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Biker gloves, what to get?

red devil

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,948
Location
London
As per the title, what gloves would you guys recommend for riding and where would you get them from?
I would like to get a nice warm pair that could last me as long as my jacket :)
 

VR46

Familiar Face
Messages
71
I've found that no glove stays warm for long. Winter riding gloves let you go a little longer before cold sets in, but not enough to make up for the bulky feeling and reduction in tactile control.
For me, there is no substitute for heated grips or electric gloves or liners. Hippo Hands (or similar) work great too. I think deer and elk skin gloves to be better insulators than cow hide, generally.
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
All depends on the "look" you want, etc. If you care about protection, then that will differ from guys wearing $9 hardware store gloves, etc.
I have a number of "power rangers" looking things that are amazing and protect. Sadly, over the years, I've tested them too. I have Kushitani Kangaroo skin, and a couple others - I will look later today. Reenforced knuckles (carbon, etc) and double leather in the critical areas. I would never, ever ride without great gloves, jacket, lid, etc. Talk to someone who didn't and lived to tell. I'll get more info later when I open up the vault...
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
Never owned Held, but they look good. If I get another bike, Ill be looking to replace my gloves, amongst other things. I'd never ride without the best gloves (and everything) I can get.
 

Plumbline

One Too Many
Messages
1,271
Location
UK
Want to look like a Power Ranger ... go Alpinestars .. 365 if you want waterproof .. GP Pro if you want race protection

If you want ULTRA protection go Knox Handroid

If you want fit go BKS made to measure

If you want protection from falls and the weather ... then go Rukka or Held


If you just want a cheap, decent warm glove go with a pair of 40g Thinsulate Deerskin gloves ( Justin do some nice ones as do Carhartt) .... OK abrasion resistance, fairly warm .... but about as waterproof as tissue paper :)
 

bn1966

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,108
Location
UK
The best Bike gloves I can afford...latest pair are Gortex, & leather with a Thinsulate liner...armoured too. Weise summer gloves for the warmer weather...
 

IXL

One Too Many
Messages
1,284
Location
Oklahoma
The warmest non-electric gloves I've ever worn are Rukka winter gloves, the ones with the "dual chamber" interior. Plus, they have a whole bunch of protective features. The gloves feature serious gauntlets of sufficient length and with the ability to cinch down well.

The tradeoff is they have a bit of bulk, but one simply learns how to overcome that while riding, kind of like learning to shoot accurately while wearing gloves.
 

rocketeer

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,605
Location
England
All depends on the "look" you want, etc. If you care about protection, then that will differ from guys wearing $9 hardware store gloves, etc.
I have a number of "power rangers" looking things that are amazing and protect. Sadly, over the years, I've tested them too. I have Kushitani Kangaroo skin, and a couple others - I will look later today. Reenforced knuckles (carbon, etc) and double leather in the critical areas. I would never, ever ride without great gloves, jacket, lid, etc. Talk to someone who didn't and lived to tell. I'll get more info later when I open up the vault...

Want to look like a Power Ranger ... go Alpinestars .. 365 if you want waterproof .. GP Pro if you want race protection

If you want ULTRA protection go Knox Handroid

If you want fit go BKS made to measure

If you want protection from falls and the weather ... then go Rukka or Held


If you just want a cheap, decent warm glove go with a pair of 40g Thinsulate Deerskin gloves ( Justin do some nice ones as do Carhartt) .... OK abrasion resistance, fairly warm .... but about as waterproof as tissue paper :)

Anyone who reads my biker posts probably realises I don't take being called a Power Ranger derogatory. It's really some kind of badge of honour now the amount of miles I have ridden on my Hayabusa and loved every minute of it.
As Scott points out a lot is about the look you want. Most decent leather gloves should perform fine, even in an off. Unless you go super cheap market stall there are some good, some bad and some ugly. I have vented for summer touring and race looking Alpinestars GP Pro's I bought for 'The Look'. For the Triumph Street Triple, I can wear the GPs also, or the deerskin roping gloves(The yellow ones) favoured by many Harley Cruiser riders. There are also heated gloves for the big winter riders and commuters.
Remember an off at 70 on a Busa is the same as an off at 70 on a Harley or Dragstar. For winter I have chosen some high end leather/Gortex snowboarders gloves as rocks and ice can be more dangerous than smooth tarmac, and they are warm. The important areas are really the bits you plant first and the scaphoid one of the prime hand injuries so this is really important in any dedicated bike glove.
You really don't have to have the expensive stuff but as long as it is decent for your needs is the main thing these days. Once upon a time there was little choice with minor padding. But even in the 70s I always wore gloves.
 

Bern1

One of the Regulars
Messages
219
Location
West Coast
Held.
Kangaroo

I've had and have many others.
I also have some insulated waterproof ones (Alpinestar?) that I can't recall ever wearing. A $100 plus "mistake". They were just too thick. For rain and cold I use some nylon shells. Works ok, for a while.........
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
And for the record, Kangaroo gloves are amazingly comfortable - not the thick, stiff stuff we've talked about with jackets.
Reenforced palms, fingers, and knuckles are a must for me. I carefully looked at my gear the two times I had a get off. And those happened within a year of each other, and after I had been riding over 30 years. Until you need it, you don't realize how important it is to walking away with hopefully much fewer injuries...I still cringe when I see kids riding in thongs, sneakers, and tank tops.
 

emigran

Practically Family
Messages
719
Location
USA NEW JERSEY
I've found that no glove stays warm for long. Winter riding gloves let you go a little longer before cold sets in, but not enough to make up for the bulky feeling and reduction in tactile control.
For me, there is no substitute for heated grips or electric gloves or liners. Hippo Hands (or similar) work great too. I think deer and elk skin gloves to be better insulators than cow hide, generally.

Hands feet and shins and face take the most assault in winter riding. particularly at speed , and I'd agree totally that there ain't no better way than to use electric heat... I have ridden comfortably from West Va to NJ in 20+ degree weather while wearing heated suit, socks, gloves. enjoyed some startled stares , too...
 

IXL

One Too Many
Messages
1,284
Location
Oklahoma
And for the record, Kangaroo gloves are amazingly comfortable - not the thick, stiff stuff we've talked about with jackets.
Reenforced palms, fingers, and knuckles are a must for me. I carefully looked at my gear the two times I had a get off. And those happened within a year of each other, and after I had been riding over 30 years. Until you need it, you don't realize how important it is to walking away with hopefully much fewer injuries...I still cringe when I see kids riding in thongs, sneakers, and tank tops.

For both my wife and I, some of our favorite summer gloves are the BMW GS kangaroo ones, with some serious knuckle protection. They are quite tough (I've had a couple or three get-offs while off-roading) and very comfortable.
 

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