‘Waterproof’ gloves

Wet weather gear test 2008, part 1

If it ever rains again, will your hands stay dry? We find out

As far as I know we’re still the only magazine in this country to put allegedly waterproof gloves to the test. Technology and models change, so we thought it was probably time to do it again – but this time we added boots ‘n’ suits. You’ll read about those in the next issue in, predictably enough, part 2.

The samples submitted for this gloves test come in three quite distinct price classes, well over $100, $100 and under $100. Generally speaking, the more you pay the more protection and comfort you get – which is what you would expect. Is it the same with effective waterproofing?
When we last tested “waterproof” gloves, we were surprised how many were nothing of the kind. This time? Well, read on.

Here’s a quick reality check first. Keep in mind that we tested a single pair of gloves in each case. If they leaked, that does not mean all of them will leak; if they stayed watertight that does not mean all will be the same, either. But this is the best guide you’re going to get, because unlike some magazine “buyers” guides’, we actually tested the gloves.

Here is an alphabetical listing. We’ve given you the recommended retail price and a short description. Except for the waterproofing membrane, we have not listed the actual materials used in the gloves; it gets too confusing, frankly, with different names for very similar materials.

Hands on
We tested the gloves by putting them on and dipping our hands into a bucket of cold water. Cold, so we’d know immediately if any of it got through. Yes, we know that this does not duplicate their actual use (we get a lot closer to real use when we test the suits, next issue). But we reckon that any gloves that were still waterproof after 2½ minutes of immersion (longer than that was boring and seemed pointless, although we did do it with several pairs) would stay waterproof on the bike.

Please note that the converse conceivably might not be true; it may be that gloves that can’t handle immersion can stay waterproof when worn in the rain. It seems unlikely, but (we guess) it is possible. At any rate, it seemed unlikely enough for us to be quite happy to trust this test.
Waterproofing is not everything. For fastening, motorcycle gloves need at least an effective wrist strap. All of these gloves had that, in the form of one or two hook-and-loop (what we used to call Velcro before we were told not to) straps. Without something like this, it is all too likely that the gloves would come off when you really needed them – in a high-speed crash. We’ve seen it happen. In addition, some of the gloves have drawstrings on the cuffs. These are a great idea to stop water running down inside the cuff. The Dainese gloves use a double cuff to get the same effect.

We’ve also commented on the protective features of the gloves. Obviously we can’t tell you how effective they are in a crash, but at least this way you know what’s been built in.

Okay, here we go:

BMW ProWinter2
Price: $180
Distributor: BMW Motorrad Australia
Material: Leather/textile; thermal insulation including an aluminium layer; breathable, wind and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. Reflective stripes. Silicone grip strips in palm.
Protectors: Protective foam on knuckles and fingertips. No hard protectors.
Fastening: Hook-and-loop wrist strap, drawstring on cuff.
Comfort: Outstanding, with pre-curved fingers and soft padding.
Sizes: 6/6½ – 12/12½
Made in: Vietnam
Features: Palm is hydrophobic goat leather; visor wiper on thumb; extra-length cuffs to fit over jacket sleeves.
Waterproof: Yes.
Verdict: Seriously stylish but still practical and comfortable gloves, although they lack hard protectors.

Dainese Jerico-R Gore-Tex
Price: $229.95
Distributor: Monza Imports
Material: Leather/textile; thermal lining; breathable, wind and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. “Softgrip” panels in palm.
Protectors: Thermoformed (hard) composite protective inserts under outer shell on knuckles and fingers.
Fastening: Hook-and-loop wrist strap, waterproof zip on cuff.
Comfort: Outstanding, with plush-feel lining.
Sizes: Men’s XS-XXL
Made in: Vietnam
Features: Clever double cuff means that the gloves are both inside and outside your jacket sleeve. Elasticised inserts for proper fit.
Waterproof: Yes
Verdict: The gloves look great and feel even better and they have everything you could want. It doesn’t get any better than this, which is what you’d expect for the money.

Dririder Adventure WP
Price: $99.95
Distributor: McLeod Accessories
Material: Leather/textile; thermal lining; waterproof and breathable Hipora lining; kevlar reinforced palm; reflective stripes.
Protectors: Carbon and foam knuckle protectors, closed cell “Air” protector.
Fastening: Hook-and-loop wrist strap, drawstring on cuff.
Comfort: Very good.
Made in: Pakistan
Features: Rubber visor swipe. Suede section between thumb and forefinger.
Waterproof: Yes
Verdict: Good-looking and well priced.

