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Posted by Kenn Stamp
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Saturday, 15 September 2007 |
 By Kenn Stamp
When Shift sent me the Airborne jacket they also sent a pair of their Stealth gloves to go along with it (they match perfectly).When I first received the gloves I was a little wary of them. At first glance, they don't fulfill many of my criteria for gloves I would normally buy.
What are my normal criteria for gloves?
1) They must be comfortable.
2) They should offer hard knuckle protection
3) They should offer good finger protection on the sides (pinky and thumb)
4) As a bonus, they should flow decent air around one's digits to keep the hands cool on those scorching summer days.
I almost sent these gloves back to Shift with the note saying that "sorry these gloves are not my thing". I'm glad I didn't.
Don't get me wrong, I still would like better protection, but the niche this glove was made for they fill well. The Stealth glove is (I imagine) made for those quick runs to the store, the commute to work, or for those who like to stunt.
I have been wearing them for a month now of non-stop riding. Do I wear them on Sunday morning blasts? Nope, that's what the Avenger Gloves are for (review to come soon). I do wear them on my daily rides on the bike that don't involve high intensity riding or silly antics.
First thing I noticed about these gloves after I put them on was how very comfortable they are. The lack of hard armor makes them feel like a second layer of skin. The palms are leather from the heel of your hand to the tips of your fingers.
Remember that bonus item I look for in gloves? The Stealths deliver that in spades. I have never had any glove flow air like these do. Some of that airflow comes from sacrificing some of the protection that comes from having hard knuckle and finger protection though. If you live in a hot climate that will be a decision that you'll have to make; better protection or better cooling. Like I said before, for normal commuting, I wear these, and for Sunday morning blasts, I wear a glove with better protection.
 As for knuckle, protection the gloves do offer it somewhat, in the form of rubber "bones" on the back of the glove. I use the word "bones" as a friend of mine after seeing the glove, thought that they had a skeleton appearance to them.
The gloves also offer extra padding, on the tops of your fingers, that is sewn into the fabric.
While this is probably not a glove that I would have even looked at in the store, I am enjoying them immensely. They flow a ton of air, offer some protection in case of a fall, and are built with a quality that I am beginning to expect from Shift Racing's products.
If you are looking for a hot weather glove to help keep your hands cool the Stealth gloves might be worth a look. If you are one of those riders that like to wear mechanics gloves when you ride, these gloves are definitely worth a look. They have all the comfort of your mechanics gloves, but with better abrasion protection.
The Shift Stealth Hybrid glove retails for only $24.95
Head on over to Shift Racing to check out the Stealth glove and all the rest of their quality gear.
Head over to our forum on the Stealth glove for questions or comments.
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