Doesn’t it annoy you when you have to stop texting or web browsing to ride your bike? Isn’t is just painful waiting for that three and a half hour loop to end so you can check Facebook for updates? Is your least favorite part of winter riding suffering cold hands while shooting your mandatory on-bike selfie? If you cracked a guilty smile at any of the above statements, you’ll be touched by the creation of GloveTacts.
GloveTacts’ creator Gregorio de Haro has produced a universal glue-on fingertip patch that adds touchscreen connectivity to any pair of gloves. The patches are durable, machine washable, can be affixed to cycling gloves (de Haro is a rider himself) or nearly any other type, and best of all they’re cheap to buy. Probe past the break for more info…
The GloveTacts are made of two main components- the conductive patch, and the adhesive backing that keeps them in place. The touchscreen magic happens via conductive carbon filaments woven into the patches’ polyurethane outer layer, creating a technical material they call ConnecTec. The filaments create an electrical resistance slightly higher to that of human skin, and they are compatible with all touchscreen devices. The patches are very thin to provide the most tactile feel possible, and the conductivity of GloveTacts will not diminish over time.
Applying the Glovetacts is as simple as putting a sticker on your fingertip and giving it a squeeze. The polyester adhesive backing was developed by the ‘gods of glue’ 3M, and is guaranteed to stick to just about anything- The only problematic material listed on the website is silicone, so if you happen to have gloves that use silicone grippers on the fingertips, the GloveTacts may not be for you.
The pressure sensitive adhesive will stick to leather, wool, cotton, lycra or synthetic fabrics, and takes about 24 hours to fully adhere. Upon installation you can re-position the patches if you haven’t yet applied any pressure, but once they’ve cured to your glove they won’t come off easily or re-stick to other surfaces.
The GloveTacts’ operating temperature range of -40° to 160°f is extremely broad, so there’s no need to worry about heat or cold affecting their performance. Conductivity is maintained in moist or wet conditions as well, but the company notes that keeping your device’s screen dry will offer the best connectivity.
Glovetacts are made in the USA, and covered under warranty for one year. They are available online in black only, and cost $9.99 USD for a set of two so you can set up a thumb/finger combo on one glove, or the index fingers on two gloves. Just don’t let your ‘phone zombie’ friend find out about them, or the pace of your rides will be further plagued with photo ops, status updates and answering phone calls from their wife/husband!
