The Ultimate Showdown: Richa Motorcycle Glove Line Overview

As a multiple reviewer of Richa riding gear, I’ve always found their products to be top-notch, catering to every budget. However, living in North America, I noticed a gap in their distribution. All my reviews were sent directly from Richa’s home base in Belgium, which made me realize the need for a consistent distribution channel on this side of the Atlantic.

Recently, Richa has expanded its reach to the USA, establishing distribution under the domain RICHAUSA.COM. This move makes it easier for riders in the US to access and purchase Richa gloves, enhancing the brand’s global presence.

As I was completing this review, Richa established an additional distributor in North America. As a Canadian, I would be remiss if I did not mention that Importations Thibault will be the distributor of Richa gloves in Canada. At the time of writing, there were no gloves on the website, but keep an eye on Importations Thibault for updates.

Richa Motorcycle Gear was founded on motorcycle gloves. It was with that knowledge that Michael from RICHA USA suggested an overview of a cross-section of Richa’s product line to celebrate the US distribution.

This review covers eight pairs of gloves, which represent just a fraction of Richa’s extensive range of men’s and women’s gloves. With such a wide variety, Richa caters to every riding style and condition, ensuring there’s a perfect pair for everyone.

When a large box arrived at my door, it included the new Infinity 3 Pro jacket and pants and oh so many gloves. I was initially overwhelmed.

I had a fantastic time reviewing this array of gloves. I am also reviewing some SHAD luggage this season. Gloves filled one side case on every ride. I would change up gloves during rides and often recruited friends to try them out and provide feedback.

This overview also includes their feedback. Thanks to Bob, Tim, Norm, and Pete for your input.

About Richa

Richa dates back to the 1950s when company founder Charles Rigaux launched his first pair of leather motorcycle gloves. His goal was quality, which remained a priority throughout later RICHA collections.

Richa grew, creating leather motorcycle clothing, including motorcycle jackets, pants, and accessories with high-tech coatings and advanced D3O® protection. Since 2011, Richa gloves have been GORE-TEX® certified. In 2015, Richa also received a GORE-TEX® license for their motorcycle clothing.

Today, Richa is a trusted motorcycle apparel brand sold in over 40 countries worldwide. They offer a full range of products for any budget, staying true to the Richa motto: ‘Feel safe, feel good.’

I would like to thank Michael at RICHA USA and the team at Richa, based in Belgium, for supplying the gloves and allowing me to review them.

Features of motorcycle gloves

So, what should you look for in a new pair of gloves?

Dexterity

For me, gloves are a must whenever I’m riding. To ensure good control of the handlebars, dexterity and comfort are paramount.

Dexterity can be enhanced in several ways: boxed fingers, pre-curved fingers, and accordion sections at the knuckles all contribute to a better grip feel.

For winter riding gloves, it is essential to strike a balance between dexterity and insulated warmth.

Ventilation

Ventilation is essential for summer or mid-season gloves as it helps keep your hands cool and comfortable.

Leather gloves may offer perforated leather or venting built into the tops of the fingers. Lightweight textile summer gloves incorporate mesh panels into their construction.

Armor

Armor is a key component of a safe pair of gloves. Later in this overview, I will discuss the CE rating. You should look for CE certification, knuckle protection, a palm slider or padding, and extra padding along the outside of the pinky finger. Racing-style gloves often have additional armor above the wrist and scaphoid (below the thumb)

Retention

Gloves can protect your hands from heat, cold, rain, and impact with branches or other items. The retention system is helpful in many aspects. One of the main objectives of the system is to keep the gloves on your hands in case you come off the bike.

Richa gloves all have at least one velcro strap at the wrist, and most of the gloves with extended cuffs include a second strap.

Cuffs

The length of the cuff or gauntlet varies according to the style of the gloves. Most summer riding gloves will have a short cuff. Waterproof and winter gloves typically have an extended cuff. Racing gloves for the track usually feature a long cuff.

Mid-length cuffs can be an excellent option for touring, as they are usually slim enough to fit under a jacket.

Waterproofing

If you plan to ride in the rain, waterproof gloves are a great addition to have. Not only does the waterproof membrane keep out the rain, but it also helps cut the wind.

The most commonly known membrane is Gore-Tex, but many Richa gloves are available with AquaShell. Aquashell is a more cost-effective alternative to Gore-Tex. Some waterproofing is in the form of a sewn-in liner, while others are a membrane bonded to the outer shell. The bonded variant is more comfortable, as it does not move around.

Of the Richa gloves in this overview, three use Gore-Tex, with two utilizing the bonded Gore Grip membrane. The Inferno heated gloves use AquaShell LTZ.

