Average rating: 4 out of 5 Product: Heat Wave mountain bike gloves
Manufacturer: Spenco Cycling
Product webpage: http://www.mtbseries.com/heat-wave.html
Purchase: Feelthewheel.com
Manufacturer's description: "Ventilation meets Shock-Tek(tm) technology and creates the ultimate summer glove. That's the story with the Heat Wave gloves. They'll keep you rolling in the dirt in even the most scorching conditions.
- Dual mesh and spandex provides breathability and form-fitting comfort.
- Ventilated palm and fingers get much needed air into the gloves.
- Patented Shock-Tek(tm) palm padding channel keeps the pounding off the median nerve (you'll thank us for that).
- Available in S, M, L, XL"
(Editor's note: Some reviewers below participated in a YourMTB.com/Spenco giveaway promotion, where they received gloves in exchange for posting objective reviews. Companies wishing to participate in this program should contact publisher@yourmtb.com.)
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Spenco had sent me a pair of the "Heat Wave" gloves a while back, but I hadn't found a hot enough day to put these to the test. Well, yesterday I was in Las Vegas and went out for a little desert riding in Blue Diamond. And it was hot -- mid 90s. OK, maybe that's not hot to the natives, but to a guy who escapes to the mountains for riding when it gets above 90, this was not what I'm used to. In fact, I got seriously overheated, which made the guy in the shop where I rented a bike poke fun at me. (It was still a nice ride, even if I suffered more than usual.)
Anyway, back to the gloves. I worried about wearing a full-fingered glove in those conditions but went for it anyway. I was impressed; my hands did not get hot. How that's possible I don't understand, but my fully covered hands were good the entire ride. Very cool (pardon the pun).
I won't wear these often, because I seldom ride in that kind of heat. But it'll be great to have them on rare hot riding days. I stopped riding with open-fingered gloves when MTBing after fracturing a finger while wearing a pair on a desert ride in Moab. I like the feeling of extra protection with full-fingered gloves. So I'll recommend the Heat Waves.
(Disclaimer: I'm the guy who put together this user review giveaway program with Spenco. I wasn't planning to post a review, for conflict of interest reasons, but decided to after yesterday's experience.)
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I give these gloves a thumbs up. The first thing I noticed after my initial ride with them was the lack of abrasion due to internal seams. I find many gloves take some breaking in to soften the seams. These were immediately comfortable. The snot rag fleece on the thumbs is very useful.
I usually like a bit of padding at the top of my palm, but the padding provided at the base of the forefinger works well for braking. I typically pull on my handlebars way too much during the down stroke when I climb, leaving blisters at the top of my palms. I used these on some longer climbs (White Ranch, Chimney Gulch) and did not get blisters even though there was no padding there. The lower palm padding is fabulous - the best I have ever used.
As full fingered gloves go, they have good venting but I found them a bit too hot on midday summer rides. I also prefer some knuckle padding. I would not take these gloves on a long rocky technical ride, or downhilling due to lack of protection. However, I just used these on the not so technical 401 trail near Crested Butte and they provided adequate protection from vegetation hanging over the trail.
As far a looks and style are concerned, I thought these were ugly when I first got them, but they are growing on me now. I could go without the logo that looks like a heart inside a tulip.
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Posted by:
sknibs on 7/13/2006
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* really good fit for small hands
* comfortable
* finger grips are useless - need to be intergrated into the weave of the fabric or stitched in.
* ventilation is nice: my hands did not get as tacty as usual.
* Overall a very nice glove - 4 fingers out of 5
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This glove just works. I've been having problems with numb fingers for sometime now and this glove is a great remedy. The channel created by the pads on the palms seems to really work as I haven't had much numbness at all in the 8 rides I've put on them. The only problem is that the pads aren't extended high enough in the palm for more upright riders like freeriders or downhill.
The fit and finish is right up there with the best and they breath better than I thought they might. The logos on the fingers are starting to come off though. Job well done to Spenco for addressing a chronic problem with a simple solution. I would recommend these to anyone who has poor circulation in the hands and fingers. Now if they just made them for motorcycles! That's a market that needs it!
Side note: I actually came across these gloves in Popular Science Magazine under the "Best of What's New" category and immediately searched the internet for them. The result was finding this site (which is awesome I might add) and the giveaway to which I qualified for the last free pair. Fate? I think it could be. Thanks to Steve as well for facilitating! I want to try the Trail Pros now! Either way, I'm buying a pair for the winter!
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Posted by:
h.hill on 7/11/2006
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I was very impressed with this glove. Very light and cool. They have been on several rides and I have had no problems. It seems as though the pads on the palm are a little low on the hand, but I have not had any numbness while wearing them. The logos on the fingers disappeared after the second ride but I didn't see a difference in performance when braking. The only reason I didn't give them 5 out of 5 is the gloves seemed a little snug for large. In retrospect, I may have wanted to go to xl, but that's what happens when you can't try them on. I am not complaining though, they are very good gloves. I would have no problem buying this brand again.
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I have to send out props to YOURMTB.COM for your fabulous and ever so wonderful glove give-away!!! I received my Spenco Heat Wave gloves Wednesday and LOVE them! Not only are they super light weight, but they are comfortable, quick-dry (the monsoons have started), and responsive. I love the details too - from the stitching right down to the little rubber brake grips on the end of the middle and index fingers. This is perfection! I cannot thank you enough. I feel like this is the pivotal moment in my mountain biking experience - if all my gear was this great, I would be famous. For everyone else out there, if you do not buy a pair of these, you are truly missing out! Get some! Thanks, YOURMTB!!!!!
-Christina (aka, Pumpkin Pants)
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