I've got a pair of Teknic racing gauntlets that are so impossibly funky smelling I gotta find another pair. They've held up for about 10 years. I've had terrible luck finding a glove anywhere near as well made. My closet has a special bin full of gloves that I don't like What do you guys wear/like/suggest?
I have a pair of Alpine Stars that are the same. The synthetic leather bits really smell.
I finally bought a pair of Held Phantoms. Try not to shit green when you see the price, but they are by far the best glove I've ever owned. I have another pair of Taichi I like well enough, but the Held are truly special.
Fit, finish and comfortable like nothing else out there.
I purchased a pair of Vanson Tecnical Riding Gauntlet Gloves(Model 7R11). They are real leather, have carbon fiber knuckles, vents, two adjustable wrist straps, and are very attractive. After about 2,400 miles in them I have no complaints. They are very comfortable and can be worn on the hottest days. They will not keep your hands warm enough when the ambient temperature is below 40 F. I don't think Vanson is making them any longer, but I called Vanson directly and they put me in contact with a dealer who still had some in stock. The MSRP was about $85 and worth every penny. The other glove I was considering based on my research was a Veloce Legionnaire, but I have no personal experience with them.
olympia 340 vented kevlar gauntlets. i've had them for 2 summers and a wet, wet winter. ~70 bucks for real dead cow (double where it matters) and re-inforced stitching. faux CF knuckles for bling http://www.olympiagloves.com/viewgloves.html my fav
Buy the Held gloves...I've owned the Vansons. They fell apart after 2 years. I called Vanson to get them repaired...They refused as they don't make them any more and were not even made in the USA. Those were their reasons.
Bottom line - you get what you pay for. Get the Held Gloves.
Held likes Buell - you don't often see an XB on the home page of any website, let alone a non-affiliated motorcycle equipment company.....
And at nearly three bills, the Phantoms are kinda spendy - but still quite a bit cheaper than the emergency room bill would be without them - I like my hands and use them every day. Under that approach, an extra $50 over the Alpinestars doesn't seem so bad.
i bought two pair (different styles) from there clearance section last fall. love them both. you can spend what you want on a pair of held gloves. i'd say there a quality product on either end of there price spectrum.
german company made in china
i prefer made in usa. i recently found this place. i havn't bought any of there product yet.
There is only one thing more annoying than having your finger bottom out on the end on the glove. My philosophy on gloves is to buy one or two sizes larger than you think so there is lots of finger room. I also like them big enough to shake them looser on the fly if my index finger does get to the end of the glove.
Helds have built their reputation for a good reason. I'll offer 3 alternatives:
Teknic Xcelerator gloves (an evolution of the Speedmaster which were the first to have Knox scaphoid protectors):
Knox Handroid - these people have been making the BEST armor around for a while, and just now got into producing a complete glove:
If you're a fan of the ring and pinky finger being linked, this is the best option IMHO - the Spidi Penta. It has unique finger linking system that allows you to link or not link the 2 fingers on either hand. The armor on the back of the hand is the most substantial I've ever used and the Kangaroo palm feels like a direct connection to the throttle, brake and clutch. Good enough for Colin Edwards...
Aerostich Elkskin Roper gloves. As Court said, they're thick... but to me that means they provide that much more protection. They do break in and feel like thick deer skin... if you've ever worn deerskin gloves you know what I'm talking about.
Best thing is when they get wet, I just wring them out and put them right back on. You can even machine wash them (treat them with a leather dressing afterwards). Left thumb has a built-in squeegee for clearing your face shield in the rain.
Jng1226 - Excellent presentation style, short and sweet.
Jaimec posted "if you've ever worn deerskin gloves you know what I'm talking about." At the Farm & Ranch store I was with my buddy who was chasing down some hardware, we separated he found me at the glove isle. I have been teased a bit since then. If I see a deerskin glove I will try it on. Over the years I have bought many gloves and owned very few that I liked. Usually a couple of months and my taste evolves away.
For the last 10 years I have settled on two gloves; for the cold and Rain the Olympia Gore-Tex gauntlet two sizes too big for lots of warm air space and my deerskin roper style gloves. These gloves are cotton flannel lined, over-sized two sizes too big, and they drink the oil, and are the MOST comfortable glove I have ever owned.
I love these and have gone thru 3 sets. Great quality and have replaced them due to stink not condition. They used to be call Dainese Moto-X, but recently changed to "X-ile."