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review
Gloves - full finger
DeFeet DuragloveDeFeet Duragloves

DeFeet Duraglove

8
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Feb 25, 2012

2
£14.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Extremely versatile, comfortable glove for everyday riding and other outdoor pursuits too.
Weight: 
60g
Contact: 
www.i-ride.co.uk
How we test

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DeFeet's Duragloves aren't cycling specific but their minimal bulk, low weight and fast drying properties more than compensate for traditional waterproofing and occasionally ill-conceived Ulnar blobs you do get on many cycle-specific specimens.

Extensive sticky silicone dots ensure a dependable grip on the glossiest of bar wraps and accentuate the materials' dexterous nature when foraging in jersey pockets for energy bars, tending to the dreaded hiss or just locking up in the street. Neon yellow is hard to beat through the midwinter darkness or on dusky spring/autumn commutes and seems visible to 250, maybe 300 metres but there's also a choice of less obvious (Black, blue, red, white or pink) colours more complimentary to the street wardrobe and generic outdoor pursuits.

Constructed primarily from the Codura/Coolmax mix with a bit of Lycra thrown in at the cuffs; their texture is super tactile and almost sock-like. Sizing follows pretty much everyone else's so there shouldn't be any surprises when buying online but thoughtfully DeFeet provide a measurement table so you can check for yourself before adding to cart. True to form, large were perfect for me and I knew we were going to get along just fine the moment I seized the Univega's bars and rolled from the drive and along the lane. Low-density padding doesn't offer the same protection from road and trail vibration but loses nothing of a modern groupsets' split second precision, whether thumbing across the cassette or scrubbing off the speed as you enter town.

Having sampled everything from temperatures teetering around the teens to a whisper above zero in January's nigh on gale force winds, its fair to say they cope extremely well in most contexts-blocking chill while evicting moisture pretty efficiently. Unaffected by light drizzle, heavier cloudburst makes for soggy but warm and nimble fingers-so much so, I was able to whip open my jacket's breast pocket, pluck out the compact camera and indulge in some video footage while bowling along at 17 mph (was that awfully wise? - ed).

Verdict

Extremely versatile, comfortable glove for everyday riding and other outdoor pursuits too.

road.cc test report

Make and model: DeFeet Duraglove

Size tested: Neon

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"When the chips are down, they reach for the Duraglove™. It's a simple design that works. It keeps your hands warm enough in cool conditions and on fast descents, cool enough not to overheat on tough climbs, agile enough to handle your bike well while you dig in your pockets and feed yourself, and well protected if you get in a fight with the road or trail (which we hope doesn't happen).

Made in the DeFeet USA Factory and offered at a price that beats the competition, too. If that's not worth a bear hug, we don't know what is." Live up to their bold marketing patter.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

40% Coolmax, 40% codura/nylon 20% Lycra.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The duraglove have been a real surprise giving the best of most worlds, most of the time. Extremes of temperatures and/or monsoon conditions call for something more specialised but there are few gloves that will offer the same degree of comfort, low weight and dexterity.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Pretty much everything given the design brief.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing in light of the above.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

DeFeet Duraglove
Defeet
commuter glove
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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2 comments

Avatar
Aushiker | 12 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for your review of the DeFeet Duragloves. It sounds like your experiences are much in line with my own, except I ride in warmer conditions than you, so I find I use my Duragloves as my dry weather middle of winter glove.

I have been really impressed with them and glad that I came across them last year.

Thanks for the review.

Avatar
Simon E | 12 years ago
0 likes

I bought a pair of these last year via Prendas as I wanted something lighter than my £3 Aldi winter gloves. I find the base of the palm is a bit baggy, though otherwise they are comfy and sizing is good. I like the improved dexterity while the simple, lightweight construction and lack of bulk mean they are easy to carry in a jersey pocket or bag. I wore them throughout a 60-mile Reliability Trial on Sunday with no issues.

One downside of the design is that on a cool morning or evening they don't keep my fingertips much warmer than fingerless mitts. A couple of times I have arrived home with numb fingers from the cold air. However, adding some silk liner gloves underneath has helped.

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