Protection, comfort and feel. These are the three basic features that a glove, must fulfil in order to correctly operate the brake levers, gear levers and grip on the grips or handlebar whilst pedalling your cycle.
The palm area is the most important part of a cycling glove. Here we can find different types of materials and fabrics; protections with padding or gel and silicone trim that stops the hand from slipping off the handlebar. Also, in the event of a fall "Superman" style, a reinforced palm will avoid greater injury in this area of the hand so exposed to burns or injuries.
Focusing on the upper part, this is where we find greater differences between gloves. In function of whether it's a waterproof or windproof glove, there are different technologies that ensure that neither wind nor rain will get inside.
The finger area is very similar (in the case of long gloves) although most are thinner in order to keep that optimum feel with the handles and levers of the cycle's handlebar. Which is precisely why most have small silicone trims that guarantee the adherence of the fingers to the levers. Also, on the upper part, some gloves of the more extreme modalities have specific protection in the knuckle area.
In both parts of the glove (palm and upper) it is important to maintain a good ventilation and moisture wicking, via fabrics and membranes specific for this purpose. In this way we expel the moisture from inside the glove and maintain a suitable temperature that will improve our comfort.
Finally, the fastener is a part of the glove that we also must take into account. Most incorporate Velcro straps as the main fastening system, although we can find gloves whose closure is based solely on the very tight fit of the wrist, thus avoiding the entry of air or water inside.
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