It\’s been a while since we did a \’SLUK Loves\’ but we\’ve got a few items of riding kit that we\’ve been wearing long enough to review now. We\’ll bring you a few reviews in the coming weeks. If you want to look at some of the earlier \’SLUK Loves\’ just do a search using the function at the top of the screen, or Google it.
Firstly I\’d like to apologise for reviewing a pair of winter gloves in the middle of summer. Secondly, I\’d like to retract that apology on the grounds that in just a few short weeks you\’ll be glad you bought a pair after reading this.
Richa GTX Arctic gloves
For the benefit of SLUK readers I\’ve been wearing these since last winter. I\’ve worn them for pretty much every long-distance rally I\’ve been to in 2019, as well as in freezing temperatures, hot weather, wet weather and anything in-between.
Rich Arctic GTX
The GTX in the name stands for GORE-TEX®, these gloves are the higher-spec (more expensive) version of the popular Richa Arctic glove. There\’s a reason why GORE-TEX® is the fabric of choice for people who love the great outdoors. Firstly, it\’s very effective at keeping nasty moisture out when it rains, secondly, it\’s also breathable and can let moisture molecules out when you sweat. Thirdly, it\’s light so garments don\’t have to be over bulky.
I generally use one good pair of gloves for most riding situations, I like my \’do it all\’ pair to be warm enough and waterproof enough to trust in the depths of winter. I also like them to not be too restrictive but they need to feel substantial and offer some protection. They need to be able to withstand hours in the saddle in wet conditions. The Richa Arctic WP does all of the above. They survived an eight-hour very wet ride to Llandudno last month, that makes them waterproof in my book. I\’ve ridden in minus temperatures and they\’re as warm as my old winter gloves, although nothing withstands the cold forever if you\’re riding in it for hours.
Used all year
The gloves are primarily a winter waterproof glove but as long as you\’re doing some \’proper\’ riding they\’re perfectly useable throughout summer. Only on a couple of occasions when I was stop/starting and taking my gloves on and off did the liner start to pull out with my clammy hands. I can\’t really criticise them too much for that though, it was 29 degrees at the time and the liner only moved so far and snagged, rather than pulling right out and being a right pain to get your fingers back in.
If you\’re just riding locally in summer though these are more than you need really, a waterproof summer glove is a better option.
Construction/features
The gloves feature a hard plastic knuckle with leather overlay and are constructed from leather and textile, with schoeller®-keprotec reinforcements – a material synonymous with high levels of abrasion and tear resistance. They also have D30 knuckle armour.
They have a Velcro wrist closure and adjuster for the hand so you can get them to fit like a, errrm glove. They\’re comfortable in use and you can operate the controls easily enough (some winter gloves are too bulky to have any \’feel\’).
On a slight downside, mine were an early pair and there\’s no visor wipe on the index finger. Looking at the spec though it looks like the latest pair now come with one so that\’s a bonus.
Features
- Gore-Tex® membrane
- 100% waterproof
- Leather and textile construction
- D3O knuckle protection
- Soft finger and wrist protection
- Integrated finger screen wiper on updated version
- Hook and loop fastening system
Price and availability
Available in sizes S-3XL, the Arctic GTX costs £119.99. If you\’re on a budget the Richa Arctic WP is the same glove but without the Gore Tex® – they cost £84.99 and there\’s also a ladies version available at £99.
Contact: Richa
Verdict
These are by no means a cheap glove but I\’d rather buy one good pair than three or four bad ones and if they keep your hands dry and warm on a long ride for a good few years (a decent winter glove should last five or six years) then it\’s money well spent. Well recommended by me.
Iggy
Visit the SLUK Shop
It’s been a while since we did a ‘SLUK Loves’ but we’ve got a few items of riding kit that we’ve been wearing long enough to review now. We’ll bring you a few reviews in the coming weeks. If you want to look at some of the earlier ‘SLUK Loves’ just do a search using the function at the top of the screen, or Google it.
Firstly I’d like to apologise for reviewing a pair of winter gloves in the middle of summer. Secondly, I’d like to retract that apology on the grounds that in just a few short weeks you’ll be glad you bought a pair after reading this.
Richa GTX Arctic gloves
For the benefit of SLUK readers I’ve been wearing these since last winter. I’ve worn them for pretty much every long-distance rally I’ve been to in 2019, as well as in freezing temperatures, hot weather, wet weather and anything in-between.
Rich Arctic GTX
The GTX in the name stands for GORE-TEX®, these gloves are the higher-spec (more expensive) version of the popular Richa Arctic glove. There’s a reason why GORE-TEX® is the fabric of choice for people who love the great outdoors. Firstly, it’s very effective at keeping nasty moisture out when it rains, secondly, it’s also breathable and can let moisture molecules out when you sweat. Thirdly, it’s light so garments don’t have to be over bulky.
I generally use one good pair of gloves for most riding situations, I like my ‘do it all’ pair to be warm enough and waterproof enough to trust in the depths of winter. I also like them to not be too restrictive but they need to feel substantial and offer some protection. They need to be able to withstand hours in the saddle in wet conditions. The Richa Arctic WP does all of the above. They survived an eight-hour very wet ride to Llandudno last month, that makes them waterproof in my book. I’ve ridden in minus temperatures and they’re as warm as my old winter gloves, although nothing withstands the cold forever if you’re riding in it for hours.
Used all year
The gloves are primarily a winter waterproof glove but as long as you’re doing some ‘proper’ riding they’re perfectly useable throughout summer. Only on a couple of occasions when I was stop/starting and taking my gloves on and off did the liner start to pull out with my clammy hands. I can’t really criticise them too much for that though, it was 29 degrees at the time and the liner only moved so far and snagged, rather than pulling right out and being a right pain to get your fingers back in.
If you’re just riding locally in summer though these are more than you need really, a waterproof summer glove is a better option.
Construction/features
The gloves feature a hard plastic knuckle with leather overlay and are constructed from leather and textile, with schoeller®-keprotec reinforcements – a material synonymous with high levels of abrasion and tear resistance. They also have D30 knuckle armour.
They have a Velcro wrist closure and adjuster for the hand so you can get them to fit like a, errrm glove. They’re comfortable in use and you can operate the controls easily enough (some winter gloves are too bulky to have any ‘feel’).
On a slight downside, mine were an early pair and there’s no visor wipe on the index finger. Looking at the spec though it looks like the latest pair now come with one so that’s a bonus.
Features
- Gore-Tex® membrane
- 100% waterproof
- Leather and textile construction
- D3O knuckle protection
- Soft finger and wrist protection
- Integrated finger screen wiper on updated version
- Hook and loop fastening system
Price and availability
Available in sizes S-3XL, the Arctic GTX costs £119.99. If you’re on a budget the Richa Arctic WP is the same glove but without the Gore Tex® – they cost £84.99 and there’s also a ladies version available at £99.
Contact: Richa
Verdict
These are by no means a cheap glove but I’d rather buy one good pair than three or four bad ones and if they keep your hands dry and warm on a long ride for a good few years (a decent winter glove should last five or six years) then it’s money well spent. Well recommended by me.
Iggy
Visit the SLUK Shop
