Motorcycle
Glove Reviews

Joe Rocket Highside Motorcycle Gloves Review

Joe Rocket is another motorcycle gear manufacturer who produces well-made protection at what are considered very good prices. They often offer decent armor, good construction, and a large range of comfortable sizes in most of their products. Taking this philosophy to the human hands has long been a part of the story with this ever more popular brand, and the Joe Rocket Highside racing glove is a welcome addition to that tradition.

Much of the construction of the Highside is made up of cow hide; there are many large sections of the glove made of this durable material. However, in the areas where feel is most important, goat skin has been substituted, since it can be thinner and yet just as strong as cow leather. These areas include most of the palm and the undersides of the fingers – areas where your hands meet the bike’s grips. Stitching through the finger area is located on the outside for increased comfort, but it is double-stitched in all high-impact areas throughout.

Covering each of the fingers are two additional leather strips which encompass EVA foam padding for extra protection; the thumb only has one of these, but its build is slightly different from the other digits as it incorporates both internal and external stitching. The knuckle protector is similar to the fingers in that it includes the foam padding sandwiched between leather – with a separate ‘pillow’ for each knuckle and it lifts above the back of the hand for flexibility. Up on the gauntlet section of the Highside are more of these padded leather pillows on either side of the wrist and it closes with a large strip of hook-and-loop with an elastic-like top portion.

Fitting the Joe Rocket Highside is rather simple as they do seem to run true to size – a large is a large, not a just slightly larger than almost medium. The polyester lined glove is very comfortable, perhaps more comfortable than you might expect at this price. Securing them on your hands is a confidence inspiring move with the leather securing strap at the line between the glove and the gauntlet being well made and strong. Joe Rocket has even managed to use leather – both the cow and goat – which is supple and soft, and it only takes a few uses to break in the Highsides.

The lack of thermoplastic likely aids this comfort, but your hands are not left unprotected in the Highside. In fact, the leather feels very durable and the padding is much thicker than it looks. That goat skin does an admirable job of transmitting sensations through the grips and to the hands for excellent feel. And, of course, the whole assembly is pre-curved as motorcycle gloves should be. Furthermore, the fingers are ventilated which allows these gloves to function well up into the high 80 degree Fahrenheit range comfortably.

To be fair here, the Highsides are not dedicated racing gloves, but they are very adequate street wear and safety gear. They are easy to wear, well-made (though the finger stitching at the tips is a bit sketchy), and they will protect your delicate digits should you fall. And, though it was not mentioned above, they are also available in women’s sizing – another important benefit of Joe Rocket is that they know there are two genders. You get all of this for the low price of US$45 - the Joe Rocket Highside gloves are a full-fledged bargain.