What makes a motorcycle glove “wind-proof”? We’re glad you asked!  A rider feels the wind anytime they are moving.  In warmer weather, there is no greater feeling.  But in cold, blustery weather, the wind can chill you to the bone. It helps to have gear — and gloves — that use a barrier to the wind to make your ride more comfortable. Here’s what you need to know.more The basic technology for a windproof glove is this: the outer shell or inner lining material is laminated with a waterproof and breathable film. The main point is that adding this laminated layer...

Here’s the key: gloves need to fit just right.  We know some women will try to get by with a men’s size small glove … and some women can. But the scale and proportion of a woman’s hand truly is different.  We design gloves specifically for women — not only to make them feminine from a style perspective — but to make them fit. Truth is, fit complaints are the #1 concern of riders of BOTH sexes.  We suggest that you purchase gloves specifically designed to fit a woman’s hand, not scaled down versions of a mans gloves. Want to know...

Last month, we attended the 2014 Outdoor Retailer Winter Show in Salt Lake City.   This show is always a source of inspiration, and if you’ve never been there, I’d highly recommend a future visit. Leading technical materials suppliers use this venue to introduce new materials for high performance gloves, apparel and sports gear, and manufacturers show off new product lines. I wanted to share some of the highlights that have really excited us as we head into a new season of product development for our customers. Technical Materials:  2014 Innovations for Glove Manufacturers: Here are three innovative new materials that we are excited...

Win a FREE pair of gloves for someone you love this Valentines Day! To enter: LIKE our Olympia Gloves Facebook page   comment telling us who the gloves are for   tell us why you would like this special person to win. A winner will be selected at random on the 14th of February 1pm EST.  Celebrate Love this month, by giving a great pair of motorcycle gloves to someone YOU love. Good Luck!

As the saying goes, “Dress for the slide, not for the ride.“ Sometimes your gear is the only thing between you and the road, so it only makes sense to be sure your gear is the safest it can be, without sacrificing comfort. Today, we’re taking a look at a rider’s best options for hand protection.   Historically that meant leather, until other advanced materials appeared on the scene. Now, riders have a full range of options:  leather, metal, Kevlar and other advanced “body armor” aramid fibers, rubberized composite materials, high density foam, and more. Let’s look at each, to help you...

There are a number of challenging aspects of making great gloves. At the top of the list is correct fit. In fact, fit is the biggest consumer complaint when it comes to gloves. To demonstrate, here’s a recent consumer letter that is absolutely typical: “ … my biggest gripe with most gloves on the market today is that they seem to be fitted for slender Asian or European hands. I have broad palms and relatively stubby fingers, and 90% of the gloves that I try on don’t even come close to fitting properly. Your 4350’s are a wonderful exception to that...

Heat Trapping Fibers Keep Hands Warm Your body is like a furnace — constantly breaking down the fuel you put into it and turning it into the energy that keeps you moving. In the winter, you can stay warm during outdoor activities – so long as you keep that heat contained. Problem is, when riding a motorcycle at 60+ mph, your hands are constantly exposed to the elements, and especially vulnerable to heat loss. Thankfully, the wizards at 3M invented Thinsulate®.  This insulating material offers “warmth without bulk” … and when added to motorcycle gloves, helps to keep hands warm.more Thinsulate® Motorcycle Gloves: ...

Do you ever feel that you just can’t get to the bottom of your inbox? Each day, there’s a new tidal wave of emails to deal with!  Here’s what I’ve come to realize.  In a global business, we need to travel more … and email less. This month’s editorial in The Sourcing Journal makes a related point.  Editor Ed Hertzman’s view is that only by seeing manufacturers with your own eyes, can you truly make good sourcing decisions.  According to Ed, travel has benefits that can’t be overstated.  He writes: ” … visit the factory your office suggests for your next order. How...

Women who ride are happier and more fulfilled.  So says a marketing study published by Harley Davidson two weeks ago. It’s a good read. (republished below). Kudos to H-D for trying to introduce new women to our sport … as market leader, they are doing a great job with their Riders Edge courses, and other outreach programs. But here’s my question:  with all the positive benefits for women motorcyclists, isn’t it about time the rest of our industry kicks the stereotypical “fender fluff” image of women riders to the curb? What The H-D Women’s Motorcycle Study Says … Among other things,...

We recently attended a power sports trade show, and saw a wide range of gloves.  Our visit reminded us how difficult it is for a glove buyer to sort out manufacturing options.  We saw everything from the best quality leather gloves, to inferior gloves made of mismatched scraps. Never was the saying “buyer beware” more apt! Today we want to outline a process to find and research the right leather glove manufacturer for your needs. How To Find and Choose a Leather Glove Manufacturer?                      When vetting glove companies as potential manufacturing partners, an old ad slogan comes to mind:  “An Educated...

How did you learn to ride?  Did you take an MSF class?  Did a veteran rider teach you the do’s and the dont’s? Whether you’re new to the sport or more skilled, if you slip into poor riding habits, you could easily find yourself in a position that will turn you into a Mack truck grill ornament. Today, writer and motorcyclist Marilyn Elmore gives some share-worthy advice to help you avoid a potential accident: more THE “SCAN” Back when I learned to ride we didn’t have riding clinics. You threw your leg over the saddle, listened to the seasoned veteran tell...

For our last post of the year, we return to a subject that is near and dear … leather! Last week, we explained some of the considerations that go into choosing the appropriate leather for a glove project. We examined: What is glove leather, and how is it different than leather used for other garments? What are the best types of leather for different types of gloves? As we explained, the choice of leather greatly affects the fit and feel of your finished glove. Today, we want to explain some basic terminology related to tanning and testing leather, to help...