Olympia Kevlar Race Throttle
Price $59.95
Made of premium drum-dyed cowhide, the Olympia Kevlar Race Throttle glove features flexible molded knuckle and finger protection that is fastened underneath the leather for a less flashy appearance. An additional leather layer with Kevlar reinforcement bolsters the heel of the palm, along with another layer in the grip area and the outside of the little finger. Hook-and-loop-adjustable wrist strap and gauntlet cuff allow a snug fit.
The Kevlar Race Throttle scored low in the fit category on all testers' evaluation sheets. Tailoring was very loose in all sizes, and not only would the armor sometimes hang up on the rider's fingers when he put the glove on, but some of it was located in the wrong areas. The lack of precurved fingers results in material bunching up when grasping the bars, and the thick leather dulls control feel significantly. Overall quality is OK, but not much more than that.
Rev'it! Zenith
Price $99.99
Manufactured using Karvin cowhide leather on the back with goatskin in the palm and grip areas of the fingers, the Rev'It! Zenith features carbon hard-shell knuckle protection covered with goatskin and polyurethane hard-shell covers for the fingers. The heel of the palm sports an additional layer of goatskin with a silicon-injected protector and Schoeller Keprotec fabric reinforcement. The outer portion of the little finger features highly abrasion-resistant SuperFabric, while the inner tips of the index and middle finger have Pittards Digital grip pads for better control at the levers. A nonpadded tri-fleece liner eases entry and exit.
Overall fit and comfort were rated middle-of-the-road, with some smaller hands noting that the fingers were too tight and long despite moving up a size; some also felt the finger seams were obtrusive, with a general restrictive feel to the glove. With the lower Price comes decreased protection, although most felt it was adequate for the Zenith's intentions. Quality and finish were also rated average, which isn't that damning considering the price.
RS Taichi GP WRX
Price $159.95
The RS Taichi GP WRX glove features genuine cowhide leather in the majority of its construction, with Clarino synthetic-leather material in various outer portions. The carbon-fiber knuckle protection rides in an articulating section to allow freedom of movement, with additional carbon-shell protection in the fingers and heel of the palm. Shock-absorbent EVA foam padding is placed in the wrist, knuckles and fingers, with anatomical precurved tailoring. Schoeller Keprotec fabric is used in the little finger protection for added abrasion and tear resistance, in addition to a finger-seam design that reduces the risk of tearing or bursting. Perforations in the back of the hand and the finger gussets allow cooling airflow.
The GP WRX received top marks across the board for fit, comfort and quality. Some felt the snug fit required a little work to get the glove on their hand, but once slipped on there were no complaints or issues with overall fitment. The supple leather and precurved tailoring allow easy movement and excellent control feel, and while not the most comfortable glove in this group, the GP WRX is right up there near the top.
RS Taichi Armed High Protection Leather
Price $89.95
We made a slight mistake when we requested this glove, thinking it had more of a gauntlet. Nevertheless, the Armed High Protection Leather glove's construction (mostly leather, as its name suggests) provides a surprising amount of protection for a "shorty" glove. Individual carbon-fiber protector shells in the knuckles, fingers and heel of the palm ward off impact, while an extension of the palm's carbon armor piece covers the wrist area, a nice touch. Stretch Cordura at the base of the fingers in addition to articulating armor panels allows unhindered movement.
Despite its short gauntlet style, the Armed High Protection Leather glove garnered high marks for fit and comfort, with similar top grades for quality. Most testers felt that it was basically a shortened version of the GP WRX glove in overall feel, and its wrist strap is comfortable yet strong enough to keep the glove fastened to the rider's hand. While we're not big fans of shorty gloves, if we had to pick one this would definitely be a good choice.
Shift Vertex
Price $129.95
A relatively new addition to Shift's ever-expanding lineup of pavement gear, the Vertex glove features genuine cowhide-leather construction with a composite-reinforced shell for knuckle protection, along with finger guards that have vents on the first three fingers. "Premium leather" is used in the palm and grip area of the fingers, with an additional layer backed by padding and a full Kevlar liner throughout for even more abrasion resistance. The now-common open-back design for the knuckle protector allows easy movement without restriction or binding. Perforated panels permit airflow for added comfort, and the long gauntlet sports padding for extra protection.
The Vertex scored high across the board in the comfort category, with nearly all sizes of testers' evaluation sheets posting positive remarks. Fit was a bit of an issue, however, with about half of the testers saying the finger tailoring was too long, and there were a couple of complaints about bunching in the palm when grasping the bars and the wrist strap restricting movement. Overall sense of protection with the Vertex is good, although the back of the hand behind the knuckle protector feels a bit vulnerable. Quality was rated very good, especially for a glove at this Price point.