Held Phantom vs A* GP Pro/Tech vs Knox Handroid

[JettaJayGLS]

I've narrowed my choices for new gloves down to these four. All seem like comparable gloves, what do you like and why? I know a lot of people on here swear by the Helds? Why? From the looks of it, they have the least amount of armor. I know that is not everything, I know you can disguise crap materials with cool looking plastic stuff that actually does nothing, but is that the case for these gloves? As much as I'm not a fan of the over-the-top styling of the knox, the wrist support looks pretty nice.

Phantoms - $290


GP Pro - $230


GP Tech - $300


Knox Handroid - $250

[Puppet]

I've been wearing the GP Pros for a few years now because they fit. They've held up well through a few crashes, but I'm well aware that there are some complaints out there about the A* gloves not being to the caliber of their suits. I love the Helds, but just can't fit them. If I could fit them, they're what I'd be in. Are the GP Tech's back this year? I know A* took them out of the line a few years back

[HO-HUM-R1]

Subscribing

I haven't owned any of 'em but I know the Held from what i've seen are always at the top of everybody's list. As far as the knox glove, if you go 1 step down from the handroid there is a really nice 1 too. Think its called th bio mech.

Sportbiketrackgear has reviews for all of this stuff on youtube

[JettaJayGLS]

I've been wearing the GP Pros for a few years now because they fit. They've held up well through a few crashes, but I'm well aware that there are some complaints out there about the A* gloves not being to the caliber of their suits. I love the Helds, but just can't fit them. If I could fit them, they're what I'd be in. Are the GP Tech's back this year? I know A* took them out of the line a few years back

They're on A*'s website http://www.alpinestars.com/shop/cate...p-tech-gloves/

Sportbiketrackgear has reviews for all of this stuff on youtube

I've watched em. They do give explanations of the features, but a survey of 1 persons thoughts are not enough to form a complete opinion. Especially when that 1 person is trying to sell all of the gloves listed, haha.

[idratherberidin]

There are a lot of fake Alpinestars GP Pros on the market so be careful where you buy them from if that's the route you go.

[Lucas]

I have the alpinestars gp techs and for the price I paid for them I can't say I'm 100% happy. I've owned them for a couple years and they still don't feel broken in. They did hold up well in a cash though. . .

I put on a pair of helds and right out of the box they felt better.

Consider rev'it brand gloves as well. . .

[Pigman]

Gp Pro's hands down......HAHA


look at Ridersdiscount.....

[03Worc9R]

I have GP Pro's and Held Titans. I loved the fit and feel of the Pro's. I went done in them and they held up great. The do seem to offer a good amount of protection.

The Helds I have are definitely a beautiful glove. I have only worn them about 3 time so far, but they are very comfortable and the quality looks to be top notch. The sizing in the Helds is an exact number(7,8,9,10,11), as the sizing in the A* is a s,m,l,xl....

[obsolete]

I bought a left over pair of GP Techs or Pros (can't remember) and they fit me great. I can say they've held up fine through 2 seasons of riding but no crashing so I can't attest to that. They don't really look worn at all. I know Pete has them as well and has crashed in them so he could probably help with some info.

I have heard way better about the Helds though. They seem much beefier as well. When I'm due for another pair of gloves I'll be trying on the Helds and if they fit I'll be going that route.

If you're a medium you're welcome to try my A*s on and if I remember correctly Nick wears Helds and he'd probably let you try them on.

[JettaJayGLS]

I bought a left over pair of GP Techs or Pros (can't remember) and they fit me great. I can say they've held up fine through 2 seasons of riding but no crashing so I can't attest to that. They don't really look worn at all. I know Pete has them as well and has crashed in them so he could probably help with some info.

I have heard way better about the Helds though. They seem much beefier as well. When I'm due for another pair of gloves I'll be trying on the Helds and if they fit I'll be going that route.

If you're a medium you're welcome to try my A*s on and if I remember correctly Nick wears Helds and he'd probably let you try them on.

Thanks for the offer. I'm currently rocking A*s sp2 or something like that in a medium, so I think I'm guessing they'd fit similar? I'm pretty sure Nick run's rev-its, but I haven't seen him in a while, so that could have changed.

[NPDCPA]

I scored a BNIB pair of GP Pros and am going to ride those this year in exchange for my Helds which put down twice last season. They crashed very well with the carbon knuckles bashed in on one hand being the only obvious damage.

The fit between the Sz 10 Helds and XL GP Pros is completely different. Held fits comfortably where the GP Pro is snug all around, but per the instructions that's how they are meant to be. Something to get used to. I've wiped them down with baseball glove oil to assist break in but we'll see what a few sweaty days will do make the comfort approach that of the Helds out of the box.

[obsolete]

Thanks for the offer. I'm currently rocking A*s sp2 or something like that in a medium, so I think I'm guessing they'd fit similar? I'm pretty sure Nick run's rev-its, but I haven't seen him in a while, so that could have changed.

Usually sizing bucks for companies stay the same for a while. Usually. So If I had to guess with out any other research I'd say they're pretty close.

[keeena]

Definitely try them on to see what fits you best.

