Value: £59.90 / $69.00 / €65.00 Sizes: XS-XL Weight: 130 grams per pair – M Colors: Black
The Cyclingnews tech group Slack channel lit up throughout stage 22 of the Giro d’Italia this yr. Some wet phases had plagued the race and my colleague Will Jones remarked on Tadej Pogačar’s moist climate gear. “Pog’s racing briefly sleeves and marigolds,” he exclaimed. Playfully claiming the lengthy black gloves the triple-crown winner was carrying regarded a really comparable size to the UK’s primary promoting shiny yellow family cleansing gloves.
These ‘marigolds’ had been the Velotoze Neoprene Waterproof Biking Gloves and the Slovenian had chosen them to maintain his arms heat for a part of the wet day in Italy. Gobik provides UAE Workforce Emirates’ clothes and group package, however the riders are apparently very pleased with Velotoze merchandise and nonetheless use their overshoes and gloves.
Velotoze might be greatest identified for its mild and tight latex overshoes, however the model additionally affords a spread of biking equipment, like gloves and even a cooling vest.
Neoprene gloves are a preferred and efficient choice when using or racing in moist climate in sure situations. They do an excellent job of protecting water at bay and though you will most likely get sweaty arms, they keep heat when moist. The Velotoze waterproof neoprene biking gloves retail for £59.90 / $69.00 / €65.00.
I am testing dozens of winter gloves this winter to create our greatest winter biking gloves information and the Velotoze neoprene gloves have been coming with me for my moist and wet rides of late.
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Pulling his Velotoze gloves off and getting right down to enterprise (Picture credit score: Getty: Dario Belingheri / Stringer)
Tadej Pogacar within the ‘brief sleeves and marigolds’ (Picture credit score: Getty: Dario Belingheri / Stringer)
Design and aesthetics
Neoprene gloves usually aren’t essentially the most eye-catching items of biking package, however one of many speaking factors for Velotoze’s model is the lengthy cuff which extends a number of centimetres up the arms. Velotoze recommends carrying the gloves beneath your jacket or jersey sleeves. I wore them towards my pores and skin for 3 hours and the gentle neoprene was snug and added good safety on the wrists and decrease forearms.
Some neoprene gloves can really feel oppressively tight however the Velotoze pull on comfortably and whereas they’re compressive, they’re very snug and nonetheless permit good dexterity which is essential. The match is properly accomplished and I discover they’re higher than the Endura FS260 Professional Nemo on this regard. Velotoze additionally produces a knitted waterproof glove with extra breathability which I’m additionally testing presently if neoprene is not your factor.
I examined a measurement medium pair and so they match true to measurement, I am virtually universally a medium in gloves, so in terms of choosing the proper measurement, the scale information is correct. The gloves’ textured grippy materials additionally works with smartphone screens when dry, though I discovered I had a bit extra hassle when every thing was moist.
The seams are all blind stitched and glue-sealed, some stitched neoprene gloves I’ve utilized in years passed by got here aside on the seams with use. This resolution seems to be very strong and appears neat. The glue sealing ought to guarantee there is not any water ingress from across the seams, and the neoprene will maintain the remainder. Holding my hand beneath a working faucet for a number of minutes did not trouble the gloves one bit; my hand was fully dry inside.
Branding-wise, there are a few reflective Velotoze wordmarks on the edges of the gloves, and that is it.
Neoprene is waterproof however is not notably breathable. This implies sweaty arms could be anticipated after a while, particularly in case you are using with somewhat extra intent.
Neoprene additionally is not the very best insulator from the chilly. These two factors slim the best utilization vary, however like almost all biking package, there is a trade-off to be made sooner or later. Neoprene gloves aren’t a magic one-stop resolution for all moist and chilly.
Nevertheless, when the rain is coming down and you might be about to step out into it, as I did at nighttime earlier than dawn not too long ago, pulling on a sturdy pair of neoprene gloves helps you are feeling protected and your arms are then ensconced in protecting waterproof materials.
