A good quality pair of full-finger gloves is a staple of any mountain biker’s kit bag. Our preference is for a lightweight full-finger glove for all-round riding, and these new Giro DND gloves fit the bill just right.

Giro describe these gloves as a simple durable glove for everyday riding, and that’s not very far from the truth as I’ve discovered, testing them as I have for the past couple of months. They’re a step down compared to the more rugged DJ glove which I tested last year, but I prefer a minimalist glove – I’m happy to trade a little comfort for the maximum possible feel and control through the bars. The DND’s are just that.

Fit is excellent. So often the material around the thumb area of the palm can bunch up, leading to discomfort, but Giro has designed a three-piece Clarino palm that eradicates the nasty bunching up that can occur and this makes them extremely comfortable on the bike. There’s just a hint of padding, a mere 2mm EVA pad in fact, that offers a little comfort and absorbs some of the shocks that get transmitted through the bars into your hands.

A lightweight upper keeps your hands cool on hot days (like that which we’re currently experiencing) and moving into the fingers the leading two get articulated knuckles for reduced restriction for one or two finger braking control. An elasticated cuff proved comfortable and a good fit around my admittedly skinny wrists, and while some might prefer the adjustability of Velcro, I prefer this approach. It’ll also mean the gloves won’t get an early retirement when the Velcro eventually wears out, as it inevitably does.

All seams are double-stitched and so far my test pair are still in bloody good condition, despite some hard riding and generally treating them with little care, and they’ve been through the washing machine several times: so far so good.

Verdict

I like thin gloves and these fit the bill. They’re comfortable, great fitting and look good too. They are at the upper end of the price range however, at £29.99.

More at www.giro.com and available from www.madison.co.uk