Review: Drive Gloves

Last update: 3 March, 2007

by Shane Jenkins/bmxultra.com
Drive products are designed and made specifically for street and dirt, but there's no surprise that there's a cross over into BMX race with the Lite forks and gloves in their range. I am pretty sure you will see cross over with the Lite Bars and the new age high-tech Twin stems too.

I do a lot of riding and destroy a lot of gloves, usually every 3-4 months I'm up for a new set, sometimes more frequently if I have a big "off". That's just one of the costs of doing what you enjoy. I would much rather blow out a set of gloves than my hands and have to stay off the bike. You could nearly call gloves a consumable, much like a chain, tires or grips. Ok, maybe gloves will last a little longer, but they won't last forever. But since they are built for protection primarily and comfort, if they take the brunt of a crash, and not my hands, then I am happy I have got my money's worth.

The Drive gloves are a comfortable all round glove, they don't have the motocross style padding on the back of the hands. No fancy design or colours, they do have a velcro wrist closure, terry toweling thumb to wipe away sweat, and a handy pull tab for pulling them on nice and firm. I am going to have to repeat how comfortable they are because they really do rate right up there amongst the most comfortable gloves I have ever worn.

After two and a half months of riding all the stitching and materials are still as good as the day I first got these gloves. One thing I noticed was a discolouration of the terry cloth. Now, that said, I do use the terry cloth feature to wipe away sweat and ride in mostly dusty conditions so it could be that it's just a build up of dirt, but I am not such a clean freak that it matters to me to wash them to find out. Since that's the only thing I have noticed about them over the time I have used them I think I have found myself a new favourite race glove.

Rating 20/20:

Comments:

• Protection, comfort, durable, quality and affordable what more could you want from a glove.
• Light and comfortable your hands will feel naked in these.
• No sign of damage after two months of abuse and hands are still in one piece.
• Drive gloves have a very classic/subtle look about them and are build to last. They are only available in black, but that's fine with me.

Check www.DriveBMX.com for more information about the Drive product range or to locate you your local distributor.