiping sweat off your forehead or snot off your nose, depending.

The most important part of any cycling glove is the padding, and on each Sugoi RS are three pads: across the base of the fingers, on the base of the palm, and where the thumb joins the hand. All these pads are on the minimal side. For an all day ride, especially on rougher roads, you might want pads that are a bit more beefy. If you're doing just an hour or two on a summer's evening, they'll be fine. These track mitts will also be good for, yes, track-riding, as well as shorter time-trials.

The colour scheme on our test pair is black, grey and white. The gloves are also available swapping white for red or more black.

When it comes to the cost of cycling gloves, the range is wide. You can find basic track mitts for under a tenner, although they're usually very minimal in the padding and breathability departments. At the other end of the scale, for full features and a fancy logo, you can pay £50 or more. Mid-way along the range, these Sugoi RS short fingered gloves retail at around £25 in bike shops, and you can find them for 20 quid or less on-line, which is a fair price.

Verdict

Mid-range mitts at a fair price, ideal for rides in hot weather. Build-quality is not the finest, and for long-distance outings you may want more padding.