Cortech Adrenaline
Price $99.99
Cortech's Adrenaline glove uses goatskin for the back portion of the glove and kangaroo skin for the palm and grip area of the fingers. Injection-molded polyurethane plastic armor protects the knuckles, while thermoplastic rubber is utilized to shield the fingers and gauntlet area. The palm and finger tailoring is precurved to improve comfort and dexterity, with a soft brushed-fleece liner adding to the cozy feel. An antislip silicone panel assists grip in the palm, and the dual-cuff gauntlet plus 360-degree, full-circumference wrist-closure strap assure that the glove stays put in the event of a fall.
For a midpriced glove, the Adrenaline scored high in all categories with nearly every tester, with excellent comfort heading the list. All of our different-sized testers reported superb fit as well, with only the extralarge size noting a slight tightness in the palm and knuckles. Some of our staff have extensive experience with the Adrenaline and note that they tend to stretch with time, so you might want to try your normal size even if it feels a little snug. Overall quality and construction are very good, especially for a glove at this Price point.
Held Phantom
Price $279.95
Constructed from abrasion-resistant and sweatproof kangaroo leather, the Held Phantom glove uses a glass-fiber composite shell for knuckle protection, along with highly abrasion-resistant rayskin underlaid with a shock-absorbing gel in the side of the hand and fingers. The ring and little fingers also receive additional Kevlar padding. Shock-absorbing Suprotect foam lines the back of the hand, thumb and outer portion of the long gauntlet to protect the wrist area. Special flat-seam construction keeps the seams from being exposed to impact and possibly bursting, while also keeping them away from the rider's skin for comfort. A hook-and-loop-fastened wrist strap and gauntlet cuff ensure snug placement on the hand.
Most of our testers found the tailoring of the Phantom's fingers to be a bit long, but the rest of the glove tended to fit nicely. Abundant impact protection is evident on the back and sides, yet control feel is excellent through the relatively thin material on the palm and fingers. Despite the heavy protection, the Phantom remains flexible without any palm bunching or finger seams irritating the wearer. Overall build quality is top-notch with good attention to detail.
Dainese Full Metal Racer
Price $299.00
Dainese has a long and storied reputation in Grand Prix roadacing, and the Full Metal Racer glove reflects the latest development input from two of the world's top MotoGP racers: the omnipotent Valentino Rossi and multitime world champion Dani Pedrosa. Constructed from high-quality cowhide leather, the Full Metal Racer features new-design titanium knuckle/back-of-hand protection, along with carbon/Kevlar armor throughout the fingers and rest of the hand. Soft armor inserts and a goatskin reinforcement layer protect the palm, while a Kevlar heat-resistant lining on the back of the hand shields that area. A unique Distortion Control System on the little finger prevents digit rollover and accompanying twisting injuries.
The Full Metal Racer is easily the most expensive glove in this group, but it was also the only glove that universally scored top marks across the board. Fit and comfort were both rated very highly in all sizes, with unrivaled feel at the controls, yet there is protection in all the right areas without being overdone. Superb overall finish and quality are evident everywhere, and the glove is easily the lightest in this group-it's pretty obvious that you get what you pay for with this one.
Dainese Hellracer
Price $139.00
Constructed from premium cowhide leather with a Kevlar fabric liner, the Hellracer has composite multilayer Kevlar/carbon-fiber inserts on the knuckles and fingers for impact protection, along with multiple thermoplastic resin and carbon inserts backed by foam padding in other areas. Goatskin palm reinforcement ensures abrasion resistance, while elastic inserts allow freedom of movement in the most mobile portions of the hand. A hook-and-loop-fastened wrist strap and cuff flap ensure that the Hellracer stays on the rider's hand.
The Hellracer is a definite step down from the Full Metal Racer, with fewer protective features and a perceptible drop in tailoring detail. Some testers felt the ring and little fingers to be a little stiff, with the seams becoming somewhat obtrusive when grasping the bars, while others thought the fingers were a bit too long in their sizing. For the most part, however, overall comfort scored well. Build quality certainly isn't up to par with the Full Metal Racer, with some seams and other portions of the Hellracer not reflecting the same attention to detail-although considering the Price difference, that could be expected.
Helimot F-108
Price $209.95
Intended as a warm-weather glove, the Helimot F-108 sports kangaroo leather in the palm and grip areas of the fingers and similarly employs an additional layer lined with foam padding in the heel of the palm and grip portion of the thumb. Unlike the H-20, however, the back of the F-108 consists of a combination Kevlar/lycra fabric that is claimed to be very strong and abrasion-resistant, while breathable enough to keep the rider's hands cool. The same style of tandem-foam impact protection is used in the knuckles and fingers.
As with the H-20, many testers felt the F-108's finger tailoring was too long, although we noticed that the tips of the fingers get narrower to keep a snug fit. On a couple of medium-size hands, the wrist strap didn't have enough adjustment to keep the glove from sliding off. Overall comfort was rated highly, slightly better than the H-20. The same wishes for a bit more protection in the fingers and side of the hand were raised with the F-108, but the high-quality build is also the same as the H-20.