I realise that I have already written a review on riding gloves, but they were completely different gloves so I will make the reivew different from the other. It is nice to have a selection of gloves to enable you to make a choice depending on what you are going to use them for and of course, what mood you are in.
These gloves are Harry Hall Crochet Backed Gloves and are priced at £9.99. This is a middling sort of price for riding gloves really. You can get them cheaper but also a lot more expensive, so the price is reasonable. They are available in small, medium, large and extra large. The variety of colours are green, blue, maroon and navy. To be honest, the gloves that I have are like the picture. I am not really sure whether the colour is the crochet part or the leather part. I think I can safely say that it is the crochet part, but I am not 100% sure.
Feel. * * * * *
The gloves are fairly thick due to the crochet part in particular. The leather is reasonably soft, though thicker than some leather gloves that I have. The crochet part is thick also. The gloves feel fairy robust but not chunky.
Comfort and fit. * * * * * * * * * * * *
The gloves fit well as they have a little split at the wrist and an elasticated piece by the thumb. This makes them easy to put on and the elastication enhances the comfort. Now when they are on, the fingers do start to feel a little bit bulky due to the thickness of the material on the fingers. They do feel comfortable but they are not as sensitive on the reins as other gloves. The crochet on the back of the hand allows air to circulate, preventing your hands from becoming too hot, allowing them to breathe.
Touch. * * * * * **
By touch I mean, what you feel when you are touching things. For around the yard they are alright but you need to remove them for certain things. When tacking up, it is very difficult to do up the buckles, so you are better off taking them off. Even things like removing your boots can be harder with the gloves on. They are riding gloves though, so I will not criticise them too much for this. I can say the same about all of my gloves for tacking up, not just these ones.
When making contact with the reins, the leather part of the glove does allow some sensitivity and they are on the inside, so you are able to feel the reins reasonably well. However, as you can see from the picture, the fingers are fairly thick. I don`t think you would get as much `feel` as you need if riding in leather reins. Leather reins are thinner than rubber coated reins and it is easy to be quite heavy handed if not too careful when using thicker gloves. Your hands need to be moving with the horse when riding, not just your hands, but fingers, so you don`t want to lose any sensation by wearing gloves that are not suitable. When riding in rubber reins, as they are thicker, it is easier to feel them.
Appearance. * * * * * * * * * *
It all boils down to personal choice here doesn`t it? Personally, I am not that keen on them, I don`t think they look that smart. Obviously I bought them, but I need gloves of different textures and thicknesses and I chose them on this, not so much style. They are not smart as some gloves are, but they have their own qualities. Their appearance makes them unsuitable for the show ring, but look nice enough for group rides and hacking.
Uses. * * * * * I use these gloves for hacking primarily. I also use them on picnic rides. They are excellent for these kinds of activities. They offer enough protection for your hands from the reins if your horse is pulling on a group ride. They also offer some protection against the weather, even though the air circulates around the crochet. I would even use them for cross country as I think they are good for any discipline where the horse is likely to become strong. I think they would be smart enough for cross country.
The gloves are not waterproof but they dry quickly with the crochet back. The leather part does not become slippery when wet.
I don`t tend to use the gloves in hot weather, they are a little bit thick. They are great for this sort of weather, even though it is suposed to be summer. I would say that they are best for typical autumn weather, though you never can tell with the current climate.
Do I recommend? * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I do recommend these gloves. They are ideal to have at the yard for when you are going to ride and especially good for group rides. It is no good wearing your show gloves on group rides as they will not last and you want to keep them smart. This is why it is important to have several pairs of gloves and these are perfect for a working type glove. Harry Hall are a reputable brand and these are long lasting, robust gloves that are reasonably priced.
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Price
£9.99
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