Decent mitts - Dromarti vs Rapha

giant_man
giant_man Posts: 6,878
edited March 2011 in Road buying advice
Hi - after some decent leather mitts and I need comparisons. Seen the new black offerings from Dromarti and I also know of the Grand Tour gloves from Rapha, both look the kind of thing I'm after. And both about the £100 mark.

I know some riders on here have the Rapha ones but has anyone bought the Dromarti offerings and are they any good? Thanks ......
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Comments

  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    What, has no-one bought the Dromarti ones? Really?
  • nicensleazy
    nicensleazy Posts: 2,310
    Looking at both, I think I prefer the Rapha gloves.
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,021
    am I the only one stunned at anyone contimplating spending £100 on aset of mitts?

    You are on your own with respect to advice.

    A fool and his money are easily parted as far as I'm concerned.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 74,814
    moonshine wrote:
    am I the only one stunned at anyone contimplating spending £100 on aset of mitts?

    You are on your own with respect to advice.

    A fool and his money are easily parted as far as I'm concerned.

    Helpful advice. :roll:
    _
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Just buy both, if you're willing to drop £100 on a pair then surely you have £200 floating about :p
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    I find my £5 ones from Aldi are pretty good
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    moonshine wrote:
    am I the only one stunned at anyone contimplating spending £100 on aset of mitts?

    You are on your own with respect to advice.

    A fool and his money are easily parted as far as I'm concerned.
    Well moonshine a) it's up to me and it's my money and b) I am sick and tired of spending money on mitts which fall apart six months down the road so looking to invest in some made of leather which should be more durable. The money isn't the issue but the quality most definitely is.

    Hope this isn't too much for you to understand mate. When you have been cycling as long as I have with as much experience then I might take you more seriously.
  • nicensleazy
    nicensleazy Posts: 2,310
    giant mancp wrote:
    moonshine wrote:
    am I the only one stunned at anyone contimplating spending £100 on aset of mitts?

    You are on your own with respect to advice.

    A fool and his money are easily parted as far as I'm concerned.
    Well moonshine a) it's up to me and it's my money and b) I am sick and tired of spending money on mitts which fall apart six months down the road so looking to invest in some made of leather which should be more durable. The money isn't the issue but the quality most definitely is.

    Hope this isn't too much for you to understand mate. When you have been cycling as long as I have with as much experience then I might take you more seriously.



    I fully agree with you. If someone wants to spend £100 on mitts or £160 on a jersey or £3000 on a frame, its a personal decision. I have always been of the opinion, buy good kit! Because in the past, its been buy cheap and pay twice!
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    "Buy cheap buy twice": except that at the current rate of wear and tear (still going strong after more than a year) I'd be able to buy 20 pairs, which would last me at least 25 years, for £100. Every pair of cycling gloves that I've thrown out (most have actually been cheap mountaineering gloves) have gone due to accident damage, not everyday wear.

    Of course that's a facile comparison, my point is that it is rarely possible to break down the reasons why one product is more expensive than another - performance, manufacturing quality, materials, premium product markup.
    I can't disagree with the "if you want it and you can afford it" argument, but I just look at products like £100 gloves and think what I could do with the other £95.
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,021
    I agree that if you've got it, then feel free to spend it,but I can't help but feel that asking for advice on such a product is inane.

    Anyone spending a ton on a pair of mitts is hardly going to admit they are only "average", otherwise they would look pretty stupid. Of course thet will say they are the best thing since scliced bread.
  • DaSy
    DaSy Posts: 599
    edited April 2010
    I too have no idea why people feel the need to get upset about someone else spending money on something they want. This money was presumably not taken out of the mouths of their children etc...

    I have 2 pairs of Rapha mitts, the crochet and a special edition pair of Grand Tour gloves, and I actually get pleasure from owning and wearing them, as they are very well made, from high quality materials. This is something you won't get from Aldi etc, they may be functional, but they lack anything that makes you proud to own them. This may be shallow in some peoples eyes, but we all make decisions on what we deem as worthwhile in our lives.

    Just to throw another name in the mix, I bought a pair of Giro LX LF long finger gloves for winter, and the quality of leather and fit are absolutely excellent. They do a mitt version in all leather that is very nice, and a fair bit cheaper at around £60.

