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Submitted by
k1dude
a Weekend Warrior
from NorCalDate Reviewed: April 18, 2009
Strengths: Good armor coverageWeaknesses: Bad velcro. The new model falls apart.Bottom Line: I bought my first pair 2 years ago (2006 version). They're the only armored gloves I know that have a carbon wrist bone and thumb protector. Other brands cover the knuckles, but not the wrist. I'll take all the protection I can get.
The gloves also vent pretty well. I haven't noticed that they're any hotter than non-armored pairs I've owned.
They held up fine, but the velcro stops sticking pretty quick. The glove also stretched out to the point I couldn't use them anymore.
So I bought a second pair last year (2008 version) because I still haven't found better armor coverage from competitors. Not only does the velco STILL not stick well, but this new version of the glove is also falling apart. Many of the rubber padding pieces are peeling off or have already fallen off.
I can't recommend this glove and I will be looking to another brand for my next pair.
Favorite Trail: secret
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At: LBS
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Nomad
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Stamford, CTDate Reviewed: May 15, 2007
Strengths: looks, carbon fiber knuckles, upper-rubber protectiveness, gel padding for the wristWeaknesses: the stitching is rather weak, the finger tip grips wore off really quickBottom Line: gloves are excellent for downhill. the two piece carbon fiber knuckles are really protective. The the gell padding for the wrist is durable, the stitching... not so much. I ripped a hole along my palm on a pavement fall. Stitched it up and re-stitched the same area on the other glove and works great. Awesome fit (always get or atleast the size below what you think you are).
4 out of 5 just because of the weak stitching
Favorite Trail: Diablo Freeride park
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: other specialized, and some haros
Bike Setup: Specialized Enduro expert, Marz Z1 SL, Fox DHX Air, sram, avid, raceface, and bombshell parts
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
woo
a Downhiller
from londonDate Reviewed: May 23, 2006
Strengths: all of the carbon fits like a gloveWeaknesses: a bit fine on the palm of the hand.Bottom Line: the best gloves i have ever had they feel so light and flexable but then you look down and you know your hands are safe. If you think your hands need protecting then get these gloves.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At: bike shed
Similar Products Used: boxing gloves
Bike Setup: BIGHIT 06 all the trimimgs
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mr Bizarre
a Racer
from London, EnglandDate Reviewed: May 16, 2006
Strengths: Carbon fibre does the trick! This glove is very well vented and keeps the hand from heating up, very cool! Not to be used in the winter.Weaknesses: The palm looks a little thin on leather...Bottom Line: These are the most comfortable gloves i've worn so far! They (S'cuse the pun) fit like a glove! I love the rubberised feel to them, buy these gloves you wont regret it! And they do look awesome! They are a little pricey but you must consider how much you value your hands!
Favorite Trail: London streets!
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At: Selfidges & Co Cycle Surgery
Similar Products Used: Other Specialized gloves
Bike Setup: Very trick Yamaha Racer
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
paul
a Cross Country Rider
from englandDate Reviewed: March 13, 2006
Strengths: great strength in the knuckle and all round protectionWeaknesses: none that i can find yetBottom Line: this has to be the best glovei have ever used its great well for summer rideing as winter is bad because of the mesh on the inside of the fingers.
Favorite Trail: street/downhill
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At: clive cycles
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: saracen xile dj bike,26" wheels, dmr tyres(2.35), marazzochi forks, dmr chain reactor, hope mini mono brakes, rest of the bike is standard at the moment
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Shane
a Downhiller
from medicine hat alberta canadaDate Reviewed: July 8, 2005
Strengths: carbon nucklesWeaknesses: rips easy in palm and velcro doesnt workBottom Line: the gloves are nice but they get holes too easy and the velcro doesnt work
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Cyclepath
Similar Products Used: kona gloves
Bike Setup: free ride
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Slim
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clarita CaliforniaDate Reviewed: June 20, 2005
Strengths: The carbon fiber is everywhere, vented, cool to look at and, the girls dig it!Weaknesses: Glove= NONE mabey price?Bottom Line: Best glove I have ever used. I have had more vented goves (Half Finger) but not the protection! If you like having protection everywhere and cool glove that the girls will dig the fortress are for you
Favorite Trail: 4x (Not Many Around)
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At: Bike Shop
Similar Products Used: Never had gloves that vented and wth carbon
Bike Setup: 2004 Gemini Cedric model Manitou Dorado SC Full 2002 XTR Hemi Triple Chain ring Mavic Dee Max Hutchinson Spider UST 2.3 and Stans sealent
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
KC
a Cross Country Rider
from Bainbridge Island, WA USADate Reviewed: March 22, 2005
Strengths: Well reinforced at thumb, wristbone, knuckles and fingers. BG padding in palm area works well. Well ventilated mesh design between rubber finger protection provides good ventilation to fingers.Weaknesses: NoneBottom Line: Two weeks after I bought these glove I did a header on asphalt and slid about 20 feet on the pavement. I crushed a Fox elbow pad into two pieces, but the carbon fiber wristbone protector on my gloves did the job. It looks like somebody put it against a grinding wheel. My hands came through without a scratch. Great product, still holding up well after a year of intense trail riding with no problems. I highly recommend these gloves.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Greenlake Cycle
Similar Products Used: too numerous to list.
