Cycling equipment for autumn: Long-fingered gloves with touch function put to the test

Not all of the ten test gloves were convincing when operating the touch-sensitive screens of smartphones or GPS computers. This is exactly what you should expect from a touchscreen glove. In practice, however, our intensive attempts at tapping, swiping and stroking were unsuccessful with some gloves. A so-called capacitive touchscreen only reacts to touch if there is electrical conductivity, as with the skin. In contrast, a resistive touchscreen, made up of two conductive layers, reacts to pressure and can therefore also be operated with normal gloves, as is the case with older Garmin models such as the Edge 1000.

To make the tips of the glove fingers conductive, they are either coated with a conductive material or interwoven with copper or silver threads to conduct the electrical charge from the fingers to the touchscreen so that the display recognises the touch. In some test candidates, the manufacturers electrify the thumb, index and middle fingers on both hands in this way; two manufacturers only equip the middle or index finger of their gloves with conductive material, which makes one-handed "pinching", i.e. pulling up images or map sections to enlarge them, impossible. Ideally, at least the thumb and index finger on both hands of a glove should be touch-capable so that tapping, swiping and dragging on the screen is at least theoretically possible.

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Touchscreen gloves: Sensitive setting

In practice, our ten test candidates showed varying degrees of sensitivity. With the models from Chiba, GripGrab and Hestra, our test devices from Apple, Samsung and Garmin (Garmin Edge 1050 with capacitive LCD screen) responded willingly to every touch without us having to twist our fingers or wrists. In contrast, smartphones and GPS computers proved stubborn when we tried to approach them with the Alé and Giro gloves; even with the Kinetixx, it sometimes took several nudges before the Samsungs obeyed, while the iPhones remained unresponsive.

Incidentally, the smartphones were in the standard setting during our tests, without any changes for glove operation or input aids, as would be possible with the Samsung and iPhone. The Garmin, whose screen seems to be set particularly sensitively, always responded most willingly; in our experience, however, all devices respond to touch rather randomly in the rain or on a wet display, which cannot be assessed objectively.

Of course, we also tested the gloves for the autumn transition period in the categories of weather protection, handling and features. After all, the best touch function is useless if your fingers freeze after a few minutes of riding in the wind and rain and you lose control of the handlebars. The good news is that there are touch-friendly all-rounders such as the gloves from GripGrab or Hestra that offer reliable protection and reliable touch.

Touchscreen gloves - short and sweet

There is now a large selection of touchscreen-compatible long-fingered gloves. Our ten test candidates cost between €40 and €80. The two models from Canyon and Kinetixx are the cheapest, while the Hestra costs twice as much. Most models are based on the layer principle of lining, vapour-permeable membrane and water-repellent outer skin to protect the hands from wind and rain, with the exception of the warm and soft membrane knitted glove from Giro. There are big differences in the touch function. Not all of the specially equipped fingertips cope equally well with all display surfaces.

• Lightest glove: Sportful Fiandre LGT Gloves
• Best touch function: Hestra Ergo Grip Long 5-Finger

10 long-fingered gloves with touch function in the test

Alé Nordik 2.0 Gloves

• Price: 44 Euro
• Country of production: China
• Equipment: Thumb index finger touch, gel print, reflective material
• Sizes: XS to XL
• Weight (XL): 73 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
• Touch function (30 %): 2 from 8 | Grade: 4.0
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5

Overall grade (100%): 2.8

Conclusion

Normal fit; long cuff covers the wrist nicely; flexible, very comfortable to wear; outer skin hardly lets water drip off; only available in black, very tough touch function.

Canyon Cycling Gloves S & A

• Price: 40 Euro
• Country of production: China
• Equipment: Middle finger touch, towelling thumb
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight (XL): 59 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
• Touch function (30 %): 4 from 8 | Grade: 2.9
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 4 from 8 | Grade: 2.8

Overall grade (100%): 2.5

Conclusion

Normal fit, offers space for strong fingers; light, flexible, medium warmth; easy to put on and take off, touch zone only on the middle finger with sensitive function, only one-handed donning is not possible.

Chiba Transalp

• Price: 45 Euro
• Country of production: Indonesia
• Equipment: Thumb index finger touch, palm padding, terrycloth thumb, waistband bar, reflective material, rain cover
• Sizes: XS to XL
• Weight (XL): 89 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.7
• Touch function (30 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3

Overall grade (100%): 1.4

Conclusion

Relatively large for long fingers; low insulation, very airy; flexible weather protection with rain cover; top sensitivity when typing, swiping, scrolling and pulling up.

