100 Percent Mitts
100% cycling mitts sit in a genuinely useful gap in your kit bag - short-finger gloves that work hard without cooking your hands on a muggy August climb. Whether you're on the drops hammering tarmac, threading singletrack on an XC hardtail, or grinding gravel across the Peaks, the right pair keeps your grip locked and your palms dry when the temperature climbs.
What separates 100% from the pile is the materials story. Clarino synthetic leather palms deliver a grippy, tactile connection to your bars that doesn't go slippery mid-effort - and unlike natural leather, Clarino holds its shape when a surprise summer shower rolls through. Backed by moisture-wicking mesh across the knuckles, these mitts vent heat rather than trap it, which matters a lot on a long, humid road ride where your hands are working constantly.
The range covers road cyclists who want near-bare bar feel, gravel riders who need a bit of vibration damping on rough B-roads, and XC racers who need a slim, distraction-free fit under pressure. Sizing runs snug - more on that below. If you're building out a warm-weather kit, 100% mitts are a straightforward, well-engineered choice worth a close look.
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Fabric Tech and How It Handles the Heat
The Clarino palm is the headline feature, and it earns its billing. Clarino is a Japanese-engineered synthetic microfibre that mimics the feel of high-grade leather but resists moisture far better - so when you're grinding up a humid climb and your hands start to sweat, the grip stays consistent rather than going clammy. It also doesn't stretch out the way natural leather does after a few soakings, which means the palm keeps its shape through a full summer season.
Backing that up, the Trek-Dry finger gussets do two jobs at once: they give your fingers genuine range of motion without bunching at the base of the digits, and the material actively wicks moisture away from the skin. On a slow, grinding climb in close Welsh valley air, that matters - hands that stay drier stay more comfortable, and more comfortable hands stay more precise on technical ground.
The mesh backing across the knuckles is the other side of the heat-management equation. It's not just ventilation for ventilation's sake; the open structure dumps warm air as your hands move, working with the Trek-Dry gussets rather than fighting them. A microfiber thumb wipe panel rounds things out - a small detail, but one you'll use constantly on a hot day when your face needs a quick wipe on a descent. Compared with options like Endura mitts at a similar price point, 100% leans harder into the performance-material angle rather than simply adding padding bulk.
Fit Profiles and Choosing the Right Style
The 100% mitt range splits broadly into two fit approaches, and picking the right one comes down to how you ride rather than budget. Slip-on aerodynamic cuffs give you a clean, close fit with no bulk at the wrist - ideal for road and XC racing where every snag on a sleeve or awkward bit of Velcro is a distraction. There's nothing to adjust, nothing to flap, and the fit feels close to barehanded.
TPR closures - thermoplastic rubber Velcro-style wrist fastenings - add a bit more adjustability, which is useful if you've got wider wrists or you want a slightly more secure feel on rough gravel. They're not bulky, but they're there when you want them. Neither system is objectively better; it's a genuine trade-off between minimal simplicity and adjustable security.
On the palm side, the padded versus unpadded choice is similarly straightforward. Unpadded gives you the most direct bar feel - you sense every texture, every edge, every shift in load through the handlebar. That directness is exactly what XC racers and road riders who prioritise control want. Padded versions layer in gel or foam for vibration damping on rough surfaces - the kind of chatter you get on broken tarmac, loose gravel fire roads, or badly surfaced B-roads that haven't seen a proper repair since the 1990s. If your regular rides involve more than a few miles of that kind of surface, the padded option is worth it to keep hand fatigue and numbness at bay.
One thing to be clear on: these are strictly 100 percent fingerless cycling gloves for warm-weather riding. They're not insulated, they're not waterproof, and they won't cut it once temperatures start dropping. If you need full-finger coverage for enduro riding, cool autumn mornings, or winter commutes, head over to the dedicated 100% Gloves page where you'll find the full-coverage options built for those conditions.
Sizing runs true to size with a snug, performance-oriented profile - if you're between sizes or you find gloves tight across the knuckles, go up one. Most riders find the standard size works well, but it's worth measuring your hand width before ordering if you're unsure. If you want to compare how the fit stacks up against other brands, Fox mitts and Giro mitts offer useful reference points across similar price brackets - Fox tends to run a touch roomier, Giro closer to 100%'s snug profile.
Keeping Your Mitts in Good Shape Through the Season
Getting the wash routine right is the thing most people overlook, and it's where mitts get ruined fastest. Machine wash on a cool, gentle cycle - 30°C maximum - with a mild detergent. That's it. No fabric softener, ever. Softener leaves a residue on the Clarino palm that kills the grip feel and clogs the moisture-wicking properties of the mesh backing, turning a good pair of mitts into something that feels greasy and performs poorly. It's not recoverable once it's in there.
Air dry naturally, laid flat or hung loosely, away from direct heat. Radiators, tumble dryers, and sunny windowsills all cause the synthetic leather to stiffen and eventually crack at the flex points. Give them a few hours at room temperature and they'll be ready for the next morning's ride.
In terms of pairing for summer kit, these work well alongside 100% jerseys - the breathability profiles are matched, so you're not creating a cool-jersey-hot-hands mismatch. Add a pair of 100% socks and the kit works as a coherent system rather than a mix of conflicting fabrics. On really bright days, 100% sunglasses complete the picture - practically speaking, it's also just easier to manage sweat and glare from a kit that's been designed around the same conditions.
One practical note: if you ride in summer cycling mitts 100% options back-to-back on consecutive days, give them a quick rinse after each ride rather than leaving sweat to dry into the Clarino. A quick cold-water rinse and air dry extends the life of the palm material noticeably.
100 Percent Mitts FAQs
Are 100% cycling mitts true to size?
Generally, yes - 100% mitts fit true to size with a snug, performance-leaning profile. If you're between sizes or find gloves tight across the knuckles, size up. Measuring your hand width before ordering takes the guesswork out of it.
Should I choose padded or unpadded 100% cycling mitts?
Go unpadded if direct bar feel and maximum control matter most - road racing and XC riding are the natural home for this. Choose padded if your regular routes include rough gravel, broken B-roads, or surfaces that send consistent vibration through the bars; the extra damping genuinely reduces hand fatigue and numbness over distance.
How do you wash 100% cycling mitts without ruining the grip?
Cool, gentle machine wash with a mild detergent - 30°C maximum. No fabric softener at all; it coats the Clarino palm with residue that wrecks the grip and blocks the mesh from wicking. Air dry at room temperature, away from radiators or direct heat, which can cause the synthetic leather to stiffen and crack.