Since 1892, Gazelle has been designing and building bikes in the Netherlands. These days, the brand is one of the largest e-bike manufacturers in the world, known mostly for its quality, Dutch-style electric bikes. Today, Gazelle launches two reimagined models in its Ultimate platform, pushing Class 3 speeds for the North American market. The new Ultimate C380+ 2.0 and Ultimate T11+ boast a 28 mph top speed, combined with the performance, stability, and comfort Gazelle bikes are known for.

“With the new Ultimate platform, we wanted to prove that speed performance doesn’t need to come at the expense of comfort and control,” said Mark Danhof, General Manager of Gazelle North America. “While lower-cost alternatives focus on upfront price, we focused on what matters over time: trusted Bosch systems, premium components, and long-term durability. Our goal was to design a bike built for control at speed, not just speed itself.“

Gazelle Ultimate Details

According to Gazelle, the new Ultimate models combine Dutch soul with American speed. With these new bikes, riders in North America have the option to ride at Class 3 speeds up to 28 mph. That’s powered by the latest Bosch Performance Line Sport mid-drive motor, which delivers up to 85 Nm and 600 watts of commute-crushing torque — upgradable to 90 Nm and 700 watts through the Flow app — with four assist levels to choose from. 

Gazelle didn’t specify the battery capacity in its press materials, but it’s reasonable to assume that its ~500Wh, given the available sizes of Bosch’s PowerTube batteries. According to the brand, it’s also compatible with the Bosch PowerMore 250 range extender to help reduce range anxiety or go for longer rides. The batteries are removable for security and charging off the bike.

Gazelle says it wants “to ensure the ride remains refined at 28 mph,” and has prioritized stability and control in the following ways:

• Superior Handling: An upgraded 80mm travel suspension fork and wider 55mm tires provide increased grip and stability over potholes and mixed terrain.
• The Connected Cockpit: A sleek adjustable stem features integrated Quadlock or SP Connect options, turning smartphones into a high-definition dashboard. In addition, the bike is specced with the Bosch Purion 200 display for a seamless, premium riding experience.
• Invisible Engineering: Fully internal cable routing and a redesigned rear-triangle charging port located in the rear triangular area for a cleaner head tube and easier access.
• Accessible Geometry: A modernized, upright riding position maximizes visibility and confidence on longer rides without compromising the sporty character of the Ultimate platform.

Additional commute-friendly features include integrated front and rear lights, full coverage front and rear fenders, and a rear cargo rack. There’s an integrated rear wheel lock, a bell, and a comfort-oriented suspension seatpost. All Gazelle bikes are also backed by a 10-year frame warranty.

Models

Gazelle’s new Ultimate platform launches with the two models described below. The primary difference between the two models is the belt drive and internal hub gearing on the 380+ vs. the 11-speed derailleur drivetrain on the T11+. Both models are available in a low-step frame, and the 380+ is also offered in a high-step version. All of them are offered in three frame sizes: S (46), M (53), and L (57). 

• Ultimate C380+ 2.0 ($4,999): The pinnacle of “maintenance-free” luxury. This model features the Gates CDC Belt drive and an Enviolo Trekking hub with a 380% gear ratio. Available colors include Between Blue and Turmeric Yellow. Available with low-step or high-step frames.

• Ultimate T11+ ($4,499): The athlete of the family featuring a high-performance derailleur system, the T11+ is built for riders who want a responsive, mechanical feel while conquering steep hills and varied pavement. This is a limited edition available in Frozen White. Available with a low-step frame only.

Availability

Whether you’re looking for an e-bike to crush your commute or cruise the countryside, the new Gazelle Ultimate models are available in North America starting today. Head to the Gazelle website to learn more or find your new ride.

gazellebikes.com

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Today, Lazer is launching a brand new full-face helmet, known as the A-Line KinetiCore. This new gravity helmet slots into the brand’s lineup as the top-tier full-face above the existing Cage and Chase models. Made with a carbon fiber shell and Lazer’s unique DualCore KinetiCore technology, the A-Line aims to bring top-level protection for gravity riders pushing the limits of speed and terrain. It’s ASTM Downhill-certified and fully featured, with a relatively sleek profile and surprisingly light weight.

Lazer A-Line KinetiCore Details

Lazer says they designed the new A-Line helmet with input from renowned athletes to take on the toughest gravity rides. The shell is made of carbon fiber to keep the weight down while providing the first line of impact protection. Inside, Lazer has incorporated its unique, proprietary KinetiCore impact protection system, with EPS foam blocks designed to crumple during impacts and absorb energy from both direct and angled impacts. 

DualCore

On the A-Line helmet, KinetiCore is now being combined with what the brand refers to as DualCore technology. DualCore is Lazer’s term for the dual-density EPS foam liner construction. According to Lazer, “The soft low-density layer sits closer to the head, protecting against rotational impact. The hard, high-density layer sits further away from the brain, ready to absorb direct impact.” 

Features

For security when charging aggressive lines, the A-Line uses a double D-ring strap. In the event of a serious crash, the emergency-release cheek pads should help responders remove the helmet more safely. Lazer also added a soft trim around the lower edge of the carbon shell for comfort and protection of the collarbone. 

Rounding out the feature set is a fixed visor with space for an under-visor camera mount, and there’s an integrated goggle gripper on the rear of the helmet to keep goggles stable and your vision clear on rough descents. Lazer didn’t provide specifics on ventilation, but there appear to be three vents on the chinbar, along with several small intake and exhaust vents on the top and back of the head.

Weight

With a claimed weight of 840 grams in size medium, the A-Line is one of the lightest full-face helmets in its class. For comparison, the Fox Rampage RS shares a similar design and materials, including a carbon shell, and it weighs a claimed 980 grams in the same size. 

The Lazer folks gave us a sneak peek of the A-Line back at Sea Otter, and we were taken aback by how light the helmet felt in hand. Also notable was its fairly sleek, low-profile shape and streamlined appearance compared to some of the bulkier helmets in this category. 

Lazer A-Line KinetiCore: Sizes, Colors, Pricing, and Availability

The new A-Line helmet is available in five sizes, XS to XL. It comes in three colors: Carbon Black, Carbon Black Gold, and Carbon Red. It retails for $499.99 USD / $699.99 CAD / €499,99, and is available now through the brand’s website and select Lazer retailers.

lazersport.com

The post Lazer Introduces the New A-Line KinetiCore Carbon Full Face Helmet appeared first on Bikerumor.

Öhlins is giving its DH38 fork a boost of added stiffness with an all-new downhill crown. In a sport where confidence and control are critical, and podiums are often decided by fractions of a second, Öhlins is seeking to give riders a performance advantage. Inspired by motocross technology and developed in collaboration with its factory downhill team riders, Öhlins says, “this crown sets a new benchmark in stiffness, steering precision, and rider confidence.”

Öhlins says the new DH38 Crown has been engineered to meet the extreme demands of modern DH racing. The actual increase in stiffness was not shared, but the brand says that extensive World Cup testing proved it was significant and resulted in “sharper handling and more precise steering response under the most demanding conditions.” They claim the new crown will allow riders to ride harder with confidence thanks to the improved control, stability, and responsiveness it provides.

“Our race team challenged us to rethink every detail of the front-end interface, while drawing inspiration from MX where precision and stability are critical,” said Torkel Sintorn, Öhlins Bicycle Divisions Director. “The result is a crown that not only enhances performance but gives riders the confidence to ride faster and more aggressively.”

Benefits and Features

• Increased stiffness for improved stability at high speeds
• Enhanced steering precision for confident line choice
• MX-inspired design for superior stability and control
• Race-proven development in collaboration with elite athletes
• Available in multiple offsets (46, 50, 54, and 58 mm) to help riders optimize geometry and dial in their ride feel
• Optimized geometry and durability for downhill conditions

Pricing and Availability

Öhlins sells its DH38 crowns and forks separately to ensure riders purchase their preferred offset — it comes in 40, 50, 54, and 58mm offsets. The new downhill crown retails for $475 USD / 499 EUR (EUR with 19% VAT, can differ per market). If you already have a complete DH38 fork, you can upgrade to the new crown for a boost in stiffness. Or, if you’re buying new, the latest DH38 m.2 fork will set you back $1,800, for a total of $2,275 USD for a complete setup.

Öhlins officially launched the new DH38 Crown on June 7, 2026, and says it’s available now through authorized dealers worldwide.

Check it out at ohlins.com

The post Öhlins Introduces New, Stiffer Downhill Fork Crown for More Responsive Handling appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Remco Bike Lift came into my workshop late last fall, and things haven’t been the same. I’ve since worked on a few bikes outside on a sunny day, plus at some races on my favorite folding workstand. But everything that’s been worked on in my shop in the past half a year has been magically lifted off the ground by this little monster.

I have to preface this review by saying, “Of course, you don’t really need a repair stand that lifts your bike off the ground for you. But, oh man, this is seriously a game-changer!”

Remco Bike Lift electric telescoping bicycle repair stand

The electric Remco Bike Lift is undeniably an extravagance.

Last December, I gave the workstand an Editor’s Choice award in the Tools category for its day-to-day functionality. Yes, it is very expensive. The other tool I awarded at that same time late last year, for changing how I work on bikes, was a $140 / 115€ mini inflator. That one is still expensive for pumping up a tire, but it’s still less than 1/10 of what this robo-stand would cost. You see, the complete Remco Bike Lift setup in my exact configuration with all the trimmings retails for $1402 / 1551€.

But the, albeit still expensive, pricing is quite a bit more complex than that.

Since it uses a modular construction, you only have to buy the parts you need. So if are a bike shop that already has a pro workstand and base (or you are bolting it to the floor), realistic pricing starts around $744/840€. Even home mechanics, who have an existing Feedback, Park, Unior workstand (the list goes on…) with a high-quality clamp head, will likely be able to get out much cheaper than my complete newbie setup.

Heavy-duty eBike-rated, up to 45kg

To be fair, I already had a portable stand with a lighter Unior clamp, but opted for the heavy-duty Unior Master Shop Clamp to get the max load rating that the Remco Bike Lift can provide. Topping out at 45kg (100lb), that’s more than enough to pick-up the heaviest ebikes we generally test. Most performance eMTBs we review typically fall in the 20-25kg range.

But it also meant I could safely work on my heavier long-john-style Hagen cargo ebike. And things like the silly, heavy Engwe commuter ebike we’re still running around to get groceries and take out the recyclables four years later than we thought it would survive.

Put simply, this is a heavy-duty telescoping bicycle repair stand with an electric motor inside that lifts everything from your UCI-illegal road bike, up to your gravity-ready full-powered enduro ebike – all at the press of a button. It will essentially lift any type of bike, so you don’t have to.

The heavier the better I say. Or rather, it’s even better with the heavier ones.

Tech Details & My Personal Setup

The Remco Bike Lift debuted about 2.5 years ago as a solution for bike shops working on more and more heavy bikes & ebikes. The concept was simply that the key electric-lifting column couple be swapped in, replacing existing workshop stand setups with relatively minimal cost – keeping existing base and clamp solutions.

The lift works thanks to a linear actuator inside that extends 65cm (25.6″). That’s generally enough to pick up bikes off the ground by the seatpost at/above the seatpost clamp, and lift them high enough to work at eye level. Position 1 is the bottom and 3 is the top, and you can program 2 anywhere in between, as you prefer. I have 2 set at 16cm below top-out, as that’s my typically ideal height for working on drivetrains and brakes.