    There's a write up here at Competitive Cyclist -http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-apparel/2009-giro-lx-gloves-5626.13.1.html

    10784_i_1.jpg
    Complicating matters since 1965
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    DaSy wrote:
    I too have no idea why people feel the need to get upset about someone else spending money on something they want.
    I think you're missing something here - I'm not getting upset, I'm just thinking (and I can't really think of a more polite way of putting it) "you're a mug", and this being an internet forum, I feel that this gives me the right to sound off in an opinionated, prejudiced and self-righteous kind of way; a right which, of course, does not extend to those who might disagree with me :wink:
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    edited April 2010
    It`s a bit like spending £100 on a pair of socks, I could never do it because it would be really annoying when you lose one. Those Giro LX mitts are 40 squid BTW, might be worth a punt.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • DaSy
    DaSy Posts: 599
    bompington wrote:
    I can't disagree with the "if you want it and you can afford it" argument, but I just look at products like £100 gloves and think what I could do with the other £95.

    Do you wear the cheapest clothes in everyday life, Aldi jeans and trainers, drive a Daewoo Lanos, and live in a mobile home. All of these will perform the required function at a minimal cost, but there is more to life than just saving money...
    Complicating matters since 1965
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    I have a pair of Rapha criterium mitts and have had them for four years now and given them some very heavy use. THey are still fine and will undoubtedly remain so for quite some little while yet. THey are very nice gloves, a pleasure to use, look good and are very comfortable. Yes, they cost more. So what?

    I'd rather pay more, up front, and have something nice, that I like to wear and use, than keep buying cheap mitts one pair after another, for some imaginary savings. My time and the inconvenience of having to replace gloves regularly is worth something to me on its own, and what's more I dislike buying stuff that simply falls apart. That is something that makes me feel far more ripped-off than a hefty price tag on what is a very good product.You get what you pay for.

    The Rapha gloves, by the way, are made in England, not China or some other child-slaving country - another point in their favour, in my book.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 74,814
    DaSy wrote:
    I too have no idea why people feel the need to get upset about someone else spending money on something they want.


    I have an idea.


    jealousy.jpg

    The rapha gloves do look bloody nice..

    Especially if you already have the black classic jersey/white arm warmer combo....
    _
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I can honestly say that I never have been and never will be PROUD to wear a pair of gloves. FFS they're only gloves! :wink:
    More problems but still living....
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    DaSy wrote:
    bompington wrote:
    I can't disagree with the "if you want it and you can afford it" argument, but I just look at products like £100 gloves and think what I could do with the other £95.

    Do you wear the cheapest clothes in everyday life, Aldi jeans and trainers, drive a Daewoo Lanos, and live in a mobile home. All of these will perform the required function at a minimal cost, but there is more to life than just saving money...
    I didn't mean that I stuff it under the mattress so that I can take it out and cackle over it every once in a while.

    It all comes down to what you want for your money; in this case, what I want for my money is something that will keep my hands warm enough to be comfortable.
    The other £95 can go on stuff that I consider more important: it might be days out with my kids, a weekend away with my wife, paying off my mortgage (currently less than 30% on a very nice house, since you ask), clothing where I consider you really do have to pay more for noticeable performance increase (running shoes, mountaineering jacket), a car that does what I require of it (Skoda, actually).

    As for jealousy, I can hardly begin to describe how much of it I don't have for expensive bike kit.

    Except maybe that nice new bike...
  • DaSy
    DaSy Posts: 599
    bompington wrote:
    It all comes down to what you want for your money; in this case, what I want for my money is something that will keep my hands warm enough to be comfortable.

    That is exactly it, it is very subjective what we see as value for money, so I don't see the value in the "fool and his money" statements in answer to the OP's question - especially when it's in the Buying Advice Forum. Why hang out in a forum that asks what to buy, with the advice to not buy anything, it's a waste of money?
    Complicating matters since 1965
  • aberdeen_lune
    aberdeen_lune Posts: 547
    But Bompington you live in Dundee.

    Do you really think you get what you pay for in running shoes? Dont believe the hype the really expensive running shoes will wear out just as quickly as the mid price ones meanwhile the quality gloves should last you for years as long as you dont lose them.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Well, you know, I did wonder that myself being the OP ...... I really didn't ask anyone if they think it's a wise move spending a ton on a pair of cycling mitts, now did I? ......
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    moonshine wrote:
    am I the only one stunned at anyone contimplating spending £100 on aset of mitts?

