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review
Gloves - mitts
Sugoi RC Pro GlovesSugoi RC Pro Glove

Sugoi RC Pro Gloves

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jul 15, 2014

0
£24.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Nicely made gloves that perform well in the comfort and breathability stakes
Weight: 
37g
Contact: 
www.sugoi.com
How we test

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The design of the RC Pro mitts from Sugoi is based on the technologies used in the company's RC Pro chamois pad in terms of padding and positioning. Maybe you can sit on them if you've forgotten your bib shorts.

Joking aside, you can see the similarities when you look at the palms. There's padding at the back with a central relief channel and less padding at the front where it would cause bunching and discomfort. The two larger pads are near the wrist to protect against numbness of the ulnar nerve and they do a good job of removing road buzz and jolts from poor road surfaces. They're not as thick as the ones on the Formula FX we've also tested though. The gel is firm which I prefer as it it's too soft it can spread to places you don't want it.

Between the pads there is a central channel that runs up through the centre of the pad which makes sense as your palm tends to hollow there. You get more gel padding along the bottom of your fingers which again is slim but firm with another pad on the thumb. These are all positioned perfectly for riding on the hoods.

The rest of the palm is made of a 80/20% mix of polyester and polyurethane which is both comfortable and hardwearing. There are some ventilation holes around the mid palm which allows heat to escape and it works pretty well. The RC Pro gloves do seem to be cooler than ones with solid palms.

The uppers use Lycra as well as nylon to create an anatomical shape. This means they are a nice snug fit and using different panels means they move with your hand. The knit is a mesh so they are plenty cool enough on hot days and the elasticity of it means they are so easy to get on and off.

Holding them in place is a rubber tab with Velcro attached. It's narrow so doesn't get in the way when your hands are bent back at the wrist plus the length is spot on for the size of the gloves.

Overall the Sugoi RC Pros are a decent pair of mitts that are comfortable for long or short rides and offer good padding and ventilation. The build quality is good with robust stitching. They've stood up to plenty of miles and a couple of turns through the washing machine. On the whole the price pretty much reflects the quality and performance.

There are a couple of colour options, red/white and black/white, and sizes of S-XL

Verdict

Nicely made gloves that perform well in the comfort and breathability stakes

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Sugoi RC Pro Glove

Size tested: Medium, Black

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?

The RC Pros are described as mitts for the everyday cyclist and use technology from Sugoi's chamois pads with regards to ventilation and avoiding numbness. The idea is sound and the pads are well positioned.

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

*V-Notched for increased mobility

*Center channel for numbness control

*Synthetic palm and Velcro closure

*Recreational interface with strategic padding for all day comfort

*Breathability with micro ventilation

*Stretch fabrics and engineered panels allow for close-fit comfort and unrestricted freedom of movement

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

Pretty well, I personally preffered the thicker padding of Sugoi's Formula FX but these RC Pros offer plenty of comfort for daily riding

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit is very good.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Heavily branded.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course!  My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

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,

 

Sugoi RC Pro Gloves
Sugoi 2014
Sugoi
Stu Kerton

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 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. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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