Hi all,
My Dainese Hellracers have finally worn a hole in the palm (normal riding, no crashes, 2 seasons, ~8k miles). I love them to death, but they're discontinued and now I'm looking for a high-quality replacement.
I've been looking at the Held Steve (http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/bargain_basement/held/steve_motorcycle_gloves.html) gloves and the Held Air Stream (http://www.newenough.com/street/gloves/street_short_cuff/held/air_stream_motorcycle_gloves.html) summer gloves. I like the protection of the Steves, but I need a moderate to warm weather glove (50 to 90+ degrees F). I'm a fair weather rider, so they're not going to see a lot of rain or cold temps (below 50 deg F).
So the question is... are the Steves only for cooler weather? If they're nasty in warm weather, I'll get the Air Streams and see about getting some cool weather gloves. If the Steves have enough ventilation they're comfy in the summer, well, I like being protected.
Oh yeah... my hands sweat. A lot. That's probably part of the reason my Hellracers wore out in the palm. This is why ventilation is important to me.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Can't help you with the Air Stream or Steves but I got the Phantoms and they are great.
Full gauntlet, kangaroo leather palms, stingray leather for abrasion, gel padding on the inside, kevlar, carbon fibre, perforations between fingers, goog ventilation. I use them during summer, temps between 18°C and 30°C (doesn't really get any hotter over here)
I have had a couple of pairs of Helds.
I rotted the palms after only a couple of years. I was kind of disappointed.
i have a pair of Held galaxy gloves that's been around for 8, 9 years or so. I use it all year -- I just add some silk liners when it's cold, but I don't ride much at around 30 degrees.
I think the Steve's are good for warm weather...but my hands don't sweat as much as yours, so anything that isn't insulated works for me.
Quote from: ducpainter on April 30, 2010, 02:38:16 AM
I have had a couple of pairs of Helds.
I rotted the palms after only a couple of years. I was kind of disappointed.
What gloves do you currently have?
Yeah, I was a little disappointed to see the hole in the palm of my Hellracers. They've never been down. I bought them in summer of '07, have done 8000-9000 miles of riding, almost all fair weather. What's strange is that the hole isn't even in my throttle-side glove... and my left hand is the more relaxed of the two. Go figure.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words (though it takes up 3000 times the memory...):
(http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii304/duc_fan/utf-8BSU1HMDAwMzUtMjAxMDA0MzAtMTIxM.jpg)
(http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii304/duc_fan/utf-8BSU1HMDAwMzYtMjAxMDA0MzAtMTIxN.jpg)
If your hands sweat a lot, it is of the utmost importance that you clean and condition them on a regular basis if you want them to last more than a year or two. Sweat is the enemy of leather. Salt from your dried sweat will accumulate in the pores of the hide and literally grind it into pulp if allowed to stay there. Some poeple have more caustic sweat than others and have to be even more vigilant with cleaning. This is also my reason for disliking kangaroo gloves. Roo leather has an even larger pore stucture allowing quicker degredation if not addressed regularly. Stick with good old moo cow, kid or deer skin for your gloves, keep them cleaned and conditioned, and your gloves should last a good, long time, as well as offer better protection. [thumbsup]
The air streams are freakn' awesome! I love'm, let me know if you want some pics or have questions.
Quote from: Dainesedan on April 30, 2010, 01:14:27 PM
If your hands sweat a lot, it is of the utmost importance that you clean and condition them on a regular basis if you want them to last more than a year or two. Sweat is the enemy of leather. Salt from your dried sweat will accumulate in the pores of the hide and literally grind it into pulp if allowed to stay there. Some poeple have more caustic sweat than others and have to be even more vigilant with cleaning. This is also my reason for disliking kangaroo gloves. Roo leather has an even larger pore stucture allowing quicker degredation if not addressed regularly. Stick with good old moo cow, kid or deer skin for your gloves, keep them cleaned and conditioned, and your gloves should last a good, long time, as well as offer better protection. [thumbsup]
tahts good info. I never knew that, When I sweat i have salt stains on my skin after it dries up. And i wanted a kangaroo leater 1 piece suit! Its a wonder why Dainese chooses to stick with cow hide, they just refine the technique.
Whats KID leather?????? :o
Quote from: He Man on May 02, 2010, 10:31:46 AM
tahts good info. I never knew that, When I sweat i have salt stains on my skin after it dries up. And i wanted a kangaroo leater 1 piece suit! Its a wonder why Dainese chooses to stick with cow hide, they just refine the technique.