    No you are not the only one, although "stunned" in this case is a rather tame word to be using, at least for me. Holy sh*t, WTF, this must be a dream, fool and his money......., sucker born every minute, that sort of stuff more accurately describes my reaction to that kind of price for gloves. Then again that sort of gear is made for people who's money is burning holes in their pockets.
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    To all those with the "what a waste of money" comments......

    That is not in question for the OP so completely useless.

    Most members of the public will think spending more than £250 on a bike is too much.
    How much have you spent on yours?
    Most people in this Country do not -need- a fraction of what they buy.
    It is all about desire and your personal price thresholds, with the emphasis on personal.


    To the OP.......
    Quite a few comments on the Rapha gloves within the Italian jersey thread.
    Dromarti seem a bit rarer.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    daviesee wrote:
    To all those with the "what a waste of money" comments......
    Shock horror forum poster gets answer he didn't ask for! Never expected that to happen on the internet did we?

    I knew there would be plenty of folk getting wound up about this one, easy game really. I just find it fascinating that cycling seems to have a "must have the really expensive one" culture that I've never noticed in other sports / pastimes that I've been involved in over the years.
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    bompington wrote:
    daviesee wrote:
    To all those with the "what a waste of money" comments......
    Shock horror forum poster gets answer he didn't ask for! Never expected that to happen on the internet did we?

    I knew there would be plenty of folk getting wound up about this one, easy game really. I just find it fascinating that cycling seems to have a "must have the really expensive one" culture that I've never noticed in other sports / pastimes that I've been involved in over the years.

    Oh, lookee! Got another one on the hook! Having fun? :roll:

    The answer he was looking for was a comparison between 2 pairs of mitts. End of.

    Obviously you have never really got into hifi or photography for example.
    I have spent a whole lot more on both than I have in cycling, including Rapha gear.

    Not that I have, but you can spend $21,000 on 3 metres of speaker cable :shock:
    As I said, everyone has their personal price threshold.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • aberdeen_lune
    aberdeen_lune Posts: 547
    I think you need to bear in mind here that bompington comes from Dundee. If you went out cycling in Dundee with Rapha gear you would need a police escort. That's why he shops at Aldis. It makes perfect sence to me.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Aberdeen_lune wrote:
    But Bompington you live in Dundee.

    Do you really think you get what you pay for in running shoes? Dont believe the hype the really expensive running shoes will wear out just as quickly as the mid price ones meanwhile the quality gloves should last you for years as long as you dont lose them.
    That's why I always ask for advice from a well known local word championship, London marathon and Olympic winner before buying any.

    As for the dangers of wearing fancy clothing in Dundee, Rapha is indeed the sort of thing that Dundee neds go for; I always find it amusing that it's us careful middle class folk who go for the Tesco value look, the kids that I work with are unbelievably snobby about brand names, & I'll never forget the one who refused to eat the wholemeal bread offered one meal because it was "gadgie bread" - an association I thought would have gone in about 1900.

    As for hifi and photography, well it's nice to know there are even bigger mugs out there than in the cycling world.
  • tigerben
    tigerben Posts: 233
    I have the Rapha mitts - and can highly recommend for comfort and durability and in my case value for money as I picked mine up for £20 in a Rapha seconds sale. (The only down side is that they are XXXL and my chubby fingers are only XL so are a touch roomy!).

    Lovely quality soft leather and nicely undertsated.

    No experience of the other mitts.
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    I would go for the Rapha ones, purely because you know that if you have any problems with them down the line, their customer service will sort you out, I think if I were paying £100 for mitts, I'd want that peace of mind. I've no idea about Dromarti, they could be good too, but a bit of an unkown at the mo.
  • aberdeen_lune
    aberdeen_lune Posts: 547
    The class system rears it's ugly head again. What is your definition of middle class in the 21st century? I had hoped we could all have binned that in the 20th century or at least room 101.

    Next time I pass through Dundee I may take a detour off the Kingsway and have a look for neds wearing Rapha gear. You never know stranger things have happened.

    Give Liz a big hello from Aberdeen and tell her she has no chance of winning the First Monster until she learns how to ride a road bike.

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