According to the official Remco Bike Lift drawings, the lowest working height for the center of the clamp would be 86.6cm (34″) off the ground. But with most mountain bikes and eMTBs featuring sloping geometry and long-travel droppers, I found that to be not quite low enough.

Real dimensions & travel

Luckily, a closer look at the official Min & Max heights tells a slightly different story.

The Chuck Adapter (the small vertical stub that’s attached on top of the orange lift control box) has two mounting positions, and the lower one is 6.5cm down. That’s the one I opted for, giving me a more ideal low position of 80cm off the ground, and still 143.5cm at top out. Ultimately, the display then reads 3cm higher than the top of my clamp. But since it’s just an approximate representation of where the Bike Lift is in its full travel (85.5-149 on screen), it’s still a helpful guide.

Some mechanics will prefer the higher position. And there’s also an optional base extension to make it even higher. But I prefer the low setup.

A bit more detailed pricing breakdown of having everything in one place

Price is a major point here, obviously. (Because this is a big outlay, whether it’s an investment for ease or workability in a pro shop, or just a very serious upgrade for the home mechanic!)

But so is getting your repair & maintenance setup perfectly dialed to improve efficiency, right?

Modular, means only buy what you need and re-use the workstand clamp you have. But it still isn’t cheap. This really is still meant to be a pro bike shop repair stand for everyday mechanics who need to work on heavy ebikes. But as more $15,000+ road, gravel, mountain & high-powered ebikes get sold (or even just the still-expensive $8-9k ones!), it starts to make sense that more people are going to buy fancy repair stands to take some of the ‘work’ out of ‘working’ on your bike, even at home.

Plenty of amateur shade-tree mechanics already buy premium-quality professional tools.

Why not a pro work stand, too? And if you go shopping for a pro-level repair stand, you’ll quickly find that you could easily spend 600-900 dollars or euros on one of those. And you’d still have to lift every bike into it. So why not go all the way!

A close look at my setup

If we break it down, my setup looks like this:

• $744 / 849€ for the Remco Bike Lift itself, includes the attachment for Pro Clamps like this Unior one.
  This is the core element that literally does all the heavy lifting.
• $209 / 210€ for the Unior Master shop clamp
  If you already have a workstand to upgrade, you won’t need this. Plus, there are more affordable clamps available, too. But this one is solid secure, rated for 45kg, and made strong 100% in the EU.
• $220 / 302€ for the Base Plate, because a heavy chunk of steel is just worth a lot. But, bolt the stand to the floor of your workshop and save a bunch of cash.
• The $120€ Tool Tray is a must in my eyes; this is what lets you customize the setup for how you work. I drilled out a few tiny holes to mount my commonly-used pick tools, and added some hangers for a small bolts holder, an extra wrench, a rotor checker, and an electric inflator.
• And the $79€ Rapid USB Charger is also a must-have in these days where so many bikes have batteries to keep charged! Remco wants you to mount it low on the side of the controller. But I drilled a hole in the plastic top cap of the Chuck Adapter stub, and it is more easily accessible, and can even pivot side-to-side, as needed.

The negatives (besides price)

One of the only real pain points I’ve experienced with the Remco Bike Lift is that I wished it had a standard outlet to plug in proprietary chargers or a tablet/laptop. The only power output it has on the stand is a non-standard plug for Remco’s own USB changer. I started without the charger, but after a month I realized that I needed it. And it has made all the difference – charging AXS & Di2 batteries, a flashlight for peering inside frames, and mini inflators, so I don’t have to pump up tires manually in the workshop anymore.

Because modern light eMTBs still aren’t that light

Since last fall, I have been servicing & maintaining dozens of European Bikerumor test bikes on this stand – including cleaning, packing & returning several test bikes at the end of 2025, and then some pretty major winter servicing on all of our long-term and my family’s personal mountain bikes throughout the spring.

Among that, there’ve been, I think, 6 ebikes in that time. None of them exceptionally light weight.

Even top-tier modern trail, all-mountain, and enduro bikes today are often 1-2kg heavier than previous generation. When you start adding wider tires, wider wheels, electronic everything everywhere with extra batteries, and internal frame storage that invariably means all the bikes are equipped with spare tubes, multi-tools, tire repair tools, and maybe even a pump at all times. More modern bikes are more capable and more convenient… just not lighter.

And oh, how glorious it is to have this little orange beauty picking all of those bikes up and putting them back down, over and over. After I first preset my ideal working height, I just roll the bike up to the Remco Lift, clamp its seatpost, hit 2, and walk away. It seems completely silly to me. But it is somehow freeing to not lift heavy bikes of the ground, and spend those maybe ten seconds, finding any specialized tools I might need to get ready.

Or, I just lift the bike up to a nice working height, while I set myself to another task like seating & inflating a new tubeless tire.

And positioning the bike for each task is so much better!

The thing that has most surprised me, is that I now move the bike up and down in the stand maybe 3 or 4 times while I’m working on it.

I never used to do that with a conventional repair stand, even with a regular bike. And especially not a heavier ebike that usually weighs well over 20kg. I would often spin the bike in the stand, but never re-lift it. It just wasn’t worth the extra effort. But now, when I move from adjusting a derailleur, to installing a bottle cage, to adjusting a brake lever clamp, to removing a rear shock, to routing a new internal dropper cable, to simply cleaning and lubing a chain. Each time, I move the bike up or down, maybe just 5 or 10cm to a height that feels perfect.

So now, I’m also more likely to pull up a stool for a task that might take longer, like installing a new chainring or cleaning out a T-type cassette packed with autumn leaves or spring grasses.

Because it is so little effort to move the bike up and down centimeter by centimeter, now I move it much more often. So it is at the perfect height for whatever task is at hand.

Parting thoughts

Yes, it is expensive. So are all the damn bikes these days.

But, the Remco Bike Lift has genuinely changed how I work on bikes.

I didn’t think lifting bikes into a stand was that difficult, until I didn’t have to do it anymore. And I didn’t even mention how much easier (and pain-free) it was to service bikes in those days in the workshop when I couldn’t ride much after a minor shoulder injury. I also hadn’t ever really appreciated how much more comfortable it could be to adjust the bike for each and every different maintenance task at hand.

Yes, the Remco Bike Lift is expensive. But you should totally drool over it, just like you lust over the next, best new road or gravel or mountain bike that we’ll write about this week or next. And if you regularly work a lot on bikes – and it’s within your budget – I can assure that you’ll appreciate this more advanced workstand.

I’m never going back to lifting every bike I work on into the repair stand.

RemcoTools.com

The post Review: Electric Remco Bike Lift is the Luxury I Didn’t Know My Home Workshop Needed appeared first on Bikerumor.

Lapierre is back in the XC fight with an all-new XR. This is a ground-up redesign aimed directly at where World Cup cross-country is now: faster, rougher, steeper, and more technical. The new design keeps a familiar look but updates the suspension placement, feel, and climbing performance. Plus, it’s a sharp-looking chassis and stands out from the current XC copy/paste designs.

The new XR is a full-suspension 29er (sorry, 32″ wheelers) with 120mm front and rear travel, updated kinematics, a lower shock position, revised carbon layups, and geometry that tries to keep the bike sharp uphill without getting nervous when the course points down.

All-New Lapierre XR

Lapierre says the new XR was developed with input from its PXR Racing program, and the brief was clear: keep the bike efficient, but make it more agile on climbs and more controlled at race speed. The previous XR/XRM was capable of technical descents, but Lapierre admits it was not the sharpest climber.

So the new XR gets a more centralized rider position, a more aggressive climbing posture, a steeper seat tube angle, a shorter top tube, a higher head tube, and adjustable handling via a flip chip. The idea is to make the bike feel more engaged under power without giving up high-speed stability.

Update Travel: 120mm Front and Rear

The new XR is built around a modern 120mm of travel front and rear. The previous version had 120mm front travel and 110mm rear. However, 120mm travel front and rear is very much the modern XC sweet spot now. Enough travel to stay composed on ugly courses, but not so much that the bike starts feeling like a trail bike in a race kit.

Lapierre pairs that with a flip chip that adjusts the bottom bracket drop between 40mm and 45mm.

The good bit? Lapierre says the flip chip changes BB height without affecting the kinematics. So riders can tune the bike to the course’s feel. Use the higher setting for more pedal clearance and sharper handling, and the lower setting for more stability, all without messing up the suspension’s behavior.

Geometry sits right in modern XC territory. In the 40mm BB setting, the XR has a 67-degree head angle and 76.5-degree virtual seat angle. If you drop the flip chip to 45mm, it slackens slightly to about 66.6 degrees up front with a 76.1-degree seat angle. The reach runs from 420mm in small to 495mm in XL in the higher BB setting.

New Kinematics: More Support, Better Pedaling

The heart of the XR update is the suspension layout.

Lapierre introduced a new kinematic concept designed to balance pedaling efficiency and active suspension. The brand says anti-squat sits closer to 100% at sag, which should help the bike stay firm and efficient under power while still letting the rear wheel track when things get rough.

That is the trick with XC suspension. Too firm and it skips around. Too active, and it feels like you’re towing a wet mattress up the climb. Lapierre is trying to keep the rear end planted without letting it waste precious watts.

The new vertical shock position also gives Lapierre more room to fine-tune the kinematics and lowers the shock in the frame. That lowers the center of gravity and should help the bike feel calmer as speeds rise. It also provides easier access for shock setup and cleaning, which isn’t flashy but absolutely matters when the bike lives in real mud and needs real maintenance.

Lapierre also worked to keep anti-rise close to the previous XR/XRM, aiming to preserve downhill braking composure. The bike should stay more predictable when you are hard on the brakes coming into the spicy bits.

Asymmetric Frame and Lower Shock Placement

One of the more interesting frame details is the XR’s asymmetric construction around the bottom bracket area. The frame is open around the BB, which helps Lapierre lower the shock as much as possible, save weight, and make the shock easier to reach, but still only allows for one water bottle

There’s also a Fidlock cover for the shock cover opening, and Lapierre says the bike can be ridden without it to save 44g.

New Carbon Naming: UD Racing and UD Performance

Lapierre is also introducing new carbon naming for the XR: UD Racing and UD Performance.

The top-end XR 10.9 gets the UD Racing layup, built around a T800 carbon fiber base with high-modulus fibers to improve the stiffness-to-weight ratio.

Frame weight lands at a claimed 1,730g, which Lapierre says is 50g lighter than the previous XR. That is not a massive drop, but paired with the new suspension layout, geometry, and 120/120mm travel, the weight story is more about efficiency than just chasing raw weight reduction.

The rest of the range uses UD Performance layups, keeping the same frame platform, geometry, and kinematics across all models.

That last part is important. You are not buying a totally different bike if you don’t spring for the XR 10.9. The lower models still get the same core chassis and ride character, just with different builds and carbon construction.

XR 10.9: The Full Gas One

The flagship XR 10.9 is the cleanest expression of the new platform.

It uses the UD Racing layup and comes in at a claimed 10.4kg. Suspension is handled by a RockShox SID Ultimate fork and RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate shock, both with 3-position remote control. It doesn’t get the RockShox Flight Attendant like the team builds, but I expect we might see some eventually.

The drivetrain is SRAM XX SL AXS, brakes are SRAM Motive Ultimate, wheels are FSA KFX i30 Team Edition, and the cockpit is an FSA NS SIC integrated one-piece setup.

Price is €10,000.

The Rest of the XR Line

Lapierre is not making the new XR a one-model halo project. The range includes five builds: XR 10.9, 8.9, 7.9, 6.9, and 5.9, with sizes from S to XL.

