Giro Zero mitt

I’ll start with a confession: I always thought cycling gloves were about padding for recreational cyclists, and not shredding your hands to bits in spills for racers. Testing these Giro zero mitts, I discovered a third function: grip on wet bars and controls. Not having used gloves for a long time — I don’t need the padding and I like to think I won’t come off — I found myself thinking, “there seems to be a bit of moisture in the air: better take the Giro Zeros”

My not wearing gloves was partly to do with not finding any that fit properly. This is where the Zeros really deliver. Giro call it super fit ergonomics; I call it a glove that fits. No bunching, stretches in the right places, nicely snug. The downside is that they don’t come off as easily as gloves that are too big. Well, duh. The gloves do have a couple of pull tabs on the fingers to help with getting them off, but when they’re wet — whether that’s from sweat or rain — it’s not a one movement removal.

Giro describe the zero as a “pro-level glove: the ultimate in ventilation, control and bar feel”. It’s certainly minimalist in the padding department, but otherwise not deprived of features. It’s got the best wipe-your-nose thingy I’ve seen on any glove: super soft and absorbent. It’s very grippy. It’s got a pull tab to help you get them on and more pull tabs to help you get them off. As I said before they fit like a, erm, glove (sorry about that). They are well ventilated, wearing them on hot summer days doesn’t give you that stuffy, almost claustrophobic feeling that makes you hate your cycling gloves. Oh, and they’re inspired by the Tour de France. Whatever that means.

They come in four colours: white, red, blue and black; and four sizes.

Verdict

Very grippy and great control from a feature-packed and well-designed glove.