[motorcycle.com] - Waterproof Winter Gloves Buyers Guide

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Two kinds of folks ride motorcycles: Those who ride year round and those who lock their bikes away during the cold months. Winter is a tough time of year for even the hardiest of riders to enjoy riding motorcycles. First, its pretty dang cold. And when the temperature really drops, roads can get icy. While there’s not much that can be done for the latter other than wait for the roads to de-ice, the former can be helped by wearing riding gear designed specifically for the conditions.

Since so much is done with your digits on a motorcycle, good winter gloves are a must. Here are 10 examples of the variety of winter gloves available from a wide range of well-known manufacturers. Additionally, because of the higher chances of encountering the wet stuff during the winter season, we decided to only include waterproof insulated gloves in this guide. And, because heated gear can increase your ability to ride in the coldest of weather, we’ve included them in the mix, too.

Alpinestars Drystar Glove

Price: $110

Size Range: S–3XL

Colors: Black, Black/Yellow

Alpinestars Drystar Glove prove that you don’t need to be gigantic balloon-fingered contraptions to provide warmth. You can also get them with short gauntlets to easily slip into a jacket sleeve. Impact protection comes from EVA foam and over-molded hard PU knuckle protection. A Drystar membrane and Thinsulate filling keep the water and the cold on the outside, where it belongs.

Alpinestars carries nine waterproof winter gloves (including female specific), ranging in price from $80-200, on its website.

Dainese Boulevard D-Dry

Price: $70

Size Range: 2XS–2XL Colors: Black

The Boulevard D-Dry gloves are one of the urban commuter/scooter winter gloves offered by Dainese. The breathable, waterproof D-Dry membrane keeps digits dry, while the Deflix thermal padding in the precurved gloves aids heat retention. A hook-and-loop fastener snugs the wrist closure, and Dainese Smart Touch system allows the use of touch screens through the gloved fingers.

Dainese offers a total of 11 waterproof winter gloves for men and women, ranging in price from $90-290, on its website.

Firstgear TPG Cold Riding Gloves

Price: $70

Size Range: 2XS–2XL

Colors: Black

Firstgear fills all the checkboxes with the TPG Cold Riding Gloves. Many riders feel that leather construction adds to warmth in a waterproof glove. In this case, the primary source of warmth comes from 200-gram Thermolite insulation. The Hipora waterproof-breathable lining keeps hands dry while Aramid covered, D3O padding on the knuckles and palm heel provide crash protection. A zipper-closure gauntlet, left thumb visor squeegee, and a 2-year limited warranty round out the glove’s features.

Visit the Firstgear website to view the five men’s winter and heated gloves and two women’s winter and heated gloves, which range in price from $80-170.

Held Rain Cloud

Price: $220

Size Range: 7–12

Colors: Black

Known for its high-quality racing gloves, Held recently announced its first winter glove, the Rain Cloud. Made from goatskin and Nyspan backed with a Gore-Tex membrane, the Rain Cloud incorporates leather-covered, hard plastic armor across the knuckles. Abrasion areas are reinforced with Superfabric. Other features include reflective piping and a visor wipe. Precurved fingers and stretch panels give a comfortable fit.

This is Held’s only winter glove, but other gloves for men and women can be found on the company’s website.

Joe Rocket Ladies Sub Zero Glove

Price: $35

Size Range: XS-XL

Colors: Black

Female riders require cold weather gloves, too, and Joe Rocket fulfills that need with the Ladies Sub Zero Glove. Constructed with a wind and waterproof shell then backed with a Dry Tech midliner, the Ladies Sub Zero Glove offers heat retention from its 100-gram Thinsulate insulation. The gloves also have padded knuckles and finger gussets for protection and flexibility. A hook-and-loop wrist closure holds the gloves in place.

Joe Rocket offers five winter gloves, including the Ladies Sub Zero and a heated glove on its website, covering a price range from $35-160.

Olympia Gloves Weatherking Extra Touch

Price: $100

Size Range: S–2XL

Colors: Black

Olympia Gloves gave the Weatherking Extra Touch all the bells and whistles. First, you get the drum-dyed leather with a Gore-Tex liner. The Primaloft Premium Insulation keeps the body heat from leaking away as the brushed tricot lining manages your hands’ moisture. The Touch Enabled Leather on the thumb and index fingers make smartphone use possible. Grip and durability come from the embossed palm and thumb patches, while a silicon gel anti-shock skid pad delivers abrasion resistance plus shock absorption.

Olympia retails 19 winter gloves, ranging in price from $25-100, on its website. Both men’s and women’s sizes are available.

REV’IT Carver H2O

Price: $90

Size Range: XS–3XL

Colors: Black

For riders who want their gauntlets inside of their sleeves, the REV’IT Carver H2O delivers premium features like the connect finger tip for use with touchscreens and 500-denier stretch textile construction backed by EVA foam and hard-shell armor. The Hydratex Z-liner keeps your paws dry while the tri-fleece thermal lining handles the warmth. Goatskin handles the palm protection. Made for city riders, the Carver H2O also includes reflective material for nighttime conspicuity.

REV’IT’s 10 winter gloves include men’s and women’s sizes plus heated gear, ranging in price from $90-190. Visit their website to see more.

RS Taichi RST604 e-HEAT PROTECTION GLOVE

Price: $270

Size Range: S–2XL

Colors: White, Grey, Black, Black/Red (Ladies Black, Black/Red only)

RS Taichi has a reputation for crafting high-end sport and racing gloves, and we were surprised to see how many winter gloves it offers. The RST604 e-Heat Protection Glove delivers warmth via a lithium-polymer battery and a three-level temperature setting for the carbon fiber heating unit. Wrapping the high-tech heat is a leather and textile outer shell lined with a Drymaster waterproof insert. Hands receive hard armor while the gloves’ fingertips are smartphone compatible.

RS Taichi offers eight other winter and heated gloves at its website. Prices range from $70-290.

Spidi Plate Glove

Price: $80

Size Range: S–3XL Colors: Black

As part of Spidi’s extensive line of winter gloves, the Plate Glove gives urban commuter and scooter riders the tapered fit for easy use while still offering waterproofness from the H2Out membrane. The microfleece lining is augmented by 100-gram insulation. Abrasion reinforcement is included on the palm and the side. The back of the hand utilizes padding for knuckle protection. The palm also receives microfiber material.

Spidi offers an amazing selection of 26 men’s and women’s winter gloves, ranging in price from $60-250, which can be viewed at its website.

Tourmaster Winter Elite II MT Glove

Price: $140

Size Range: Mens: XS–2XL Womens: S-L

Colors: Black

The Tourmaster Winter Elite II MT Glove is constructed of water-resistant goatskin and sheepskin leather backed by a HiPora barrier. The mcFit technology liner offers warmth, and the built-in nylon polar cover stores in the zippered gauntlet pocket for extreme cold. As with all quality gloves, the fingers are precurved, and reflective material adds to visibility.

Tourmaster offers five winter and heated gloves on its website. Prices range from $40-220.

Waterproof Winter Gloves Buyer’s Guide appeared first on Motorcycle.com.



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