Mountain Biking - Boobs!! Beers! Cliff Hucks!!! Backflips!!

Now that I got your attention, I need some insight about gloves:

Do any of you guys use carbon fiber knuckled DH/Freeride gloves?

What do you have?
How well do they breathe?
How is the stitching on the inside?
How's the padding/stitching on the underside of the armored knuckles?
How bout padding on the palm?

I've been eying these (yea I know they are moto gloves, and quite possibly overkill, but pavement hurts, people suck, and cars aren't soft, even the mirrors).......http://www.newenough.com/street/gloves/street_short_cuff/alpinestars/smx2_air_carbon_motorcycle_gloves.html


I'm worried they aren't going to breathe well enough, specifically concerned with the palm, and that they won't get worn enough to justify $60+. Although I have read good things about them being super comfy in regards to the fit, the stitching inside and the padding under the knuckle plate (as well as being highly breathable from a moto perspective, there is a vent integrated into the knuckle plate I think)

I'm basically looking to get some better protection for heavy traffic commuting, cooler days/nights, and spring/fall, not for serious hard mileage (all street). But I hate that stinky glove smell on my hands, so I'm considering all armored options; moto and DH/FR.

Insights?

:lol:

can anyone help me make the hyperlink work? Computers and me are like laxatives and binge drinking, don't go well together

got the link up...
now BUMP BUMP and tell me about some armored gloves, oh wait its st pattys day, I can wait till tomorrow if need be...happy drinking folks

I've tried the Fox Unabomber, and the Dakine Defender.

The Fox vented well, but wasn't super comfy. Shredded very quickly - the stitching sucks, and the layout of the palm was not good at all - big stitching lines in bad spots. Granted, this was an older version. Maybe different now. I've hear the Bomber version, with full knuckle guard is similar - and that the knuckle guard bits don't stay sewn in very well.

The Dakine was much, much more comfortable in every way - but the carbon bits on the sides that wrap around onto the heel of the hand split open and come unstiched very quickly. I've tried three pair, because they are so damn comfy, and they have all done the same in less than a month. The problem is I ride way on the outside of my bars, and the clamps of my lock on grips hit right there. That ends up destroying most gloves quicker than normal.

I have a pair of Rockgardn carbon knuckle gloves - and they rock. Very beefy, very comfortable. Downside is they are hot and heavy. I only use them for lift days.

My favorite "daily driver" glove is the Fox Dirtpaw, though the current pair is slowly dying off. Light, comfy, seems durable, and has decent protection. Have a pair of Rockgardn M-theory gloves that I've had a few rides on - they are working well, and comfy so far.

This was, by far, the biggest let down of the day. Good thread. :P

Thanks for the info scrublover.

Oh yea and sorry to anyone I tricked by such tempting and awesome words. If i find a video that includes all that, I'll attempt to post it up as compensation for your sorrows.

I use carbon fiber boobs on my hands.







Gen 1 RockGardn's. I used them for XC riding. No shizzle, dizzle. They fell apart with my XC core shredmastah flyin' monkey crack-driven lap times.

I hear the Gen 2 is better...can't recommend the Gen 1's though.

Not thrilled with Fox. Which is strange as I like all their other gloves.

661s are a bit more comfy.

Maybe I have oddly-shaped knuckles.

I had the first-gen 661 Cedric Gracia gloves and they were fine. They were not hot; they actually had pretty fair ventilation. The only problem I had was 661 gloves run small for their designated sizes; so my fingers ran into the ends of Larges. I gave them to my daughter-in-law who is now rockin' 'em on her runs down Galbraith.

CK-1s are their successor.

I had the first-gen 661 Cedric Gracia gloves and they were fine. They were not hot; they actually had pretty fair ventilation. The only problem I had was 661 gloves run small for their designated sizes; so my fingers ran into the ends of Larges. I gave them to my daughter-in-law who is now rockin' 'em on her runs down Galbraith.

CK-1s are their successor.

Have 1st gen 661 Cedric Gracias in my posession still.

.........dang.