Gloves Ahoy! A Cool Alpinestars Handshake.

2014 is shaping up to be a pretty good year for motorcyclists. KTM is bringing the Super Duke R 1290 stateside, MotoGP rules are changing to level the playing field between factory and non-factory riders, and Suzuki has released a prototype of a 500cc turbo-charged parallel twin which they claiming will make over 100 hp. In addition to all this, there have already been a ton of awesome new gear releases which have kept all of us at RevZilla quite busy over the past few months.

The gang from Alpinestars stopped by our offices a few weeks ago to fill us in on what to expect from them in 2014. There will be plenty new additions to their lineup as well as some updates to current favorites. Their entire line of entry level to intermediate gloves will be getting a facelift, starting with the SMX-2 Air Carbon glove.


The Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon and Alpinestars Stella SMX-2 Air Carbon has been a favorite amongst the staff here at ZLA headquarters. For 2014 Alpinestars will be performing some decisive changes to make an already good glove even better. The biggest upgrades are the new patented carbon fiber knuckles and the redesigned cuff which aids in both comfort and safety over the last model. The amount of goatskin in the palm has been increased for better feel while also improving upon the touchscreen compatible fabric at the thumb and pointer finger. The latter being a popular feature for almost all of the gloves in Alpinestars lineup for this coming year.

Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves Review:

The Masai is going to be an all new model on par with the SMX-2 Air Carbon but geared more toward the the dual sport, adventure riders among us. The outlandish graphics and colors come directly from the Motocross world. The main palm construction is going to be goatskin and come complete with a PU slider. The TPR knuckles are surrounded by spandex which allow this glove to be super comfortable and breath a ton of air. The Alpinestars Masai Gloves are really a summer glove with a little room to stretch into late Spring or early Fall.

Alpinestars Masai Gloves Review:

A full dirt version of the Masai can be found in the all-new Alpinestars Atacama Air Glove. It will share the same goatskin palm of it’s more street oriented counterpart while utilizing a breathable 3D mesh in the main body of the glove, perfect for the heat of summer. It still has flexible TPR protection on the knuckles and the fingers but is not as armored as the Masai, as it is not intended for street applications.

Alpinestars Atacama Air Gloves Review:

The Alpinestars Fighter Air Gloves are going to round out this category.  It is geared towards value oriented riders looking for a solid option when entering into the world of dirt or light dual sport riding. While retaining a few goatskin accents, the main body of the palm is going to be constructed of Clarino, a synthetic leather alternative. Knuckle protection is provided via Bovine leather knuckle armor stretched over high density foam. Even in this entry level option Alpinestars is including the touchscreen fingertips that we have seen in all of the offerings being discussed here.

Alpinestars Fighter Air Gloves Review:

So far this year we have witnessed some pretty great releases from brands like Rev’It!, Roland Sands Design, Klim, Olympia, SIDI, TCX, and now Alpinestars. It is a great time to be a motorcyclist. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or you are just getting started on two wheels, there will be a perfect option to match your riding style and budget.

For those of us working in the motorcycle industry this is our favorite time of year. For me it is like Christmas morning all over again and each product release is like another present waiting to be opened. I love to see what new toys are being released and I end up spending way too much money adding new goodies to my garage as well as my closet. After seeing the new SIDI Mag-1 Race Boots I finally understand women’s obsession with shoes and their willingness to spend so much money on them. The downside to this time of year is that now I have to have that awkward conversation with my landlord as to why I am wearing his rent for the month.

- Spurg
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Sport Short Cuff Motorcycle Glove Guide

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.

Check out our Sport & Short Cuff Motorcycle Glove Guide:

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.

To see everything we've got, visit our Short Cuff Motorcycle Gloves section.

-RetroZilla

Previously:
Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves Review
Dainese 4 Stroke Gloves Review
Dainese 2011 Sport Glove Overview
Alpinestars Spring 2011 Gear Overview

Alpinestars S-MX 2 Air Carbon Glove Review

Sometimes a bestselling product only needs slight modifications to become even more of a powerhouse than it was before. Such is the case with the brand new Alpinestars S-MX 2 Air Carbon Gloves, a staple in the Alpinestars lineup. With slight improvements in comfort, performance and protection, Alpinestars has elevated this short cuff summer sport riding glove to the next level.

Check out our Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves Review:

Available in six color options to match the style of your ride, the SMX-2 Air Carbons are a leather and mesh design for safety and airflow on hot summer days. The leather keeps you protected while the ample mesh paneling will rush air through the gloves to keep you cool. At the backhand, carbon fiber knuckle armor protects from impact while TPR inserts in the fingers and back provide additional reinforcement. At the inside, a synthetic leather palm is reinforced by Clarino panels for protection and durability in high-use and high-wear areas. There are also foam padded inserts at the heel of the hand for vibration dampening and added protection from impact.

Rubberized panels at the inside of the fingertips provide a high degree of grip while the neoprene-style cuff and TPR velcro flap offer a comfortable and custom-fitting closure. What really sets this glove apart is Alpinestars ability to pack style, protection, airflow and overall performance into a glove at this price point. The fact that so many color options are available to suit your personal style is just bonus points. To see other similar options, visit our Short Cuff Motorcycle Gloves, Alpinestars Gloves and Summer Motorcycle Gloves sections.

-RetroZilla

Related:
Alpinestars GP-R Leather Jacket Review
Alpinestars Spring 2011 Gear Overview
Alpinestars SMX-Plus Race Boots Review
Alpinestars SP-1 Race suit Review