Summary
The Sliders Cold Pro Waterproof Kevlar Riding Gloves pack a lot of value into a great pair of gloves. It’s hard to find a good waterproof winter glove under $50, but this one fits the bill.
Intro
Sliders is a house brand for Competition Accessories. They are using the Sliders brand to market their line of riding gear that includes Kevlar. Their other house brands are Aeromoto and Shadow.
Feel and Sizing
The Competition Accessories website states that these gloves run slightly small for a snug fit. They suggest you order a size up if you want a roomier glove. When I measured my hand I was at 8.25” which is right between medium and large. I went with the large size and the glove fit great. The first time I put the glove on my hand I had to work my fingers in there a little bit, but after that the liners were settled the glove fit firmly.
Construction and Protection
The Sliders Cold Pro glove is constructed of a variety of materials. The outer shell is a mix of textile, goat skin, cowhide, and molded plastic knuckle protectors. When looking at the glove all the yellow areas and the reflective patch on the top of the hand are textile. There is goat skin reinforcement in the palm and the cowhide covers the whole palm, back of the hand, wrist adjuster, and wrist protection area.
There is additional padding sewn into the heel of the hand and along the outside of the gauntlet for additional impact protection of the wrist. On the Competition Accessories website the knuckle protector looks like it is carbon fiber. It is actually clear molded plastic with a mesh material underneath for styling. The knuckle protectors were comfortable and it did not hurt my hand during our ride.
The Sliders Cold Pro gloves come in a lot of different colors. Personally. I like the Hi-Viz yellow in a waterproof glove. When it’s time for a waterproof glove to come out the extra visibility of the Hi-Viz yellow and the reflective area on the top of the glove could literally be a lifesaving feature.
The only adjustment on the glove is a gauntlet closure to help you close the glove down on the sleeve of your jacket. I was also trying out the Aeromoto Sport Leather Jacket on this ride and this glove fit great over the sleeve of that jacket. The gauntlet is not overly bulky, so tucking it into your rain jacket will not be an issue.
With all Sliders products, Kevlar is a part of its construction. You can find Kevlar in the palm of this glove. The waterproof membrane in the glove is made of a breathable fabric called Hipora.
Comfort
My test ride for this glove ranged in temperature from 46-64 degrees F. When it was cooler the glove worked great keeping my hands warm, but during the warmer part of the day it wasn’t really cool enough for such an insulated glove. I did continue wearing these gloves to test the breathable part of the waterproof lining. With all winter gloves I have a problem with my hands sweating and these were no different. However, the Hipora membrane did a great job keeping the moisture down inside the glove. I’m not going to say it was bone dry, but it was a lot drier than I was expecting. I believe the Thinsulate liner can be blamed for what moisture was left in the glove, but overall the glove remained comfortable all day.
During the cooler part of the day I did use my grip heaters on my Yamaha FJR1300. I also have Grip Puppies installed. I ran the heaters on high and I was able to feel the heat through the grip puppies and the Sliders Cold Pro gloves. By the time it got to my hand through all those layers the heat was subtle, but it did make a difference.
There is nothing more disappointing than a glove claiming to be waterproof and then the first time it rains on you they soak through and leave your hands wet and aching from the cold. In order to verify the waterproof claim I filled up a bucket of water, put the Sliders Cold Pro gloves on, and fully submerged them. The water sat outside for a while and the temperature was about 40 degrees F. I kept the gloves submerged for over 15 minutes and my hands stayed warm and dry the whole time! It is refreshing to get your hands on a product that actually delivers on its promise.
What Could Be Improved
The only complaint I have with the Sliders Cold Pro glove is the lack of a wrist strap. I would prefer a glove to have a wrist strap in case of a crash. Shortly after I got these gloves I did see a new product on the Competition Accessories website called the Sliders Quest glove. The Sliders Quest glove is basically the same as the Cold Pro except it is a leather glove with a wrist strap. If you prefer a wrist strap or you just want a leather glove it will only cost about $10 more.
Final Opinion
If you are in the market for a waterproof winter glove that is actually waterproof you owe it to yourself to check out the Sliders Cold Pro gloves . I am surprised how fully featured this glove is for under $50. Prior to trying these gloves out I was looking at gloves in the $200 range. Now I have $150 left over for more gear and farkles!
Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or would like to know anything I may have forgotten to mention please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond as quickly as possible. The opinions in this review are my own. If you found this review helpful, please consider supporting our sponsors with future purchases.
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