Held, a name ubiquitous in the motorcycle industry, has come out with the warm weather complement to their extraordinarily popular Held Warm N Dry Gloves. The brand new for 2011 Held Rainstar Gloves are a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable option that feature a classic leather style. They will get you through the worst of the elements in Spring-Summer-Fall, but if you live in a milder climate or you use heated grips, the Rainstars could realistically be your go-to four-season glove.
The Held Rainstar Gloves utilize cowhide leather at the backhand for abrasion resistance with an extremely responsive goatskin palm for tactile feel on the controls. The palm also features reinforcements across the grip area near the thumb with a texturized goatskin on the first two fingers for grip. Another big deal here is the stingray leather panel that protects the heel of the hand. This panel is backed by shock-absorbing gel for impact while the stingray itself is an extremely abrasion-resistant material along the lines of Superfabric. Rounding out the palm's features are a secondary micro-adjustment velcro panel for fit along with the single cuff velcro gauntlet main closure that can be worn over or under a jacket.
At the back hand, a leather coated hard plastic knuckle protector keeps the main knuckles safe while soft inserts in the fingers add another level of resilience. As with all Held gloves, the flat seam external stitching keeps the hand pressure-point free. The elasticated panels at the backhand, thumb and fingers allow for uninhibited mobility when working the controls. The visor wiper on the left index finger is a nice touch knowing that this glove will be used in not-so-savory wet conditions. Slight perforation in strategic areas will aid in airflow and keeping the hand cool in any and all active riding scenarios. Which brings us to the waterproof breathability and lining of this glove.
Waterproof breathability comes from the Gore-Tex membrane that is bonded to the shell. Gore-Tex is the most breathable of all waterproof membranes, keeping all precipitation out of the glove while allowing perspiration to escape through to the outside of the glove preventing the hand from becoming clammy and gross. A huge feature of this glove is the Outlast PCM (Phase Change Material) lining system. Outlast interacts with the temperature of the body to maintain optimal comfort. The materials absorb and store heat prior to perspiration taking place, thereby creating a microclimate within the glove. When the skin temperature drops, the heat from the PCM is released to warm the hand. Futuristic? Yeah, we'd say so.
Another standout product from Held, this glove should definitely be within the range of consideration for any long distance touring rider that tends to battle the elements on long rides. Check out our full range of similar gear by visiting our Waterproof Motorcycle Gloves section.
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