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Northwave Evolution Short Finger Glove

7
£34.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Very comfortable for those who like minimal padding, if a little pricey
Weight: 
39g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Northwave's new Evolution Short Finger Gloves pretty much cover everything you need from a performance and comfort point of view.

  • Pros: Variable padding depths, mesh back keeps you cool
  • Cons: Velcro tab can be a little scratchy, sweat wipe could be thicker

For me, padding is key when it comes to gloves of any kind. It needs to offer some form of shock absorbance without being bulky, at all. I hate feeling too much material between me and the handlebar, especially if it takes away some of the ride feel from the bike.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Northwave has got it pretty spot on in that respect, as each of the pads is as minimal as can be while still being able to just take the edge off any road vibration.

For the base of the palm and under the thumb, you get gel pad sections which are split into two to ensure dexterity isn't affected. At just a few millimetres each they barely feel as if they are there, and certainly don't feel as though they add to the thickness of your handlebar.

northwave_ss18_evolution_short_finger_glove_-_detail.jpg

Running underneath the fingers is the smallest pad, and it does just enough to stop any pain here unless you are on a bike that is super-stiff. There's no bulk or bunching whatsoever, whether you have your fingers wrapped around the top of the bar or on the hoods.

The back of the glove is made of a stretchy Lycra fabric, with a large mesh central section running from fingers to cuff which lets the heat escape and also aids a snug fit.

On the thumb you get a sweat/snot wipe which works okay, but if it's a warm day it'll get overwhelmed pretty quickly so I'd like to see something a little thicker to absorb stuff.

The cuffs are quite short, which is good for comfort at the bend of the wrist, and my only real criticism is that the upper tab has the Velcro material running right the way across it, so if you only have half of it touching the lower tab what's left over can irritate the skin, especially when it gets hot and sweaty.

> Read more road.cc reviews of summer mitts

At £34.99 (for all colours except Black/Green, which are £29.99), the Northwaves are a bit pricey compared with a lot of others we've tested in the past.

Altura's Sportive 97 mitts scored an excellent 9/10 and cost a mere £19.99. Alé's Arias and the Bodyfit Pros from Sportful, both pretty similarly specced gloves, are both 30 quid. Not only that, but the Northwaves aren't the best finished mitts I've ever seen; there is a lot of rough stitching left at the fingers, making it look like they've just been hacked off with a pair of scissors.

They are very comfortable, though, and offer a good fit. I'd say they just need a bit of refinement to justify the price.

Verdict

Very comfortable for those who like minimal padding, if a little pricey

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Northwave Evolution Short Finger Glove

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Summer gloves designed to be breathable and comfortable.

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

From Northwave:

* Clarino® perforated synthetic leather palm provides superior abrasion resistance

* Minimized gel pads combine complete freedom of movement with optimal cushioning

* BioMap palm construction reduces ulnar nerve numbness

* Flexible mesh back promotes enhanced airflow and quick drying

* Large reflective print on back

* Shorter Velcro cuffs for extra comfort

* Microfibre sweat wipe on thumb

* Easy pull-off loops on fingers

* Silicone grip print for easy slip on

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10

A little rough around the edges.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

I wear large in pretty much every brand and these were a snug fit without being restrictive.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

A bit pricey compared with others.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

A simple handwash or cool machine wash will do the job.

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

They are very comfortable and breathable.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Minimal padding.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Pricey.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? If I could find a good deal.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

There is a lot to like with the Northwaves, especially the comfort, but they lack the finish I'd expect for a pair of gloves at this price.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  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: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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