Held has updated their popular Air n Dry gloves, a great 4 season glove option for riders! I say updated, but all they really changed is the addition of touchscreen material on the index finger and thumb so you can work your smartphone or GPS devices easily and it does seem to work on both Android and Apple products here at the shop.
Aside from that are just some minor call outs, the palms on version II are all black versus the gray with black overlays of the original style. The knuckle protector is slightly narrower so that it lays more center on the back of the hand and the vents in that main knuckle protector are a few milimeters wider so you get a little more airflow. The fourchettes (sides of the fingers) are actually perforated on version II as well for even more airflow when using the “Breezy” compartment.
This is one pair of gloves that will get most riders through 4 seasons of riding. Held pulls this off with an assist from Gore-Tex® in the form of a dual chamber glove. At the cuff there are two chamber entrances, one on top of the hand with a pull tab that reads “Dry” with Gore-Tex® below it. This “Dry” chamber has a full Gore-Tex® wind and waterproof membrane to keep you dry in the most intense situations. The perforations and ventilation on the gloves allow air to flow across the Gore-Tex® membrane which draws out any moisture that might accumulate through sweat to keep you dry and comfortable in most riding temperatures. If you are riding in extreme cold, you might need a glove liner or heated grips, but otherwise these will do the trick. The lower chamber is labeled “Breezy” on the pull tab and opens to the palm side of the glove. This gives you direct ventilation through the palm and fourchettes while compressing the Gore-Tex® liner to the top of the glove. Airflow over the top of the glove will move against and around the liner, providing some airflow to the top of the hand but not as much as a full mesh glove would. The result is a glove that works wet or dry, cold to hot depending on your temperature tolerance. Someone that wants maximum airflow is still going to want a full mesh or perforated backhand but most riders will be able to ride 3-4 seasons in these great gloves. :: Mike, 07-29-2023