I recently found myself in the market for a new pair of cycling gloves, as I’ve gotten back on my road bike and am working towards rebuilding my long-distance cycling endurance. Typically, I go with Pearl Izumi gloves because of their durability—an absolute must when you’re putting in serious miles. Over the years, I’ve burned through quite a few pairs. With Pearl Izumi gloves usually costing around $50 per pair, I’ve stuck with them for the quality and reliability.

However, while I was out for a run the other evening, warming up for this week’s cycling sessions, I came across an ad on my phone that immediately caught my attention: Trail Manos Arizona-branded cycling gloves. As someone who takes a lot of pride in Arizona, I was hooked instantly. My previous road bike even had a custom headstock emblazoned with the Arizona flag, so finding gloves representing that same spirit felt like a perfect match. Needless to say, I placed an order without a second thought.

As I dug a little deeper, I discovered that Trail Manos is based right here in Chandler, Arizona—a city I hold in high regard. Living in Scottsdale, I often find myself in Chandler, particularly at REI, where I regularly stock up on gear for my various outdoor adventures. Supporting local businesses is something I feel strongly about, and knowing that Trail Manos is a homegrown brand just adds to my excitement.

I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of these gloves and look forward to putting them to the test. As always, I’ll be sharing my thoughts and experience with these locally made gloves right here on our website. Stay tuned for more!