Not all riding gloves are created equal, and the reason being is actually rather simple: build material. For most enthusiasts, strictly using neoprene for a glove is a terrible idea, as neoprene tends to absorb water, making it heavy and saturating the rider’s hands. Despite dozens of drain holes, the material often fails at properly airing out, leaving hands cold, pruney and sensitive. Moreover, neoprene doesn’t offer much in the way of tackiness and is often slick, making for poor grip on the handlebars (and throttle). Some manufacturers try to offset this by silk screen rubbery pads on the fingers and palm, to which, most will peel off after a season’s use.
The above is almost expressly the motivation behind Jettribe’s PRG 2.0 Multi-Colored Racing Gloves‘ use of nylon, air mesh, and Lima Nash suede These unconventional materials offer the PRG 2.0 race gloves added water resistance as well as being quick drying and durable. You won’t find holes punched throughout these gloves, as the air mesh allows water to wick out and air to filter in, drying both the glove and skin within. Jetribe’s corporate policy of designing riding gear for racers first has paid off, as the evolution of materials and build quality have continually improved their entire product line.
Inside, the pre-curved fingers give each finger a natural, comfortable fitment (that will stave off some minor finger fatigue as well) and are coated in wide, silicone strips that provide added grip. Moreover, Jettribe has added three smartly designed suede pads – at the palm, the crook of the thumb and pad – that too are coated in silicone to not only add tactility but provide some added preservation. The pad at the base of the palm features an extended tab to help tug the glove higher on the wrist. And the trigger fingers (index and middle fingers) are broken at the knuckles to allow for better articulation to boot.
A major plus to these gloves are the generous amounts of Velcro used in strapping the gloves around the wrist. Too often competitors gloves try to be cute with their straps, making them cool, aggressive designs, but fail to maintain any sort of traction when it comes to keep them attached. Additionally, the strap itself is wide and topped with a rubberized logo that is easy to grip wet or dry and cinch tighter.
We were pleased that the material doesn’t bunch up in-between the fingers or in the palm while riding, and offers a very minimal amount of chaffing after long rides. The PRG 2.0 race gloves do feature a few parts made of neoprene, but Jettribe’s use of 4-way stretch neoprene is forgiving and comfortable, especially when paired with so much mesh to air it out.
The Jettribe PRG 2.0 Racing Gloves are easily the most comfortable gloves we’ve had the pleasure of testing from the brand and strongly recommend them – although the multicolored pattern was a little garish for our particular taste. Priced at $49.99, they’re moderately priced when compared to other brand’s entries, which makes them a superior purchase when given the fitment.
