My gloves are dead – long live the gloves

March 2008 • RRP£129.95

With three winters under their belts, my old Alpinestars GTX gloves finally began to seep in water around the thumb seam on the left hand, just before Christmas. I am the first to admit pleasant surprise that they kept my hands dry for all this time, despite constant, heavy use riding to rallies in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales during this time, as well as France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy. For £79.95 back then, they were
certainly recommended.

And so what to replace them with? What else but another pair of what I hope will be equally successful at keeping my mitts warm and dry, more Alpinestars! Their new Jet Road Gore-Tex Gloves feature a combination of leather and stretch nylon outer construction with a leather palm with suede reinforcements, and then carbon fibre knuckles too.
There’s a Gore-Tex membrane plus insulation and an extended storm cuff gauntlet, with water-resistant zip, to allow for under, or over, the jacket sleeve wearing. Available in black, red and blue in sizes small to 3XL, the suggested retail price is £129.95 and your local dealer should have more info until I report back on them later in the year – so far so good though!
Andy

Alpinestars Jet Road GTX Gloves

Update - January 2008 • RRP £70-80

Since I first got these gloves, around September 2005, both they and I have covered some serious miles. They’ve been to Northern Ireland three times, Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, France as well as all over England, attending numerous scooter rallies and events in all sorts of weather.

Yes, they are a bit hot in the summer and times when space allows I’ve packed a second, lighter pair for such conditions. Nevertheless they have served their time and done so well, impressing both myself and others along the way.

In conditions where you’d think everything would leak they’ve somehow kept my hands dry until that fateful moment when you have to remove them to extract your wallet at a petrol station and your hands remain damp forever after.

I really am impressed though and despite the final part of my report being that on the return from Ireland in September of 2007 they finally started to let in rain around the left thumb (I put it down to heavy handed gear changing!), I would get another pair tomorrow.

They’ve been slightly updated since I first put them on, but the Alpinestars Jet Road GTX Gloves are still available in black, still boast the Goretex waterproof and breathable membrane, and while some may consider a retail price of £70 to £80 a bit excessive, if you do the miles then you may want to rethink that.
Visit your local Alpinestars dealer or www.alpinestars.com for info.
Andy

Review - Summer 2006

I first used these gloves in September of last year for a trip to Northern Ireland, ideal I suppose when it comes to testing waterproof apparel. Since then they’ve survived a British winter as my glove of choice for everyday use, and this year they’ve experienced torrential downpours in Belgium, France, Italy and the UK. I am, however, proud and a little surprised it must be said to announce that they are still proving waterproof. Yes, you read it right, these gloves are still waterproof!

Take a recent rally to Imola (watching the World Cup final in Italy was pretty spectacular by the way!). On the way there on Friday a sudden storm had the roads flooding. My hands, however, remained dry inside the gloves. Yes they’re still a little tight so maybe I should have gone for a bigger size – that would certainly have made them easier to put on, especially in ‘close’ sweaty conditions, despite their Goretex features, but nevertheless, they are still doing what they said on the tin, keeping the water out. Add to this the double Velcro fasteners, moulded knuckles, reflective strips and leather palms and they’re pretty protective, too. This all comes at a price of course, and with an RRP of £79.95 for a pair of Alpinestars Jet Road GTX Gloves they’re not the cheapest out there, but 10 months on they certainly appear to be doing the job.

Visit your local Alpinestars dealer or www.alpinestars.com for info.

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Alpinestars SR-3 Drystar Gloves

Review - December 2007

Following on from last month’s review of a ‘ladies’ fit’ Stella Vista jacket by Alpinestars, again it’s nice to get some gloves that fit and don’t have space for really long nails! And as with the jacket, Alpinestars have come up trumps with gloves that have proved to be waterproof. They are really light and breathable with a nylon outer shell to keep off the rain and a suede palm. The only issue I have with these is that you have to be really careful taking these off or the inside liner can come away from the outer shell. Otherwise a really good mid price glove.
AM
The SR3 Drystar Gloves retail at £34.95 and are available from all Alpinestars stockists. www.alpinestars.com

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