Alpinestars GP Pro Gloves

LONGTERMERS BIKEWEAR REVIEW


Words by: Gordon Compton

Pictures by: Becci Russell


An ugly handed persons best friend. The GP PRO makes your hands feel absolutely fantastic, despite looking sinister. Lightweight, well ventilated, ultra sensitive, can a glove feel or look better than this? Now all I need is a crash helmet that can do the same for my face....

Alpinestars GP Pro Gloves

SRP: £139.96

Mileage so far: 5000


The GP PRO is at the top of the road and race glove range for Alpinestars, and is the pinnacle of development so far for glove technology. It is race tested and proven, and despite this is still a practical summer glove, although the price tag might make most people think twice before parting with hard cash.

What sets this glove apart from anything else before it is the combination of tried and trusted ideas combined with new design and material solutions to create a new evolution of the humble glove.

For a while now Alpinestars have looked more and more closely at bike wear at competition level, to the extent that actual top end riders have telemetry systems in their suits linking data from their bodies and clothing. It is this data that has determined all aspects of how every part of their outfits have developed, whether it is durability in a shunt, ventilation, aerodynamics, comfort in use etc.

The GP PRO glove is a good example of the fruit of this extensive research and development through the sport, as it utilises the latest design and materials, offering maximum protection and user comfort for the discerning sports bike rider.

Details darhlings, details.... and these gloves are full of them, even down to the model name printed on the palm so you can't forget what you're wearing. Alpinestars mission: one goal, one vision, er, quite.


The bulk of the gloves construction is 0.8mm cow hide, perforated in most areas, with external finger seams to afford more comfort to the rider, and avoiding bunching or pressure points developing in the fingertips which is uncomfortable, and distracting. The fingers are pre-curved, which according to Alpinestars provides additional comfort, prevents fatigue, and assists grip. The knuckle areas have bellow type stretch panels to aid movement, whilst above the knuckle are polyurethane pointed studs to provide clearance and abrasion protection in the event of a slide. All the lower areas of the fingers are plated with extra leather and vertical micro injected polyurethane ribs.


Its coming to getcha! The GP Pro has a natural curvature to the fingers, which means that the gloves have a comfortable relaxed feel, as well as being claimed by Alpinestars to help reduce fatigue and increase grip.


The third and fourth fingers are linked together to stop finger roll over and possible dislocation of the little finger, whilst a clever idea it does limit articulation, for example 3 finger braking or clutch control. This in itself does make the gloves feel a little alien when on for the first time, and feel more inhibitive than the Dainese Distortion Control Panel (DCP) system, which in effect is a similar idea. The Dainese system does however protect the knuckle joints directly, whereas the Alpinestars system does try to protect the little finger along it's whole length, hence the lack of movement in comparison between the two systems.


Visually, the most striking thing about these gloves is the polyurethane knuckle protection which is pronounced to include a series of air intakes to effectively ventilate the hand in hot weather. Despite looking very substantial, they do not detract from the comfort of the glove when being worn, regardless of the angle of the hand. The cuff of the glove is covered with polyurethane from the inside edge of the wrist and wraps around the top outside edge providing hard protection against abrasion for the wrist. This is one of the things that can be a pain, as this has to be held open to be able to get the hand into the glove, but it is a minor gripe.


Below the wrist cuff is a adjustable Velcro strap that helps to stop the glove coming away from the hand in the event of a slide. To provide additional protection there is a pair of leather flaps that cover over the wrist strap, lessening the chances of the strap coming undone through a slide.


The palm however is a weak spot, as there is no obvious amour or protection provided, this is to keep the thickness of the palm down, thus keeping the sensitivity of the riders hand to a maximum. As this is a product direct from racing, most racers “know” how to crash, so hands out landings are a no no for them, although it is a possibility on the road, and something worth bearing in mind with these gloves.

The sides of the palms however are reinforced and have micro injected polyurethane inserts to provide hard protection to the outside edges of the hand.

The glove has a cut and tailoring which is meant for bikes with clip on handlebars, but will articulate comfortably when riding bikes with flat traditional bars, although do feel odd at first, as the cuff will interfere initially with the wrist angle.

Something else that feels odd with these gloves at first is the minimalist Kevlar cloth lining which makes you feel like you are wearing a pair of gardeners gloves, but this material is used to wick away moisture from the hand on hot days.

Despite the initial feel of these gloves, they soon break in and become quite literally, a second skin, leaving you to dread the next impending winter, and the bulky isolated feel of winter gloves.



CONCLUSION


It would be very easy to see these gloves in a shop, look at the price label, smirk, then walk away. As being something to look at and feel, it just doesn't seem like something that should command such a price, and get away with it.

Looking at the facts though confirm that the price is dictated as a product derived directly from top level motor sport, so utilises the latest design and material technologies to guarantee the best possible product. This is why when the next time the Moto GP is on the telly, have a close look at what some of the riders are wearing, then look again, then it all starts to make sense.

My personal problem with this design though is the apparent lack of palm protection, which is really the trade-off for control sensitivity.

Other minor gripes are the hard protection around the top of the wrist, which has to be held out the way so the hand can go into the glove, which is also narrow.

