Motorcycle
Glove Reviews

British Motorcycle Gear Thermosport Motorcycle Gloves Review

British Motorcycle Gear has a small catalog, but this only serves to allow the company to focus on getting everything right with the gear that they produce and sell. You may know them from the Belstaff brand which they sell to the adventure riders of the world. If you do not, what you should learn about them is that they carry their own branded protective gear, and they pay close attention to detail. For a good example, look no further than the Thermosport winter motorcycle glove.

BMG constructs the Thermosport of top-grain, Grade A, semi-aniline cowhide to create a tough and durable shell. Much of the construction is done with double-stitching at the seams and extra leather pieces with integrated padding are placed at each of the important impact areas of the glove. The seams are internal, but they are designed not to bother the wearer. On the back side of the shell, the leather has an interesting matte finish which should help it stay looking new for much of its useful life. Schoeller Keprotec appears to be sewn mainly to the palm and fingers for greater feedback and secure grip.

Inside the Thermosport gloves is a Porelle breathable and waterproof liner and, like many anti-water mitts, it is not sewn into the glove (so remove them by pulling on each finger to keep it from turning inside out). For insulation – keeping the heat your hands generate inside the glove – there is another layer consisting of Thinsulate installed within the shell. It is of this that much of the padding is made from, and a soft micro-fleece is on the inner-most layer to give the gloves a soft feel on the hands.

Carbon fiber protectors are double-stitched into the knuckles and several panels of the material are used to likewise protect the finger joints. Durable protective padding on the Thermosport is also located on the gauntlet to protect the delicate wrist bones from injury. An elastic section on the top of the shell and a hook-and-loop strap on the underside allows the glove to be securely held to the hands. The gauntlet of the Thermosport is about middle of the road in length, so there may be some issues with the bulkier jacket cuffs; wearing it under the sleeve is simple by comparison. However, it does have its own hook-and-loop adjustment strap to keep any cold air or moisture from slipping inside.

An interesting benefit of choosing the Thermosport is that the sizing seems spot on with these mitts. Donning them and the wrapping your now gloved hands around the grips gives you the sensation of wearing a purpose-built bit of kit which allows you to use the controls without difficulty. With winter gloves this can be a problem as the padding can get in the way of flexibility. The Thermosport, though, is not so bad in this area. And the pre-curved shape of the design certainly helps alleviate any worries here.

The inside of the Thermosport is plush and should keep your hands comfortable on even long-distance rides. Of course, it being a winter glove, it also manages to keep your hands and fingers warm and dry, up to and including when the weather throws you 40F and heavy rain. The padding and liners do their job well without getting in the way accessing the handlebar controls, as promised. In fact, given the great insulation and freedom of movement, you could almost forget you are wearing winter gloves – almost.

BMG retails the Thermosport for US$79. The BMG Thermosport is perhaps the most race-inspired and protective winter glove that you can buy at this price level, yet it works like it costs more than twice as much!