REV’IT! Neutron 2 Gloves Review
There’s a fine line between protection and discomfort – particularly when your motorcycle gear is concerned. Maximum protection can mean less comfort, less range of motion and less functionality. This becomes a real problem when considering riding gloves. Finding the best balance between the toughness required to provide protection – and the pliability and breathability for all-day comfy – is difficult.
On one hand (pardon the pun), gloves provide essential protection from environmental elements, and of course, in that “never” moment we call a crash. On the other, no rider wants their hands to feel like they’re roasting in a medieval steel gauntlet.
My first riding gloves were simple split cowhide work gloves that saw double duty; sometimes as my motorcycle riding gloves, but more often on the handle of a manure fork. They had big, cobby seams inside that worked on your fingers so that after an hour or two, you couldn’t wait to take them off. Solid leather could take a beating, but my hands would roast in them on a warm day—in the barn or on the road. Sizing was poor—no matter what size option I tried back then, they just didn’t fit right. Gloves have come a long way since then.
For example, REV’IT’s Neutron 2 gloves combine multiple materials that allow protection, ventilation, and precision in sizing. We had the opportunity to have look at them courtesy Burn Out Italy.
The palm, inside, and tips of the fingers and the back of the glove are made of drum-dyed goat skin that has a reputation for toughness, but is soft and supple in use. Over the knuckles, injected thermoplastic rubber flexible stretch textile material provides two-way flexibility and abrasion resistance without use of a hard plastic shell.
The top of the wrist and up the cuff is heavy spandex stretch fabric while the underside is leather. An accordion panel helps keep the glove snug around the wrist and a hook and loop wrist strap assures the glove will stay in place. I never had an issues with a loose glove, and the wrist strap will adjust for a wide range of sizes.
The fingers have a slight pre-curve, and are designed from spandex on the sides and back side, while the inner working surface is leather. Injection molded TPR impact protectors are on the back side of three fingers, while the fourth finger has none, but does have a small reflective panel near the tip. In this particular glove size, the length of fingers is a perfect fit for me, which is not always the case. I often have encountered glove designs where the glove fits well overall, but the fingers are all just a little too long for my fat little paws.
The all-leather thumb has a small EVA foam impact pad, as does the base of the palm, which functions as a palm slider. The palm pad does not extend into the grip area, so that keeps it from causing a pressure spot on the palm. A smooth polyester tricot lining is comfortable and helps the gloves to slide on as well as providing a moisture wicking quality. Construction utilizes double-stitched seams on the heavy wear and impact areas of the palm and back of the hand.
In use, the ventilation is moderate through the textile portions, perhaps not as noticeable as some types of gloves that use a more open mesh fabric, but abrasion protection is probably the main consideration in the design.
For more information, see: http://www.burnoutitaly.com/motorcycles-clothing/motorcycle-gloves and http://www.burnoutitaly.com/revit.
REV’IT Quick Specs:
- Gloves: Rev’It Neutron 2
- Configuration: Leather/textile hybrid
- Country of origin: Netherlands, manufactured in Sri Lanka
- Material: Drum dyed goat skin, spandex, with TPR and gel impact pads
- Available sizing: S-XXL
- Color options: Black/black, black/white, black/neon yellow, black/red
- Certifications: CE Category 1, 89/686 EEC
- Closure system: Hook and loop wrist strap
- Special features: Reflective insert on small finger.
- MSRP: Pricing per EU and non-EU destinations—see the product listing on the Burn Out Italy website for latest pricing data
