On the face of it, these two-tone gloves are neither fish nor foul. Not a wrangler’s tanned roping gloves or a simple but elegant black riding glove … but then they’re not an in-your-face armoured racing glove either. They are all three.
Part of the Icon 1000 range, they manage to pack a lot of technology into a short glove and in doing so without shouting about it from the rooftops, have created a stylish, comfortable glove that will give you more protection than you’d expect to get. And all in a style you’d be prepared to wear, and which beds-in beautifully if you like a lived-in look, and I do.
Made from a range of materials, including a French cowhide body, ‘quilted goatskin palm overlays’, neoprene finger sections and a backhand detail near the wrist – home to the blacked-out metal badge – and a low profile 3D0 knuckle insert, they features accordion flexzones down each side, and are secured by velcro straps.
The result is a snug second skin, internally lined on the back of your hand for additional thermal insulation and comfort – disguising a lot of stitching on the back, where the various elements meet – but it’s skin directly on leather on the palm, contacting the one-piece palm for maximum grip and feedback.
I can only assume that it is the full fine-grain palm that is in ‘abrasion resistant premium grade Battlehide goatskin’ selected for its suppleness and durability despite references to quilted goatskin palm overlays: maybe it’s both? Whatever it is, it transfers everything between you and the grip – in a positive way. No vagueness, just grip.
And while the contrast between the black backs and tan palms was a little contrived for me when they were new, the tan is mellowing nicely and developing a rich patina, making them look less like a pair of evening gloves and more like the business-like functional and stylish gloves that they are.