In Gear: Alpinestars GP Pro R4 Glove Review

Опубликовано 4 апреля 2025, 21:46

The world of high-performance motorcycle gloves is chockful of options. If you ask me, I recommend always reaching for whatever has the highest protection available, like what you’d see with a full gauntlet-style glove. Enter the Alpinestars GP Pro R4 glove, which fits that description, well, like a glove.

Crafted from a blend of full-grain cowhide, goatskin, and kangaroo leather, the GP Pro R4 is the follow-up to the Italian brand’s longstanding GP Pro R3 — a glove that we Morons thoroughly used in many of our reviews. With the recent release of the R4 version, a few changes have come into play that are mainly focused on improving safety and mobility.

For me, any sport riding glove has to have several protection elements required to pass the sniff test, and the GP Pro R4 happens to include those features. Starting from the top, we’ll always want to note multi-layered leather reinforcement in high-risk impact zones, such as the palms and outer edges of the gloves. Following that up are the various updated Dynamic Friction Shield (DFS) armor elements found on the knuckles, digits, and, most importantly, on the gauntlet area to add a significant amount of impact protection. More importantly, all of this armor is designed with your ergonomics in mind and, arguably, provides a little more mobility than the bulky stuff on its predecessor. Another critical feature offered on the GP Pro R4 is palm sliders, which are critical to reduce friction during unplanned tarmac inspections.

A notable safety feature is the bridged fourth and fifth fingers, aimed at preventing finger separation, thus reducing the risk of injury during slides. Additionally, Alpinestars and other reputable brands are integrating aramid fabrics that help mitigate heat transfer and also help with tear resistance. Again, if you do not see these features on any of the sport/trackday gloves populating your shortlist, then it’s best to keep clicking through the webstore until you find something that does. It’s that simple, folks.

Pulling the gloves on and off is a cinch, and the break-in period is virtually non-existent. A couple of track sessions or a halfway decent ride in the canyons will have them molded to your hands nicely, which is an observation that I’d extend to most modern sport gloves in this price bracket. Pre-curved digits with accordion paneling help with articulation, too, while the new synthetic gauntlet portion helps prevent bunching. They also fit true to size, so reference the Italian brand’s sizing guide.

In terms of ventilation, Alpinestars uses perforation on the digits and underneath the DFS knuckle protectors. Let’s not mince words here: this is a leather glove, and airflow is being sacrificed in the name of outright protection. Still, there are a few elements, such as the new synthetic material used in the gauntlet area that does encourage some semblance of airflow.

The Alpinestars GP Pro R4 gloves are available in sizes ranging from S to 3XL, accommodating a broad spectrum of riders. Those looking into sport riding, whether on the racetrack or the street, would be wise to give the R4s a look in our latest episode of In Gear.

Wanna pick up a pair? Check them out here: imp.i104546.net/GKGAJV

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