Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves - review

Gloves, often overlooked but on a motorcycle a very important safety accessory.  If you go down on your bike you will invariably put your hand out. If you do not have a glove on you will get road rash or worse.  20 years ago when I got my first bike there was no internet. I went to a bike shop and purchased a helmet and jacket. I thought I had done more than enough. Now I know much better. Back then I wore and old leather pair of horseback riding gloves, jeans and tennis shoes.  I am very lucky to have never hard an accident. I am now older and hopefully wiser.

I spent some time researching gloves. I wanted protection but I also was worried about the heat living in AZ.  I was looking at Aplinestars as they had gloves that matched my bike colors and my new helmet colors and they have a good reputation.  Their gloves also offered a lot of protection.  

You can find them for sale at many online stores. Most online have video reviews from the store with detailed information about the products  and they also have customer reviews which I found very helpful. The downside of customer reviews is there are always some very negative ones. It seems someone has always received a product that fell apart or didn't work.  You have to take an overall impression of the reviews and then just take a chance.  

The  Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves combine leather and mesh to offer a good level of protection as well as relief from your hands getting too hot.  I also like the carbon fiber knuckle protectors.  They feel very sturdy and appear to offer good protection to your knuckles.

So here are a picture of the gloves. I have worn them on several rides and  find them very comfortable.  The palm has a nice padded area to offer extra protection if you go down and the knuckles are covered with the hard protection but do not affect riding the bike in any way.

Sizing can always be tricky.  I sure wish we could have standard sizing on all clothing especially. But alas we do not.  I purchased these in large and they fit great. I based that on the sizing chart on the Alpinestars website and also that my garden work gloves from Menards are large and fit good.   Tracing my hand on a piece of paper the longest point is  7 5/8" and the widest part of my palm is 3 7/8".

Here you can see how the gloves fit my hand and a closer shot of the carbon fiver knuckle protector.

These gloves retail for $69.95. I found a new pair on auction on ebay and got them for half price. They still had the tags attached.  You can find some really good deals on ebay as people buy items and then decide they don't fit or they don't like them.  If you know what you want and are patient and or lucky you can save a lot of money.

I like my new gloves and feel they will provide good protection in case of accident. With off road riding you can easily go down on unknown terrain and these will give a good level of protection.  I chose the short cuff vs the gauntlet ones because I am worried about heat living in AZ.  I am sure the gauntlet gloves offer more protection.  That is a decision each rider must make for themselves.  

Here is the info on the gloves:

• Lightweight hybrid leather and mesh upper construction offers the ideal combination of durability, abrasion resistance and comfort.
• Synthetic leather palm construction with Clarino® reinforcements provides extra durability and protection where it is needed most.
• Exceptional impact protection afforded by Carbon Fiber knuckle protectors.
• TPR finger reinforcements.
• Thumb foam padding.
• Reinforced landing zone with built in foam padding offers additional impact protection.
• Airprene cuff with TPR Velcro® flap closure for secure, comfortable