Giro Xnetic H20

• Price: 60 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: Taiwan
• Equipment: Thumb index finger touch, gel prints
• Sizes: S to XL
• Weight (XL): 73 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.6
• Touch function (30 %): 0 from 8 | Grade: 5.0
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 4 from 8 | Grade: 3.1

Overall grade (100%): 3.1

Conclusion

Fits true to size; wears very comfortably, warms well, absolutely windproof, rain does not run off completely; the touch zones did not work with iPhone and Samsung, only with Garmin.

Gorewear C3 GTX I Stretch Mid Gloves

• Price: 60 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: Vietnam
• Equipment: Thumb index finger touch, fleece lining, gel prints, palm padding, reflective material
• Sizes: XS to XXXL
• Weight (XL): 60 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Touch function (30 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.6
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 6 from 8 | Grade: 1.9

Overall grade (100%): 1.4

Conclusion

Fits normal to narrow, for slim and long fingers, nice long cuff; Roubaix lining warms well, top weather protection; typing and swiping worked very well, scrolling sometimes took two attempts.

Gripgrab Ride Windproof S/A Gloves

• Price: 44 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: Pakistan
• Equipment: Thumb index finger touch, fleece lining, gel prints, palm pad, towelling thumb, reflective material
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight (XL): 70 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Touch function (30 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.2

Overall score (100%): 1.2 (Tip: Price/performance)

Conclusion

Best price-performance ratio; normal fit, short, slightly tight waistband; very good weather protection; reliable touch function thanks to well-conducting thumb and index fingertips; many features including terrycloth thumb.

Hestra Ergo Grip Long 5-Finger

• Price: 80 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: Vietnam
• Equipment: 6-finger touch, palm padding, cuff strap, towelling thumb, reflective material
• Sizes: 6 to 11
• Weight (XL): 78 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Touch function (30 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3

Overall score (100%): 1.1 (test winner)

Conclusion

Fits normal to large; robust structure, well-padded palm; adjustable waist; very good touch properties with three fingers on the left and right; top weather protection; most expensive model in the test.

• Price: 40 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: Not specified
• Equipment: 6-finger touch, fleece lining, gel prints, palm padding, reflective material
• Sizes: 6.5 to 11
• Weight (XL): 66 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3
• Touch function (30 %): 4 from 8 | Grade: 3.0
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5

Overall grade (100%): 1.9

Conclusion

Normal fit, long thumb; material edges slightly noticeable on the inside; nice long waistband; very good weather protection, water drips off immediately; top features; works well with Samsung and Garmin, but failed with the iPhone.

Roeckl Racale

• Price: 60 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: Not specified
• Equipment: Thumb index finger touch, fleece lining, palm padding, reflective material
• Sizes: 6 to 11
• Weight (XL): 84 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Touch function (30 %): 6 from 8 | Grade: 1.9
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0

Overall grade (100%): 1.6

Conclusion

Fits normally; relatively stiff due to the flat palm padding; very good weather protection; typing and scrolling worked great, swiping less well due to the somewhat stiff touch surfaces.

Sportful Fiandre LGT Gloves

• Price: 50 Euro
• Country of production: China
• Equipment: Index finger touch, gel prints, reflective material
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Weight (XL): 43 grammes

TOUR rating

• Weather protection (40 %): 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
• Touch function (30 %): 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.2
• Handling/equipment (30 %): 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5

Overall grade (100%): 1.8

Conclusion

Fits normally; relatively stiff due to the flat palm padding; very good weather protection; typing and scrolling worked great, swiping less well due to the somewhat stiff touch surfaces.

How TOUR tests

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Weather protection (40 per cent)

For optimum weather protection, the gloves must be windproof and quickly repel raindrops. If the outer skin quickly becomes saturated with water, this increases the cooling effect of the wind and the hands freeze more quickly. In our spray test of the previously washed test candidates, the models from GripGrab or Hestra, for example, were convincing, while the outer skin of Alé or Canyon did not repel water as well.

Touch function (30 per cent)

We tested the touch function with a Garmin Edge 1050 and various iPhones and Samsung smartphones. We tested the suitability for tapping, swiping, scrolling and swiping (pinching). Because only the middle finger of the Canyon is conductive, this model is not suitable for one-handed pinching. Only the Garmin could be operated with the Giro; the gloves from Chiba, Hestra and GripGrab achieved the best results on all devices.

Handling and equipment (30 per cent)

In this category, we assessed how easy the gloves are to put on and take off, how good their grip on the handlebars is in the rain and how extensive their features are. The models from Chiba, GripGrab and Hestra achieved top results, while Sportful's list of features is very short, but the glove is very easy to put on and take off and offers full control even on wet handlebars.