Review: Cortech Scarab Winter Gloves

Scarab Winter Glove
Purchased from motorcycle-superstore for around $75.



My experience with gloves is that leather takes some time to "break in" and liners in winter gloves (not motorcycle specific) are always annoying the first time you have push them to properly fit your fingers inside. These gloves are no exception, but once you break them in, they are comfortable. The pre-formed shape is helpful. They are breathable as claimed, and although not 100 percent windproof, but I had a hard time feeling any wind. The gloves are lined with Thinsulate. The websites say 100gm Thinsulate and a cardboard tag on the gloves when new said 40gm, they can't both be right. Morning temperatures are currently just above freezing here, and my hands have felt warm even after 30min at highway speeds.

One thing really great about these gloves is both the wrist strap and gauntlet strap to secure to your hand and to close around the bottom of your jacket. The gauntlet opening is even large enough to fit clamp around my too-big leather jacket sleeves without coming loose while riding.


There is a loss of feeling of the controls due to the extra layers and padding. Some gloves don't have palm padding giving a better feel for the throttle, so that's a personal trade-off. I prefer the warmth and padding, and just takes a little time riding conservatively to adapt to the different feel.

The padding and protection is located in the raised portions seen in the photos with visibly different texture. There is also soft padding in the smooth portion between the knuckles and wrist strap.

This is one of the few winter gloves under $100 that claimed to have armor. The hard armor is across the knuckles, the two large pad shapes at the top of gauntlet, and the small pad shape next to the wrist strap. I squeezed the glove across the knuckles bending the index towards the little finger (like you might do if squeezing water out) and heard a crack like plastic breaking...then I did it again like an idiot. While not convinced of impact protection for the knuckles, the hard armor would probably offer more abrasive protection than just fabric. The tourmaster website claims "Molded titanium/carbon knuckle, finger and wrist protection panels" and "Aniline drum-dyed goatskin palm with abrasion-resistant, titanium/carbon protection panels". The fingers do not have hard armor, and I am suspect of the titanium claims.

For waterproofness, I conducted a test similar to that described in one of webbikeworld's reviews of a winter glove (Roadgear Boss). This glove claims to be waterproof and breathability with it's HiPora liner. First I submerged a glove using dive weights a let it sit for 10 minutes before checking it.

It was soaked inside but almost completely permeated. The picture shows what the paper towel I placed inside looked like:

Not waterproof. I though maybe that was too long, so I took the other glove, put it on, and submerged my gloved hand.

I immediately felt the glove absorbing moisture, and after about 10 seconds, I felt water on my hand between my index and ring finger, and gave up. Despite failing this submergence test, I think leather and liner could be closer to 'splash-proof' or protection from light rain conditions. This tag bothers me (assuming you wanted the fleece liner drenched):

For the price its ok and has a good balance of features. A little disappointed with it not being completely waterproof, but still think they offer good weather protection.

 

Thanks for the write up, My Alpine Drystar did the same I was soaking wet in my gears yesterday. I am about to return the glove and get me some thing else.
Also my Cortech ADX gave in as well the chest and both of my sleeves are soak.....#@%$#@$%%%. Just place a new order from Fieldsheer for new Jacket and pants. Heard alot of good things so I decided to pull the trigger and place the order Will post more results later on.

 

Thanks for the review. I all most bought these as I am very happy with my Cortech Adrenaline summer gloves. I ended up getting the RevIt winter gloves instead though as they were on clearance at the time. They are 100% water proof in the soak test, after 10min, and very, very warm without being thick or puffy due to the high tech insulation. The only issue is they were a little more expensive at $90 on clearance and I think the regular price is ~$120, highly recommend though. Armor on knuckle and fingers.

 

Thanks for the info on the RevIt gloves. $15 more would have been worth the wetness protection for me. The RevIt brand typically seems a bit pricey for me, but I'll give them a look next time I'm getting winter gloves.