How about the Santic's Elastic Interface gloves?
As autumn sets in, around the days before and after October 1st, Los Angeles saw rainfall followed by a noticeable drop in temperature.
Morning rides started to feel a bit chilly with half-finger gloves. The Shimano S-PHYRE GTX gloves I currently own are a little too warm for this time of year, so I found myself in need of a lighter pair suitable for early autumn.
After being recommended the “Elastic Interface” padding by Kingfar for about half a year, I finally decided to give it a try. This Santic glove was released just before October 1st, making it a timely option.
As usual, I photographed the gloves against my black background board. First impressions: The back of the glove is made from a lightweight, highly elastic fabric. According to official specifications, it’s a composite material made of 60% nylon and 40% spandex. The fabric feels smooth and soft to the touch.
The palm features the Elastic Interface padding. Previously, I had assumed that “Elastic Interface” referred to a single inner material—similar to ASICS’ GEL cushioning or GTX fabric. After looking into it more carefully this time, I realized that Elastic Interface is actually a complete, integrated design solution.
Based on the information from the product details page, this appears to be the exact model.
Palm Padding Design
This palm pad is designed for medium-distance road cycling. It consists of two layers:
Palm surface fabric: EVO anti-slip layer, a composite of 65% nylon and 35% elastic fiber
Cushioning base: Perforated polyurethane foam with a density of 80 kg/m³
The thickness of the cushioning base is very restrained. When pressed, it feels comfortable without being overly soft. The layout of the padding is clearly intentional.
Santic’s Elastic Interface palm padding aims to avoid key blood vessels and nerves in the hand. Their original description states:
“PalmTech is designed with full consideration of hand anatomy, helping to promote blood circulation and reduce pressure on the ulnar nerve. Its flexible three-dimensional structure is based on precise anthropometric parameters and years of research. It is durable, lightweight, and provides advanced protection while ensuring full control.”
Of course, hands vary from person to person, and no single design can solve all issues. Still, designing from an anatomical perspective is far more scientific than simply adding thicker cushioning.
Each cushioning zone aligns well with typical road handlebar grip positions.
The finger areas also account for bending, reducing fabric bunching and pressure during gripping.
The back fabric fits closely to the hand. The gloves feature a short-cuff design, which does not interfere with wrist-based heart rate monitors.
Finger wrap is excellent, with no excess space at the fingertips. Picking up small objects is easy.
Beyond the Elastic Interface padding on the palm, the back panel cutting also incorporates thoughtful design elements to improve overall fit. For example, the thumb area accounts for thumb thickness.
The webbing between the thumb and index finger features an oval-shaped panel, which reduces potential pressure from seams when gripping the shifters.
The stitching between the fingers is well executed. There’s no discomfort, pinching, or tightness after riding for a while. The fit remains stable.
The thumb and index finger support touchscreen use. Sensitivity is good, and operating a bike computer is smooth.
Thanks to the snug fit, touch accuracy is high without needing to adjust finger positioning.
Overall build quality is solid. Seams are clean, and there are no loose threads.
The wrist edge uses an unfinished hem design, but the cut is neat and precise. The gloves are easy to put on and take off, without feeling bulky.
There’s also a small “ear” detail on the right glove—serving as a subtle brand identifier.
This is how the gloves feel when gripping the handlebars. In temperatures around the low teens (°C), they’re very comfortable.
Even at 5–6°C, they should still be usable. Below that, they would likely be insufficient. They’re clearly well-suited for spring and autumn riding.
Because of the short-cuff design, bending the wrist doesn’t create excessive creasing. Large folds tend to be uncomfortable, and this design avoids that issue. It also reinforces that these gloves are not intended for winter use.
I particularly like the thin palm construction. When gripping the bars, there’s no foreign “pad-like” sensation.
You can still clearly feel the shape of the handlebars, while vibration filtration is already quite effective.
The advantage of anatomical design is that cushioning exists where it’s needed and avoids areas where pressure should be minimized.
Since we’re talking about gloves, it’s worth discussing their role in cycling.
Protection
This is the most direct function. A crash that causes deep abrasions to the palms can severely impact daily life for some time. Gloves don’t necessarily need thick padding, but they must be abrasion-resistant enough to withstand at least one moment of sliding friction.
Grip
Grip should be considered together with handlebar tape. During intense riding or fatigue, hands are more prone to slipping. Losing grip on the bars can have serious consequences.
Vibration Damping
Many riders experience hand numbness and immediately think they need thicker glove padding. Some gloves cater to this by using very thick palm pads, which may look reassuring but often don’t actually solve the problem.
Vibration damping in cycling is a system-level issue. Tires, spokes, bar tape, gloves, hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders all work together. Among these, flexible elbows and a relaxed grip play the most significant roles.
On rough roads, a relaxed grip filters vibration more effectively. We hold the handlebars to control the bike, not to grip them tightly. If your arms are locked straight on the bars for long periods, it’s probably time for a proper bike fitting.
A small side note: on bumpy roads, riding slightly faster can actually feel smoother. Inertia helps the bike glide over small gaps, whereas riding too slowly means the wheels hit every single bump. That said, this requires good bike-handling skills.
So when it comes to gloves, good cushioning doesn’t mean thick cushioning. Gloves must balance fit, grip, anti-slip performance, and vibration damping.
Their role is to help maintain proper hand position while filtering out handlebar texture and reducing pressure through scientifically designed cushioning layers. Overly thick padding, due to its limited contact area, can actually increase pressure on the palm under body weight.
Final Thoughts This seems to be Santic’s first glove using the Elastic Interface system—likely a trial product. In my view, it’s a successful one. The gloves look good, feel comfortable, and offer solid value for money.
With this year’s frequent rain, I do wonder whether Santic might consider a Elastic Interface winter glove with GTX. If that happens, I’d hope to see a 3D-cut version of the Elastic Interface padding. Something to look forward to.
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