Five RFX Sport Evo gloves black

The Five RFX Sport Evo is a racing-style glove constructed from full-grain goat hide. We like goat leather for a glove. It is thinner and more supple than cowhide but, for its thickness, it's stronger.

 

In many areas the leather is perforated for extra breathability.

 

Of course, what the RFX Sport Evo has in common with most racing gloves is that it comes without a membrane. That means that the glove is going to be light, supple and breathable. The downside is that you won't have a membrane to protect you from the effects of the wind, so this is not going to be a warm glove. The absence of a membrane also means, obviously, that it will be pretty useless in the rain!

 

Protection comes in the form of a hard knuckle protector that's backed with foam to absorb the energy of an impact. To the same end you get foam bumpers on the fingers and thumb. There's a larger one on the outside of the wrist, but it's not overly obtrusive.

 

On the palm, and lining the inside of the thumb, there are panels of perforated synthetic suede, which are designed to give you a little added purchase on the bars.

 

You also get a hard plastic slider on the palm.

 

The defining feature on a racing glove is its longer cuff. And the RFX Sport Evo certainly has one of those. Now the reason a racing glove has a longer cuff is so that it can go over a racing suit's sleeve, and that's certainly how you can wear the RFX. It will go over the sleeve of most leather jackets. It will probably go over the sleeves of many textile jackets too.

 

But a large Velcro flap will equally allow you to cinch the glove's cuff down tight to enable it to be tucked inside the sleeve of a jacket. With many race gloves there are extra protectors on the cuff that would make this difficult, but you'd have no problems here. You really can wear this glove with the cuff inside, or outside, the sleeve of a jacket.

 

In truth, there's not a whole lot more to add.

 

There's another Velcro strap to tighten the glove at the wrist. There's some reflective detailing for better nighttime visibility. And the index finger is touchscreen sensitive.

 

The RFX Sport Evo is a toned-down racing glove. You could wear it on track, but most trackday riders will want something that is more overtly racey. It's probably really aimed at the road-going sportsbike rider. It would work well on a classic sportsbike but it would be equally appropriate on any bike with a sporting bent.