Alpinestars GP Pro R2 Gloves - 2017 (SOLD OUT)

Like most Alpinestars gloves, these gloves run a bit smaller than most glove brands we carry. And in a race glove like this that is made to fit pretty snugly the smaller fit is even more of an issue, therefore I’d recommend you buy one size larger than you normally buy in most brands (other than Alpinestars). If you are sometimes between sizes, then choose the larger of the two. Hopefully you’ve had some experience with buying gloves and can choose based upon the fit of a previous pair. If you have no previous experience with glove sizing, go here for help.

Alpinestars has produced variants of the GP Pro glove for a LONG time and with each version they tweak the fit and features and upgrade the styling a bit. This new “R2” version is brand new for the fall off 2017. These gloves have earned a repluation of being highly protective and comfortable while not being in the stratosphere for price. This glove uses a variety of materials… cow leather, kangaroo in the palm, molded protectors, and on and on… I’m amazed how many materials can be combined in one small piece of gear and still, the gloves feel great and look sharp.

Alpinestars offer a few key features that are a bit beyond what you find in other brand’s race gloves. One is the improved crash protection on the outside of the hand. There is a double layer of leather combined with Kevlar and some foam padding from the heel of the hand all the way down the pinkie. Although you can see it and feel it from the outside, from inside you really can’t even tell it is there, so flexibility is retained. The little finger and ring finger are joined by leather pieces which has now become a very common feature on Alpinestars gloves. The joining of the two fingers gives your more delicate little finger more of a chance to avoid injury if “splinted” to the ring finger. Again, not something you’ll notice, but it is a nice technical enhancement. The other thing I like about these gloves is the finger construction. The seams are to the outside, which means the raw ends of the leather panels that make up the glove are not folded inside against your fingers. This is common with a lot of higher end gloves such as Held as well. The “boxed” finger design allows for a comfortable snug fit without pinching.

The heel of the hand and the outside of the wrist bones get a molded plastic protector which will provide protection, and allow the glove to slide rather than “catch” on pavement in case of a fall. The gloves use perforated leather between the fingers and some parts of the back of the hand. The overall feel of the gloves is not heavy and I think they will flow air well. Of course you get basic things like knuckle protection and a positive Velcro close wrist strap. Overall, another nice version of their most popular race glove model. :: Paul, 09-27-16

Update: I asked our Alpinestars rep to list out the features of this new version that are different/better than the previous version and here is the reply:

CE level 2 (highest level)

DuPont® Kevlar® lining from finger tips to the base of the cuff