Dririder Storm WP
Price: $99.95
Distributor: McLeod Accessories
Material: Leather/textile; thermal lining; waterproof and breathable Hipora lining; Kevlar reinforced palm; reflective stripes.
Protectors: Carbon, stretch-rib and foam knuckle and palm protectors.
Fastening: Two hook-and-loop wrist straps.
Comfort: Good. Seams feel a little intrusive in fingers.
Made in: Pakistan
Features: Rubber visor swipe. Grippy inserts in palm.
Waterproof: No. Both gloves leaked immediately at the fingertips.
Verdict: Look a little fussy, but they’re well equipped and well priced, it’s a shame they leak.

Ixon Pro Warrior
Price: $64.95
Distributor: Ficeda Imports
Material: Leather/textile; Waterguard wind and waterproof insert.
Protectors: None.
Fastening: Hook-and-loop wrist strap.
Comfort: Good, although the gloves feel rather shapeless.
Sizes: XS – 3XL
Made in: China
Features: None.
Waterproof: Not quite. The left glove developed a small leak on the side of the index finger after about a minute.
Verdict: Basic and offering limited protection and waterproofing, but good at the price.

MotoDry Aspen 2
Price: $59.95
Distributor: Moto National Accessories
Material: Leather/textile; thermal lining; waterproof and breathable Hipora lining; kevlar reinforced palm; reflective stripes.
Protectors: Foam knuckle panels.
Fastening: Two hook-and-loop wrist straps.
Comfort: Very good, but feel thin.
Sizes: Men S – 3XL, Ladies S – L
Made in: Pakistan
Features: Suede visor wipe.
Waterproof: No. Immediate leak on the middle finger of the left glove, followed by all the other fingers on that hand and then the back of the right glove
Verdict: These are good value for money but they leak.

MotoDry Black Ice
Price: $74.95
Distributor: Moto National Accessories
Material: Leather/textile; thermal lining; waterproof and breathable Hipora lining; “carbon leather” reinforced palm.
Protectors: Carbon knuckle panel foam and ribbed leather.
Fastening: Two hook-and-loop wrist straps.
Comfort: Good.
Sizes: XS – 3XL
Made in: Pakistan
Features: Pre-curved fingers. Elaborate finger gussets.
Waterproof: Only on one hand. All the fingertips of the right glove began to leak after half a minute.
Verdict: Pretty good value if you don’t need them for the rain.

MotoDry Tour-Dry
Price: $59.95
Distributor: Moto National Accessories
Material: Leather/textile; waterproof and breathable Hipora lining; Kevlar reinforced palm; reflective stripes.
Protectors: Small foam knuckle panels.
Fastening: Hook-and-loop wrist strap.
Comfort: Good.
Sizes: XS – 2XL
Made in: Pakistan
Features: Suede visor wipe.
Waterproof: Also only on one hand. The index finger on the left glove leaked after half a minute.
Verdict: Also pretty good value if you live somewhere dry. This is a mid-season rather than winter glove.

Triumph Sympatex Expedition
Price: $186.53
Distributor: Triumph Australia
Material: Leather/textile; thermal lining; waterproof and breathable HigH2Out lining; Kevlar reinforced palm; reflective stripes.
Protectors: Hard knuckle and ribbed leather panels; Kevlar abrasion panels, raised writ padding.
Fastening: Two hook-and-loop wrist straps
Comfort: Very good; presumably they’d shape themselves to your hand a little more.
Made in: China
Features: Visor wipe. Grip panels in palm. Gloves give the impression of being very rugged.
Waterproof: Yes
Verdict: These are quite stiff and might take a while to become comfortable, but they feel as if they’d last the longest.

The conclusion seems straightforward: pay $100 or more (or at least $99.95) and you’ll probably get waterproof gloves. But that’s not necessarily true for all brands. Three of the pairs we tested leaked on both hands. Two of the others, on the other hand (sorry) only leaked on one; you may be lucky and get a pair that’s watertight. Then again, of course, you may be unlucky and get a pair that leaks.

Our thanks to the distributors who were keen enough to take part in this test and to be fair, even gloves that aren’t waterproof are damn useful things to have on your hands if it’s cold or you fall off!
PC