MC Tested: Rev'It! SLR Gloves

Motorcycle gloves come in more shapes and styles these days than we have time to count, to the point that deciding what's best for you can be a struggle. Dutch company Rev'It! has a wide range available, but I was searching for a do-it-all pair of gloves.

These SLRs aren’t as heavily armored as the Jerez (Rev’It!’s full-race offering) but still pack lots of safety features. A prominent carbon-fiber shell runs across the knuckles, while the tops of the middle and ring fingers sport molded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) beads to resist friction in the case of a crash. The heels are adorned with sizable TPU pucks as well, which somehow don’t get in the way while riding. Holding your hands inside are simple (but full-length) gauntlets that close with a single swath of hook and loop, while the wrists cinch with a separate strap.

In using the SLRs almost daily for about a year I’ve been quite pleased. They run about a size small—I sized up to an XL—but I found the goatskin leather used in the palms to be supple and quick to break in. Because they’re so comfortable I used them for a handful of kart-track mini-bike races, where I suffered at least three 20- to 30-mph crashes. A small hole eventually opened by the leather being pinched between asphalt and the edge of the heel puck, but they are largely no worse for wear.

Available in black, white/red, or white/blue, the SLRs aren’t fancy, but they’re hard to beat for function and comfort.

REV'IT! SLR GLOVES
PRICE: $150
CONTACT: revitusa.com
MC GRADE: A-
Verdict: Simple, versatile, and well built. An excellent value.