The XR 8.9 gets the UD Performance layup and comes in at 11kg with Shimano XT Di2, Shimano XT 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss XRC1500 wheels, a SRAM Descendant flat carbon bar with XLC stem, and Fox 34 SL Factory / Float Factory suspension with 2-position control. Price is €6,999.

The XR 7.9 drops in at 11.8kg with SRAM GX AXS, SRAM Motive Bronze brakes, DT Swiss XR1700 wheels, XLC alloy cockpit, and RockShox SID Select+ / SIDLuxe Select+ suspension with 3-position control. Price is €5,799.

The XR 6.9 weighs 12.2kg and runs Shimano Deore Di2, Shimano Deore 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss M1900 wheels, XLC alloy cockpit, and RockShox SID Select / SIDLuxe Select+ suspension. Price is €4,799.

The entry point is the XR 5.9, listed at 12.8kg with a new mechanical Shimano Deore group, Shimano M4100 4-piston brakes, XLC alloy wheels and cockpit, and the same RockShox SID Select / SIDLuxe Select+ suspension package. Price is €3,799.

That is a pretty wide spread. The 10.9 is the race weapon. The 8.9 looks like the smart high-end rider build. The 7.9 is probably the sweet spot for many racers who want wireless shifting and proper wheels without hitting five figures. The 6.9 and 5.9 open the platform to riders who want the same frame concept without needing team-issued money.

Lapierrebikes.com

The post The All-New Lapierre XR Gets Sharper, Lighter, and Fully Ready for Modern XC appeared first on Bikerumor.

Ashville, North Carolina’s Cane Creek has announced that it will be opening its HQ to the public for the launch of the inaugural showcase, Crafted: Southeast Bicycle and Gear Show. This is the Southeast’s first dedicated showcase of handmade bicycles, custom components, and cycling craftsmanship.

The Event will take place on September 26-27, 2026. Hosted by Cane Creek in Fletcher, North Carolina, the event is free and open to the public. Exhibitor applications are currently open HERE.

It’s About the Region…

“We are situated in the Southeast with an often forgotten but lively cycling industry. We have so many partners that fall into that handmade and small frame builder’s category down here, and they deserve to be celebrated and highlighted.” Said Cane Creek’s OEM Sales Manager, Bryan Flack. “The cyclists that ride here in the Southeast are also eager to meet like-minded frame builders and see the incredible bicycles they make. There are other handmade bike shows out West or in Europe, which are great, but we wanted to celebrate and highlight those frame builders in our backyard, on the East Coast, and the Southeast.”

The show’s venue is located just minutes from downtown Asheville and the Pisgah National Forest. The event is meant to celebrate the bicycle, community, and the epic local riding in Western North Carolina. Hoping to capture the spirit of the region while providing the independent frame and component builders the opportunity to showcase their talents and craftsmanship.

“This is year one, and the beginning of something bigger,” Said Dorene O’Malley, CRAFTED Director. “Our hope is to build an annual event in the Southeast to celebrate small frame builders, gear, and component manufacturers. Join us in building a community.”

What to Expect

• Discover craft and unique gear, handmade bikes, and bike parts
• Ask questions, hear makers’ stories, shop, and support smaller names in the cycling industry
• Group rides, tours, live music, tattoos, food, and libations
• Kid and family-friendly skills course

The show kicks off Saturday, September 26th, and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 PM. Sunday, September 27th, from 10 a.m. to 4 PM. Group rides, live music, and tattoos will be going off all day.

Sounds like a stellar time!

See the link below for more details.

CraftedBikeShow.com

The post CRAFTED: Southeast Bicycle & Gear Showcase to Be Held at Cane Creek HQ appeared first on Bikerumor.

German wheel maker Newmen laces up a new deep but lightweight aero wheelset with carbon spokes. Yet, it’s the 45mm outer width that makes these G.62 gravel wheels truly unique. Optimizing aerodynamics for modern 45mm & 50mm gravel race tires led Newmen to develop one of the widest aero rims we’ve ever seen; but they stuck with a reasonable inner width to keep your tires in the right shape. And in the end, still managed to keep wheelset weights to a totally reasonable 1530g thanks to the latest Vonoa carbon spokes.

All that at a price that might shock as more affordable than you’d think…

Newmen Streem G.62 wide/deep/light aero gravel race wheels

Newmen describes the new Streem G.62 as a “whole new chapter for gravel racing” built on the back of their multiple Grand Tour stage wins & Tour de France Green jersey-winning Streem aero road wheels… and those sneaky hidden valve stems.

“The mission was clear: a gravel wheel designed with uncompromising aerodynamics, perfectly tuned for modern gravel tires.“

But mainstream aero gravel hadn’t gone so wide or deep yet.

So while Newmen calls the new Streem G.62 aero gravel wheelset the “among the lightest in their class”, they are being generous, because there’s little else like these wheels. Sure there are similar depth aero road or even all-road wheels at the same weight or lighter, but nothing close to this width and pricepoint. Newmen are definitely pushing into new ground here.

“The result is a gravel wheel that, even with a 50-millimeter-wide tire, matches the performance of the best aero road wheels in the wind tunnel.“

That alone is a shocking statement! One we can’t wait to try, and verify, for ourselves.

Tech details

• 62mm deep aero carbon gravel rim
• wide 45mm outer width, aerodynamically-optimized for modern 45-50mm gravel tires
• 27mm hooked tubeless inner width, designed to preserve tire shape/size
• 21 Vonoa Aero Wide Carbon spokes on both the front and rear wheels
• or 24 Sapim CX-Ray bladed stainless steel spokes front & rear for a 17.7% cost savings

• Newmen Fade R CNC-machined centerlock disc 12mm thru-axle, 3-pawl 36T / 10° hubs
• complete wheels available with Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehubs (N3W & MicroSpline available separately)
• wheels delivered with Newmen Aero Valve System & tubeless-ready: taped for tubeless, with valves & sealant!
• compatible with Newmen’s Aero Valve hidden inside the rim AND conventional tubeless valves
• carbon-spoked wheels are built in Germany, steel-spoked wheels are built in Czechia
• tested to XC MTB wheel standards, rated up to 130kg ride+bike system weight
• wheelsets from 1530g (claimed with carbon spokes), or 1600g (with steel spokes)

Why is wide gravel aero quite unique?

I know these are clearly meant exclusively to be an aerodynamic gravel race wheelset. But I’m having a hard time not wanting to try these out on a gravel all-rounder, or even a bikepacking bike, too. Usually, we don’t even seriously consider a 45mm or (gasp!) 50mm tire when we are talking aero.

Because simply, if the tire is significantly wider than the rim, airflow breaks away when the wheel spins, and the aerodynamic gains of deeper rims are quickly lost. Making the rim wider, invariably makes it a lot heavier. When Dangerholm showed us his ultra-wide 52mm external/45mm internal Faction prototype gravel wheels last fall, he simply said they were exceptionally heavy. Hunt Wheels has done a lot with their Limitless aero family, adding low-density polymers to the outer edge of the rim to get wide without getting heavy. And their carbon spoke 40 Limitless Gravel Aero wheels are probably the closest analog to these new Streem G.62s. But while the Hunts are quite a bit lighter, they are a lot narrower, shallower, and even more expensive.

Simply put, these new Newmen Streem G.62 wheels are in a class of their own. And we’re looking forward to trying them out soon.

Newmen Streem G.62 – Pricing, options & availability

The new Newmen Streem G.62 wide aero gravel race wheels actually come in two versions, each with either flashy silver decals or more stealthy black on raw carbon graphics. First, there’s the carbon-spoke version selling for 1690€.

Then, we totally glossed over the fact that there’s a more affordable version with 24 traditional aero-bladed stainless steel Sapim CX-Ray spokes, too. At just 1390€, they are a bit more affordable, and only 70g heavier, which frankly isn’t much at all.

The wheels with silver logos are available from Newmen dealers starting today. The black-on-carbon wheels will be available from August 2026.

Newmen-components.de

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A quality pair of mountain bike gloves is an essential piece of kit for most riders. As the primary point of contact between you and your bike, finding a well-fitting pair of gloves that suits your riding style, environment, and needs is crucial for control, comfort, and protection on the trail.

With gloves made for hot weather, cold weather, and ranging from thin and minimalist to beefy and protective, there are a dizzying number of options on the market to suit varying needs and preferences. However, with numerous brands and styles to choose from, finding the ideal mountain bike gloves can be a daunting task.

To help, we gathered a diverse selection of models and tested them for months, and in some cases years, to find the best gloves for every rider, riding style, and weather condition. So, whether you’re looking for a lightweight and breathable model for mid-summer riding, something with knuckle protection, or gloves to keep your hands warm during cool fall, winter, and spring rides, we’ve got recommendations for you

Editor’s Note: Our mountain bike glove buyer’s guide was updated on June 4, 2026, with the addition of two lightweight models perfect for summer rides, the Backcountry Slickrock Lite and the latest Fox Flexair Gloves.

Best Overall Mountain Bike Gloves

Fox Flexair Glove

Check Price at Backcountry

Specifications

• MSRP: $50
• Weight: 36 grams (size L)
• Type: Lightweight
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Super comfortable
• Precise fit
• Light and breathable
• Vented palm
• Great bar feel

Cons

• Nose wipe is on the smaller side
• Light colors are prone to staining
• Fairly expensive

Jeremy Benson

Fox has been hard at work turning its entire Flexair line of apparel into its top-of-the-line race-ready kit. That includes the Fox Flexair Gloves ($50), the latest iteration of its lightweight mountain bike gloves. We picked up a test pair a few months back and have been impressed by their comfort, precise fit, and lightweight performance.

Fox continues to refine its Flexair lineup, most recently leaning into racing and designs influenced by its top-level racers. From the Flexair shorts and pants to the jerseys and gloves, everything has been streamlined to enhance performance on the bike. As it relates to the gloves specifically, they have been pared down to the essentials needed to maximize grip and bar feel with a precise fit and great breathability.

The back of the hand is made from a very stretchy, thin, and lightweight nylon and elastane blend. Not only does this material give them a snug, precision fit, but it’s also very breathable and quick-drying. That’s paired with a thin Clarino palm that feels about as close to riding gloveless as you can get with gloves on. The bar feel is incredibly direct, and moisture is managed nicely with perforations throughout the palm, fingers, and thumb. Stretch mesh between the fingers also contributes to their excellent airflow.

The low-profile neoprene cuff adds to their streamlined look and security, though it does make them a touch harder to pull on than some other options. Still, they aren’t shifting around once they are on. Your fingers aren’t slipping off the shifters or brake levers, either, thanks to a generous silicone print on the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Touchscreen compatibility is also solid with conductive threads in the tips of the thumb and index fingers, too.

They come in a range of colors, from neon pink and lime green to more subtle options like black, chalk white, and nutmeg brown. Just be warned, the fingertips of our lime green test pair got permanently stained by dirt very quickly. Whatever your color preference, we bet you’ll appreciate the lightweight, breathability, precise fit, and great bar feel of the Fox Flexair Gloves.

Best Budget Mountain Bike Gloves

Giro DND Glove

Check Price at REI – Men'sCheck Price at REI – Women's

Specifications

• MSRP: $30
• Weight: 62 grams (size L)
• Type: Light to midweight
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Affordable
• Comfortable
• Large nose wipe
• Lots of color and pattern options
• Surprisingly durable

Cons

• Limited hand protection
• Can be a little warm on the hottest days

Jeremy Benson

The Giro DND gloves are a perfect example of an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” product. These gloves have been a mainstay in Giro’s line of mountain bike gloves for over a decade, and they still work just as well as they always have. They are also very reasonably priced, making them an easy choice for riders on a budget who don’t need or want knuckle protection.

