Alpinestars Monster Raid Gloves

As part of the Battle of the Racing Gloves 2019, we’re going to review Alpinestars Monster Raid Gloves.

Unboxing

Out of the reviewed gloves, these came with the most info-material (unlike the Sparcos and F33L SR2s).

No stickers are included, unfortunately.

1st Impression

The most robust gloves from the tested range of racing gloves. The Alpinestars Monster Raid Gloves feature knuckle protection – while not needed for simracing, this a) looks neat, and b) makes sense if you are also going to use them on your e-bike or pedelec.

Unlike the Sparco Hypergrips, the Monster Raids give a feeling of long lasting relationship.

If you’re a fan of the Monster style merchandise (like I am, probably the most childish playful aspect of my personality :D), the green and mean Monster-M will be to your liking.

Fit

… and this is where it becomes cloudy, unfortunately. My body comes with quite big knuckles, apart from my hands being very above average size already. And for them (my hands, that is), these gloves are way too tight.

In hands-open mode, the fit is exactly right.

But as soon as I go into gripping-the-wheel mode, not to mention pub-brawl-mode, my knuckles feel like being squeezed by the knuckle-protection. My cords are basically crushed – not a nice feeling.

This does not have to apply to you! If you have not-so-exaggerated knuckles, the Alpinestars may fit just right.

Test Drive in Real Car

I tested these gloves not only on my simracing rig, but also on my pedelec, as well in my real car during a 30 minute commute.

Compared to Sparco Hypergrips, the Monster Raids have more initial grip.

But compared to F33L SR2s, the grip is almost none.

That is not to say that the grip does not get better over time – being shelled in leather, they probably really will improve.

Actually, the manual includes a hint on that – that the grip will improve and that it’s not so good in the beginning.

Apart from the grip level (and apart from my incompatible knuckles), overall flexibility was about just right. But then again, knuckle protection somehow feels misplaced when used in cars (virtual or real).

I mean, you know that neighbor boy who wears an old motorcycle helmet on his bicycle, imposing a biker? I slightly felt like that boy 😀

Recommend or Not?

From the quality and robustness point of view, the Alpinestars Monster Raid Gloves win by far.

But in the grip level category, they finish way behind F33L SR2s.

Furthermore, I couldn’t really get familiar with the knuckle protection – both from a racer’s aesthetics perspective, as well as from the perspective of my crushed knuckles and cords.

As said, the crushed cords may not apply to you if you don’t have monster knuckles. But the aesthetics argument holds – knuckle protection while driving cars does not feel right.

For a ranking of gloves, go to Battle of the Racing Gloves 2019.