Defender
Dakine's Defender is a mountain bike glove for warm weather featuring hard knuckle deflectors and palm skid pad. The design of the glove is rather complex. It is definitely not your grandpa's glove. It comprises numerous different materials and shapes each serving a specific function. The result is high quality durable lightweight hand protection.
I tested the Dakine's Defender gloves for several weeks on technically challenging cross-country mountain bike trails. All day rides, endless climbs, steep down hills, crashes....they've seen it all and they stood up to the challenge. Light and well ventilated, the gloves are easy to forget about while riding , but they're the good news for hands when the bike is rubber side up.
The only issue I experienced with the Defender is slight incompatibility of the hard palm skid pads with the ergonomic handlebar grips. The pads are located right over the extended parts of the grips which sometimes results in odd palm position. This should not b e the issue with the regular handlebar grips. There are certainly a lot more pros:
- High Quality, Durable
- Great protection
- Lightweight
- Good fit and articulation
- Brake gripper fingertips
- Well ventilated, breathable
- Aggressive look
Bottom line, Dakine's Defender is one of the most advanced gloves on the market offering great protection while not sacrificing comfort.
-Denis