MC Tested: Alpinestars Fuse Drystar Gloves

Six hours into a rain-drenched ride, I made a bizarre discovery when I stopped for food: Though my hands were warm and dry, my Alpinestars Fuse Drystar gloves were saturated with water and heavy as rocks-a far cry from their feathery 3.5-ounce dry weight. What gives?

The explanation lies in the gloves' construction, which places Alpinestars' own Drystar waterproof membrane below a layer of Thinsulate insulation and the nylon-and-neoprene outer shell. So while the exterior ultimately became rain-soaked, the inner sanctum where the hands live stayed dry. It's a good balancing act, and one I have wished for many times while hunkering through a rainy day wearing less sophisticated cold-weather gloves.

As expected from A-stars, the Drystar gloves are well made and pleasingly comfortable. Attention to detail is superb, including leather panels on the palms, knitted elastic cuffs and Velcro-style wrist closures. The only thing the gloves lack is a finger-mounted squeegee for clearing your face shield.

Though the Fuses are marketed as three-quarter length all-weather riding/touring gloves, I've used them off-road as well, and even loaned them to a buddy for his snowboarding trip. The foam insulation makes them thicker than your standard motorcycle gloves, but on a frigid day I'd gladly trade some feel for all-day comfort. The only downsides are that the Fuses gain weight and take hours to dry once they've absorbed water, and they have very little in the way of impact protection.

Alpinestars Fuse Drystar Gloves
Price: $59.95
Contact: Alpinestars
www.alpinestars.com

Verdict 3 out of 5 stars
Warm, comfortable and versatile, but it would be better if the waterproof layer were on the outside.