Sweat could be a problem on hotter or more durable rides, however should you’re using within the rain in cooler situations and at a steadier tempo, your arms are going to remain dry.
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The neoprene development will shrug off big quantities of water(Picture credit score: Tom Wieckowski )
The seams across the fingers and thumb are all sealed(Picture credit score: Tom Wieckowski )
Efficiency
I’ve spent a number of hours using within the rain and coping with a number of street spray within the Velotoze neoprene gloves. I’ve worn them for 3 hours straight on a really moist and wet trip the place I used to be going onerous for about 30 miles of it. For those who learn any of my opinions you will be acquainted by now with mentions of my Saturday morning coaching loop and it is an excellent check for efficiency package.
The gloves do a superb job of truly stopping water, and I actually just like the lengthy cuffs which lengthen properly up the arms.
For those who’re using more durable, or in hotter temperatures you might be virtually actually going to finish up with sweaty arms, however crucially they are going to be moist and heat which was the case for me. Importantly, the gloves do present a strong barrier towards the moist from the skin.
They are not the best gloves to take off, and except you sluggish proper down and take your time, placing them on while using the bike could also be a tall order too.
Given their neoprene development, the care directions for these gloves state ‘hand wash with chilly water and air dry’ I discovered they take fairly some time to totally dry, but it surely’s necessary to scrub them as neoprene gloves can simply get fairly smelly if left and re-worn a number of occasions.
I’ve additionally been utilizing the Sportful Lobster gloves that are a skinny waterproof lobster glove because the title suggests. These are designed to be worn as a water-proof outer barrier, and pairing neoprene gloves with the lobster glove outer layer makes for a formidable mixture in very chilly, moist situations. You possibly can after all use the lobster gloves on prime of every other thinner base glove.
The cuff extends up for forearm for extra safety (Picture credit score: Tom Wieckowski)
Worth
With an RRP of slightly below £60 within the UK, although they are often discovered for rather less, the gloves sit on the higher finish of the neoprene glove worth spectrum.
For comparability, The Spatz Neoz gloves utilized by Pogacar’s WorldTour rivals Alpecin-Deceuninck now and again are priced at £54.99. The neoprene gloves that presently characteristic in our greatest winter biking gloves information, the Castelli Divulio are available in at £44 however could be discovered for a bit much less in the intervening time as properly.
However the Velotoze gloves do really feel a bit extra premium and are higher becoming than some lower-end neoprene opponents, so should you head out regardless of the climate and need to spend money on a strong neoprene choice, it is most likely cash properly spent. You’re investing in your individual consolation on the bike, in any case.
The sealing extends proper as much as the cuff of the gloves (Picture credit score: Tom Wieckowski)
Verdict
These are good gloves that can defend your arms properly within the rain. I’ve been impressed with the match and dexterity the gloves provide, regardless of their neoprene development. I additionally worth the lengthy cuff which provides insulation beneath your jacket sleeves.
They’ve carried out properly for me up to now and present no indicators of wear and tear, however I’ll hold testing up via the winter to see how they get on after a number of months. The actual fact they’re ok for Pogačar and his UAE Workforce Emirates teammates exhibits the gloves have been examined by the very best… now, the place are my marigolds?
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Testing scorecard and notes
Design and Aesthetics
A cushty, good wanting and properly executed design that’s simple on the attention and comfy to put on
9/10
Moist climate efficiency
Sturdy, what neoprene gloves are all about. Glued seams forestall water ingress on the gloves weak level. Sweaty arms are right down to what your doing while carrying neoprene not the fabric itself
10/10
Chilly climate efficiency
It’s your decision extra insulation in colder temperatures, you may use an outer shell or settle for the commerce off. Not as a lot of a problem when using onerous
8/10
Consolation and match
Very snug, gentle neoprene that is not too tight becoming. Good dexterity too
9/10
Worth
Prime finish of the value vary for neoprene gloves, however strong efficiency