The Giro DND is a relatively simple glove that falls toward the lighter-weight end of the spectrum. The 4-way stretch breathable mesh back of the hand is a tad thicker than the Dakine Covert described above, but is plenty breathable for warm to hot conditions. The relatively thin AX Suede palm has a few perforations for ventilation, and it features Giro’s Super Fit design and paneling that avoids excessive material or bunching when you grip the bars. The outside heel of the palm also features thin, 2mm EVA pads for added crash protection.

The pointer finger and thumb have conduction threads that work reasonably well with touchscreens, and the thumb, pointer, and middle fingers have silicone strips added for grip on brake and shift levers. A soft microfiber wipe on the thumb has your nose and sweat wiping needs covered.

With an excellent, comfortable fit, versatility, and a reasonable price, the Giro DND is a no-brainer. These gloves come in an array of color/pattern options, sizes S to XXL, and a women’s version called the LA DND. Additionally, these gloves are part of Giro’s custom program and are commonly available at bike shops or events with custom colors and designs.

Best Lightweight Mountain BIke Gloves

Backcountry Slickrock Lite Glove

Check Price at Backcountry

Specifications

• MSRP: $35
• Weight: 33 grams (size L)
• Type: Lightweight
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Breathable and quick-drying
• Full size nose wipe
• Great, comfortable fit
• Works great with touchscreen

Cons

• Minimal hand protection
• Light materials may be more prone to damage

Jeremy Benson

Backcountry.com is one of the largest online retailers for outdoor sporting goods of all kinds. In the past few years, Backcountry has started branding and selling its own line of outdoor apparel, including a well-developed range of mountain bike clothing and accessories. We recently got our hands in the Backcountry Slickrock Lite Gloves ($35), and they’ve quickly become one of our favorite lightweight options for hot rides. If they look familiar, these are essentially a rebranded pair of the Giro Rivet CS Gloves.

As the name suggests, the Slickrock Lite gloves are on the lightweight side of the spectrum. Weighing in at just 33 grams for the pair in size large, they’re not only lightweight, but they’re also impressively breathable and quick-drying. The 100% polyester Gradient material on the back of the hand is airy with ample stretch, yet has proven to be surprisingly resilient against brushes with trailside obstacles.

The Cool Skin microfiber palm provides a great grip and bar feel, plus it’s perforated through to allow moisture to escape and keep the hands cool. Lightweight mesh between all of the fingers adds more ventilation and makes these gloves a great companion for rides in warm to hot temperatures. Plus, they’ve got a great articulated fit, with the Super Fit three-panel palm that prevents any material from bunching.

The thin, Cool Skin palm is touchscreen compatible, and these gloves work great with phone screens as they don’t rely on conductive threads. There’s also a full-size sweat/nose wipe on the thumb, plus a reinforced pull tab to assist in getting them on.

The Slickrock Lite Gloves come in six sizes — XS to XXL — and our large test pair fit true to size. They come in two tasteful and subdued colorways: Turbulence/Black (grey) and Black/Wintergreen (black). Branding is minimal, with just a subtle Backcountry logo printed on the back by the wrist.

We’ve been riding in our test pair for a couple of months, and they’re no worse for wear. And as the temperatures climb toward summer highs, the Backcountry Slickrock Lite are the gloves we’ve been reaching for most often.

Best Midweight Mountain Bike Gloves

Outdoor Research Freewheel Leather Palm Gloves

Check Price at REI

Specifications

• MSRP: $60
• Weight: 76 g (size L)
• Type: Midweight
• Knuckle protection: No
• Touchscreen compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Comfortable leather palms
• Great grip and bar feel
• Midweight materials are great for cooler rides
• Big and soft nose wipe

Cons

• Fairly expensive
• Too warm for hot days
• Color bleeding from leather palm

Jeremy Benson

Outdoor Research (OR) is one of the latest outdoor brands to add mountain bike apparel to its product range. A few years ago, the brand made a splash with the launch of its Freewheel lineup, which includes shorts, pants, jerseys, and jackets for men and women, along with accessories such as hip packs and gloves. OR currently makes three models of mountain bike gloves, with the Freewheel Leather Palm hitting the middle ground between the lightweight Freewheel and the winter-ready 4-Finger Bike Gloves.

As the name suggests, the Leather Palm gloves have a durable goat leather palm. This supple leather covers the entire palm side of the gloves and breaks in nicely over the course of several rides. Not only is it soft and comfortable against the skin, but it also provides excellent grip on the handlebars for maximum control. The palm and outer two fingers feature perforation for ventilation, and the heel of the palm has light padding and reinforcement for durability.

The back of the hand is made with a midweight nylon/spandex mesh that contributes to the gloves’ tough, durable feel. This material also contributes to their warmth, making them a great option for the cooler shoulder season rides when lightweight options no longer suffice. That said, we found the lightweight Freewheel gloves (without the leather palm) to be a better option for riding in the summer heat.

With a Velcro wrist closure, we found these to be very easy to get on and off, and our large test pair fit true to size. We thoroughly appreciated the soft, sweat- and nose-wipe covering the back of the thumb. This has been especially handy for the drippy nose that often accompanies cool fall rides. Conduction threads on the tip of the index finger and thumb work fairly well for basic touchscreen use, but precision is limited by the leather material.

Our biggest complaint about our test gloves is that the brownish color of the leather palm stained our hands on a couple of extra-sweaty occasions, though that issue seems to have subsided after a couple of washes (and plenty of use). We’ve also read reports of durability issues, but ours are holding up very well after months of heavy abuse. In fact, they just keep getting better like a well-worn pair of work gloves.

Best Protective Mountain Bike Gloves

Leatt MTB 4.0 Lite

Check Price at BackcountryCheck Price at Jenson USA

Specifications

• MSRP: $85
• Weight: 60 grams (size S)
• Type: Protective
• Knuckle Protection: Airflex impact gel over knuckles and two outer fingers
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Great venting and breathability for a glove with so much protection
• Nicely contoured and articulated palm
• Great bar feel thanks to "Nanogrip" palm material
• Airflex padding provides lots of hand protection
• Sizeable wipe on back of thumb

Cons

• More expensive
• Can be difficult to pull on with sweaty hands.

Jeremy Benson

Balancing hand protection with comfort and breathability isn’t easy, but Leatt has achieved this goal with the MTB 4.0 Lite gloves. With a large Airflex Impact Gel pad covering the knuckles and outer fingers, the 4.0 Lite offers heaps of protection in an otherwise lightweight, breathable glove with a great fit and excellent bar feel.

The most obvious feature of the MTB 4.0 Lite gloves is the latticed Airflex knuckle protection. While it is noticeable on the back of the hands, it is formed to the knuckle shape and articulated for the grip position, meaning they are most comfortable when you’re holding onto the bars. This padding covers all four knuckles and extends down the outer two fingers for extra coverage on your most vulnerable digits. The latticed, open design of Airflex padding allows some air to pass through to the hands, and, coupled with the lightweight back of hand fabric, enables impressive breathability for a protective glove.

One of the other highlights of the MTB 4.0 Lite gloves is the excellent fit and bar feel. The 3D contoured palm is perfectly articulated for the grip position and is made of material that Leatt calls “NanoGrip” which provides an incredibly natural grip and bar feel. The tips of the finger and thumb also work very well with touchscreens, so you don’t need to pull these off your sweaty hands every time you pull out your phone to get more footage for your next reel. A sizable wipe on the thumb is a nice touch, and the thin, stretchy wrist cuff is quite comfortable as well. The only drawback to these gloves that we found is that they can be a bit difficult to put on and take off, especially when hands are sweaty.

At $85 (you can often find them on sale for less), the Leatt MTB 4.0 Lite doesn’t come cheap, but they are a very well-executed glove that manages to balance serious knuckle protection with comfort and breathability. The palm shaping is perfect, the NanoGrip material provides great grip, and they look pretty cool too. Leatt offers the MTB 4.0 Lite in five color options and sizes ranging from S to XL.

Best Cool Weather Mountain Bike Gloves

Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium

Check Price at BackcountryCheck Price at Amazon

Specifications

• MSRP: $60
• Weight: 43 grams (size S)
• Type: Cool weather, wind blocking
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Thin, very good dexterity for a cold weather glove
• Gore-tex Infinium blocks wind and provides enough warmth for all but the coldest days
• Gore-tex Infinium breathes extremely well
• Great bar grip from silicone patches at base of fingers
• Water-repellant

Cons

• Not insulated enough for below freezing temperatures
• Velcro wrist closure is thin fabric – can be difficult to open
• Not waterproof, nor do they claim to be

Jeremy Benson

Since most people don’t go mountain biking when it’s truly frigid outside, a wind-blocking, cool-weather glove like the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium is the perfect thing to keep you riding in comfort in temperatures above the freezing mark. By completely blocking wind and insulating better than standard warm-weather gloves, this model keeps your hands toasty in temperatures from 50 degrees F down to around 35 degrees F while maintaining a sleek profile and excellent dexterity.

Though they look like any old pair of mountain bike gloves, the C5 Infinium has a slightly thicker, softshell-esque back of hand that includes the Gore-Tex Infinium windproof membrane. In addition to being impervious to wind, Infinium is also highly water-resistant — not waterproof, mind you — and it effectively repels water from light rain or puddle splashes. At the same time, it breathes impressively well, meaning your hands don’t get too sweaty, even if the temperature warms up during your ride. This balance of attributes is rare, but Gorewear has nailed it with these gloves.

One thing that sets the C5 Infinium gloves apart from other cool-weather options is the lack of bulk and streamlined fit. While they are a little thicker than regular gloves, they stretch nicely around the hand for a precise fit that allows for excellent dexterity. The synthetic palm material provides a good bar feel, and silicone strips at the base of the fingers enhance the grip. The C5 also works with touchscreens, although precise typing is much easier with the gloves off. The wrist cuff is low-profile and closed with a very grippy, small velcro tab that makes getting in and out of the gloves quite easy, although peeling the velcro open can be a little tricky with gloves on.

If you don’t want to compromise dexterity to keep your hands warm during cool fall, winter, and spring rides, the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium is our top recommendation. These gloves work well in temperatures above freezing and repel water fairly well for a non-waterproof glove. Additionally, the snug fit and excellent breathability will keep you comfortable while riding. The C5 Infinium gloves are available in black and neon yellow color options, with sizes ranging from XS to XXXL.

Other Mountain Gloves to Slip Your Hands Into

Dakine Covert

Check Price at Backcountry

Specifications

• MSRP: $35
• Weight: 44 grams (size L)
• Type: Lightweight
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Breathable
• Great bar feel
• Surprisingly durable

Cons

• Limited hand protection

Jeremy Benson

The Dakine Covert mountain bike glove is a lightweight full-finger model that is simply one of the best gloves we’ve used in recent years. With a thin mesh back and synthetic suede palm, these gloves are designed for riding in warm to hot conditions, offering an excellent, “barely there” bar feel.

The Covert gloves are lightweight, but they are slightly thicker than something super lightweight, such as the 100% Sling. Still, the light mesh back is great on warm days, allowing for excellent airflow and drying quickly when you sweat. The synthetic suede palm creates a thin layer between you and the bars, keeping sweaty hands from slipping, while providing an excellent bar feel and a little protection should your hands end up in the dirt. The palm material wraps around the outside edge of the hand and around the thumb and pointer finger, where you grip the bars for added abrasion resistance.

