Tucano Urbano Barone - £79.99 - www.tucanourbano.com
I’ve been using these gloves for about two months now and wear them when commuting back and forward from Coventry to London. I’ve covered about 1500 miles in the gloves riding my long-term press bike, the Honda Africa Twin.
Construction:
The outer of the glove is made of 100% goat leather with a faux sheepskin inner lining covering the back of the hand and cuff. There is a HYDROSCUD, waterproof membrane within the glove and moulded knuckle protectors on the back of each hand.
Fit and feel:
I usually find a medium in gloves to work for me so that’s what I went for with the Barone gloves. There is some room to spare at end of each finger although not so much that it makes them feel clumsy, I could have just gone a size down and still been comfortable.
The feel of the gloves when riding is very good, both on controls and the switchgear. The palm is much thinner and softer than the back of the glove and helps to stop that vague feeling on the bars some winter gloves can create.
There is are adjustment straps on the wrist that enable you to secure the glove a side zip on the cuff to keep them snuggly fitted.
Protection:
The gloves have rigid, moulded knuckle protectors that are set within the glove making them almost invisible. There is a small D3O padded section located above your scaphoid, it’s the bone most people break when they fall off a bike and allows your thumb to move and rotate. Each finger includes a soft, exterior padded section that while I’m not sure it would offer much protection in a crash it does add some body to the product.
The Barone are constructed to meet EN 13594:2015–CE safety standards for motorbike gloves.
Warmth:
One of the best things about these gloves is the warmth, I was happily surprised by how well they keep the winter chill at bay. On the coldest mornings, I’ll still have the heated grips on a low setting, but I could get away with not having the heated grips on at all. And on a 100-mile commute at motorway speeds, that’s a massive compliment to pay a pair of gloves.
Waterproofing:
If you wear the gloves correctly, with jacket tucked over the cuff, they are absolutely waterproof with no leaks or moisture getting in at all. If though you put them on in a rush and don’t tuck your jacket over the glove, moisture will run down your arm soaking the sheepskin and taking hours to dry out.
Verdict:
I always had this idea that Tucano Urbano only made scooter gear and kit you’d wear for light commuting, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well they’ve held up to some proper winter riding.
The warmth, waterproofing, and comfort make these an excellent choice for anyone looking to tour, commute or ride through the winter months and beyond. They’re also styled in such a way they can be worn off the bike too, making them a doubly useful piece of kit to have.
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