Bike Stop's Best Summer Gloves 2020
Sometimes it can be quite hard to recommend full-on summer gear to UK bikers – not so this year! We’ve been having minimal rain and a decent amount of sun that’s ideal for digging that vented gear out to enjoy sticky roads and clear blue skies.
This week we’re going to take a look at a few of the gloves we have on offer in case you’re in the market for a new pair – maybe you’ve not felt summer gloves necessary before or you’ve an older pair that has got a bit wiffy or are wearing out.
First up, we’re going to look at Halvarssons’ offering – the so-called Supreme. If you’re in the market for a short-cuffed glove this is one to check out; featuring a tough yet supple goatskin outer, Hi-ART abrasion resistant reinforcement and solid PU knuckles. Coming in at £69.99 they’re a good price for a good feature set from a solid brand that’s sometimes a bit hard to get hold of in the UK.
Taking things up to 11, no summer glove list would be complete without looking at Knox’s super-duper Handroid gloves, now in the fourth iteration. Featuring unique exo-skeleton armour for impact and abrasion protection – unlike usual knuckle armour the exo-skeleton slides over the knuckles making the glove more supple than conventionally armoured gloves, and it looks really cool! Another feature that Knox have integrated into this glove and others is their Boa closure system – this ratchet-based cable system means you can do up your glove with speed and ease with only a couple of twists. Combine this with effective scaphoid protection and super tough kangaroo leather and specially selected Korean leather this is truly one of the best summer gloves you can buy for sheer crash protection. Of course, you will pay for this level of tech, but if you want one of the best, most striking gloves around then the current price of £218.49 might well be justifiable.
Moving back down to more normal territory and looking at a glove comparable to the aforementioned Supreme, Dainese of course have a massive range of gloves on offer for every use-case, however the Mig C2 could be the ideal summer glove – not too expensive, but offering style, comfort and solid protection. Going for £75.95 the combination of cowhide and mesh inserts are ideal for keeping your hands from becoming a sweaty mess. Add a solid PU knuckle and this glove offers all you need for decent protection on a summer blast.
If you want something a little less traditional then the D-Explorer 2 could be right up your alley too - taking the same form factor but applying some more unusual touches such as implementing mesh across the entire top of the glove (except the knuckle of course) and including Smart Touch to allow you to use a touchscreen without taking off your gloves. At £80.70 they're only a shade more expensive than the Mig C2 - so you've a choice between traditional Italian style or something a little more modern.
Heading back into more traditional ‘race’ glove territory with Alpinestars and their SP-1 V2. More affordable than the Handroid at £123.49 the feature set is still extremely solid and makes use of more conventional methods. PU reinforcement on the knuckles and palm take care of armour and some abrasion protection while a full cowhide outer takes care of the rest of the abrasion protection. Neat features such as a finger bridge preventing your outer fingers from separating during a crash alongside synthetic suede and aramid fibre reinforcements in key impact zones.
It's not only Dainese pushing the envelope with making gloves look different; Rev'it and their Sand 3 gloves have created a truly unique looking garment. Flexible knuckles and extensive use of mesh and stretch panels give that look while providing great impact protection and ventilation, and a goatskin palm gives a supple feel with excellent abrasion protection. These are aimed at all types of riding - be that adventure or road and at £84.99 they could be ideal if you like to spend time both on and offroad in the summer.
Much like the Knox taking the top spot, no summer glove list would be complete without including the budget kings RST. The Delta III is only £49.99 yet features all you need for solid, sporty summer glove – a carbon-kevlar protection on the knuckle and a full goatskin outer offering supple yet tough abrasion protection.
The Bike Stop shop in Stevenage has reopened in accordance with the latest Government guidelines, and we're open for 7 days a week. Our online shop is also still alive and well and taking orders. We’re even doing a 10% off promotion – just enter the code ‘TOGETHER’ at checkout. You can check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £50 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365 day period – see our returns page for more details.