Whats KID leather?????? :o
A kid is a young goat.
Well, I found the last pair of XXL Hellracers on closeout at the local moto shop for $80. :) So I figured I'd stick with what works. I'll try washing and conditioning these more frequently to prevent breakdown of the palms due to sweat.
DDan, suggestions on how to wash them and how often? I have some Dainese-brand leather conditioner that came with my suit.
If you want your leather gloves to last ......after your ride get a container and mix a little laundry detergent with plenty of water.
Pour 1/2 the soapy water in 1 of the gloves and make sure it fills the glove and shake it up .
Let it drain out through the vent holes and do the same w, your other glove.
Then turn on the cold water and put 1 of your gloves under it and let the cold water run through it for a minute.
Same with the other glove.
Then hang them on a clothes line and let them air dry.
I have a dehumidifier that will pull all the water out in 24 hours but don't put them near any artificial heat source.
Then when the Gloves are dry, condition them , what I always use is Lexol ( which can be found at Auto Parts Stores ) or any good leather conditioner.
Washing them gets the salt from the sweat out of the leather .
Dolph :)
I can't comment on any Held gloves except the Phantoms. . .
I have a pair and I love them. I use them from 45* up to as hot as it gets. They have survived 1 lowside so far with minimal damage (cosmetic)
They took 250 miles to break in, and once that happened I loved them. Highly recommend the brand.
Quote from: Monsterlover on May 05, 2010, 06:48:44 AM
I can't comment on any Held gloves except the Phantoms. . .
Word!!
Quote from: Monsterlover on May 05, 2010, 06:48:44 AM
once that happened I loved them. Highly recommend the brand.
More Word!!
I have te Steve's and use them up to about 90-95 degrees. So far they've held up well and I'd recommend them.
Quote from: DRKWNG on May 05, 2010, 02:30:41 PM
Word!!
More Word!!
I have 2 pairs of the Phantoms and a pair of the Titans , and a pair of the Akiras.
They are very comfortable . The palms are Kangaroo. The Titans have Sting Ray on the meaty part of your hand with gel padding underneath that, plus there is Sting Ray located across the meaty part of your Hand across to the edge of the side of the hand , and up the outside of the gauntlet.
There are also Sting Ray on the knuckles of the two outside Fingers, and on the last knuckle of the middle Finger too w, gel padding underneath.
The main knuckle area is Titanium covered Carbon Fiber.
There are also 2 round areas of CF , one at the inside base of the Thumb and one on the outside protecting your last Knuckle.
The chassis of the Glove is a soft Cow leather w, numerous areas of gel padding , a Velcro strap closure at the Wrist and a Velcro flap closure more up the inside at the high wrist.
There is a Visor wipe on the left hand Glove's index Finger made of rubber. ( Photos below )
Held Phantoms: This Glove is also super comfortable being a full gauntlet like the Titans and the Akiras.
The Phantoms are once again made w, a chassis of Cow leather and a Palm of Kangaroo. They also use String Ray skin because it is so tough and abrasion proof.
Unlike the Titans , only the meaty portion of the hand is protected by the Ray skin w, gel padding underneath and the last two Fingers have their knuckles protected w, the Ray skin .There's double padding on the middle Finger .The main knuckles and down the outside of the wrist is protected w, Carbon Fiber and along the side of the Wrist there is gel padding under the CF.The back of the Wrists are protected w, extra gel padding.
The Fingers have vent holes and the back of the Wrist is vented in both the Phantoms and the Titans.
Once again the Phantoms close w, a Velcro wrist strap and a Velcro flap higher up .
The Akiras fit as comfortably as the other 2 long gauntlet Gloves .
One big difference from the other 2 , the Akiras are not vented.
They are Cow leather w, Kangaroo palms .
They have Carbon Fiber main knuckles and have rivet heads as sliders on the meaty portion of the hand .The last 2 knuckles are protected w, padded Kevlar.
They do have an area of Carbon Fiber w, gel padding underneath in the area of the lower Forearm/ upper Wrist. There is extra gel padding in the Fingers and the back of the Wrist.
They close in the same manner as the Titans and the Phantoms.
I rate these Gloves as excellent even at there rather lofty price.
I have for comparision , Apinestars GP Tech, Dainese Metal Racers, Alpinestars GP Pros, Spidi Pentas, and these 3 models of Helds.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0451.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0452.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0453.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0455.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0456.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0457.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0458.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0459.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/DSCN0460.jpg)
Dolph :)