Tucano Urbano Gighen Summer Gloves

Duncan Moore

A review of the Tucano Urbano Gighen Summer Gloves.

Tucano Urbano is not a name most people associate with cycling kit. Indeed, I doubt if most cyclists have ever heard of the brand. The Italian business is far better known among scooter riders and urban motorcyclists. Tucano Urbano has now taken the knowledge it’s gained from making technical and protective riding kit in those markets and applied it to a range of urban cycle clothing. Here we take a look at the Tucano Urbano Gighen Summer Gloves.

The Toucan Urbano Gighen Summer Gloves will get you seen on your commute

The strangely named Gighen gloves are a part of that new line and they seem like an ideal choice for commuters, helped by the eye-searingly bright yellow backing. If that bright yellow wasn’t enough to get the attention of following motorists when signalling a turn in low light, then the reflective panel on the back of the Velcro closure at the wrist and edge of the palm should.

Flip the gloves over, and the palm features synthetic suede – good news for vegan cyclists – and minimal padding. In fact, the only padding is over the ulnar nerve on the palm under the little finger. Personally, I prefer gloves with minimal padding so they work for me in that respect. It also means that the palm can’t wrinkle up and become uncomfortable.

Minimal padding, good ventilation and a bright colour way are the Gighen gloves standout features

The synthetic suede continues around the fingers to create the fourchettes (A narrow, forked strip of material joining the front and back sections of the fingers of gloves.) and these have small holes cut into them which means that I’ve not had sweaty fingers while riding in the gloves during the recent hot weather. The stretchy mesh on the back of the gloves doubtless helps there to and has just enough give to not constrict hand movement. Put a pair of gloves on and then wrap your hand around the brake hood while you’re riding and you’ll appreciate why a bit of give across the back of the gloves is a good thing.

In fact, the Gighen gloves are generally a good thing. However, let me qualify that. They’re a good glove if you want gloves to wear while commuting. The bright colour means they clash with every other piece of my regular cycling kit! But on the other hand (make of that pun what you will) when I’m riding around town with them on and want to let following motorists know I’m about to turn, that colour can’t be recommended enough.

Given that most commutes are reasonably short the lack of padding isn’t an issue and it also means that gloves can be scrunched up and tucked in a pocket when not being worn. Given the current low price the Gighen gloves are listed on Tucano Urbano’s website (£15.50) I’d suggest they’re a great buy if you want some gloves to use while commuting.

Tucano Urbano

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