2021 Viaterra Grid V2 Full Gauntlet Motorcycle Riding Gloves Review: To Buy Or Not To Buy

Gallery Introduction Things we liked Things we didn’t like Conclusion Product Details

Introduction

Yes, it’s been a while since we first introduced the Viaterra Grid V2 full gauntlet gloves on BikeWale. You can read our detailed introduction to the gloves here. At the time - back in December - we liked the construction, the design, and in fact, the features-to-price value the gloves offered. But, we still hadn’t worn them.

And, gloves are for wearing. So now, after having spent a thousand kilometres in them, through daily commutes, a couple of highway runs, and in fact a track outing, here’s a list of things we liked and didn’t about the Viaterra Grid.

Things we liked

Ease of wearing. The Grid has a fairly large opening to slide the hand inside. There’s also decent real estate to pull on the gloves to further aid this. The elastic wrist helps, and the inner lining of the glove doesn’t resist the hand movement much either. Moreover, it wasn’t tedious to put it on with a damp hand. But, the important thing is, the fit is good. These aren’t designed to be loose to make wearing them easier. Yes, the fit isn’t as snug as some track focused gloves, but it’s a good balance between fit and comfort.

Tactile feel. Big these gloves might seem visually, but the Grid isn’t a bulky or cumbersome set to use, even off the bike. On the bike - be it using the switchgear, pressing the console buttons, or even managing the brake or clutch levers - the gloves don’t get in the way. These don’t feel as intuitive or seamless as a second hand, but you won’t be fumbling with things with the Grid on. Even off the bike while tapping away at the cellphone, strapping on your helmet or bags, zipping up your jacket, or even using basic tools, the Grid is handy. The ‘touch’ sensitivity on the forefinger and thumb is well judged too. I didn’t need to adjust my hold or rework my natural finger usage to work the phone with the gloves on.

Comfort. A full gauntlet glove is generally never as comfortable as a short cuff one. The Grid is no different. It does restrict the hand’s movement and the natural work flow more than a short cuff. But, in terms of comfort, especially after it has been properly broken-in, it still makes for a cosy, reassuring, pliant, and reasonably cushy place for your hands to be in. It still has a few stress points for me, around the ring finger and the thumb for instance, but the Grid’s overall suppleness and flexibility is what gives it the edge in comfort.

Build quality. Viaterra has been producing some really well-designed and well-built motorcycle gear at a reasonable price lately. And that’s obvious with the Grid too. The quality of leather, the attention to detail, and the focus on comfort, usability and protection come together to give the Grid an aura of a more expensive glove than it is. Now, be it the hard protection for the knuckle and wrist, for instance, or even the look, feel and functioning of the velcro or the accordion add to this. I like the addition of the wiper on the left forefinger as well.

Protection. As it turns out, I haven’t crashed since I started using the Grid. So, in terms of ‘real world’ testing, I can’t truly vouch for how effective the protection on the Grid really is. But, given my experience with crashing in other gloves, I can confidently say that the Grid does have the right ingredients. The number of protective elements it comes with, for instance, or how the protective elements line-up when worn, and how little the gloves slide around on your hand when properly velcroed in place, are all clear giveaways that the Grid should work when it’s called for action in a fall.

Things we didn’t like

Breaking in. The Grid requires many kilometres of breaking in. For us, it took over 200km of riding before the gloves showed signs of being malleable. This was also the time when these started to feel more comfortable around the knuckle and finger areas. But it took another 300km of riding, sweating, and constantly pulling them on and taking them off before they felt properly usable, comfortable and likeable. So, if you want to buy a pair for a long ride, get them early, and spend some time commuting in them before wearing them on a long ride.

Limited ventilation. I started using the Grid in winters. And the ventilation felt great then because my hands were never cold or hot. But, as summer began to set in, riding in the afternoons did get warm inside the Grid. Not baking hot, and one can ride in them on a hot, sweltering afternoon. But the ventilation clearly isn’t as good or efficient to wick the sweat off the hands effectively. So, given a choice, I would take a short-cuff, better-ventilated glove for my summer afternoon commute.

Conclusion

The Viaterra Grid 2 full gauntlet gloves retail for Rs 5,499. And based on what the gloves offer in terms of comfort, fit, all-round usability, and of course, protection, the Grid makes for a very good purchase option. These worked surprisingly well while touring. Not having to pull the gloves off to check the maps or even call someone is a convenience that’s seriously underrated.

What’s more, these proved to be a good option on the track too! The Grid manages to balance comfort, tactility, and protection quite well for track use, especially if you aren’t going racing but are indulging in a track day instead.

Now, full gauntlet and daily commute don’t really go well together in my book. But the Grid wasn’t bad at all. The ease of pulling them on and off took the tediousness away, and again, the good touchscreen sensitivity the gloves offer, further make them commute-friendly. And I would happily use them for morning or evening commutes, but, on a summer afternoon, maybe not so much, given the limited ventilation on offer.

So, if you had to buy only one pair of gloves for all things motorcycling, could the Viaterra Grid V2 be that option? Absolutely.