Summary
The Fox Polarpaw glove is an affordable glove that offers good protection, but perhaps it was not named properly. If you are looking for a cold weather glove I would not suggest these gloves, but if you want a glove to transition from mesh gloves to cold weather gloves the Polarpaw will fill that gap. They are reasonably priced at $39.99 so adding these gloves to your arsenal won’t break the bank.
Introduction
As the weather started cooling off I knew my mesh riding gloves were not going to cut it. I started looking for a good pair of cold weather gloves that would be good for dual sporting. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on really nice gloves since they are very likely to get muddy and messed up while riding off road. Eventually, I stumbled upon the Fox Polarpaw glove.
Feel and Sizing
All the Fox gloves I have had were sized a little small. The Polarpaw is no exception. I ordered a size large and they were definitely snug, but not uncomfortable. I would suggest ordering one size up if you don’t like a tight glove. The Polarpaw is very flexible and offers excellent feel for the handlebars and levers. The first thing I noticed is the small opening in the back. Since the wrist closure is made largely of rubber there was less stretch in the material. It can be a little challenging to get the glove on and off.
Construction and Protection
These gloves have some nice features.
- Double layer Clarino palm – Clarino is synthetic leather that is easier to care for, stronger, and lighter than cow leather.
- Knuckle Protection – The knuckles are protected with molded rubber and a padded neoprene area. While this protection is not as beefy as a more street oriented glove, it is adequate for off road riding.
- Velcro wrist closure – There is an easy to use Velcro wrist closure that comfortably fits underneath a jacket.
- Insulation – I am honestly not sure what the insulation is in these gloves. It seems to be cloth covered neoprene, but its definitely not thick or bulky.
Comfort
The Polarpaw glove was comfortable all day and it did not really require any break in period. Operating my Kawasaki KLR650 was no problem and the gloves protected my hands well when I went down on the trails. The temperature ranged from the high 40’s to upper 50’s on the test ride and the gloves were adequate protection from the cool air, but I could definitely feel the cold air making its way into the glove at street speeds. I would not recommend these gloves for temperatures much lower than 45 degrees F.
When you are on the trail the slower speeds and increase in physical activity make these gloves worth having. I still would not rely on them in temperatures below freezing, but having a glove with less thickness and insulation makes trail riding easier and keeps your hands from sweating and becoming cold from the dampness.
What Could Be Improved
The first thing Fox should do is change the name of this glove. Polarpaw suggests that these gloves are much warmer than they are. The next improvement they could make is enlarging the wrist opening. That would make the glove much easier to get in and out of.
Final Opinion
The Fox Polarpaw glove is a good cool weather glove. That temperature range may be different for each person depending on their tolerance to cold, but I would say it should be used in the Spring and Fall. These gloves pack small so they are easy to carry along. When it gets colder I carry the Polarpaw gloves with me and put them on after airing down my tires for the trail. That way I can wear my Sliders Cold Pro gloves on the street to get to the trails and swap out to a more appropriate trail glove for offroad riding. The Polarpaw has its place in your glove line up, but don't let the name fool you.
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.
