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Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitt

9
£35.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Impressive and well-ventilated mitts that do exactly what's needed on warmer rides
Breathable materials
Very good grip
Robust but supple palm materials
Weight: 
41g
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This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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The Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitts are comfortable, breathable, and grippy with a decent – but not overwhelming – amount of padding. You still get some road feel, whilst they damp out the worst impacts from rough roads, bumps, and jolts.

One of the most noticeable elements here is the palm. It's a siliconed microfibre, and the pads on the bottom of the hand have a much thicker, almost plastic covering. They're unlike almost any other mitts I have tried before.

> Buy now: Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitt from Tredz for £31.99

This is because rather than just stitching the pads in like normal, Endura secures the larger pads in place with this thick, plasticky mesh to allow air to flow through them. It also creates more squidge, and feels more absorbent than a regular pad – which is a nice touch.

They don't lose any flexibility, as these are at the bottom of the palm – further forward the material is relatively thin bar one other small pad beneath your knuckles for protection when you're gripping the hoods or drops.

2022 Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitt - palm.jpg

In terms of the performance on the road they still provide a decent amount of damping of bumps and rough surfaces, but because of the relatively thin material towards the top of the palm it still leaves enough road feel to feel confident. It's not close to having something unpadded, but a big improvement over other padded mitts I've used.

Unsurprisingly, given that the entire palm has been siliconed, they offer very good grip even in the wet. To be completely honest, I tested these in London over July and August, where we have not had rain for around two months... so finding out involved simply pouring my water bottle over my hands occasionally. They stayed impressively grippy.

2022 Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitt - velcro.jpg

On the top there's a thin lycra with a mesh material running across the top of the knuckles. This allowed air to flow well; these mitts stayed cool and dry in all but the most sweaty situations.

> The 10 best best summer cycling gloves 2022 – track mitts to keep your hands comfy and stylish

They sit well on the hands too, with no bunching or folding; I'm not sure if that gives you any kind of aero advantage, but it certainly makes them more comfortable. I didn't have any issues with rubbing or discomfort.

Endura has included a few little nice touches. For instance they have the obligatory sweat/glasses wipe on the thumbs, pull tags on the two middle fingers for getting them off and a tag on the wrist to help get them on.

2022 Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitt - tab.jpg

Value

At £35.99 these are relatively top end in terms of price, but certainly aren't the most expensive we've seen. For the quality and design I would argue it's a fair price, especially as they feel built to last.

If you're looking for something a little different, the Castelli Rosso Corsa Espresso Gloves I tested in 2019 are now £49, while the Altura Progel Mitts are cheaper at £30, though much more minimalist with the padding and not quite as breathable or well ventilated.

Overall

I was impressed by these mitts. They have a great fit, impressive wicking and the breathability is good, while the padding soaks up the bumps without losing as much road feel as the more heavily padded options.

Verdict

Impressive and well-ventilated mitts that do exactly what's needed on warmer rides

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Endura FS260-Pro Aerogel Mitt

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Endura says: "Race-proven, performance road mitt with impressive venting perforated gel padding. For the committed rider on a serious day out."

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

Endura lists:

Wicking, high stretch back hand panels ensure fantastic fit

Palmistry technology with perforated gel padding and open venting

Silicone palm print for grip

Finger tabs for easy glove removal

Velcro adjuster strap for secure fit

Terry sweat wipe

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Well made. I particularly like the siliconing of the palm for grip.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Very good. Excellent ventilation combined with good grip and effective padding.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Impressive with no folding, bunching or rubbing.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

As expected.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Very comfortable thanks to good padding and ventilation.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

Just stick them in a 30 degree wash, no problem.

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

They performed well – good grip, ventilation, and comfort.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The siliconed palm, both for grip and durability.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing major to report.

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

At £39.99 these are relatively top end in terms of price, but certainly aren't the most expensive we've seen. For the quality and design I would argue it's a fair price, especially as they feel built to last.

If you're looking for something a little different, the Castelli Rosso Corsa Espresso Gloves I tested in 2019 are now £49, while the Altura Progel Mitts are cheaper at £30, though much more minimalist with the padding and not quite as breathable or well ventilated.

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 overall score

A top notch set of mitts with well-placed pads and innovative ventilation. Mitts are very easy to get wrong, but Endura has nailed it here.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 33  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: CAAD13  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

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: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed,

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.

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
Global Nomad | 1 year ago
0 likes

I've also been using these for a number off years with high satisfaction.only other mitts that I use are my assos ones. Always wished they made a winter version..it's hard to find winter gloves with the same form of padding, not sure why...I still need to protect my palms and nerves in winter

Avatar
andystow | 1 year ago
0 likes

Does "aerogel" mean more than one thing, now? What is an expensive, fragile insulating material doing in a warm weather glove?

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to andystow | 1 year ago
2 likes

In this case aerogel means makes you more aero by covering your hands in a thin layer of slippery jelly.   Orange is the fastest and tastiest of course. 

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
1 like

I have a set of these and they are my goto mitts. Light enough to ride in a UK midsummer but heavy enough for Gravel and MTB use.  Had these for 18months / 2 years and a few thousand miles and no sign of wear even with the odd bramble encounters. 
I originally got them due to a sensitive nerve in my palms and they fixed that too. Highly recommended. 

Avatar
Freddy56 | 1 year ago
0 likes

Does the stitching lines across the back of the hand not annoy the knuckles?

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IanMSpencer replied to Freddy56 | 1 year ago
0 likes

There is a review on Wiggle that suggests the stitching has been moved and is annoying compared with other years which might square SS's positive experience with the concerns you raise, though it looks like the reviewer had this year's model.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
0 likes

My stitching is the same as the review model and I can categorically state no rubbing. I wear gloves small as well so whilst ymmv I'd say it's unlikely.   That's in spite of them looking rough as fuck on the inside.  I'd show a pic but it'll put you off. Wearing is believing. 
 

PS I wouldn't call these a warm weather glove.  More like 3 season.  I go straight to my shoulder season full fingered jobbies. 

Avatar
RoubaixCube replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
0 likes

Out of curiosity - what do you have as summer mitts?

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to RoubaixCube | 1 year ago
0 likes
RoubaixCube wrote:

Out of curiosity - what do you have as summer mitts?

I meant 3 season as in sleeping bags.  These ARE my summer mitts, with the exception a couple of cheap DHB pairs that I keep around for "colour matching"

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