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Prologo CPC Short Finger Gloves

7
£49.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A very grippy pair of mitts, but you're paying a high price for it
Weight: 
35g

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The Prologo CPC Short Finger Gloves are a decent pair with phenomenal grip, but this does come at a price, both in fit and RRP.

  • Pros: Very grippy, decent breathability
  • Cons: Expensive, not much padding

Prologo might be best known for its saddles, but the company also makes gloves and mitts. The CPC material is the main selling point of these mitts, as the name might suggests, so it makes sense to start with that.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Prologo says, "CPC (Connect Power Control) is an elastic polymer that's been moulded into a mat of hollow cones of various heights and diameters, this helps to reduce vibrations when going over uneven and bumpy roads and also helps to provide a massaging effect to keep blood flowing while riding."

It's incredibly grippy. These are probably the grippiest mitts I have used regardless of the weather conditions. As soon as you hold your bar tape you notice the difference.

prologo_cpc_mitts_-_palm.jpg

Prologo has placed the CPC liberally across the palms of the mitts, with a small patch on each finger, four across the top of the hand, one on the thumb and two on the heel of the palm. It means that pretty much regardless of what you're holding, it will be impacted by the CPC somehow.

All of this CPC does come at a price though, as the placement is where you would traditionally put pads, so beyond the minimal padding that you get from the CPC, there is none to speak of. Whether this is a positive or a negative very much depends on how you want to use them. For track riding, for instance, these would be ideal as you don't generally need a huge amount of padding but do require a lot of grip for when you're really pushing the pedals. Many people also prefer to have a more accurate feel of the bar too, so these would be equally good for that.

> Read more road.cc reviews of cycling mitts here

I found the fit of the mitts a little odd because of the choice of material on the palm, which almost feels like a thin layer of rubber. When you clench your fists it has a tendency to bunch more than other mitt materials, as the material is slightly stiffer and doesn't rest against the palm as well.

On the upper the mitts are made of two panels – one Lycra, covering the back of the hand, and a microfibre area on the thumbs. The Lycra material has good wicking and breathability properties, and I never felt that my hands were getting too hot. The microfibre area was useful for wiping away sweat or clearing glasses.

prologo_cpc_mitts_-_back.jpg

There is no getting away from the fact that these are expensive mitts. A penny less than 50 quid at rrp makes them some of the most expensive mitts we've reviewed on road.cc. Okay, they're only £3.99 more than the Wearwell Revival Mitts, but when we've described £35 mitts as 'a bit pricey', another £15 moves them up the scale.

Overall, there are a lot of elements that I like about these mitts, with the grip being a particular highlight and the breathability also a positive. However, they are going to leave quite a hole in your pocket.

Verdict

A very grippy pair of mitts, but you're paying a high price for it

road.cc test report

Make and model: Prologo CPC Short Finger Gloves

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

A high performance set of mitts designed for those who are looking for grip over padding.

Prologo says, "Prologo's CPC Mitts are something of a revolution. The CPC material on the palm gives superior grip in any conditions.

The CPC (Connect Power Control) is an elastic polymer that's been moulded into a mat of hollow cones of various heights and diameters, this helps to reduce vibrations when going over uneven and bumpy roads and also helps to provide a massaging effect to keep blood flowing while riding.

The mitts feature a Sweet Sponge on the thumb as a microwipe for sweat and the polyester/elastane fabric mix is stretchy, for a supremely comfortable fit.

Available in S, M, L, XL"

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

* Sweat Sponge on thumb (microwipe)

* Elastic and soft high quality Lycra

* Available with LONG and SHORT FINGER

* Touchscreen sensitive

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

They are well made with strong stitching used throughout.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Gripped the bar well and the upper fabric allows air to flow through nicely and keep your hands cool.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Prologo has used some really hardwearing materials in these mitts, so they are likely to last a long time.

Rate the product for fit:
 
6/10

The material used on the palm tends to bunch with clenched fists, so the fit is a little off.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Fit as I would expect a large mitt to.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
6/10

The mitts do not have any real padding to speak of, so these are not designed for those looking to deaden bumps.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

These are expensive for what they are; aside from the CPC elements there is little difference between these and a £25 mitt.

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

Regular washes at 30 degrees didn't create any issues.

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

They performed well, allowing a decent flow of air over the back of the hands while also offering phenomenal grip on the bar.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The grip is really impressive and something that really sets them apart from others I've worn.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They are expensive – especially as they have no real padding.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They are certainly expensive, but it is difficult to gauge whether or not they are too expensive given that Prologo is the only company to offer CPC. We have tested others in this price range, such as the Wearwell Revival Mitts, but given the CPC elements here it may not be a particularly accurate comparison.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes – for wet rides or track riding.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They lose marks over their price, but are a very good choice for those looking for a set of grippy mitts that allow for good bar feel.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 29  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cinelli Gazzetta  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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