Alpinestars GPX Glove Review

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After the helmet, the next piece of gear that must fit well for protection and comfort is a pair of gloves. With so many choices available to choose from it’s always a crapshoot whether or not your newly selected hand protection is going to be a good fit, especially if you scrimp on the price. So that's why I’ve always selected my gloves like my helmet; walk past all the cheap stuff and reach for the top shelf goods, and there is no denying Alpinestars is on that shelf.

A few weeks ago a box from A-stars showed up with a new Alpinestars GP-R Leather Perforated Jacket to test along with a matching pair GPX Gloves. Reviewing a jacket takes some time for me, but I can tell you in just a few days of riding how a glove performs. So stay tuned for my thoughts on the jacket, but right now let’s get into how this short-cuffed glove performs.

The GPX resembles Alpinestars full-on race offerings, the GP Pro and GP Plus glove, and shares some of the same technical features. The most obvious of these is A-stars’ thermoplastic polyurethane knuckle protection system. These plastic knuckle covers are not only cool looking, but are cool literally. Built into the covers are small air scoops that help keep the top of the hand cool in warm weather. As the weather has begun to heat up in Southern California, these vents are a welcome feature on the GPX. They may not be the best for cold weather, but all the other perforated leather sections on the cuff and palm signal this glove is for temperate climates.

The padding on the palm of the GPX Glove is not too bulky, upping the comfort level on warm days.

For street duty a short cuff is the way to go in my book. There is less to fasten, making putting them on less of an ordeal. Another strong argument for a short cuff for an everyday glove is big watches. I like to take a look at my watch from time to time while riding and pulling a cuff down to take a look at the time is distracting and basically a pain. Granted, the protection from a shorter cuff is less than a full gauntlet, however the GPX still covers the outside of the wrist with another dollop of PU plastic. A Velcro wrist closure holds the whole enchilada in place if things go bad.

The fit of the GPX is spot on and comfortable thanks to the pre-curved fingers. After hours of riding in warm weather the GPX never bunched up in the palm or fingers. Sometimes gloves with internal finger stitches can be uncomfortable with the seams rubbing on your digits, but not so on these gloves. You hardly even know the stitching is in there. Another racing feature on these gloves is the conjoined ring and pinky finger, which takes a little getting used to but is a smart design to keep your small finger intact if you go down. The palm profile is nice and thin without too much padding allowing a very solid feel.

The GPX is now the first set of gloves I reach for when I head out for a street ride thanks to the great fit. A great fitting glove is worth its weight in gold, so at $119.95 the Alpinestars GPX Gloves are a smoking deal.

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Source : http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/