For 2015, component and apparel company Bontrager debuted a selection of retro-styled apparel for the cyclist that just wasn't born in the right decade and would rather his bicycle have half as many gears and twice as many pounds. I love the retro-cyclist look from an aesthetic standpoint, but isn't there a reason why we don't still use animal skins and virgin sacrifices to protect us from the elements?
Bontrager's Classique line-up consists of gloves, a thermal jersey, and road shoes. The gloves come in either full or half-finger variants, each with three colour variations (white, natural, or black). I ended up with a pair of full-finger black gloves to test as Fall hesitantly turned into Winter this year.
The first functional aspect of these gloves that I noticed was the Velcro strap. Historically I've had my disagreements with Bontrager's Velcro gloves, but the strap on the Classique gloves look solidly-built to last. The placement of the straps I found a little perplexing though, since they leave a modestly sized opening on the back of the hand unprotected. Since the entire closure of the glove is focused on this strap, the opening is the source of a lot of pressure points too, around the ridge of the opening.
The Classiques are made of real leather, so this may not be the right glove for vegans, but they also have some very modern features integrated into the classy styling. The padding in the palm feels right, in the right places without any superfluous pillowy effects, and the fingers are touch-screen inductive through "eSwipe" technology. These technologies are pretty standard in most cycling gloves nowadays, and I had mixed success with touchscreens while wearing these gloves, but it's nonetheless a good sign that the retro-styling seems to be balanced with some modern utilities. I was even impressed with the nose-wipe on the thumb, which was very soft yet somehow didn't detract from the overall look or feel of the glove's performance.
The Classiques are made of real leather, so this may not be the right glove for vegans, but they also have some very modern features integrated into the classy styling. The padding in the palm feels right, in the right places without any superfluous pillowy effects, and the fingers are touch-screen inductive through "eSwipe" technology. These technologies are pretty standard in most cycling gloves nowadays, and I had mixed success with touchscreens while wearing these gloves, but it's nonetheless a good sign that the retro-styling seems to be balanced with some modern utilities. I was even impressed with the nose-wipe on the thumb, which was very soft yet somehow didn't detract from the overall look or feel of the glove's performance.
One of the reasons that leather was ultimately abandoned for more synthetic materials is the lack of temperature control. Leather is not very good at keeping you cool.
Bontrager made a very good effort on this front; I found these gloves to be most comfortable in fall weather, between 30 and 40 degrees. At these temperatures the ventilation on the back of the glove keeps your hand from overheating, which you don't really realize until you stop and have to take the gloves off to stop the sauna. For this reason, I can't really recommend these gloves for mountain biking, despite the added protection that leather might provide.
One of the most disappointing things about these gloves was how they felt. I tested a size large, which is my normal glove size, but for Bontrager's Classiques it may be worth it to go up one size so the seams on the inside don't dig into your hands like they did to mine. It only represented a minor discomfort, but any discomforts for a long ride and you'll hate the sport and yourself by the end of it. The seams are a result of the seamless look of the outer shell of the glove, which I appreciate, but the unfortunate side effect is a plethora of pressure points inside the glove exactly where you don't want them.
I really like the concept of these gloves, which is why it hurts to give them 2 out of 5, but for $75 they should keep you comfortable and offer something more. Perhaps it's a symptom of the tendency of the industry as a whole towards flashiness and fashion above improved function that we would even consider this to be a good buy. It's a really neat idea, and done well it could be awesome, but until it functions well I can't recommend a product that provides style at the cost of comfort or performance.
Bontrager Classique gloves are available through your local Trek retailer - more details on Bontrager's website
Bontrager made a very good effort on this front; I found these gloves to be most comfortable in fall weather, between 30 and 40 degrees. At these temperatures the ventilation on the back of the glove keeps your hand from overheating, which you don't really realize until you stop and have to take the gloves off to stop the sauna. For this reason, I can't really recommend these gloves for mountain biking, despite the added protection that leather might provide.
One of the most disappointing things about these gloves was how they felt. I tested a size large, which is my normal glove size, but for Bontrager's Classiques it may be worth it to go up one size so the seams on the inside don't dig into your hands like they did to mine. It only represented a minor discomfort, but any discomforts for a long ride and you'll hate the sport and yourself by the end of it. The seams are a result of the seamless look of the outer shell of the glove, which I appreciate, but the unfortunate side effect is a plethora of pressure points inside the glove exactly where you don't want them.
I really like the concept of these gloves, which is why it hurts to give them 2 out of 5, but for $75 they should keep you comfortable and offer something more. Perhaps it's a symptom of the tendency of the industry as a whole towards flashiness and fashion above improved function that we would even consider this to be a good buy. It's a really neat idea, and done well it could be awesome, but until it functions well I can't recommend a product that provides style at the cost of comfort or performance.
Bontrager Classique gloves are available through your local Trek retailer - more details on Bontrager's website