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Review on Optimized for SEO: Planet Bike Borealis Cycling Gloves by Randy Brimmer

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Disassembled but good customer service.

Update 4/22/16: After separating the outer glove from the cuff, I contacted Planet Bike. They asked for photos, after several emails finally agreed to send a new pair of gloves. Pretty good customer service. Update: All information below is still relevant. The gloves performance is great but my gloves are now peeling off where the glove meets the wrist cuff. In other words, it's torn. To make matters worse, I bought them during the so-called Christmas sales and as of January 31st I can no longer return them. I bought these gloves as a solution for cold weather riding. I ride for up to 2 hours at temperatures up to 35 degrees at an average speed of 24 to 30 km/h. The gloves I used are Dakine Scout gloves which I usually use for hiking in freezing and snowy weather. These gloves (Dakine) are a little big and uncomfortable when trying to shift the STI levers and they make my hands too warm to ride in 40 degree weather. The PB Borealis seem to do their job well, I love that they have a removable inner glove. In addition, the palms of the gloves have a nice, non-slip, grippy texture that is useful when riding in hoods or out of the saddle. Qualities: I went to them twice. The first ride lasted 70 minutes at an average speed of 16mph in 37 degree weather. These gloves kept my hands warm enough to keep me comfortable for an hour or more. I wouldn't say my hands were hot, but they were warm enough that they only caught cold on the descent, where I hit a top speed of 28mph. Much longer I suppose and my hands would be cold but easy to bear. I don't expect a glove to keep my hands warm for 2 or 3 hours in 37 degrees. My second ride lasted an hour at an average speed of 17mph in 41 degree weather. The ride was relatively smooth. During this ride, my hands actually warmed up a bit during the 1 mile small climb. At the end of the trip my hands were quite warm. Third ride: 36 miles in 2.5 hours. The temperature started at 35 degrees and rose to 41 degrees, but the cooling in the first part of the trip was significant. These gloves keep my hands warm all the time! I will update this part of the review when the weather drops to near zero. However, I believe that they work well in temperatures up to 30 degrees. Fit: I bought a very large size. I find my hands between large and very large. My left hand, measured around my palm (excluding my thumb), is approximately 8.75 inches long. From the crotch of my index and middle fingers, my middle finger is approximately 3.4 inches long; My index finger is about 7 cm long. My ring finger is 8cm long and my little finger is 5.8cm. The ring finger of this glove fits perfectly but there is a flaw on the index finger. They are the same length as the ring finger which means the index finger glove is about 2cm longer which means there is some extra material when trying to switch. The combination of ring finger and little finger fits almost perfectly. Aside from the unusual length of the glove's index finger, it fits just as I would expect. Most other lobster claw gloves have combined pairs of fingers. I love having my index and ring fingers free to shift and adjust the clutch while riding. For that reason these gloves are value for money and I would describe them as a good value set.

Pros
  • Confident
Cons
  • Out of fashion