The Northwave Air is a lightweight long-fingered glove designed for mountain bike use but is perfectly at home on the road too. The gloves have several features of which I’m a fan; lightweight and close fitting, gel padded palm, Velcro wrist strap, nose wiper (towelling material on the thumb) and silicon grips.

The palm of the glove is a faux-chamois material and the rear a thick mesh.  Feature, design and warmth-wise these are very similar to my trusty Specialized Body Geometry Gel gloves.  At an RRP of £30 they’re similarly priced too.

I’ve been impressed with Northwave’s offering.  The gel pads on the palm are larger than in many gloves I’ve worn which made me concerned that they would be too bulky but they’ve been incredibly comfortable.  The silicon grips on the finger ends and palms have stood up well after a month of use and several washes and there are no signs of them peeling away.

I tested the large size which was on the too big for my size 7 hand which makes them a bit larger than other women’s specific gloves I’ve tried.   Overall I really like this glove.  So much so, I’m off to buy a pair in the right size.

Pros

– Good padding, grip and feel.

– Versatility – mtb specific but perfect for the road.

Cons

–          Generous sizing – double check what you need.

Price: 27.99 (RRp £29.99), available from Westbrook Cycles.

Supplier: i-Ride.