Insulation

Insulation is a key option for winter gloves. Finding gloves that offer sufficient insulation without significantly compromising dexterity is crucial. Insulation will vary depending on the riding conditions and the type of bike. If your bike has good wind protection and heated grips, insulation may not be as important.

If you frequently ride in cold weather, consider investing in heated gloves to keep your hands warm and comfortable. Richa’s Inferno gloves are insulated and feature heated wires in critical areas. The motorcycle battery or optional battery packs can power the Inferno gloves.

Palm Protection

The implementation of palm sliders varies greatly. In the simplest form, the area is reinforced with extra leather. Look for additional padding, or better still, something like Superfabric or TPU.

The natural reaction to any fall is to put your hands out to break their fall. So, palm sliders are key to protective motorcycle gloves.

Other Features to Consider

Visor Wiper Blade

A wiper blade is an excellent feature on any waterproof glove. The blade is a strip of soft rubber, typically on the left index finger. The idea is to wipe across the visor to remove water simply.

This feature is available on all the Richa waterproof gloves in this overview.

Touchscreen-Friendly Finger Tips

Another great feature, especially with so many riders using phones as a GPS. Most of the gloves in this overview include touchscreen sensitivity.

Because motorcycle gloves have more bulk, their usefulness is limited to basic phone interactions.

CE Standards

EN 13594 is the European certification used to ensure minimum levels of protection for motorcycle gloves. CE-rated gloves are tested for abrasion and cut resistance, impact protection, and seam strength. There are two levels of certification, Level 1 and Level 2. Level 2 provides a higher level of protection.

All the gloves in this overview meet the CE EN 13594 standard. All but one, the Invader, also have a CE KP1 (Knuckle Protection) designation.

This CE certification ensures that motorcycle gloves sold in the European Union meet a minimum standard. The EN 13594:2015 CE standard is not a requirement in North America; however, any company worldwide can submit its motorcycle gloves for testing and certification under the EN 13594:2015 CE standard.

Sizing

Depending on the manufacturer, I wear either a large or an extra-large. Because of this, I always refer to the sizing charts. My hand measures about 9 in (23 cm). Using the Richa size chart, I would be at the top end of the Large size. Having previously reviewed Richa gloves, I moved up to the XL size. All the gloves fit nicely.

If possible, try on gloves.

Care Instructions and Warning Label

The care label leaves one option for cleaning: hand washing.

Do not bleach
Do not iron
Do not dry clean
Do not tumble dry

I recommend spot cleaning with a damp cloth. The dark color options should not show much dirt.

For details, please visit Richa Washing Instructions and Gore-Tex Care Instructions.

Warranty

RICHA offers a 2-year warranty on the entire collection, including motorcycle jackets, pants, jeans, gloves, rainwear, functional underwear, boots, and shoes. Additionally, RICHA products made with the GORE-TEX membrane (e.g., for waterproofing and breathability) are covered by the GORE-TEX “Guaranteed to keep you dry” warranty.

For details, please visit Richa Warranty.

Overview Participants

Here are the gloves in this overview.

	Cost	Type	Weather	Waterproof	Material	Cuff	CE 1KP
Airjet	$37	Touring	Summer	No	Polyester/Polyamide	Short	Yes
Atlantic GTX	$158	Touring	Mid Season	Gore-Tex	Leather/Nylon	Mid	Yes
Hurricane GTX	$148	Touring	Mid Season	Gore-Tex	Leather/Polyamide	Long	No
Inferno	$225	Touring	Winter	AquaShell	Polyester/Leather	Long	Yes
Invader GTX	$91	Touring	Mid Season / Winter	Gore-Tex	Polyester/Polyamide	Long	Yes
Magma 2	$80	Sport	Summer	No	Leather/Polyester	Short	Yes
Nazaire	$90	Lifestyle/Retro	Mid Season	No	Leather	Short	Yes
Stradale	$175	Race	Mid Season	No	Goat Aniline/Cowhide	Long	Yes

The following is a further breakdown of additional features for each glove.

Richa Air Jet Gloves

The Breakdown

The Richa Air Jet Gloves are summer gloves constructed of stretch mesh and leather, offering lightweight and well-ventilated protection.

With record hot temperatures recently, the Air Jet gloves have seen plenty of use lately. I keep them stored on the bike for when temperatures rise during all-day rides.

Pros

Hot weather comfort
CE KP1 Level Protection
Touchscreen friendly
Hard palm slider
Women’s model available

Cons

Thin material may not be as abrasion-resistant

Features

Multi-panel mesh construction for excellent airflow
Leather reinforced palms
TPR-reinforced palm with CE-certified knuckle protectors
Touchscreen friendly