MC Tested: Alpinestars SP-1 Glove

Even if it's just a minor tip-over, odds are your hands are going to suffer. The easiest way to avoid the dreaded meaty paw is to don a set of quality mitts, and Alpinestars has over two dozen models to choose from.

The SP-1s orbit in the upper strata of A-Star's Performance Riding category, and feature all the bells and whistles you need in a sport/track glove. A beautifully constructed, full-leather carcass plays host to carbon-fiber knuckle and finger armor, with a full gauntlet and wrist cinch for added security. When I first pulled these gloves on a year ago they felt a little tight, but within a week they'd broken in and that snug fit now equates to excellent control feel.

Not only do the SP-1s look good and fit great, they're functional, too. A series of cartwheels after a racing high-side let me test their impact protection. Scuffs on all sides of both gloves and gouges in the armor attest to the violence of the incident, yet my hands were fine. Okay, so the seams are tough, but that tumbling crash didn't test the durability of the suspiciously supple leather. Next up was a high-speed low-side that sent me body-surfing down 50 feet of wet pavement. Waiting for the crash truck, I noted with satisfaction that my SP-1s were soggy and battered but still intact.

After two crashes the SP-1s have some stressed seams and torn-up palms, but they did their job and saved my hands from harm. I couldn't ask for more.

Alpinestars Sp-1 Glove
Price: $119.95
Contact: Alpinestars
www.alpinestarts.com

**Verdict **4.5 stars out of 5
All the protection you could want without delving into the webbed-finger territory of full-race mitts.