Glove technology has made great advances during the last 25 years in fit, function and protection. The Fieldsheer Cobra Glove exemplifies that progress. Starting with the shell, Fieldsheer uses cowhide on the back and kangaroo leather on the entire palm-side of the glove, with a double layer over the palm itself. Kangaroo leather is not only lighter and more flexible than cowhide, but is claimed to provide increased wear and abrasion resistance. To help with engine vibration, the palms also have a layer of gel padding. For impact protection, the back of the fingers have individual carbon fiber protectors with one large protector over the knuckles at the base of the fingers. The gloves close with Velcro adjustable wrist and gauntlet straps.
The inside of the Cobra Glove is just as high tech. Leather isn't waterproof so Fieldsheer sewed in a full-glove membrane made of RainGuard, a waterproof and breathable material. Also, to protect against the cold, the Cobras have a thin layer of Thinsulate throughout the gloves.
On the road, the Cobra Glove is a wonder. By using thinner than typical materials, the gloves provide excellent feel for the handlebars and controls. There's no bunching of material on the palms and the fit is very good. We also put them to the test in several heavy rainstorms and our hands remained completely dry. As for the cold, we'd put their temperature range from the low-60s down to the mid-40s. Our only "complaint" is that the thumbs are about 1/2 inch too long.
I guess what we're saying is the Fieldsheer Cobra Glove gets an extra-big thumbs up...
Size: XS-3X, $110
http://www.fieldsheer.com
- Evan Kay