Even when it's roasting hot I prefer to wear mitts – as fingerless cycling gloves are traditionally called – for the grip and comfort they offer, and these Sportful R&D Cima Gloves might just be the best I've come across.
They're part of Sportful's Cima clothing range, which is designed for riding and climbing in the highest temperatures – Tour de France stages in the French Alps for example, or a balmy British heatwave.
As you possibly know, Sportful makes use of the professional cycling teams it has sponsored over the years (Trek-Segafredo and Bahrain Merida this season) to help it develop high-performance clothing for the most demanding racing. And it shows in these gloves. There are no superfluous details or extra features, just a bit of light padding on the palm and lightweight mesh over the top of the hand.
Simple, yet they work brilliantly at providing extra comfort for long rides, grip on the handlebar when you're all a bit sweaty, and don't contribute to overheating hands at all, not to mention crash protection as well...
The lightweight mesh on the back of the hand ensures the gloves provide great cooling even when the temperature is in the mid to high 30s. I didn't detect any unwanted extra heat on my hands as a result of wearing these gloves at all, and they're certainly as cool as not wearing gloves at all.
The palm also has a mesh material across the centre, with the key contact areas made from a synthetic suede-like material, along with low-profile padding that provides enough comfort for the longest rides without adding bulk. Silicone details help you keep your grip on the bar when there's sweat everywhere – or it's raining.
The gloves are all about being lightweight with minimal details. The fingers are bonded rather than stitched to reduce bulk further, yet there are small tabs for pulling the gloves on and off, which helps, though it's still a tricky task.
Despite the lack of an adjustable opening, the gloves were an excellent fit on my hands and sat snug around the wrist. They're a one size fits all and the few people who tried them on had no issues with fit.
The one feature I'd thought I'd miss was a soft towel material on the thumb – usually providing somewhere to wipe a sweaty face or snotty nose. Turns out the mesh material over the top of the hand is not only soft next to the skin but also doubles up as a useful place to wipe your face – and doesn't get cacked up like towelling material often does.
> Find more road.cc reviews of summer cycling mitts here
I've been testing these gloves for the past few months, using them everywhere on hot product launches in Italy and Majorca as well as warm and milder summer days at home. Through it all they've put in a superb performance and are now my go-to summer gloves. Add to that the fact that they're durable and hardwearing, have been through multiple washes and still look brand new, and you have a top product on your hands.
Verdict
Probably the most comfortable and durable summer mitts I've worn
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: Sportful R&D Cima Gloves
Size tested: One size fits all
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?
Sportful says:
The climber's glove – lightweight, super breathable and comfortable.
Minimalist construction that maximizes breathability but still provides light padding and bar grip.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Sportful lists these features:
Stretch mesh back of hand
3D mesh palm with synthetic reinforced contact areas
Silicone printing on palm for improved grip
Stitchless bonded fingers for minimalist fit and comfort
Pull-on/pull-off tabs
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
No problems keeping them looking new even after battering them in all conditions and weathers.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Worked faultlessly at all times.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Great fit, comfort and lightweight build
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
There's nothing I'd change.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
A really impressive summer glove that is comfortable, durable and breathable. Excellent.
About the tester
Age: 31
I usually ride: My best bike is:
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, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking
David has worked on the road.cc tech team since July 2012. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds.
6 comments
I agree totally. These are my favourite gloves now.
Here in Barcelona I always have to use really lightweight and breathable kit. Anything with lots of holes in it basically.
These gloves are really light and also dry very fast. You also avoid having glove tan lines as the top is pretty see-through.
They are also very comfortable.
They are also cheaper if you compare some of the usual online shops.
I am probably going to buy some spares in the Summer sales before they stop producing them.
Has anyone with large hands tried these? They look good but I have a 26.5cm around the palm handsize; will these a) fit and b) pull over my hand to get on?
Good question psling . Maybe one size fits all , but how well does it fit?
I used the recently reviewed Kalf gloves in extremely hot weather in Provence and they are now my go to favourite mitt. I was knocked off my bike a week before the trip landing heavily on my wrist and elbow with consequent comical bruising and swelling and damaging my old much loved prendas mitts so the Kalf had a lot to live up to. They were great, comfy, nice amount of cushioning and cool. Highly recommended at a great price.
ps
the kalf bibs are also fantastic and the tops not too bad
This must be a mistake in the review. They do come in different sizes, same as other Sportful gloves.
My hands are pretty big and I got them in XL. Wiggle has them on sale and only XXL is left.
I might be too late for this. They are sold out in most sizes everywhere.