Glove up

It rained like crazy the first 30 hours of the 2007 Iron Butt Rally.  I did an audio blog that rally and made a couple of entries about how soaking wet I was and how it took three times longer to do anything in the rain than in the dry.  Matt Watkins later nick-named it the Blog of Despair.  But I learned a valuable lesson that rally.

Gear that claims to be waterproof, isn’t.  The gloves on the far right of the photo will not be making the trip to Pittsburgh with me.  The work fine if you never take them off.  Once your hands are just a little bit damp, the Gore-Tex liner wants to come out with your hand as you take the glove off.  Once that happens it’s all but impossible to put the gloves back on.  The lining binds and digits just don’t fit back into the fingers as they should.  It’s an absolute nightmare.

The mid-weight Olympia gloves on the second to the right make no claim to be waterproof.  In fact, they soak right through.  They do, however, keep your hands pretty warm even when sopping wet and go on and off just as easily wet or dry.  These gloves never leave my right saddlebag unless I’m wearing them.

The two other pair of gloves are Held brand. The Steve Classic (far left) isn’t quite as comfy as the original Steve model and getting them on and off is a bit of a hassle.  I don’t remember the name of the model second from the left. I got a screaming deal on close out, and it offers fantastic protection in the event of a fall.  It’s just too slow going on and off to work as an LD glove for me.

None of these are my favorite glove.  That distinction goes to the Held Steve model that is no longer produced.  I still have a pair that might have one IBR in them.  I think they and the Olys will be what I take.

p.s. The new Held Nambi model looks like it has potential.  The shorter cuff might be an advantage.   I should check them out.