Undoubtedly, these aren't the only top fight level gloves on the market, but with Alpinestars devoted research and development working continuously with motor sport, the design has to also undergo continual development too. This in turn guarantees the highest quality, design and safety in each product, and the GP PRO is no exception of this fact.

Less can be more, and these gloves are a real case in point.

Dainese M25 Gloves

LONGTERMERS BIKEWEAR REVIEW


Words by Gordon Compton

Photos by Becci Russell


Dainese M25 D-Dry Gloves


Contact: www.dainese.com

RRP £119.99

Date Purchased: October 2008

Mileage so far: 3000.


Winter gloves can always be a pain in the backside, frankly. Most easily available types of winter glove usually feel too bulky, making the feel of the switchgear feel awkward and clumsy. Also the lack of any sort of armour, which is surprising, considering the dodgy sorts of weather and road conditions bikers have to endure during the winter months. To top this off, getting the gloves on and off can be a challenge, as the linings are never sewn into the outer fingertips, meaning the lining gets stuck to the fingers, and consequently pulls out when the gloves are removed, and then become a pigs ear to get back on again.


This is where these gloves come into play.


The M25 is still a relatively new product to the Dainese glove range, being launched at the end of last summer, and boasts all of the general basic prerequisites, a strong, well stitched good quality leather outer structure, long cuffs, and a reasonably well insulated lining.


However, it’s the detail that makes these gloves stand out. The M25’s have benefited from some real thought about their intended use, and have set about deviating from the normal winter/touring glove design.


Firstly, the outer has the benefit of their trademark Titanium knuckle protectors, and the DCP “Distortion Control Panel”, which effectively links the fourth and third finger together, which prevents finger dislocation in the event of a bad fall. Both of the above features are usually found on more expensive race gloves, but have been well integrated, and do not detract from the general comfort or feel of the glove when being worn. The only exception to this are for riders who have the preference of operating the brake or clutch levers three fingered, then the little finger has to follow the position of the third finger which may feel un-natural.



Detailed shot showing the trademark Dainese Titanium knuckle protectors, and the “Distortion Control Panel” linking the third and fourth fingers together.


In addition to the usual adjustable cuff strap, there is a small waterproof YKK zipper which, (when zipped up) effectively seals the glove to the jacket cuff, to prevent rainwater entering the glove itself. Also, just below the cuff section, a small adjustable wrist strap, which is there to minimise the eventuality of the glove ever coming away from the rider’s hand in an accident.

The rest of the gloves outer, features a well padded leather palm, with a hard armoured outer palm edge made from nylon, for extra protection if the hands lay out flat in a fall. There is Cordura paneling within the exposed flexible areas such as the upper fingers and thumb to allow better flexibility, and long term durability.


The M25 really is an easily adjustable glove, and thanks to this, will fit pretty much most if not any kind of jacket cuff, making it a very snug fit. The side of the thumbs have also been thoughtfully left as plain leather, so they can be used effectively as a handy squeegee for clearing the helmet visor in bad conditions.

I personally have Hobbit hands (small for a man), and find that only having the closest fit possible will do, mainly for sensitivity/feel. This however in turn, can create problems for winter gloves, mainly with the insulation becoming compressed in the ends of the fingers, leading to cold fingertips on longer rides.

To get around this, I opted for one size bigger than my normal sizing, (with trepidation), and found the lining took my shape after a couple of rides, and remained fairly well insulted, without a major difference in sensitivity - result! As for the lining, Dainese have used their exclusive D-Dry technology, which is, in use, a waterproof, breathable, and durable material, like Gore Tex, but has a slightly lower specification, which keeps the cost of the garment reasonable. This frankly is not noticeable in use, and my hands have never once got damp or wet, which is not always the case with winter gloves once they have been in wet weather over a period of time.


Something that is evident from the first look over the M25’s is the high level of finishing, even down to the smallest part.

It should be mentioned that the linings are NOT sewn in, like most other winter gloves, but due to their shape taking properties, seem fairly happy staying put when (carefully) taking the gloves off. The main reason for not sewing the lining into the fingertips, is to allow the outer glove to remain waterproof, and minimise the event of having water drive in through the sewn glove exterior.



The lining does also lend itself to be a pain, if the riders hands get wet before putting on the glove, so putting them on dry is essential, as with other winter gloves.

Well, that’s one winter nearly out of the way, when’s the next one? With a pair of these, the cold and the wet is really not such a problem anymore. As for the insulation, Dainese have used a material called Microloft, which is basically synthetic fibres of varying thickness to create trapped air pockets, which in turn trap the heat from the riders hands. All I can say is, this is one of the best pairs of insulated gloves I have ever worn.


CONCLUSION

At £120, they are not the cheapest gloves on the market, however, considering the technology and forethought applied to them as a product, these really do take some beating. The addition of armour, effective waterproofing and good quality insulation in a carefully thought out design, mean you have a comfortable, warm, dry, and good looking, un-bulky glove that will see use for a good few winters. (That is providing they are looked after during the winter months, and when they’re out of use during the summer months, as they are still essentially leather gloves.) The only minor downside as such, is they do lack some feel on the fingers and thumb, but really due to the sizing chosen and the insulation adding some thickness. However, that is something that will always be a bugbear with this type of glove, that is, unless you are happy having cold hands!