Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.
The stretchable nylon flex panel makes a big difference, and help to relieve the pressure that can normally be felt across my knuckles. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
My hands definitely need the protection of a pair of gloves when I’m riding. I’m so over the days when I used to jump on a horse without pulling on a pair beforehand. Of course, I had all of the essentials, including my trusty helmet strapped to my noggin. But my hands usually suffered the absence of gloves.
Sometimes the lack of gloves was an oversight … just another casualty of my (over) excitement to ride, or my forgetful brain. Other days, I intentionally chose to not wear gloves, for various reasons. Perhaps it was such a hot day that I really didn’t want sticky or sweaty feeling hands. Or maybe, I just would be irritated with not being able to get a good enough grip on the reins because of a pair of “slippery” gloves.
Whatever the reason of the day, the absence of gloves usually always meant blisters. And boy, do those put a damper on my ride. So these days, I very rarely hop into the saddle without a trusty pair of gloves.
I have a short list of criteria that I’d like my gloves to meet. They should be comfortable without feeling restrictive. And, they should provide me with no less grip than I have with bare hands (a better grip is preferred). And finally, they should be breathable.
Not too much to ask … right? Recently, I’ve taken to wearing a pair of Tackified Pro Air Show Gloves from Heritage Gloves. I was somewhat overwhelmed when I stopped by the Heritage Gloves booth during the last AETA trade show. Because there were So. Many. Gloves. in a number of fabrics, in various colors, designed for different disciplines. While I was there, I tried on several pairs of gloves, including the Tackified Pro Air Show Gloves.
The cabretta leather that the Pro Air Show gloves are constructed of is tackified, in order to help provide maximum grip and controls of the reins. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
They were the pair that stood out to me. Mainly, because while they are leather, they felt lightweight and comfortable. Better still, the cabretta leather that the gloves are constructed of is tackified, in order to help provide maximum grip and controls of the reins.
And extra grip on the reins is something that I’m very interested in. Suffice it to say that I was pretty excited to have the chance to put the Tackified Pro Air Show Gloves to the test for myself. In fact, I wore the gloves for the first time the very same day they arrived.
Pulling the gloves on, I was reminded of how stretchy and comfortable the cabretta leather felt to my hands. I also felt the relief from the stretchable nylon flex panels that stretches across the top of my knuckles every time I gripped or made a fist.
The elastic cuff of the gloves, along with the ample sized velcro closure (without tasteful logo), help give me a secure fit. The Tackified Pro Air Show Gloves fit like a second skin … all while looking completely fabulous. After all, they are made for showing!
The gloves also feature Heritage Gloves Rein Cut technology. This means that there is no bulky seam between the ring and pinky fingers, which allows for unrestricted flexion and grip on the reins.
In fact, they gloves also feature a wrap around leather reinforcement on the index finger. It is not bulky and helps provide durability. Which is greatly appreciated, considering how many pairs of leather gloves I’ve ruined by wearing holes into the index fingers over the years.
I appreciated the gloves when riding my green “pony”, Rufus. Along with the terrific amount of contact, the gloves were also quite comfortable. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
The Tackified Pro Air gloves also feature double stitched critical outward seams. I was pretty excited to discover that I’m able to pull the gloves on while I’m in the process of tacking up and getting ready to ride. Usually, I hold off pulling on gloves till I’m ready to mount up.
Mainly, this is because I may need to check my phone before setting out for a ride. And many of my other gloves … are not touchscreen friendly. However, the finger and thumb of these gloves ARE touchscreen friendly. So, big plus for me!
During my time riding in the Tackified Pro Air gloves, the extra grip of the tackified leather palm is very evident to me. I felt as though they gave me a really nice and secure grip on the reins. And the extra grip was a great thing during my riding adventures this year.
I appreciated the gloves when riding my green “pony,” Rufus. Along with the terrific amount of contact, the gloves were also quite comfortable. The stretchable nylon flex panel makes a big difference, and help to relieve the pressure that can normally be felt across my knuckles.
I also found that my hands did not get overly warm or sweaty, thanks in part to the ventilated fingers and thumb. Overall, I’ve been really happy with the performance of the Tackified Pro Air Show Gloves, and how well they have even held up to daily use.
The Tackified Pro Air Show Gloves are available from Heritage Gloves, and they have a retail price of $44.95. You can learn more about them here.
Go Comfy and Grippy Gloves. Go Heritage Gloves. Go Eventing.
