Bike Perfect Verdict
Within a few rides, these gloves bedded in for that next-to-skin feel, have proven to be robust and look great. The lack of touch-screen compatibility is a minor point to me but may be a major one to some.
Pros
- +
Stretchy and very comfortable
- +
Excellent fit and bar feel
- +
Well venting palm
- +
Minimalist design
- +
Tough construction
Cons
- -
Not touchscreen compatible
- -
A bit pricey
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DHaRCO’s Race glove is constructed from durable and breathable materials to create a tough and versatile glove with a reasonably paired back design in the mid-weight minimalist category. Given DHaRCO’s penchant for outrageous colorways, the Race Glove is a pretty subdued offering. I’ve been testing them all summer to see if they can compete with the best mountain bike gloves and make it through fall/autumn too.
Design and specifications
The construction is simple, with minimal seams and no padding. The one-piece back is made from mid-weight 4-way stretch material with a jacquard diamond pattern, and simple DHaRCO sublimated printed logos. The palm – also one piece, is made from PU leather, and is fully perforated to aid airflow with ‘No ordinary life’ in silicone print to add some extra grip. The finger sides are made from a stretch material that feels robust, with the seams reinforced at the critical stress areas of the thumb and forefinger for increased longevity. Closure is a small Velcro tab at the rear, and the wrist sits nice and low for comfort and ease of movement.
Performance
The gloves fitted with little resistance – the stretch material of the upper contouring my hand beautifully with no excess material or length at any of the fingers. They fitted so snuggly in fact that they needed a few rides to bed them in, to slacken them off a bit at the fingertips. I do prefer slip-on gloves, but the small Velcro wrist closure sits out of the way at the back of a lo-cut wrist design, providing a secure fit.
The palm grips well when wet and vented well, keeping my hands cool in hot weather. The silicone print adding a bit of extra grip on the bars and wearing well after a few months of use. DHaRCO mention ‘Smart phone swipe’ but I couldn’t access or operate my iPhone at all with these gloves on, so it was an annoying – but quick glove removal for each insta-stop. They’ve worn well, survived a few altercations with terra firma, all without any stitching coming undone or snagging. The gloves certainly are durable without sacrificing comfort but they are on the more expensive end of the scale at $37 / £32 / €34.99.
Verdict
The DHaRCO Mens Race gloves require a tiny bit of breaking in, but once done, the fit is awesome, offering tons of stretch. I like the low-cut wrist and overall aesthetic, and they can take some abuse. The price is a bit on the high side, and I would have preferred them to be touchscreen-compatible.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Super stretchy and very comfortable | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | Should last well due to great construction | ★★★★★ |
| Touchscreen compatible | Nope | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| Value for money | A bit spendy | ★★★ |
Tech specs: DHaRCO Mens Race glove
- Price: $37 / £32 / €34.99
- Colors: Black, Garigal Fade, Supernova, White
- Sizes: S to XL
