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ADV ProductsADV Riding GearRacer ‘Guide’ Dual Sport Gloves Review

Racer ‘Guide’ Dual Sport Gloves Review

A comfortable short cuff summer glove with good protection and ventilation.

Published on 09.24.2015

Racer Gloves is an Austrian-based glove maker that is well-recognized among the sport bike crowd for their comfortable fitting gloves with excellent protection. Racer also makes gloves for adventure riders but they are lesser known in the segment. The Racer Gloves ‘Guide’ model is a versatile short cuff glove designed for Adventure Riders that want good street protection but don’t want to switch to a lighter glove everytime they transition to dirt.

The Guide features a cowhide leather body and Clarino palm. Clarino (also known as digital goatskin) is a breathable and durable synthetic leather material that retains its softness even when wet. The fingers and back of the hand use perforated cowhide leather to provide ventilation and a small Velcro wrist strap secures the glove to the hand. Clarino is also used on the fingertips of the first and second digits for extra protection from wear and silicone lined tips give extra grip in wet conditions.

A comfort liner is bonded to the outer glove using mcFit technology for a seamless connection. The top of the hand uses flexible TPR (Thermo Plastic Rubber) protectors on the fingers and knuckles for abrasion protection, while Knox palm sliders protect a rider’s scaphoid bone in a fall. An extra leather flap on the wrist provides additional abrasion protection and can also be used to pull on the glove.

Racer Gloves Guide Dual Sport Gloves
The Knox palm sliders are typically found on expensive race gloves and offer excellent protection for the scapoid bone without being too bulky.

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Trying on a pair of the Guide gloves, they immediately felt comfortable. The liner has an ultra plush feel and lightly padded leather is used in areas where protectors are mounted to ensure there are no pressure points. I wear size XL in most gloves and the fit is snug with just enough room for the fingertips.

The fingers and palms offer excellent tactile feel through the Clarino material. All of the stitching and construction is high quality and the gloves have a premium look. The Velcro wrist strap attaches firmly and the short cuffs ensure good ventilation around the wrists. However, the short cuff length makes it harder to get an air tight seal between the glove and your jacket sleeve in colder weather. It’s also less secure in a fall.

Break in for the gloves was achieved after just a few rides and they became even softer and more comfortable to wear. Once broken in, the Guide dual sport gloves contour to your hands like a second skin and you almost forget you are wearing them.

Field Testing

I’ve been riding with the Racer Guide Gloves for nearly a year and they have become my favorite glove anytime the weather is pleasant. They offer incredible comfort and the perforated leather breathes well providing excellent ventilation for Summer rides. They remain comfortable to wear in temperatures ranging from 60’s to low 90’s Fahrenheit and can go lower with heated grips.

Riding with the Guide on the street gives you a sense of confidence knowing your hands are protected in a fall, and breathability is good for a leather glove, even when physical activity increases. The Racers work well for short duration trips off asphalt, giving good tactile feel on the controls. If you do ride aggressively, the guides can become a bit clammy, but for a casual Sunday dual sport ride you won’t need to bring a second pair of motocross gloves.

racer gloves guide riding off-road
The Racer Guide glove is perfect for a casual Sunday dual sport ride giving you good protection on the street and breathability off-road.

Final Thoughts

Racer Gloves have found a good balance between protection and ventilation in their Guide glove. It packs a lot of protective features into a short cuff glove while achieving top-level comfort and breathability. They are also a nice looking glove offered in two colors, white/black or all black.

After months of use, they still look great with only light wear showing and the stitching is all intact. Although, on one very hot day after some hard riding off-road, the inner liner did come loose on two fingers while removing the glove. But after stuffing it back in, it seemed to re-bond itself and hasn’t been a problem since.

At $110, the Guide gloves are well priced considering all the protection, durability and comfort they offer. If you want even more street protection in a short cuff glove, Racer also offers the ‘Mickey.’ The Mickey is constructed with a combination of mesh, nylon and leather and incorporates SuperFabric on hard plastic knuckle and palm protectors, along with protectors on the finger tips. The Mickey comes in all black and is priced at $115.99.

Racer Gloves Mickey
Racer offers a similar short cuff glove called the Mickey with even more protection for the street. Although, it does not include the comfort liner used in the Guide.
Favorite Features:

  • Ultra-plush comfort.
  • Good street protection for a dual sport glove.
  • Breathable leather glove that can be used off-road.
  • Highly durable and long-lasting.
Minor Gripes:

  • The cuff length could be a bit longer.
  • Can get clammy on aggressive off-road rides.

Shopping Options:

Racer Guide Gloves Racer Mickey Gloves

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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