The Covert gloves do not offer much in the way of knuckle protection except for a thin PU layer on the outer two knuckles to fend off minor encounters with trailside bushes. The pointer finger and thumb both feature silicone strips for grip on brake levers and shifters, as well as conduction threads that work relatively well with touchscreens. The thumb has a large, soft nose/sweat wipe, and the stretch wrist cuff has a reinforced pull tab and a clean-cut edge that is comfortable and looks good, too.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Dakine Covert gloves is their surprising durability. One of our testers rode in the same pair for over three seasons before the mesh between the fingers started to degrade. Add to that the impressive comfort, grip, and bar feel, and you can’t go wrong with these gloves. They come in sizes XS to XXL, with six color options, and a women’s version is also available.

Handup ColdER Weather Gloves

Check Price at Amazon

Specifications

• MSRP: $36
• Weight: 81 grams (size L)
• Type: Cold weather, insulated
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Affordable
• Warm
• Good grip
• Work surprisingly well with touchscreens
• Large nose wipe on thumb

Cons

• Fewer color options
• Fingers feel a tad bulky at first

Jeremy Benson

Handup makes a couple of models geared toward cool and cold weather with their aptly named Cold Weather and ColdER Weather gloves. The styling looks nearly identical to their Most Days gloves, but hidden inside the ColdER Weather version is a two thin layers of fleece to provide warmth without excessive bulk.

It is worth mentioning that the ColdER Weather gloves fit a touch wider than non-insulated gloves, and that is by design. Compressed insulation doesn’t hold heat as well, so a little extra space inside the gloves allows your body heat to get trapped inside the insulating layers. And, as the name suggests, the ColdER gloves feature dual fleece layers and are made for use in properly cold temperatures, whereas the Cold Weather gloves have a single fleece layer across the back of the hand for moderately cold days on the bike. We tested the ColdER gloves in temperatures just below the freezing mark, and they kept our hands plenty warm as long as we generated body heat.

Beyond the intentionally more voluminous sizing, the gloves fit true to size, with appropriately long fingers and a slightly extended stretch neoprene cuff that makes getting them on and off relatively easy, even with sweaty hands. Given the addition of insulation, however, the fingers felt a little bulky at first, but after riding in them for a few minutes, they went otherwise unnoticed. There is only a light layer of insulation on the palm, so the grip still feels pretty natural and is aided by ample silicone print (the words “Ride Dirty”) on the palm and fingers. The entire palm and fingers are made from a seamless FullTouch material that works well for simple tasks on touchscreens as well.

At $36, the Handup ColdER Weather gloves are an affordable option that will keep your hands warm in cold (but not arctic) conditions while avoiding being overly bulky. Aside from the added insulation and slightly looser fit, they feel pretty much like normal mountain bike gloves, and that’s about the best we can hope for. They are available in the Green colorway shown above or plain Black, and in sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.

Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield Gloves

Check Price at Backcountry

Specifications

• MSRP: $65
• Type: Full finger, cool weather
• Weight: 54 g (size L)
• Materials: Polartec PowerShield back of hand, AX Suede Slim Fleece palm
• Knuckle protection: No
• Touchscreen compatibility: Yes
• Sizes: XS to XXL
• Colors: Black

Pros

• Blocks wind and moisture
• Ideal for cool rides ~ 45°F and up
• Versatile – works for road, gravel, or MTB
• Direct bar feel
• Works with touchscreens

Cons

• Awkward fit in tips of thumbs
• Block wind and moisture but not particularly warm

Jeremy Benson

The Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield gloves are relatively similar to the Gorewear C5 Infinium gloves described above, with a low-profile cut, windproof material, and cool-weather focus. With the Pearl Izumi gloves, however, the PowerShield membrane steps their water-resistance up a notch and provides a completely waterproof barrier for the back of the hands. And although they aren’t specifically designed for mountain biking, we’ve been using these versatile gloves on mountain bike rides for months, and they have been handling it swimmingly.

Pearl Izumi designed the PRO PowerShield gloves for use in wet, windy, and cool conditions with a suggested temperature range of 55 to 70 degrees F (13 to 24 degrees C). In our testing, we found them to keep the hands happy in temperatures down to around 45 degrees F, assuming moderate to high intensity and the production of some body heat. The PowerShield membrane worked well to block wind and kept our hands completely dry in steady drizzle and a faucet test.

We also appreciated the sleek, low-bulk nature of the PRO PowerShield gloves. They don’t really have any insulation, so they fit and feel similar to other mountain bike gloves. The AX Suede Slim Fleece palm is slightly thicker than summer gloves, but it’s a single layer that we found to provide a natural bar feel and grip. We also appreciated the streamlined fit and the velcro cuff for easy on and off. Cool rides often mean runny noses, so we also got good use out of the soft, absorbent microfiber material covering the back of the thumb.

Both the tip of the index finger and thumb are covered with a touchscreen-compatible material that worked relatively well for simple tasks. Our only real complaint about these gloves is a quirky fit in the tips of the thumbs that made them less useful on touchscreens. We found that issue easy to look past, and these gloves have been getting lots of use. When lighter gloves won’t cut it, and full-on winter gloves are overkill, these gloves are just right, no matter the weather.

Endura MT500 D30 II Glove

Check Price at Backcountry

Specifications

• MSRP: $50
• Weight: 54 grams (size S)
• Type: Protective
• Knuckle Protection: D30 knuckles and outer back of hand
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Kinda

Pros

• Flexible D30 knuckle padding provides a good amount of protection
• Very tacky grip with Silicone texturing on palm, fingers, and thumb
• Relatively breathable for protection level

Cons

• A little baggy in the palm
• Mediocre touchscreen functionality
• Silicone palm texture may feel too grippy for some

Jeremy Benson

The MT500 D30 II is the most protective model in Endura’s lineup of mountain gloves, featuring tough materials and D30 Ghost pads covering the knuckles. Combined with a synthetic leather palm and a generous amount of silicone grip on the palm and fingers, these gloves are both grippy and protective, while also being quite comfortable.

Brands utilize various materials for knuckle protection, and D30 is among the most popular. This non-Newtonian material is soft and flexible until a load is applied, when it becomes stiffer upon impact. While many gloves feature D30 in their protective gloves, Endura has chosen to use the newer “Ghost” version. This thinner layer moves more naturally and easily, making it more comfortable on the knuckles while still providing sufficient protection. Additionally, the tough materials feel durable and capable of withstanding significant abuse.

The synthetic suede palm has no padding for a direct connection, and the generous amount of silicone on the palm and fingers gives these gloves a very tacky grip on both the bars and your brake levers. The stretch wrist cuff extends slightly up the wrist compared to most similar gloves we tested. And, while we could use these gloves to unlock our phones, using them with touchscreens proved difficult due to the silicone texture on the fingers and thumb. We also noted that our test pair was slightly larger in the palm than other models of the same size, giving them a less precise fit in that area, though that may not be an issue for all riders.

Still, the Endura MT500 D30 II is a great pair of protective gloves that offer excellent grip on the bars and a high level of comfort thanks to well-executed D30 Ghost knuckle padding. At $60 (or less, if you find them on sale), we believe they offer a good value for riders seeking comfortable hand protection in a durably constructed glove. Endura offers the MT500 D30 in two colors, available in sizes XS to XXL.

Handup Most Days Gloves

Check Price at Worldwide Cyclery

Specifications

• MSRP: $29
• Weight: 46 grams (size L)
• Type: Lightweight
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Lots of color/pattern options
• Tacky grip
• Work well with touchscreens
• Large nose/sweat wipe

Cons

• Palm graphics may provide too much grip for some people

Jeremy Benson

Handup Gloves has made a name for itself with a surprisingly extensive product lineup that includes their popular gloves, apparel like riding pants, shorts, and shirts, and a variety of other accessories. One thing the brand has always hung its hat on is selling products at reasonable prices, and making them in colors and patterns that are “not-boring”. The Most Days Gloves come in an incredible variety of patterns and colors, 29 options in total, so you can pick anything from donuts, floral patterns, dinosaurs, and collabs with brands like PBR, to solid colors like grey, black, and green, or subdued patterns like the prism black/white we tested.

Beyond the range of colors and patterns, the Most Days gloves are straightforward, lightweight mountain bike gloves. They’re constructed from a 4-way stretch mesh on the back of the hand that is comfortable, quick-drying, and offers good ventilation. That is coupled with a seamless FullTouch palm material that is nicely articulated to avoid bunching, provides great grip, and has a direct bar feel. The gloves have a stretch cuff that’s easy to pull on and off the hands, and the size large we tested fits true to size compared to other models.

While the Most Days gloves are seemingly very simple, they do have a couple of features that we really liked. The FullTouch palm is touchscreen compatible throughout, making it easier to use your phone than with some other gloves. The massive nose/sweat wipe covers the entire thumb and is nice and soft, making it great for hot rides and/or managing runny noses. And, the large silicone print on the palms and index/middle fingers provides a positive grip on the bar and your brake levers.

Beyond that, the Handup Most Days Gloves are just that, solid mountain bike gloves that will have you covered for most days on the bike. Assuming you prefer a grippy palm and don’t require additional knuckle protection, these gloves are great and offer good value at $29 retail. Plus, with 27 colors and patterns to choose from, you’ve got more options to express your personal style than with other gloves.

Endura Singletrack II Glove

Check Price at Evo

Specifications

• MSRP: $45
• Weight: 60 grams (size S)
• Type: Midweight glove with light knuckle protection
• Knuckle Protection: Neoprene on knuckles
• Touchscreen Compatibility: No

Pros

• Comfortable
• Easy to put on and take off
• Small amount of protection moves freely and is great for overgrown trails
• Great grip from silicone on palm and brake fingers

Cons

• Run slightly large
• Don’t work well with touchscreens

Jeremy Benson

When most people think of mountain bike gloves, something like the Endura Singletrack II is probably what comes to mind. These midweight gloves are made from a little beefier material than the lightweight options, with the addition of a light amount of Neoprene knuckle protection, ample silicone grip on the fingertips and palm, and a velcro wrist closure.

The Singletrack II gloves are made from a midweight open-weave knitted fabric that feels tough and slightly warmer than truly lightweight gloves, yet it still breathes quite well and is comfortable in warm temperatures. A layer of cushioned neoprene has been added to the knuckles to add a bit of hand protection from brushes with trailside bushes or tree bark. The synthetic suede palm manages sweat well and provides a good bar feel with excellent grip, thanks to a little silicone texture on the palm. Both the pointer and middle fingers have silicone strips for brake lever grip as well, and there is a terry cloth thumb wipe for your nose and/or sweat.

The wrist is closed with a small, unobtrusive velcro tab that works well and makes getting in and out of these gloves quick and easy. This is good considering the Singletrack gloves do not have conduction threads on the pointer finger or thumb. They work occasionally if your fingers are warm enough, but you’ll be taking your gloves off to respond to texts or take photos with these gloves. The fit is generally great with well-sized fingers, although the palm is a touch spacious compared to stretchier models.

Otherwise, the Endura Singletrack II Glove is a great option for riders seeking a versatile, mid-weight glove for warm weather, offering moderate knuckle protection. At $50, there are cheaper options, but the quality materials and durable construction should make these a worthwhile investment for most riders. They come in sizes XS to XXL.

