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Tenn Outdoors Fingerless Cycling Mitts

2
£14.99

VERDICT:

2
10
So uncomfortable you'll want them off before you've got them on
Weight: 
58g
Contact: 
www.tenn-outdoors.co.uk

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I'd not heard of Tenn until very recently, but they sell stuff direct from their website or via Amazon and Halfords. Some of their kit is ok and some of it is good - I really liked their Sprint Jersey which I reviewed recently, but these Tenn Outdoors Fingerless Cycling Mitts made me grateful for specialist retailers, because they really are dreadful.

Style-wise these are a pretty sturdy pair of mitts; they're certainly not ultra lightweight racing gloves. The plain blue and black is understated and the reflective piping around the thumb is a nice touch.

The grippy palm has lots of gel pads, you get finger loops, a neoprene cuff, velcro closure and plenty of snot wipe on the thumb. It all sounds good, until you put them on...

On my first ride I managed ten minutes before hauling them off because they were so damn uncomfortable. The palm, with all those gel pads, feels very stiff, as if someone has taped some camping mat to your hand, and despite being a size bigger than the Tenn website suggested I needed (Large rather than Medium) they cut into the webbing between my fingers, left seam prints down my hand, even after a short ride, and restricted circulation so effectively that they left my thumb and fingers feeling cold and numb.

Just as a test I put them palm to palm with my usual gloves (Craft Pave, Medium) and the size looked about right, it's just the cut and design that is at fault. They feel like a bad impression of a cycling mitt, rather than a well thought-out product designed by people who ride. I managed a short audax (100k) but mostly I commuted in them. Either way, I was glad to get them off after every ride.

At full retail (£15) these would be a bad joke; you can get plenty of decent quality gloves for that kind of money, but it seems that Halfords and Amazon have them for a more reasonable £8. That puts them firmly in the bargain basement, although we're still only talking a few quid less than something wearable from the likes of Altura.

It would be easy to appear snobbish about kit sold by non-specialist retailers; I mean we'd all rather be in Assos or Rapha dahling. I'd be the first to cheer for some good quality cheap kit being punted out through regular retail outlets though. It's great for people just starting out and perhaps intimidated by specialist retailers or the local LBS, or those without a lot of spare cash to splash.

The one review posted on Halfords is from someone who bought them for painting, which perhaps tells you about the target market and what they're best suited for. Avoid.

Verdict

So uncomfortable you'll want them off before you've got them on.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tenn Outdoors Fingerless Cycling Mitts

Size tested: Blue

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?

"Designed to help keep you on the bike for longer, our mitts feature a padded palm made from a combination of gel and foam."

If they were comfortable I'd perhaps wear them for longer

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

Textured gel palm for a secure grip and comfort

Cotton towelling thumb to wipe away sweat

Neoprene wrist for increased comfort and glove strength

Velcro closure and finger loops allow for a close fit and easy removal

Reflective strip on back of hand for increased visibility

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
2/10

Positively industrial. Intrusive seams, stupid finger loop placement and horrible finish.

Rate the product for performance:
 
2/10

I couldn't wait to take them off.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Finish is poor but they feel tough and solid.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
6/10

Not light.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
2/10

Horrible. The cut and fit is dreadful. A half hour commute was about as much as I could bear.

Rate the product for value:
 
2/10

I'd feel cheated even if they came free in a Christmas cracker. You can get much, much better mitts for this kind of money.

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

Very poor.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Nothing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Everything.

Did you enjoy using the product? No - in fact I resented having to wear them.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

These mitts are the pits.

Overall rating: 2/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 5' 8  Weight: er....85kg

I usually ride: Kona Dew Drop, Dawes Century SE, Carlton Corsa  My best bike is: Guess SC1 scandium

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: time trialling, commuting, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, Audax and long distance solo rides

 

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3 comments

Avatar
JCornford | 12 years ago
0 likes

I am sorry to hear that you had problems with these gloves.

Since the one that you reviewed they have had an overhaul which includes changing of the padding and its location along with a widening of the finger holes and a slight adjustment to the fit. These will be due in shortly.

Jon and Bristol, if you have any issues then please contact our customer services team who will be more than happy to look into any issues you have.

01424 854411
shop [at] tenn-outdoors.co.uk

Avatar
Jon | 12 years ago
0 likes

Their cold weather gloves are pretty useless as well. Make you sweat unless it's really cold, when they seem to lose their ability to insulate. Thumbs are too short as well if you've got long fingers. I also bought some badly sewn shorts that chafe from them. Jerseys are great though - fantastic value for money. I just wish they would stop peddling some of the other rubbish or make it better and charge a bit more.

Avatar
Bristol Bullet | 12 years ago
0 likes

I have a pair of full finger summer-weight gloves from Tenn. I measured around my hand, added a little bit then followed their size guide but even then the gloves (size large) were uncomfortably tight so I sent them back and got an XL which fit ok. These gloves were cheap so I have to overlook the colour fading and the velcro hooks that catch on the finger and back of hand material and pull threads. When these gloves wear out I won't buy another pair from Tenn.

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