Madison's Road Race Aero Mitts are, surprise, surprise, designed for high speed racing. I can't confirm their aero credentials, but they're certainly well made and won't slow you down. Which is just as well, as you probably wouldn't want to be wearing these on slower or more leisurely rides – comfort isn't their forte.
Aero is all the rage in cycling at the moment, whether it's designing bikes that slice through the air quicker or somehow making the rider more slippery, from aero overshoes to aero helmet covers.
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From the outset it's pretty obvious these gloves are designed for speed. In fact, you might well have seen the Aero Mitts on the hands of the Madison Genesis team racing on the domestic UK scene. The padding is minimal, and the wrist coverage is significant.
I'm all for kit that helps you go faster, but at the same time I think that for the average consumer it still has to be usable and practical. On many fronts the Madisons live up to this, but they are a bit minimalist in the padding department. You might prefer this, though, in which case don't let me put you off.
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I also found the faux-leather material on the palm a bit 'sticky' against my bar tape. It wasn't enough to be a serious problem, but nonetheless it did feel a bit weird when taking my hands off the bar to change position.
There's not a huge amount more to say about the mitts. They're reasonably comfortable on short, fast rides, look pretty cool, and seem well made. If you are serious about saving watts wherever possible in a race situation, the Road Race Aero Mitts are definitely worth a look. I couldn't find any serious fault with them, and you could do a lot worse for a penny under 25 quid.
Verdict
Minimalist aero gloves for the consummate racer – less useful for the more casual rider
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Make and model: Madison Road Race Aero Mitts
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?
Madison says:
A high performance aero race mitt that is as at home on the roads as it is in the velodrome
Engineered for speed and comfort for pro level racers
The Lycra back gives a secure fit and the mesh between the fingers prevents overheating
Double layer fabric in selected areas of the palm offer extra comfort and protection
Sweat wipe on the thumb
Easy off finger tabs makes for quick and easy removal at the end of a long ride
Limited lifetime warranty
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
7/10
Aero they may be, but not designed for longer, more leisurely rides.
Rate the product for durability:
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
6/10
Reasonably comfortable for short, fast rides, but not as padded as some I've used.
Rate the product for value:
5/10
What I would expect to pay for these gloves.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Pretty well, but difficult to say without a wind tunnel.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
They felt aero, and look pretty good when out riding too.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The sticky palms felt a little odd on a normal road ride, and padding is a bit minimal.
Did you enjoy using the product? They're okay.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, if I rode more TTs.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they rode TTs, yes.
Use this box to explain your score
They're a good pair of mitts, but a bit limited in use. If you ride a lot of TTs or want to be as aero as possible, they're definitely worth a look. If they had more padding, to make them more versatile for longer or more leisurely rides, I'd think about giving them an 8.
Age: 23 Height: 182cm Weight: 75kg
I usually ride: Kinesis Pro6 My best bike is: The first steel bike I made
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking
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