ProView – SHRED. MTB Protective Gloves Lite and Superlite Review

If you’re looking for mountain bike gloves that offer back-of-hand protection without sacrificing comfort, the SHRED. Protective Lite gloves are an excellent choice. I tested both the Lite and SuperLite gloves over 10 straight days of riding in Whistler this June, and the Lites clearly stood out.

Glove Test at Whistler

As someone who’s tough on gear and easily gets blisters, I’m interested in finding the perfect MTB gloves with a balance of protection and ride feel. I brought both the SHRED. Protective Lite and SuperLite gloves on a 10-day trip to Whistler, riding park laps in conditions ranging from 80°F and sunny to 40°F and rainy. Over the course of well over 100,000 feet of descending, I wore both pairs across all types of trails.

Fit/Comfort

Both gloves fit true to size, with stretch material along the sides of the fingers that adds comfort. The Lite model features a slightly thicker build, with a layer of leather on the palm and more durable back-of-hand material. Even after long days in the park, the Lite gloves stayed comfortable and never felt bulky or restrictive. I’m confident both pairs would be comfortable for long cross-country rides, too, after the amount of time I spent in them. 

Look/Features

SHRED. keeps the gloves looking clean and low-profile, with slim padding that offers real protection without being bulky.

Function and Ride Performance

This trip was the most hand-abusive riding I’ve done in a while, and the Lite gloves passed with flying colors. They gave me better palm protection than my previous Dakine gloves or the SuperLites, and I finished the entire trip without a single blister. That’s rare when riding this much vertical, and a big testament to how well the padding and fit worked.

The SuperLites were fine for hot days but lacked enough palm protection for me to use them for multiple long park sessions. It’s hard to imagine a rider who needs good knuckle protection but doesn’t care about palm fatigue.

Durability

This is the one place the gloves came up short. Despite no crashes, the stretchy fabric along the fingers of the Lite gloves already show signs of wear, including a small tear. It’s likely a tradeoff for the comfort and a little bit of breathability, but I’d hoped they’d hold up a little better.

That said, I think they’ll make it through the rest of the season—and for a glove used heavily in the park, that’s not unreasonable. The superlite gloves seemed to hold up so far, but have similar materials. They should hold up great for lighter use like the superlite is intended for. 

Who These Gloves Are For

The Protective Lite gloves are ideal for enduro and downhill riders who want a comfortable glove with meaningful protection. The SuperLite gloves work better for trail or light enduro riders riding in warm weather who prioritize breathability over palm protection/padding.

Friendliness to the Earth

SHRED. donates 1% of its sales to 1% for the planet, which supports environmental nonprofits like Protect Our Winters. They’ve also committed to removing all plastic from their packaging in the near future.

The Final Word

The SHRED. Protective Lite gloves are a great choice for enduro or downhill riders. The SuperLite versions are great for people who want some back-of-the-hand protection but also want to stay cool.

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