I like the Held (that's what I usually wear), but the A* Pro and A*Tech are solid gloves too. The Helds fit great right from the get-go...very little break in needed. No pressure points, almost like a second skin.

[CBR929RE]

both my GP Pros and GP Plus felt broken in right away. very comfortable. the Pros have taken a couple of crashes and only needed to be repaired because the bar or brake lever went through the finger bridge when we hit the ground. Only other complaint is the felt like leather on the inside of the thumb that goes around the grip isn't the best and have worn through on the throttle side just from riding. That was a year or 2 of street riding and a few years of track days. Part of the problem I think is that I would grip the bar too tight and have always used gel type grips rather than just the plain rubber type. That part on the GP Tech looks to be made of a better material.

[Lxpony]

GP Pros can be purchased from Riders discount for $195.00 shipped.....

[hawk]

Held are fantastic. Get them a bit tight because they will loosen after some use.

[Kurlon]

The suggested sizing method for Helds is get the smallest pair you can jam your meathooks in. Feels really weird at first but they mold to your hands REAL fast.

[ff36buell]

Jay I have the Helds, have been awesome but will need a new pair of gloves soon. I blew out the right palm and finger tips are looking thin. It has been roughly three years though, maybe four. Awesome glove for the street and track imho. Pete had A*s, I can't remember which ones, and now I think he's in Held Phantoms too.

Nick

[OreoGaborio]

Yeah, I went through the whole line of A*'s... GP Plus, then GP Pro, then GP Tech. I wasn't happy with any of them. They all wore out WAY too soon (2 seasons or less) through NORMAL USE and all in the same spot (left palm).

I finally got off the A*'s humpwaggon and went with Held Phantoms. GLAD I DID! I got em at the end of '09 (I bought my GP Techs at the beginning of '08 ) and they just now STARTING to get to the point where they could stand replacing, but I could probably squeeze another season out of them pretty easily. I had a couple of major offs with them (in turn 8 no less) and suffered no major hand injuries, save for a split knuckle when the handlebar drove my fist into the ground at roughly 100mph (understandable, I suppose). The gloves themselves held up quite well. Overall, I've been very happy with my Phantoms and would purchase them again in a heartbeat if I didn't love the way the Rev'It Jerez felt on my hands.

Speaking of the Rev'It Jerez... definitely check them out in person and compare side-by-side with the Helds if you can. I got my Helds at Seacoast and they carry the Jerez as well. Fit & feel of the Jerez was amaaaaaazing.

Handroids - I've seen these in person as well. Tried them on but didn't ride with them on... they feel like a really comfortable and solid glove, but just WAAYY too gimmicky for my taste. Way too many fragile things to break on the outside if you go pavement surfing and I'm not a fan of that at all. Don't think I'd ever pay a dime for em because of that.

[Kazinator]

Fulmer G8 gloves.

Great quality at a fraction of the cost. Oh and they stand behind their products too.
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...thumbs-up.html

[JettaJayGLS]

Jay I have the Helds, have been awesome but will need a new pair of gloves soon. I blew out the right palm and finger tips are looking thin. It has been roughly three years though, maybe four. Awesome glove for the street and track imho. Pete had A*s, I can't remember which ones, and now I think he's in Held Phantoms too.

Nick

I stand corrected.

Gonna get yourself on the track again this year? I have a set of leathers that will fit you pretty good if you need em...

Speaking of the Rev'It Jerez... definitely check them out in person and compare side-by-side with the Helds if you can. I got my Helds at Seacoast and they carry the Jerez as well. Fit & feel of the Jerez was amaaaaaazing.

I think this will be my game-plan.

Fulmer G8 gloves.

Great quality at a fraction of the cost. Oh and they stand behind their products too.
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...thumbs-up.html

Although they are probably a good glove for the street, I don't think they're cut out for the track. I think my current A*s are on a similar level.

[eboos]

I have had both the GP Techs (bought in 2006) and the Phantoms (bought in 2007). Alpinestars has had problems with the stitching on their gloves coming apart. Mine lasted 2 weeks before a crash blew open the palm, and from then on I only used them for mini supermoto. Since then, the fingers began coming unstitched which was completely unrelated to the previous crash damage.

The Phantoms I wore until I stopped racing at the end of 2010. Aside from the thumb on my left glove just wearing through, they held up great. I am allergic to latex rubber, and the wiper blade on the left pointer finger always caused a reaction, but my hands were safe. I crashed twice in these gloves, with no damage (no heavy hand impact in either of these crashes). If I could get the Phantoms without the rubber wiper, I would buy them again in a heartbeat.

[Karate.Snoopy]

I was looking for a nice pair of gloves for Street riding, may be slip in a couple of track days sometime later this year.
Considering picking up the Held Phantoms, currently priced at 200$ on Revzilla. The handroid at 250$ looks very cool too. Any one have experience with both? Which ones did you like better?

[Jim]

Held Phantoms are the best. hands down. so many racers have crash tested the Phantoms and never needed any repairs on them

[JettaJayGLS]

Yep, I bought the phantoms and couldn't be happier. The phantoms are being discounted a new style has came out. I'm not sure about the benefits of the new version vs the old as I have not watched any of the videos or looked at reviews...but the old versions at 200 are steal. I've have crash tested these multiple times. They're perfect.