Our next round of 2011 Warm Weather Motorcycle Gear Guides brings us to our top picks in motorcycle gloves. We have three total videos, including our top Adventure Glove and Motorcycle Race Gauntlet picks so be sure not to miss those, but in this guide we're focusing on our top picks for aggressive warm weather sport and short cuff motorcycle gloves. The first criterion for this category was airflow and comfort; you can rest assured that all of these gloves will keep you cool and comfortable on all active warm weather rides. Beyond that, these gloves vary in price point, protection, style and overall levels of technicality with the highest-end glove mimicking the safety levels of pro-level racing gloves.
First up in our mix is the value-priced and high-performance Shift Fury Glove. A fresh design for 2011, the Shift Fury provides significant airflow via the lightweight textile and leather backhand and the vented rubberized finger protectors. A hard part piece of armor protects the knuckles while sitting on its own panel to allow the armor to stay in place while working the controls. The premium leather palm has Clarino reinforcements in all high-wear areas in addition to slight perforation on the inside of the fingers. The Airprene wrist closure provides a snug, comfortable seal against the wrist and, as always with Shift Racing, you see plenty of slick branding native to all their gear.
Our next pick in this mix is the all-time bestselling glove from Alpinestars. The recipient of a redesign for 2011, the Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Glove retains the same protective elements as its predecessor but has become more streamlined and stylish for this year. This glove is defined by its lightweight leather and mesh construction which flows a ton of air but is also abrasion resistant and durable. The carbon fiber knuckle plate offers significant impact protection while the Clarino reinforced synthetic leather palm gives solid resistance to abrasion. Foam padding and TPR reinforcements bulk up the safety elements of the what is sure to be AStars bestseller for 2011.
The true crossover pick within this mix is the REV'IT! Sand Glove, which is absolutely designed for warm weather dualsport and enduro riding. Adventure riders will be excited to know that this glove can perform in both on and off-road scenarios, with an exceptional degree of ventilation and protection. The backhand is constructed of mesh and PWRShell Stretch fabrics with PU injections providing protection across the main and finger knuckles. The goatskin palm features a second level of reinforcement with additional premium cowhide patches and anti-wear fortification. REV'IT! ADV loyalists will appreciate the attention to detail and enduro performance of the Sand.
One of RevZilla's all-time bestselling gloves, the REV'IT! Monster Gloves offer performance that spans across all realms of warm weather on-road riding. The entirety of the glove is a premium goatskin construction, and it truly is an effortless marriage of good looks and functionality. The Monster has a leather coated carbon fiber hard shell knuckle with PU injections on the fingers for added protection. The goatskin is significantly perforated to help keep the air flowing in hot weather riding conditions. At the palm, Clarino reinforcements complement the abrasion resistance and tactility of the goatskin while Temperfoam padding adds vibration dampening functionality. This is one of our favorites in the mix.
The Alpinestars SP-X Gloves offer a big step forward in protection and performance over the previously mentioned SMX-2 Air Carbons. Lightweight and protective, the SP-X combines full-grain leather with air mesh at the backhand for abrasion-resistance and ventilation. Protection is bulked up with carbon fiber main knuckle and finger knuckle protection, in addition to a carbon fiber slider at the sidehand. The palm is a synthetic suede construction with leather reinforcements that aid in safety and grip. TPR injections and logos can be found in various places around the glove which add style and another level of protection. This is also the first glove we see in the mix with wrist protection via the EVA foam padding.
The top short and sport glove for warm weather riding for 2011 is the Dainese 4 Stroke Glove. Armed with a stainless steel main knuckle and backhand protector and TPU knuckle protectors, the 4 Strokes have a crazy amount of protection for a short cuff glove, including Distortion Control on the outside of the pinky that protects against torsion in a get-off scenario. The 4 Stroke has a cowhide backhand that is perf'd for airflow with a tactile goatskin palm that is reinforced in wear and impact areas. There is also TPU protection on the palm and at the cuff. Elasticated inserts throughout allow uninhibited range of motion for active riding. And of course, this features classic Dainese style that separates it from the pack.
Our next pick in this mix is the all-time bestselling glove from Alpinestars. The recipient of a redesign for 2011, the Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Glove retains the same protective elements as its predecessor but has become more streamlined and stylish for this year. This glove is defined by its lightweight leather and mesh construction which flows a ton of air but is also abrasion resistant and durable. The carbon fiber knuckle plate offers significant impact protection while the Clarino reinforced synthetic leather palm gives solid resistance to abrasion. Foam padding and TPR reinforcements bulk up the safety elements of the what is sure to be AStars bestseller for 2011.
I'm surprised that the Icon Overlord short glove didn't make it into this review. The price point seems to be in line with some of the other items.
ReplyDelete