100 Percent Gloves

What the Materials Are Actually Doing

The Clarino synthetic leather palm is the detail that separates 100 Percent's gloves from a lot of the competition. Clarino is a single-layer construction - thin, consistent, and resistant to the kind of folding and creasing that turns cheaper palm materials into pressure points after a few hours on the bars. You feel the grips through it rather than around it. On longer rides - think a full day in the Peaks or a multi-hour gravel route - that directness matters more than it sounds.

On the Cognito, D3O knuckle protection is moulded directly into the back of the hand. D3O is rate-sensitive, so it stays flexible and light during normal riding but stiffens on impact. It doesn't add bulk in the way traditional hard-shell armour does, and you won't notice it until you actually need it. If you ride bike parks, rocky enduro stages, or just find yourself off the bike more than you'd like, the Cognito's protection profile puts it ahead of most full-finger gloves at this price bracket - including comparable options from Fox or Leatt that use harder TPR details over softer impact material.

The Brisker uses an insulated softshell top hand that blocks wind effectively without trapping so much heat that your hands are soaked inside twenty minutes. That balance is harder to get right than it sounds - plenty of winter gloves nail the warmth and ruin the dexterity. The Brisker keeps enough bar feel that you're not fumbling through brake modulation on steep, slippery descents. For UK winter riding specifically, where temperatures hover rather than plummet, that breathable-warm balance is more useful than pure insulation. Moisture-wicking mesh gussets between the fingers help manage the sweat on climbs, so the glove doesn't become clammy before you've hit the first descent.

Integrated tech-thread runs through the fingertips on most models, keeping touchscreen compatibility without a dedicated patch that wears away separately from the rest of the glove.

Getting the Right Model for How You Ride

The Celium is as close to a slip-on fit as a full-finger glove gets. No fuss, no closure hardware, minimal weight. It suits riders who want to forget they're wearing gloves - cross-country, trail laps, summer gravel. The moisture-wicking mesh across the back of the hand earns its place on humid UK summer climbs where a heavier glove would leave you wringing wet.

The Ridecamp adds structure and durability without going heavy. It's the one to pick if you want a glove that handles daily use across mixed conditions - loose gravel, rooty trails, early autumn mud - without needing to baby it. A neoprene cuff keeps it in place without biting into your wrist after an hour.

The Cognito is the gravity-oriented option. D3O knuckle protection, reinforced palm zones, and a more secure closure system. It's a natural pairing with 100 Percent body armour if you're building a proper bike park kit. Worth comparing against Endura's MT500 range if you want a UK-made alternative with similar protection ambitions - different construction approach, but the same problem being solved.

The Brisker owns the winter slot. If you're riding through November to February in the UK, it belongs in your kit. Full stop.

All four models share a snug, pre-curved fit profile - the glove follows the natural closed position of your hand rather than lying flat. That matters because a glove that fights your grip position adds fatigue. If you're between sizes or prefer a bit more room around the knuckles, size up. The fit runs accurate but performance-oriented, which means it's close to the hand by design.

Looking for summer road or gravel fingerless options? Head over to our dedicated 100 Percent Mitts page for our full range of half-finger styles.

To build out the rest of your riding kit, the 100 Percent jersey range and MTB shorts are worth a look alongside whichever gloves you land on.

Keeping Them in Good Shape After a UK Ride

100 Percent mountain bike gloves can go in the machine - cold, gentle cycle, mild detergent. Before you do, fasten every hook-and-loop closure and press down any TPR details that might snag. A glove rattling around in a wash with open Velcro will pull threads from jerseys and shorten its own lifespan. Takes ten seconds to sort before you zip the drum shut.

Drying is where most people go wrong. Hanging them near a radiator feels efficient, but the direct heat degrades the Clarino palm and cracks the touchscreen-compatible thread faster than almost anything else. Air dry at room temperature, away from direct heat. Stuff them loosely if they're losing shape, but don't force them - let the material relax back naturally.

If the Clarino palm is picking up mud or grip rubber residue, a soft brush and cold water before washing gets most of it off. Don't soak them repeatedly - occasional light cleaning between washes is kinder to the material than aggressive laundering every other ride.

When you're pairing gloves with 100 Percent goggles, it's worth checking that the glove cuff doesn't create a gap under your goggle foam - particularly relevant with the Brisker's slightly beefier cuff profile. A quick fit check in the car park before a big day out saves the faff mid-ride.