The Klim Vanguard Gore-Tex gloves were just about perfect for touring through Japan as the seasons changed and here’s why… They sit bang in the middle of winter and summer riding but cope with either and that’s exactly what we needed.
They’re light with short cuffs and a Gore-Tex membrane, so it didn’t matter if one day I’d be riding through the sun and the next I’d hit a downpour. Using this type of glove meant I didn’t have to flit between chunky winter warmers and summer mesh gloves.
They come with lots of nice touches like an easy-close system with a sturdy zip and Velcro fastener. They’re also easy to get on thanks to the pull tab. They come with plenty of protection, tough goat leather, reflective panelling, padding for the palm and flexible rubber knuckle protection.
Also handy are the touchscreen fingertips, which come in extremely useful when touring and playing about with sat-navs and phones, especially in the rain as it saves taking gloves on and off.
Photography: Alissa Potter
The Gore-Tex membrane doesn’t make your hands sweaty in the summer months and does a fantastic job of keeping the water out. It also has a handy visor wipe on the index finger too.
But most importantly, the inside of the glove doesn’t get stuck to your fingers and come out when you yank your hand out. There’s nothing more annoying when riding in wet conditions than spending 20 minutes trying to shove a glove’s liner back in.
However, they’re not winter gloves and if the temperature drops below double digits, you’ll feel it. The Vanguards are best suited for warm, cool and rainy days.
Overall, these gloves are well-made, tough with excellent build quality and a great fit. They’re all-day comfy when on the bike and will see you through most of the year.
Fit & Comfort
The Vanguards are comfortable gloves, although the fingers feel a little long, so be careful when sizing.
Breathability
The Gore-Tex is waterproof and breathable, but there are no additional vents.
Protection
Good leather protection, rubber knuckles and palm protection too – but there’s no CE rating, and there’s a limit to what you can expect from a short glove.
Build quality
Typically for Klim products, build quality is very good.
Features
Touchscreen-enabled fingertips, visor wipe, pull loop to make getting them on easy and a zip and Velcro closure make for good features, though CE approval would see the score improve.
Former MCN journalist Andy Davidson and his partner Alissa Potter are travelling the world by bike, and reviewing products for SBS Mag while they’re on the road. You can read more about their adventures at their Mad Or Nomad blog.