Dakine Cross-X 2.0

Check Price at REI

Specifications

• MSRP: $44
• Weight: 74 g (size L)
• Type: Midweight, light protection
• Knuckle protection: TPR and neoprene on outer 3 knuckles
• Touchscreen compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Comfortable fit
• Light protection on outer 3 knuckles and outer palm
• Reinforced palm and thumb in high-wear areas
• Works relatively well with touchscreens

Cons

• Can feel a bit warm on super-hot days
• Some reported durability issues

Jeremy Benson

The Dakine Cross-X 2.0 ($44) has been in the brand’s lineup for several years and has seen incremental changes that have made it into one of the best midweight gloves that we’ve tested. With a killer fit, light protection on the outer knuckles and heel of the palm, and tough midweight fabric, the Cross-X checks all the boxes for a do-it-all mountain bike glove for any type of riding.

The Cross-X is made from a slightly thicker material than the true lightweight options and has a tough feel, but still manages to breathe quite well. It has plenty of stretch, and the gloves conform very nicely to the hand for a snug and secure fit. The synthetic palm is nicely contoured to avoid excess material and strategically reinforced in high-wear areas at the base of the articulated fingers and along the edges of the pointer finger and thumb. These gloves have a natural feeling grip and provide a solid connection, no matter how rough the trail gets.

Dakine gave the Cross-X 2.0 a light amount of protection on the outer three knuckles/fingers in the form of a neoprene layer with a textured TPU on top. This helps ward off small impacts and encounters with trailside branches, while a patch of DK Impact gel sewn into the heel of the outer palm can help during those hands-first OTB dismounts. Large silicone strips on the pointer finger and thumb add traction for brake levers and shifter paddles, and conduction threads stitched into the tips of those same digits work relatively well with smartphones.

The Velcro closure at the wrist makes it super easy to get these gloves on and off, and a super soft material covers the thumb for wiping your nose or sweat off your brow. We’ve seen reports of this velcro presenting durability issues for some riders, but ours have held up well, as have the rest of the gloves.

If you’re looking for a pair of mountain bike gloves that’s a bit more substantial than the lightweight options but isn’t a full-blown protective glove, the Dakine Cross-X 2.0 is worth considering. This model has light knuckle and palm protection, a good fit, and all the features we look for in a quality mountain bike glove. Dakine offers them in multiple color schemes, sizes ranging from XS to XXL, and the Cross-X Women’s for female shredders.

Fox Ranger Fire Glove

Check Price at REI

Specifications

• MSRP: $55
• Weight: 64 grams (size S)
• Type: Cool weather, insulated
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Long, thin cuff works slides under jacket cuffs
• Great balance of insulation, warmth, and breathability
• Great dexterity
• Well designed palm and tacky bar, brake, and shifter grip from silicone patches
• Reasonably breathable for a winter glove

Cons

• Long cuff doesn’t work well with smartwatches
• Not quite as water resistant as some other cool weather models
• Touchscreen compatibility isn't great

Jeremy Benson

If your mountain bike riding includes heading out in temperatures just below freezing, the Fox Ranger Fire is a glove you should check out. These affordable, lightly insulated mountain bike gloves have a relatively slim fit, good dexterity and tactility, an extended cuff, and great grip. There are better options for wet conditions, like the Ranger Water, for example, but the Ranger Fire is a great choice for those dry, cold days in the 20°-40° F range.

Making gloves warm without being bulky is a challenge, but something Fox has done well with the Ranger Fire. With a brushed fleece interior and a relatively thin AX Suede palm, these gloves feel cozy and warm while retaining a slim profile and a snug fit that resembles regular warm-weather models. This allows for excellent dexterity, and the palms have a natural feeling grip that is enhanced by large silicone patches on the thumb and pointer/middle fingers for traction on the levers. Despite feeling quite warm on the hands, the Ranger Fire gloves breathe well and seem to manage heat and moisture buildup quite well. Additionally, the slim extended cuff fits nicely under the wrist cuff of jackets with plenty of overlap to help prevent cold air from chilling your wrists. The one caveat is that these cuffs can interfere with watches if you wear one.

Despite the snug fit and extended cuff, getting the Ranger Fire on and off the hands is relatively easy, thanks to its generous stretch and a large pull tab on the wrist. Fox included conduction threads on the tips of the pointer finger and thumb, which work well for simple tasks on your touchscreen. However, fine movements like typing are best done with the gloves off. A large wipe on the thumb comes in handy for those chilly rides when your nose is inevitably running. Fox also describes these gloves as water-resistant, and while they repel very light amounts of moisture reasonably well, they are more prone to soaking up water in steady rains than most of the other cool-cold weather options we tested.

At $55, the Fox Ranger Fire gloves are priced competitively, and given their warmth, breathability, good fit, and dexterity, they are a great choice for any rider seeking to keep their hands warm on those brisk fall, winter, and spring rides. The Ranger Fire is available in sizes S to XXL, as well as the Ranger Fire Women’s version.

100% Brisker

Check Price at Amazon

Specifications

• MSRP: $34.50
• Weight: 62 grams (size S)
• Type: Cold weather, insulated
• Knuckle protection: No
• Touchscreen Comaptibility: Yes

Pros

• Good touchscreen compatibility for a thicker winter glove
• Neoprene cuff with velcro closure is tight and keeps the cold out
• Insulated softshell back is very warm and provides solid water resistance
• Tacky bar grip from silicone letters on palm
• Affordable

Cons

• Baggy palm limits grip on the handlebars
• Heavy branding

Jeremy Benson

The 100% Brisker is the brand’s dedicated cold-weather glove for dry conditions. With an insulated softshell back, Clarion palm, and a low-profile neoprene cuff with velcro closure, the Brisker gloves are one of the warmest we tested, keeping our hands adequately toasty in temperatures below the freezing mark.

By comparison, the insulated softshell back of the Brisker gloves is comparable to the HandUp ColdER Weather gloves, and it keeps the hands warmer than the Gorewear C5 or Fox Ranger Fire gloves. They work best in temperatures between 20° and 40° F, and above that, they simply feel like overkill. They block wind very effectively and even handle moderate amounts of moisture fairly well, too. For truly wet weather, 100% makes the Hydromatic and the Hydromatic Brisker models, which are both more water-resistant.

The low-profile velcro cuff plays nicely with jackets and watches while making it fairly easy to get these gloves on and off. On the bars, the silicone print on the palms provides a good grip, but the palm itself isn’t well articulated and has a bit of excess material that we found to bunch and crease a bit on the grips. Not a huge issue for cold-weather riding, but notable nonetheless. A silicone strip on the pointer finger adds grip for the brake lever, while conduction threads on that finger and thumb work as well with touchscreens as you could hope for a bulkier, insulated glove.

Overall, the 100% Brisker is a solid option for riders seeking a warm glove for riding in dry conditions just above and below the freezing mark. They block wind effectively and provide adequate insulation to keep your digits happy at a very wallet-friendly price of $34.50. The Brisker gloves are available in a wide assortment of colors and sizes, ranging from S to XXL.

Dakine White Knuckle Bike Glove

Check Price at Dakine

Specifications

• MSRP: $55
• Weight: 93 grams (size L)
• Type: Cold weather
• Knuckle Protection: Neoprene on knuckles
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Blocks wind and light precip
• Tuck-away shell adds extra wind and weather protection
• Long cuff keeps wrists covered
• Warm, but not full-on winter gloves
• Normal bar feel

Cons

• Not warm enough for below freezing temperatures
• Bulky back of wrist when cover is tucked
• More difficult to get on and off

Jeremy Benson

Read Review: Dakine White Knuckle Gloves Review: Cool Weather MTB Gloves with a Trick Up Their Sleeve

Dakine used to offer a wide range of mountain bike apparel, but these days, the brand primarily focuses on packs, accessories, and gloves. The Dakine White Knuckle Glove is the brand’s only cool-weather option and has a unique design and features. With a Gore-Tex Infinium softshell covering the back of the hand, a long cuff, and a tuck-away shield for extra protection, these gloves are intended to be a versatile option for riding in variable weather conditions and temperatures.

At first glance, the White Knuckles look like relatively standard cool-weather riding gloves. They’ve got a Gore-Tex Infinium softshell material providing a windproof and water-resistant barrier for the back of the hands. That’s paired with a single-layer AX Suede synthetic leather palm for a direct bar feel and comfortable grip. Other standard features include touchscreen-compatible tips on the index finger and thumb, silicone strips on two fingertips, and a soft sweat wipe on the back of the thumb.

Upon closer inspection, the long wrist cuff provides coverage and protection from the cold, and is equipped with a tuck-away cover that can be deployed as an additional layer of wind and weather protection. This extra hand cover has a “trigger finger” design with the index/braking finger remaining separate and the other three combined like in a mitten. This thin shell doesn’t provide any insulation, but it is completely waterproof and adds an additional layer of wind protection.

In testing, we found the White Knuckle gloves to be great for riding in cool temperatures, but our hands got cold when flirting with the freezing mark. The material blocks wind effectively, but it doesn’t insulate much, if at all, in properly cold conditions. But if you’re riding in the spring, fall, or winter in the 40 to 55 degree F temperature range, these gloves are in their element. When the rain starts falling or the temperature dips with the sun, the tuck-away shield helps protect from both.

Once you’ve determined the appropriate temperature range for the White Knuckles gloves, they’ll serve you well. Our biggest complaint is that the long wrist cuff makes it slightly more effort to put on and take off. The tuck-away shield also adds some bulk to the wrist and tends to hang up on the cuffs of jackets and jerseys slightly. Neither of these complaints is a deal breaker, and they are worth dealing with when riding in the cooler temperatures and variable weather these gloves were designed for.

100% Sling

Check Price at Amazon

Specifications

• MSRP: $39.50
• Weight: 27 grams (size S)
• Type: Lightweight minimalist
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen compatible: Yes

Pros

• Very lightweight and thin
• Stays cool
• Superb touchscreen functionality
• Great bar grip
• Comfortable cuff

Cons

• No silicone grip patches on the thumb or brake finger
• Slightly more difficult to pull on
• Light, thin materials seem less durable

Jeremy Benson

There are lightweight gloves, and then there’s the 100% Sling. These gloves fall into the ultra-lightweight category and are about as close as you can come to riding without gloves while still wearing them. As ironic as that might sound, these are ideal for riding in hot weather or for the rider who wants maximum bar feel and needs a super-thin layer between their hand and grip to prevent sweaty palms from slipping.

With a knit mesh palm and a heavily perforated stretch back, this super-thin and lightweight model is by far the most breathable and airy option we tested. On hot days, the air flows freely about the hand, and sweat dries exceptionally quickly if it does build up. Unlike other gloves, the Sling has a continuous, seamless mesh palm that provides excellent tactility, dexterity, and a very natural bar feel. The grip on the bar is excellent, although the lack of any silicone on the thumb and pointer finger can feel a tad slippery on untextured levers. That said, the Sling works better than any other model we tested with touchscreens, so you can leave the gloves on, even when texting.

Being incredibly light and stretchy, the sling is one of the most comfortable gloves we tested. In the right size, they have a nice, snug fit on the hand and virtually disappear while riding. The only real drawbacks to the Sling are that it provides almost zero hand protection and that the light, thin materials seem more susceptible to damage if you are prone to crashing or brushing tree trunks while you ride.

Regardless, the 100% Sling is an excellent option for riding in hot climates or for any rider who wants their gloves to feel like they’re not even there. With excellent breathability, comfort, and dexterity for $39.50, the Sling is as close as you can get to riding gloveless. The Sling is available in black, grey, and navy, and comes in sizes S to XXL.