Bike Setup: K2 lithium
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
bryn
a Racer
from Dead CityDate Reviewed: February 19, 2005
Strengths: Look badass
keep yer knuckles safe plus the wristboneWeaknesses: crappy stitching, plastic wriststrap just split off pretty quickBottom Line: they look cool and they don't mess up your dexterity at all. I'd say buy'm if you think your hands are doomed by your riding, but they're expensive for how quickly they start to fall apart...
Favorite Trail: the streets motha
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: City Bikes
Similar Products Used: no reinforced gloves, just stupid ol'keep your hands warm' type gloves
Bike Setup: i will destroy your asphault
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Avner
a Cross Country Rider
from IsraelDate Reviewed: February 3, 2005
Strengths: Very comfortable , high protection to the back of the hand and to the palm.Weaknesses: junctures around the carbon protection are weak and open after 4 weeks of use .
the top of fingers are wear and tear from the shifter use.Bottom Line: Good protection for short use.
The gloved didn't survive after 4 weeks of intensive use.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: Specialized site
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
ben sokolski
a Downhiller
from leadvilleDate Reviewed: January 11, 2005
Strengths: comfotavleWeaknesses: noneBottom Line: screwed up my 1st post so i hurry now. great gloves... me great rider crappy typist. buy globes.
Favorite Trail: tellurede dh
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At: absolte
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chase
a Weekend Warrior
from Greensboro NC USADate Reviewed: October 25, 2004
Strengths: Carbon fiber protection, carbon fiber protection, carbon fiber protection; did I just say CARBON FIBER PROTECTION??!! Hell yeah I did! Carbon fiber protection for all knuckles, thumb, and wrist bone, mesh in fingers act like ram-airs for your hand, rubber padding for extra protection without scarificing flexibility, extremely comfortable; Body Geometry padding relieves stress in nerves.Weaknesses: $55 price tag; not your first pick for winter ridingBottom Line: This glove does exactly what Specialized claims: "the ultimate in protection." While at first I was reluctant to purchase a $55 pair of gloves, I tried them on and had to try them for the trails. The fingers are meshed, thus cooling your hands off better than any other glove on the market. Carbon fiber offers the most protection against rocks, trees, gravel, you name it, while keeping all the flexibility needed in a biking glove and requires no extra energy from your hands than any other glove. However, this is strictly a mild to warm weather glove. I would recommend this glove for any avid mountain biker, but mostly to those who need hardcore wrist/hand protection. Regardless of your skill level or style of riding, your hands will feel safe and sound in the Fortress'.
Favorite Trail: Urban/Dirt Jumps
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At: Cycles De Oro
Similar Products Used: Specialized Ridge Long, Specialized Equinox, Specialized TRX, Specialized Sub-Zeros, Fox Statics
Bike Setup: 2004 Cannondale Gemini 2000 with Kenda K-Rad tires and Azonic A-Frame pedals. Otherwise stock.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Guarionex Molina
a Weekend Warrior
from New YorkDate Reviewed: September 24, 2004
Strengths: great protection on and off the bike.(knuckle,wrist.)
Weaknesses: not warm at all, due to the mesh on the sides.not enough padding in the palm area.Bottom Line: they protect the front of the hand but not the back side.
since it is a rugged heavy duty glove they could at least added more padding in the palm area.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At: Tread Bikes
Similar Products Used: fox sidewinders
Bike Setup: cortina europa ds fs
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ric Caley
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, B.C., CanadaDate Reviewed: September 20, 2004
Strengths: Great fit, super comfortable, excellent padding and protection in all the right places, and really look strong...Weaknesses: Looks are misleading...Velcro on right glove failed in 2 months of use...I am right-handed and take that glove off more often ...the loop part is wearing very fast and no longer secure, and now the wrist strap has broken...too thin, and narrows down right above logo, greatly weakening this spot, also, the synthetic rubber is thinned down here, and as there is a moulding running 90 derees(across) the strap, and obvious weak point in the design.Bottom Line: A great product, and with a few tweaks could be the best on the market. Super comfortable, great looking, the best I have ever used. If Specialized addresses the desighn deficiencies and uses a better quality Velcro, they will be the best out there...
Favorite Trail: Whistler...All of it
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At: Simon's Bike Shop, Vancouver
Similar Products Used: Louis Garneau, sixsixone, Fox
Bike Setup: Dirt jumper/Street stunt
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
madtown freerider
a Downhiller
from madison,wi,usa.Date Reviewed: February 2, 2004
Strengths: carbon fiber is the bomb. super cool looking.Weaknesses: non so farBottom Line: Could be the best protective glove out there for a long time to come. The carbon fiber is so flexible. Excellent wrist protection and support , etc. etc.
Favorite Trail: A-line. not the one in B.C.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Eriks
Similar Products Used: oakleys carbon fiber's. dont buy them.
Bike Setup: 2002 norco launch with jr t. Only up grade is a dual ring security guide from e-13. Up grades to come is the swinger 4-way in back and the manitou sherman slider plus 7" up front.
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Reviews 1 - 15 (15 Reviews Total)
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