Neoprene-style softshell gloves are becoming the dominant solution to variable weather winter riding for good reason and that’s the direction Race Face has gone with the comfortable, versatile Agent glove. The palm grip is excellent too, but ‘smart’ durability potentially lets them down.
The Agents use a reasonably thick DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treated neoprene with a Terry toweling backing for extra warmth and to spread out the sweat for faster drying. Two more pieces of the same material make up the sculpted wrist-hugging cuff with Velcro tightening tab and rubber plug for easy pulling on. The hem is lycra bound and the pre-curved fingers have lycra sides for stretch and mobility despite quite a stiff feel.
As well as the back shrugging off showers and keeping you cozy well down into single figures, the synthetic suede palm and fingers are completely covered in a silicone gripper print for excellent grip and control feedback however wet they get. There’s a Terry toweling snot wipe on the thumbs which also gets a reinforcing patch across their base. There’s a metalled smart touch panel on each index fingertip as well but that tore on one glove early in the test schedule which was a shame. Durability has been good otherwise though.
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Verdict
Slightly expensive but a versatile, comfortable all-weather glove with a particularly good grip. Smart too as long as the tip tabs last.
Tech Specs: Race Face Agent winter gloves
- Price: $35.99 / £36.95
- Colors: Black
- Sizes: S-XL
