Date reviewed: September 2023 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £339.99 | www.alpinestars.com
The Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves on review here are described by the Italian company as being ‘professional race gloves engineered to deliver superior protection’. With their high quality construction, exotic materials and Level 2 protection, they’re certainly an impressive pair of gloves when you get them in – and on – your hands, but I’ve been wearing them for about six months on a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R, a 2001 Honda VFR800 and a 2019 BMW R1250GS to answer the question we all have… are the £339.99 Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves worth the money?
Pros & Cons
- Level 2 protection
- Exceptional build quality
- Very good venting
- Material on back of hand ‘fluffs up’
- No smartphone control
- Very expensive
Construction, fit and feel
The Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves are very unusual with the stretch-fabric on the top of the hand and bonded knuckle protectors. Available in this black/yellow fluoro, black/red fluoro and black/white colour schemes, the palms are leather with an overall outer-shell construction that’s 31% goat leather, 27% kangaroo and 9% cow. The rest is 11% polyamide, 10% polyester, 8% polyurethane and 4% Kevlar.
Inside, the lining is a mix of polyester and cotton, but it’s the 48% of it that’s Kevlar lining the top and outside edge of the thumb on the interior that’s most prominent when you look inside.
A stretch panel at the web of the thumb, pre-curved fingers and accordion panels on the two forefingers and back of the thumb combine with the stretch upper to give plenty of movement: while a solid-feeling construction, I’ve no problem moving my hands around in the GP Tech V2s and using the bike’s controls.
Though still looking very good, the stretch material on the knuckle and back of the fingers has ‘fluffed up’ in some areas. There’s no apparent loss of protection or integrity, and it doesn’t totally ruin their look, but it’s something worth noting.
Fit is of course entirely subjective, so it’s vital that you try any gloves on before you buy (or any other bike kit for that matter), but as is typical for me with Alpinestars, I had to go up from my usual size large to XL. Even then though, the GP Tech V2s are extremely snug and still feel tight to put on.
Once over my hands, I’ll avoid using the obvious cliché but they really do hug every part of my mitts almost perfectly. I say almost, as at this price I can be fully justified in knit-picking, and I find the thumbs to be just a touch big for me. Everywhere else though they’re perfect, and while they don’t feel like you’re not wearing gloves, only after taking these off and putting on others do you realise just how well designed and unrestrictive they are, with none of the pressure-points on the top you’d usually have.
With hot, sweaty hands these Alpinestars can be a challenge for me to put on in a rush – for instance if I’ve had to take them off to show my wrist band to a track marshal – but everyone’s hands are different sizes and once one, there’s no way these are going to pull off in a crash.
Protection and certification
By law in the UK and Europe, all gloves have to be certified to EN13594:2015. That doesn’t mean you have to wear them of course, but it’s your guarantee that if you’re buying motorcycle gloves – at whatever price – they’ve been proven to meet a set of minimum requirements for protection.
There are two levels – Level 1 and Level 2, with the majority of gloves for sale being Level 1. If a brand doesn’t tell you the Level, it’s the lower. Of course, there will be gloves that are better than others in both levels, but only Level 2 gloves have been proven through independent lab testing to have the higher abrasion and impact resistance, as well as the better seam and burst strength.
The Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves are certified as Level 2, meaning they’ve been proven to offer more overall protection than the vast majority of gloves out there.
The layered palms and outside edges, along with the Kevlar interior that wraps around the side of the thumb will be providing the abrasion resistance, while the padded upper and moulded knuckle protectors combine to give the impact protection. The main knuckle protectors are dual-density and – unlike some other gloves – don’t restrict movement or press against the hand in use. They’re a very sleek design that also reduce the number of seams for a potentially stronger construction as well as a better fit.
The ring and little finger are joined to reduce the chance of a break, and there’s a good amount of hard and soft protection around the wrist bone.
All motorcycle clothing sold in the UK and Europe is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is a good thing for riders as it can help them choose kit that has provable levels of safety as to meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. To fully understand the labels found in all bike kit, click here.
Warm and cold weather use
Ventilation is good on the Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves, the perforated cuffs and the holes between the fingers – not to mention the very breathable stretch panel at the web of thumb – allowing a good amount of air to pass through them. Air is able to blow through the fabric upper too, though of course not to the extent of the incredibly well-vented Five RFX2 airflow gloves.
Unsurprisingly, these GP Tech V2s aren’t going to be suitable for winter use as even with heated grips there’s too much airflow taking the heat away.
Wet weather use
These are not waterproof gloves, so like all leather kit, if you get caught out in the rain be sure to let them dry naturally: do no try to force them to dry more quickly on a radiator. For more information on leather care, click here.
Fastening
The wrist restraint on the Alpinestars GP Tech V2s is extremely secure, ensuring they won’t pull off in a slide. It’s a bit of a faff to fasten the Velcro under the protective flap, but once in place it’s solid and reliable. The end of the strap is also flared, so it won’t pull out of the buckle during use.
The cuffs have plenty of space to go over leathers, though really bulky jacket sleeves might be a bit of a fiddle. The cuff restraint secures well, with plenty of adjustment in the Velcro.
Lining
The soft lining helps the gloves slide on past the narrow wrist opening, and is comfortable in use. The top face of the inside is entirely Kevlar, and this too feels good against the skin.
Touchscreen compatibility
The Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves haven’t been designed with smartphone use in mind, the tips of the fingers not being conductive at all.
I have found though that the pads of the fingers – and the thumb – can operate my phone’s screen, if rather clunkily due to the size of the contact area. It’s also worth noting that although sat-nav screens are far more sensitive, even the Garmin XT2 struggles to sense the touch of these fingers, requiring just a little more angle when selecting options.
Still, there’s not much call to search for the nearest petrol station while racing around a track.
Four alternatives to the Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves
There are very few gloves available that have proven they offer the higher protection of Level 2, but here are some others you might like to consider…
These are just four of many alternatives – you can find all the motorcycle gloves we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.
Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves review: Verdict
The Alpinestars GP Tech V2 gloves really are designed for race use: they’re not the kind of gloves you whip on and off as you stop to grab a drink or pick up some shopping. These are designed to be put on properly, then to protect your hands with as little interference as possible. And they do that very well indeed.
Whether or not you can justify the price is something only you can decide, but these are a significant step above many of the gloves on the market in their materials and construction, without being gimmicky. It’s a shame the fabric on the top can become frayed, but there’s no getting past the fact that it does make for a very conforming fit with no pressure points. Overall, a very impressive pair of gloves that work well on the road and excel on the track.
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