DAKINE Ventilator
By James Sharp

While at InterBike last October, I forgot my gloves. This is bad since I would be riding on unfamiliar trails, on unfamiliar bikes surrounded by unfamiliar people. Add to that, the last time I rode off-road without my gloves I wrecked bad, hands first. So I did what any enterprising journalist would do, I went on the prowl for some hand covers. Fortunately for me, Dakine was present. I checked out a pair of their Ventilator gloves, and went riding. After about three times out on different bikes, I knew that I liked the gloves, and that they would be perfect for a longer review. Back at the Dakine booth, I inquired about hanging on to them for a longer, more abusive review and they said, "Sure."

Dakine has been around for 25 years, though mainly in the surfing, windsurfing and snowboarding markets. Their North American office is located in Hood River, Oregon, a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, from world-class windsurfing, to incredible mountain biking, they are located in the middle of it all. The Ventilator glove is indicative of knowing what mountain bikers need and want. The back panel is made of a breathable nylon mesh with compression molded Airprene on the wrist and knuckles of the first fingers. The fingertips have silicon grippers to keep your fingers from sliding off of your brake levers when wet. The palm has minimal padding, except at the base, near the ulnar nerve in the fleshy part of the hand. The palm has a Clarino synthetic leather overlay for durability. The wrist closes with two hook and loop straps per glove.

The Ventilator glove reeks of quality--right now it also reeks of use, but that is another problem, one easily solved because the glove is washable. I have hundreds of road and off-road miles with them and they look as solid as the day I got them, despite numerous trips through the washer and dryer. The fit is as good, or better, than any glove I have ever used. They are comfortable enough for all day rides, both on and off-road, though on the road you might get funny looks from dyed-in-the-wool roadies for wearing long finger gloves. The minimal padding--almost non-existent where you grab the bar--means that the gloves won’t bunch and cause blisters. The extra padding at the base of the palm means that in the event of a crash, padding is where you need it most.

There were a couple of minor complaints, though. I don’t understand the dual closure straps. I set one and used the other, exclusively. This means that the only thing the extra closure did was snag my long sleeve jerseys. The only other complaint is, ironically, the Ventilator could use more ventilation. I find the glove comfortable down to 50 degrees, making it a little on the warm side in the summer. Not too bad, but Dakine should use more, or better, mesh.

Summary: The Dakine Ventilator is a very comfortable glove. At $35 retail, they are in the same price range as any decent glove and they are much better than just decent. Have your gloves worn out? Do your fingers stick out of the ends? Is the closure refusing to close? Try on a pair of Ventilators, you’ll be glad you did. They are well made, well fitted and are long lasting.

James Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in road and mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
DAKINE
408 Columbia Avenue
Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: 541-386-3166
E-mail: info@dakine.com
www.dakine.com