SHRED. MTB PROTECTIVE GLOVES REVIEW

Review by Alex Sardella

SHRED. is a company with a cool backstory – a Olympic athlete and materials engineer became friends and decided to combine their passions and turn them into a product. SHRED. started as a ski company making protective gear for alpine skiers, featuring a protective material they developed called SLYTECH™. They have slowly expanded their product line and have ventured into the mountain bike scene, now SHRED. helmets, eyewear, and protective gear can often be seen on trails around North America. When I got my hands on a fresh pair of their MTB Protective Gloves, I was amped to give em’ a try. From the get-go they looked like a nice pair of burly gloves to take into the bike park.

THE LAB
The SHRED. MTB Protective Gloves don’t skimp anywhere. SHRED. designers thought of everything for their higher-end glove. Loads of SLYTECH™ protection is seamlessly integrated into key contact areas such as the outer hand, fingers, and knuckles, with particular attention paid to the vulnerable pinky metacarpal. On the inside, the gloves feature touch screen compatibility on the pointer finger and thumb, with added silicone grip on the pointer finger to help with the brake lever – a small technical feature which I really liked. A soft fleece material on the outer thumb assists with a sweaty brow or the occasional runny nose. To reduce heat buildup inside the glove, the sides of the fingers are equipped with mesh vents to promote airflow.

In addition, the gloves have a small pull tab to assist with yanking the glove onto your hand. This is a nice feature because I have seen a number of seams pop in this area due to ‘the yank’. There is also a reinforced fabric stitched on between the thumb and pointer finger, another hot spot where gloves tend to tear. The majority of the glove is constructed from a “super stretch” Nylon fabric, with durable synthetic leather used elsewhere. The gloves are available in sizes S-XL and will run your wallet $44.95.

THE DIRT
I am pretty specific when it comes to gloves. I usually keep it minimal and don’t like any excess material between my grips and palms for most of my trail rides. However, hot summer days at the bike park call for some extra cushion and coverage on my hands. The fit is solid, and the size large fits me true to size with no excess material on any of my fingers. The minimal, sleek Slytech protection on the outside of the hand is in all of the right places for those sections of tight trail where your bars or knuckles may brush a tree or branch. The Velcro closure sits nicely on the lower wrist and unstrapping the Velcro makes for an easy on/off. I know some riders are particular about cuff length on gloves, and these fall in the middle – not too long, not too short. I dig the sleek black color and the pops of pink are just enough to liven up your riding kit. In addition, I like where they placed the logo, right over the knuckles, making for good branding out on the trails.

My only gripe is the SLYTECH™ foam on the inside of the palm. It does help with vibrations off the grips, but I personally prefer a simple, smooth palm. Because of all the built-in features and materials on the glove, there are seams and sowing everywhere. This didn’t impact the comfort of the gloves, and I have worn them on a number of rides with no issue but do wonder about the long-term durability with the potential of a thread popping out. The glove is on the pricier side, so I would hope it lasts a full year of riding. Thankfully I have no reason to suggest otherwise thus far.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The SHRED. MTB Protective Glove comes with all the features and functions you would expect from a glove in the $45 price range. The outer knuckle and finger protection is well integrated and does not get in the way of gripping the bars or grabbing the brakes. I’d recommend these gloves for aggressive trail or bike park riding, as the SlyTech protection gives you peace of mind that your hands will be protected. Shred-On.

Price: $44.95
Website: Shredoptics.com