For many riders, wearing cycling shorts with an integrated chamois is just part of riding a bike. That’s allowed companies like Elastic Interface to become experts in chamois technology and comfort, which is exactly why Giro has worked with EIT on their shorts for years. But now, the two companies have developed a new Elastic Interface – one meant for your palms instead of your rear.
Co-developed for Giro’s cycling gloves, the EIT Palm Technology can be found on the new Supernatural road gloves. Calling it the “first ever three-dimensional seamless and elastic palm” for cycling gloves, the EIT Palm was developed in conjunction with the University of Padua Department of Biomedical Sciences. More than just slapping some new materials into a stretchy palm, pressure sensors were used in the development process to help determine the best locations for specific padding.
Like chamois for your shorts, there are different models of the EIT Palm including Race, Gravel, Ultra, and Slim models using various densities of their Hybrid Cell System inserts. Those inserts are 3-D molded in to a seamless, one piece palm and positioned to improve blood flow and reduce pressure on the ulnar nerve. And since the palm is elastic, it will stretch and move with your hand, conforming to your grip on the bars or hoods.
Based on the image provided by Giro, it appears that the Supernatural gloves utilize a padding layout similar to the EIT Ultra, though with a few differences in the padding layout.
According to Giro, the Supernatural Road Gloves are the first gloves with EIT Palm tech available in the U.S. Available in four colors for men, and three colors for women, the gloves sell for $50.
One piece microfiber palms for better MTB grip
Over on the MTB side of things, Giro is also dialing in the grip and feel of their palms. But instead of a stretchy palm with plenty of padding, the new gloves feature a one-piece, pre-curved, perforated Microfiber palms for the ultimate feel at the bar.
Trixter
At first glance, the new Trixter seems to be another high end, minimalist glove from Giro. But then I saw the price. Only $20? That seems like it will make the Trixter a hit for those looking for performance on a budget.
White snow wasn’t the best backdrop to photograph the very white palm of the new Trixter, but the perforation and touchscreen details help it stand out. While the Trixter uses a one piece, pre-curved microfiber palm, it isn’t the AX Suede material found on their more expensive gloves. Still, it feels good on the hand, and offers an ultra thin bar-feel.
The fourchettes (the area between the fingers) is construction from AX Bolt fabric with InstaChill technology that has a cooling effect once it becomes moist. Between that, and the airy construction, I probably won’t be using these gloves any time soon – but they seem like a great option for the hotter months.
The Trixter is unisex with a simple slip-on elastic cuff, and comes in five colors for $20.
Havoc
For a bit more protection, and higher end materials, the new Havoc offers a similar ultra light feel at the bar. The knuckles feature TPR protection, along with a bit at the wrist and at the adjustable velcro wrist closure.
Ariaprene mesh helps keep things cool on the pinky and ring finger, and thinner mesh is used on the fourchettes than the Trixter.
This time, a true AX Suede one-piece, pre-curved microfiber palm is used with perforations and conductive stitching for smartphone use. Compared to the Microfiber palm used for the Trixter, the AX Suede palm has a softer feel to it, but both offer excellent feedback from the bar.
Offered in four colors, the Havoc sells for $40.
Fit
I tend to run between a small and a medium in terms of glove sizing, and I’d say that both of these gloves run true to size or slightly smaller. Because of that, the Havoc is easier for me to get over my wide palms – though both fit pretty well once I’ve got them on. I prefer my gloves snug without any bunching of material or loose bits a the end of the fingers and initially these seem to fit pretty well.
