5 Reasons to Use Cycling Gloves

Cycling gloves are a must-have item for any passionate cyclist. Here are the top five reasons that once you try gloves designed for cycling, you won't be going back.

1. Improve Your Grip

Most cycling gloves have padding and textured, grippy material on the palms and fingers. They help you grip your handlebars and shift gears with even a light touch, especially in wet or sweaty conditions.

They can also have pre-curved fingers, so that your hands easily rest in a natural position on the handlebars.

2. Absorb Shocks

Vibration-reducing padding can soak up shocks, hit and vibrations from rough trails and bumpy roads, lessening pain, discomfort and fatigue in your hands on long rides. While not all cycling gloves have padding, this is definitely something you should look for if you've been experiencing (or want to avoid!) hand, wrist, or arm pain from cycling.

3. Temperature Regulation

Finding the right level of insulation to keep your hands and wrists comfortable while biking can be tricky. Road biking and mountain biking both produce a lot of heat over the long term, but at the same time, your hands are exposed to constant high-speed air flow, which cools them down.

In the winter, most ski gloves or winter sports gloves will end up being too hot and not breathable enough, leaving your gloves soaked with sweat even when it's freezing outside. On the other hand, thinner gloves probably won't block the wind sufficiently.

Meanwhile if you're biking in hotter climates, you'll want to pair that's focused on protecting your skin while being as breathable as possible.

Cycling gloves come in many different models designed for different temperatures, to meet the right balance of breathability, wind blocking, and insulation.

4. Protect Your Skin

Gloves will shield your skin from sunburn, dirt, debris, abrasions and minor injuries. They can prevent blisters and callouses from long rides as well. 

5. Added Comfort

Ergonomic designs reduce pressure points and friction between your hands and the handlebars. Look for a pair without any seams that put pressure on your hands where they rest on the handlebars. Adjustable closures and cuffs ensure they properly fit your hands.