Date reviewed: July 2023 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £34.99 | spadaclothing.co.uk
The Spada Wyatt gloves on review here come in at an excellent budget retail price, and we’ve even seen them at a few stores for around £25 at the time of writing. While they’re not the most elaborate gloves on the market, their no-frills design perfectly suits the retro style.
I’ve been wearing the Wyatts on a 2019 BMW R1250GS and a 1999 Honda VFR800 for the past few months to find out if they’re any good…
Pros & Cons
- Great value (especially at street prices)
- Subtle protection
- Effective wrist restraint
- No touchscreen compatibility
- No venting
Construction, fit and feel
Made of soft and supple goat leather with a brushed polyester lining over the back of the hands, the Spada Wyatts are a very basic design – with no fancy detailing – that works great for a glove targeted at the custom, cruiser and street bike market.
I have them in my usual size large, with the fit and finger length sitting perfectly for me. The fingers use exposed stitching – something common in race gloves – which helps ensure no pressure points are caused on the fingers by the seams.
It’s easy to feel the bike’s controls and I had no problems with the palms rucking up while gripping the bars.
Fit is of course very subjective, so do always try gloves on for yourself. I’d suggest trying the smaller size if you’re somewhere in between, as the wrist restraint has plenty of slack and you don’t want it too loose.
The Wyatts are available in black, red or tan, and also come in a lady’s fit, though tan isn’t an option there.
Protection and certification
Despite their basic-looking design, the Spada Wyatt gloves are tested and certified to EN13594:2015 Level 1, with knuckle protection.
Moulded polyurethane foam armour is fitted beneath the leather at the knuckles, as well as on the finger and thumb joints (though not on the second joints of the pinky or ring finger).
The palms have an additional layer of leather running from the base of the fingers, all the way to the wrist.
Short-cuff gloves can’t offer the same protection as a pair of quality gauntlets, but given the price of the Spada Wyatts, it’s proof that safety standards CAN be met at a very reasonable price. Don’t be drawn in by some of the rubbish sold on social media platforms and online marketplaces; we exposed how Carvenal gloves (which cost more than these Wyatts) were made of fake leather and potentially dangerous, so always take care when buying riding kit if safety is something you consider.
All motorcycle clothing sold in the UK and Europe is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is a good thing for riders as it can help them choose kit that has provable levels of safety as to meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. To fully understand the labels found in all bike kit, click here.
Warm and cold weather use
While there’s no ventilation built into the Spada Wyatt gloves, their thin design makes them plenty cool enough for most summer riding in the UK. Obviously that also means they’re not really suitable for winter use.
A waterproof, winter version of the Wyatt is also available for £39.99, with a 40g Thinsulate lining. While gauntlet gloves will always be the best bet for proper wet weather use, these may still prove useful, especially for sufferers of Raynaud’s.
Wet weather use
There’s no waterproof membrane in the Wyatt gloves, but if they do get soaked – like any leather kit – leave them to dry naturally without any forced heat.
Fastening
A fairly long strap across the top of the gloves secures them with hook and loop. If cinched tight, I’ve found this keeps the Wyatts secure, which is important in a slide. The strap can press against your jacket cuff at times, so check the fit with your own kit, but this fastening works well and is out of the way of the road if the worst does happen.
Lining
The inside palms of the Spada Wyatt gloves aren’t lined, but the tops are, using a brushed polyester that’s comfortable and soft but not too hot. I’ve not noticed any dye leaching from the leather, though my hands haven’t really sweated heavily in them.
Touchscreen compatibility
Unfortunately the Spada Wyatt gloves are not touchscreen compatible, though they are easy to take off and put back on. If you’re using a phone for navigation you’ll need to pull over before you can make any changes.
Three alternatives to the Spada Wyatt gloves
The Spada Wyatt’s are a great price, and we haven’t reviewed any yet that can compete on value. Don’t be tempted by adverts on social media though – always buy from a reputable motorcycle clothing specialist to ensure the gear you’re spending your money on is proven to be protective. Here are three other gloves we’ve tested…
These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the motorcycle gloves we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.
Spada Wyatt gloves review: Verdict
It’s fair to say that the Spada Wyatts do have something of a budget feel to them, but while they don’t have the bells and whistles – or fancy finishing – of some of the more expensive competition, they do represent great value for money and offer a level of protection that’s far from guaranteed on some of the often pricier uncertified gear we’ve seen sold on Facebook, Amazon and eBay, not to mention AliExpress of course.
The same no-nonsense design that keeps the price of these Spada Wyatt gloves down also gives a classic look that will appeal to many, while also hiding some very useful armour across the knuckles and joints: they’re a great option for anyone looking to save some money on biking…
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