REASONS TO BUY
Fantastic fit
Comfortable
Simple slip-on design
Excellent value
REASONS TO AVOID
Conductive threads on finger tips are unreliable
Giro La DND - Women's Review
An effective and well-fitting trail glove with a nice, simple design
Credit: Giro
Our Verdict
The Giro La DND is a super comfortable and simple glove that feels like you're wearing nothing at all. The four-way stretch fabric conforms to your hand beautifully and finger length is near perfect. The soft palm is thick but includes well-placed ventilation holes. The seams are well laid out and they are do not cause any irritation or rubbing against your hand. The slip-on design is simple and these gloves are easy to get on and off. Extra padding on the heel of the palm provides a nice amount of thickness against the handlebars and serves as additional protection in the event of a crash. The conductive threads on the thumb and index finger are designed to work well with touchscreen phones or bike computers. We found these threads work approximately 70% of the time.
The LA DND glove is one of our favorite women's gloves. They are a simple and effective trail glove with a fantastic feel. The fit is superior to most of the other women's options in the test and the feel like your wearing nothing at all. To top it all off, the impressive, $25 price tag is a huge bonus.
Our Analysis
The LA DND remains unchanged from the model we tested in Giro's line of mountain bike gloves. We feel these comfortable gloves still represent a great value.
Performance Comparison
Great fitting, user-friendly glove.
Credit: JT Teerlink
Fit
The La DND gloves fit true to size. The light construction provides an airy feel. There is no additional or bunching fabric on the palm of the hand. For the most part, the digits are proper length with the exception of a bit of excess fabric in the pinky. In addition, the seam presses against the tip of the thumb with considerable pressure when gripping the handlebars.
Comfort
We found the Giro La DND to be exceptionally comfortable and score much higher than most lady's gloves in the test. The minimal amounts of seams are well placed and go beautifully unnoticed. Jointed knuckles on select fingers relieve pressure when gripping the handlebars. The side of the fingers use a soft and stretchy webbing that allows for breathability.
Wonderful and simple slip-on design.
Credit: JT Teerlink
Features
The SuperFit Three Panel palm offers a heel crash pad and reinforcement where you need it. All of this added protection exists without any bunching of the extra material. The peace fingers are also reinforced at the tips to prevent punching through the end of the glove. The Giro La DND glove features a slip-on design without any velcro. The simple wrist makes for a simple on and off without any bells and whistles. Conductive threads on the index finger and thumb were designed to make using a touchscreen device simple. We found they only work most of the time. These gloves are so easy to take on and off, we recommend simply removing them from the hand to use a smartphone or bike computer. A full-sized, soft, nose chamois gets the job done, whether it is wiping off your glasses or addressing a runny nose. There is a pull-on tab on top of the hand in addition to one on the underside of the wrist.
Protection
The La DND glove doesn't offer any armor or hard plating on the top of the hand. The four-way stretch material on the top of the hand is breathable, but wouldn't provide any protection against impacts. The 2mm crash pad on the heel of the palm of the hand provides extra protection against palm wear and some extra material in the event of a crash.
Durability
Throughout our testing, we observed no wear on the La DND glove. The material is tightly woven and feels substantial. We feel these gloves could be put through the ringer and come out in one piece.
Best Applications
This Giro women's glove is perfect for the trail application. It is a great all-around option that is beautifully simple.
Value
At $25 MSRP, the La DND glove is a superb value. These provide the feel of a much more expensive option.
Conclusion
The Giro La DND glove is a clear winner among women's mountain bike gloves. The price point is attractive, the fit is comfortable, the design is simple, and they are packed full of useful features. One knock is the inconsistent performance of the conductive threads on the index finger and thumb. In addition, there is a little bit of pressure on the thumb. All in all, this is a fantastic choice for everyday trail riding.
Other Versions and Accessories
The La DND glove is available in five colors/designs. It is available in small, medium or large.
—
Pat Donahue
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