Fox Ranger Glove

Check Price at REI

Specifications

• MSRP: $35
• Weight: 35 grams (size S)
• Type: Lightweight trail glove
• Knuckle Protection: No
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• Unique velcro placement and low profile cuff makes on/offs easy and is very comfortable
• Low profile silicone on fingertips adds lever grip
• Large nose wipe
• Touchscreen finger tips work well

Cons

• Fingertip seams are noticeable

Jeremy Benson

The Fox Ranger gloves are a simple, no-frills model that’s been in the brand’s lineup for years. Much like the Giro DND, these gloves ain’t broke, so Fox hasn’t fixed them, except for some subtle aesthetic changes from year to year. At $35, the Fox Ranger packs everything you could want in a basic riding glove into a well-executed, sensible package.

Falling at the lighter-weight end of the spectrum, the Ranger gloves are great for warm to hot conditions, assuming you don’t want or need knuckle protection. The back-of-hand material is a tad thicker than the truly lightweight options, but it’s far from hot, and it feels slightly more durable to stand up to scrapes and encounters with trailside bushes. The microfiber suede palm is thin and articulated to fit well and avoid bunching on the bars, and it provides a nice, connected feel and good grip. Numerous small silicone stripes on the thumb and pointer/middle fingers provide reliable traction on brake and shift levers, and the conduction threads on the tips of the pointer finger and thumb work very well with touchscreens.

Having been around for a decade or so, the fit of the Ranger gloves is generally spot on. The wrist cuff is short and low profile, and the velcro tab makes it super easy to get your hands in and out. The behind-the-thumb placement of the closure also avoids getting in the way of watches or snagging on jackets and long-sleeve tops. Our only fit-related complaint is that the stitching at the tips of the fingers isn’t quite as comfortable as some other models.

The Fox Ranger has everything a basic mountain biking glove needs and nothing it does not. At $35, it’s a solid value and an easy choice for most riders seeking a reliable pair of gloves for warm-weather riding. Fox makes the Ranger in a women’s version, in numerous colors, sizes S to XXL, and you can often find last year’s colors and graphics being sold at a discount.

Fox Defend D30 Glove

Check Price at Backcountry

Specifications

• MSRP: $60
• Weight: 54 grams (size S)
• Type: Protective
• Knuckle Protection: D30 over knuckles
• Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes

Pros

• TruFeel internal silicone texture and Clarino palm give exceptionally natural and reliable grip
• Under-the-thumb velcro wrist closure placement is out of the way, secure, and comfortable
• Cordura backing is comfortable and dries quickly

Cons

• This style of D30 padding isn't the most comfortable

Jeremy Benson

The Defend D30 gloves are Fox’s protective, warm-weather gloves, designed to keep the knuckles safe from impacts and the hands comfortable while ripping bike park laps on warm to hot days. With a durable stretch backing, TruFeel Clarino palm, well-placed velcro wrist closure, and ribbed D30 knuckle padding, they do just that, although we feel this style of knuckle protection leaves a little to be desired comfort-wise.

The Clarino palm with TruFeel internal silicone texture offers a reliable grip that is neither too sticky nor tacky, much like the microfiber suede palm on the Fox Ranger. The shaping and articulation of the palm are excellent, with minimal creasing, providing a very natural and predictable feel while riding. Numerous thin silicone strips on the fingers and thumb provide additional grip on the bars and excellent traction on the shift and brake levers. The Cordura back of the gloves has great stretch, admirable breathability, and it feels tough and durable to stand up to the abuse of heavy-hitting riding. The well-designed velcro wrist closure makes glove on-offs a snap, and these gloves work quite well with touchscreens for mid-ride bike selfies.

The ribbed D30 knuckle protection provides solid protection across all four knuckles. There is a slight internal shaping of this pad for the knuckles to settle into, but given the stiffness of the material, it isn’t the most comfortable when the hands are gripping the bars. It feels marginally better when the gloves really warm up, but you can always feel the padding atop the knuckles. To be fair, this is an issue we’ve experienced with all gloves that have this style of padding, which is quite a few, as it simply doesn’t feel as comfortable as the flat-backed pads used on models like the Endura MT500 D30 or the Leatt MTB 4.0 Lite, for example. Our other gripe is that the thumb wipe is quite small, though it is much better than nothing.

Regardless, the Fox Defend D30 is a great-looking pair of gloves that’s well-made and provides good knuckle protection and a great bar feel. If you get along with this style of knuckle padding, and many people do, these are a great option for riders looking for a protective glove for any type of riding. Fox sells the Defend D30 in two colors and sizes S – XXL

Mountain Bike Gloves Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

The team at Bikerumor collectively has well over a century of riding experience, and we’ve spent most of that time riding with mountain bike gloves. Sure, there are some days we’ve forgotten the gloves at home or chosen to ride without them, but we almost always wear gloves when we’re riding. And, we’ve learned that the right pair of gloves can play a major role in our comfort, add protection, and help us maintain a good grip on the bars for maximum control.

For this buyer’s guide, we included a diverse selection of mountain bike gloves with varying styles, materials, protection levels, and insulating properties. Two testers, Jeremy Benson and Paul Clauss, put these gloves through their paces and collaborated to create this review. Jeremy has been mountain biking for over 30 years and has been professionally testing mountain bikes and accessories for over eight years. He lives near Lake Tahoe, CA, where he rides in a wide range of temperature and weather conditions, and understands the importance of having the right gloves to match. He has personally tested more than 30 pairs of gloves and enjoys putting products through the wringer while scrutinizing their design and performance.

Paul lives on the other side of the country in northern Vermont, where the temperature varies as wildly as the weather, and the trail conditions are ever-changing. Paul’s love of riding and mechanical engineering background make him great at analyzing products and finding their strengths and weaknesses. Along with gloves, Paul has contributed to our guides to the best dropper posts, bike locks, and mountain bike jackets.

How We Tested Mountain Bike Gloves

After looking into nearly every model on the market, we gathered a diverse selection of models to test and compare. Each pair was weighed for comparison to manufacturers’ specs before examining the design, materials, construction, and stitching. At home, we put each model on to examine the out-of-the-box fit and comfort, as well as the ease of getting the gloves on and off in a controlled environment. Most importantly, we took each model to the trails and rode in it for months, and some models for multiple seasons, to test their grip, bar feel, dexterity, breathability, and comfort when used in the real world.

For the protective models, we took note of padding placement, the level of protection, and the comfort of the pads in use. For the cool-weather models, we tested them on crisp early morning rides, cool to cold fall, winter, and spring days, as well as in some rain showers, to determine how well they kept our hands warm, their ideal temperature ranges, and how well they performed while riding. We also tested features such as touchscreen compatibility, silicone grippers, Velcro cuffs, and nose wipes to assess their functionality and usability. After extensive testing, we zeroed in our our favorites and those that stand out in specific ways compared to the rest.

Buying Advice: How to Choose Mountain Bike Gloves

While gloves are a seemingly simple piece of your riding kit, there’s a lot to consider when searching for the right pair. What type of riding do you do, what temperatures or weather are you riding in, and do you need or want added hand protection? Answering those questions will help you narrow down the choices, but you’ll also want to ensure that you get a good fit and the features you want.

Intended Use

The right pair of mountain bike gloves for you depends mainly on your intended use, which includes the type of conditions you are riding in and the level of protection you need. Given that gloves come in a wide range of styles, there are models purpose-built to suit every need, including those made for hot weather, cold weather, protection, and everything in between.

Lightweight

Exceptionally light and breathable gloves are ideal for warm to hot temperatures, providing a thin layer of material between our sweaty hands and grips. This style of glove is often preferred by those who live and ride in hotter climates, ride during the heat of the day, ride at high intensity, don’t need/want additional knuckle protection, or individuals who want gloves that barely feel like they are there.

Made with thin, stretchy materials, this style of glove is typically sleek, low profile, breathable, and dries quickly, while providing maximum dexterity, tactility, and a natural grip and bar feel. Among the models we tested, the 100% Sling was the lightest, followed by gloves like the Backcountry Slickrock Lite, Giro DND, and Fox Flexair, all just a tad heavier, but still falling on the lightweight and minimalist end of the spectrum.

Midweight

Made with slightly thicker materials, midweight gloves are just a little bit heavier than the lightweight options. These thicker materials typically provide marginally more hand protection than the thinner, lighter options, and some feature very light amounts of knuckle protection in the form of TPU or small foam pads. They also tend to be just a little warmer on the hands, although they still usually breathe fairly well, so they are often a good option for those who ride in moderate to cool temperatures. Models like the Outdoor Research Leather Palm, Dakine Cross-X 2.0, and the Endura Singletrack II are prime examples of midweight mountain bike gloves.

Protective

If you are an aggressive rider or often find yourself on very tight trails, gloves with added protection may be a good way to ensure your knuckles stay safe from trees, bushes, or the ground. Protective gloves generally feature some type of padding built into the back of the glove, covering the knuckles and sometimes extending down the outer fingers or up the back of the hand. The padding used for protection varies, but D30, Airflex impact gel, foam pads, and TPU patches are commonly used in this style of gloves.

While there are limits to the protection provided by these gloves, they all work well to deflect foliage on overgrown trails, absorb smaller impacts such as clipping larger branches or trees, and can help prevent minor injuries like cuts and abrasions. The Fox Defend D30, Leatt MTB 4.0 Lite, and Endura MT500 D30 are examples of gloves with knuckle protection, but each approaches it in a different way.

Cool Weather

It’s not always warm outside, and, depending on where you live and ride, the best riding of the season often occurs in the cooler months of fall, winter, and spring when temperatures have dipped, but it’s not too cold. Fortunately, there are several excellent mountain bike glove options designed for conditions that are above freezing but too cold for regular warm-weather gloves. Often, these gloves use thicker materials, such as softshell or similar, and may include a fleecy insulation layer, as well as a wind-blocking layer or a water-resistant membrane, like Gore-Tex Infinium, to take the chill out of the wind.

Generally speaking, these gloves tend to be only slightly bulkier than regular gloves, so they don’t limit dexterity or impact bar feel like heavier, more insulated gloves can. Cool-weather gloves are great for those days in the 40° to 50° F range, although some can keep you warm slightly above or below that depending on the conditions and intensity of your riding. Gloves like the Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium, Dakine White Knuckle, and Fox Ranger Fire are great options for riding in cool weather. Check out our review of the best mountain bike jackets for more ways to help you stay comfortable in cool, cold, or wet conditions.

Cold Weather

For temperatures close to or below the freezing mark, a more insulated cold-weather glove is the key to keeping your hands happy while you ride. This style of glove typically includes a wind-blocking layer and/or water-resistant membrane to keep the chill off your hands, along with insulation to surround them in pillowy warmth.

The addition of insulation typically results in an increase in overall bulk, and these gloves tend to sacrifice a bit of dexterity and tactility in exchange for warmth, which is a tradeoff most riders are willing to make in the right conditions. The warmest gloves we tested are the 100% Brisker and the HandUp ColdER Weather. For those who ride in truly frigid conditions often, there are lots of other true cold-weather gloves on the market that are worth looking into.

Wet Weather

The one waterproof glove we have in this guide is the Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield. These low-profile gloves include a PowerShield membrane that’s both wind and waterproof. We rode with them on a few drizzly days and tested them in the sink, and they kept our hands dry inside. The Dakine White Knuckle gloves take a novel approach, with the tuck-away waterproof shield that can be used if/when it starts raining.

There are quite a few other waterproof gloves on the market for those who ride in wet conditions regularly. Brands like Gorewear, Fox, 100%, Endura, and others make gloves that can keep your hands dry in the rain. Of the models we tested, some of the other cool and cold weather models are highly water-resistant, such as the Gore-Wear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium. While not completely waterproof, the Infinium membrane does repel light amounts of water quite effectively.

Fit

Getting gloves that fit well is a crucial step in the purchasing process. Ideally, a well-fitting pair of mountain bike gloves will feel like a second skin, neither too tight nor excessively loose. Gloves that are too tight may be challenging to put on, or the fingers may be too short, which can cause discomfort or reduce dexterity. Gloves that are too loose will have a sloppy fit, which may result in material bunching or your hands moving around in the gloves, leading to reduced control. Gloves that fit well should have fingers that are the perfect length and a palm that matches the shape of your hand.

If you already know your mountain bike glove (or other glove) size, you can generally go with that, especially if you’re buying the same brand. There is some variance in sizing between brands, but they are typically within the same general size range. If you’re unsure of your size, visit your local bike shop or outdoor store to try on some options and find the perfect fit. If that’s not an option, try on some of your friend’s gloves to see what fits best, or take some measurements and refer to the brand’s size charts. Most gloves are sold in Alpha sizes represented by letters like S, M, L, etc., and often these sizes are accompanied by the equivalent numerical glove size on size charts, such as 7, 8, 9, etc.

Wrist Cuff

In general, wrist cuff designs fall into two categories: those with stretch or Velcro closures. Gloves with stretch wrists just get pulled over the hand, and the materials generally have enough stretch to allow you to put them on and take them off with relative ease. This style does not offer any adjustability, but it avoids adding bulk at the wrist, and there is no Velcro that can be prone to breaking down over time. Velcro closures allow the cuff to be opened for easy entry and exit from the gloves while also providing the opportunity to adjust the tension around the wrist. What style works better for you is generally a personal preference, with most riders typically choosing one or the other or sometimes not caring at all.

Grip

It is worth considering the level of grip you want from your gloves. While many people seek the most natural bar feel, as close as possible to not wearing gloves, others may enjoy a little extra tackiness and traction. Since the majority of gloves have palms made from similar materials like microfiber or synthetic suede, they typically offer very similar levels of grip on the bars. Some brands, such as Endura, for example, add silicone grip patches to the palms of their gloves, like the MT500 D30, which provide an almost sticky feel. While this may not appeal to riders who prefer to reposition their hands, it does provide a very positive connection to the grips and makes it easier to use a bike multi-tool without removing them.

Most, but not all, gloves have some silicone texture added to the tips of the pointer finger and often the thumb and middle fingers as well. This can add to the bar grip slightly, but mostly it serves to provide traction on your brake levers and shifter paddles. While it isn’t completely necessary, we believe it is a nice feature to prevent your fingers and/or thumbs from slipping off when braking, shifting, or lowering your dropper while riding.

Knuckle Protection

Any mountain bike glove provides more protection for the hands than not wearing any gloves at all, but downhill, enduro, and aggressive trail riders often opt for gloves with knuckle padding. Whether for added protection for crashes or fending off impacts from trailside obstacles, a little padding can help prevent cuts, abrasions, and possibly even broken knuckles.

These protective features typically consist of impact-absorbing pads integrated into the construction of the gloves, providing protection for the knuckles and sometimes the outer fingers and/or the outer metacarpal. The designs, materials, and levels of protection used in protective gloves vary, but many use D30, which is an impact-absorbing material that is flexible and stiffens upon impact. Both the Endura MT500 D30 and the Fox Defend D30 utilize, not surprisingly, D30 padding, although they employ different versions in distinct ways.

Some brands use their own padding, like the Leatt MTB 4.0 Lite, which has a large panel of Leatt’s proprietary Airflex impact gel that works in much the same way. Since protection needs vary, other models have just a moderate level of protection, like the Endura Singletrack gloves that feature thin strips of TPU across the outer three knuckles.

Touchscreen Compatibility

With the proliferation of touchscreens on virtually everyone’s phones these days, glove manufacturers are doing their best to make gloves that work on those screens. Whether for responding to a text, checking Trailforks, or grabbing sick photos of your friends riding, it’s a nice feature to have. Conduction threads are the most common, and these small threads are typically sewn into the tips of the pointer finger and thumb. Some gloves use small touchscreen-friendly panels of material, while others have palm materials so thin that they work fine without any special stitching or materials.

Insulation

If you ride in the fall, winter, or spring, having a pair of gloves that keeps your hands warm may be the difference between a great ride and a miserable experience. Since temperatures vary, glove manufacturers make a wide range of cool and cold-weather gloves to suit those varying conditions. The vast majority of mountain bikers don’t ride in temperatures below freezing, so thankfully, there are plenty of great, lightly insulated and wind-blocking gloves on the market that are well suited to cool temperatures above the freezing mark.

These gloves typically avoid the bulk of more heavily insulated gloves and allow for good dexterity and a relatively “normal” fit and feel on the bike. The Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium, Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield, Dakine White Knuckle, and the Fox Ranger Fire all fall into the cool-weather category. All of these gloves will take the edge off cool temperatures where regular gloves don’t quite cut it.

For truly cold conditions below freezing, wind-blocking materials are typically combined with thicker insulation to keep the hands toasty. In general, the warmer the gloves, the thicker the insulation, which results in more bulk and a reduction in dexterity. That said, when keeping your hands from freezing is the priority, that’s an easy sacrifice to make. The warmest gloves we tested are the 100% Brisker and the HandUp ColdER Weather Gloves.

Price & Value

In the grand scheme of things, mountain gloves are one of the least expensive accessories in the sport. General-purpose riding gloves typically cost around $30 on the lower end, so picking up a new pair every season or two is a fairly easy pill to swallow. Once you start adding features like knuckle protection or weather-resistant materials, the price tends to go up a bit.

Budget

Of the gloves we tested, we feel the Giro DND is the best value at a retail price of $30. These gloves are classic and haven’t changed in years because they simply work well and fit great. Our testers have used many pairs of them over the years, and they typically last through one or two seasons of heavy use. There’s nothing particularly fancy about them, but their simple design and construction keep the price down and the value high.

Other gloves that cost around $30 to $35, like the Dakine Covert, the Fox Ranger, and the Backcountry Slickrock Lite, are similar in terms of materials and construction. All of these gloves are relatively simple, effective, and affordable. If you’re looking for cold-weather gloves, the 100% Brisker ($34.50) and the HandUp ColdER Weather Gloves ($36) are both great, affordable choices.

Mid-Tier

As we climb one step up the price ladder, gloves in the $40 to $55 range typically feature nicer materials, some knuckle protection, or possibly some insulation. For example, the Fox Ranger Fire provides warmth for riding in cool conditions, and they go for $55. On the other end of the spectrum, the 100% Sling is incredibly light and breathable, with ultra-light materials commanding the $40 price tag. Likewise, the Fox Flexair Gloves ($50) combine a race-ready design and fit with lightweight, breathable materials and a killer bar feel.

Premium

When we break the $50 mark, mountain bike gloves tend to feature advanced materials or more complex constructions that drive the price up. The Gorewear C5 Gore-Tex Infinium ($60) gloves are one such model that includes its namesake fabric for use in cool weather conditions. Similarly, the Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield ($65) gloves employ a PowerShield membrane that makes them wind and waterproof. Other premium gloves feature knuckle protection in the form of D30 inserts or patches of molded Airflex padding in the Leatt MTB 4.0 Lite ($85). It isn’t easy to make gloves that are both protective and lightweight, and the addition of padding and increased construction complexity leads to a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Bike Gloves

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It’s already been a big week for top tube bags, with both Revelate and Restrap announcing new and updated models. Not to be left out, Apidura is launching two new Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Modules, both of which have already proven themselves on the race course at Unbound last weekend. The new Aero Bolt-On and Aero Bolt-On Long give riders two sizes of strap-free, aerodynamic top-tube storage bags for racing or fast-paced riding.

Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Module Details

Last year, Apidura launched its Aero System, which included a strap-on version of the Top Tube Module. The Bolt-On version is the logical next step in its evolution, ditching the straps for a more streamlined attachment, aerodynamic profile, and enhanced stability. 

The Aero Bolt-On Modules attach with two M5 hex bolts to the mount points on the top of the top tube. They are designed with 5cm of fore-aft adjustability so riders can fine-tune the alignment at the rear of the stem to maximize aerodynamic performance. A Carbon Stability Structure comprised of a full-length internal carbon plate and high modulus rods is intended to add stability, rigidity, and maintain the bag’s shape.

The Modules are made with a Hexagrid material, which is a lightweight, high-strength nylon grid that’s laminated with TPU. The seams have been RF-welded to bolster water resistance. On the standard version, the single main compartment features a user-friendly magnetic closure for quick and easy access to your snacks while moving at race pace. The Bolt-On Long uses a full-length waterproof zipper closure.

The standard-size Aero Bolt-On Module weighs a claimed 95 grams and has a 0.4-liter storage capacity. The Long version weighs a claimed 120 grams while doubling the capacity to 0.8 liters. Both sizes can be combined with the Aero Frame Module to add storage capacity and save even more watts. 

Wind Tunnel Tested

According to Apidura, wind tunnel testing backed up aerodynamic claims with pro gravel racer Dylan Johnson finding the Aero Bolt-On Module saved 4.2 watts when used on its own. That number increased to 5.2 watts saved when used in combination with the Aero Frame Module. You can learn more about Johnson’s wind tunnel testing in this video.

Race Proven

It never hurts to have some race results to back up the performance of your new product at launch. Fortunately for Apidura, athletes using the new Aero Bolt-On Modules stormed the podium and the top of the results sheet at last week’s Unbound Gravel. Sofia Gomez-Villafane raced her new Specialized Crux 5 with the Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Module to victory in the Unbound 200. Robin Gemperle raced his prototype Scott Addict 32 with the Aero Bolt-On Long Top Tube Module to the top step in the Unbound XL. 

Other notable finishes by racers using the Aero Bolt-On bags include Gee Scheuers (2nd Unbound 200), Matt Beers (2nd Unbound 200), and Keegan Swenson (5th Unbound 200). Of course, these are some of the best gravel racers in the world, but it’s a strong endorsement for Apidura’s new Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Modules.

Apidura Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Modules: Pricing and Availability

• Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Module: $98 USD / £68 / €78
• Aero Bolt-On Long Top Tube Module: $141 USD / £92 / €109

The Aero Bolt-On Top Tube Modules are currently available for pre-order with estimated shipping at the end of July. Head to the Apidura website to learn more or pre-order yours.

apidura.com

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Today, we are sharing the sad news out of Fairfax, California. Bike industry pioneer Charlie Cunningham has passed away at the age of 78. Eleven years ago, Charlie was riding bikes with his wife, Jaquie Phelan, and was involved in an accident. He suffered life-altering injuries and has been living in a care facility since.

Unfortunately, in my many years in the industry, I never had the opportunity to meet Charlie in person. But, as I ride my mountain bike, I’ve definitely enjoyed his many contributions to the sport. And, in so many different ways.

Way back in 1982, along with master framebuilder Steve Potts and Mark Slate, Charlie co-founded the brand Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB). And he and Potts ran it from 1982 to 2002. WTB was one of the pioneers, and arguably one, if not the first, aftermarket brand to start making mountain bike-specific parts during the emerging sport’s infancy.

A lot of these inventions in bike parts came from Charlie Cunningham’s visionary mind, and they played an instrumental part in steering mountain bikes away from their roots in road biking. Charlie was also one of the very early adopters, proponents, and builders of aluminum frames.

Charlie may be gone and will be missed by many. But he leaves a monster legacy behind that helped make mountain biking the amazing sport it is today. And that legacy will never go away.

Pedal in Peace Charlie.

The post Industry Loses Pioneer, Visionary, & Frame-Builder, Charlie Cunningham appeared first on Bikerumor.