The Dianese Carbon 4 motorcycle gloves aim to achieve the impossible – optimizing protection, comfort, and feel in one sleek package.
But did Dianese nail the execution of their ambitious vision? And, are these the best motorcycle gloves with armor for you? Let’s find out!
After extensive testing, did we find any shortcomings to tarnish the new reigning champion of the brand’s glove lineup?
Dainese Carbon 4 Short Gloves
Key Takeaways
- Knuckle protection limits flexibility
- The break-in period eases stiffness
- Redesigned palm enhances tactile feel
Revamped Finger Box and Palm Design Enhances Tactile Feel
The most noticeable update is the slimmed-down fingers and redesigned contoured knuckles. The fingers on the old Carbon 3 model had too much room and felt bulky. The new Carbon 4 fits my hands much better with a snugger, performance-oriented fit.
However, the downside is that the gloves (1) feel stiffer right out of the box compared to the well-broken-in Carbon 3.
The contour of the knuckle section, in particular, makes it feel like you’re fighting the gloves a bit when operating the clutch and brake levers.
I’m hopeful the goat skin leather will soften up over time. But immediately after putting them on, the difference in flexibility and comfort was apparent versus the previous version.
Key Component Upgrades Over Prior Model:
- Slimmer fingers improve feel and control
- Contoured knuckles add protection
- Stiffer at first but should break in
- Redesigned palm enhances grip
The palm features smoothed-out seam lines around the edge for reduced bulk, along with an improved tactile feel from the premium goat skin leather. This thinner and suppler leather in the palm is vital for maintaining sensitivity on the controls.
Accordion leather on the backs of the fingers and panels on the back of the hand allows the Carbon 4 gloves to flex and move naturally with your hands as you ride.
New Color Options Available in Long or Short Cuff
The Dianese Carbon 4 motorcycle gloves come in a variety of colors to match your bike and riding gear:
- Full gauntlet version with long cuff
- Short cuffed version opts for suede palm
- Touchscreen-compatible fingertip on short cuff
| Version | Cuff Length | Palm Material | Touchscreen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long | Gauntlet | Goat skin leather | No |
| Short | Short cuff | Suede | Yes |
While the long cuff is ideal for wearing over a leather jacket, the short cuff gloves feature a suede palm instead of leather, with touchscreen capability on the index finger. This enhances convenience for easy mobile device access on the go.
Choosing between the two comes down to personal preference on priorities – ultimate protection or more off-bike utility from the shorter street-oriented version.
Dianese Builds on Success of Popular Carbon Line
Dianese positions the Carbon 4 model with race-inspired styling between premium options like the Druids for track use or more affordable alternatives such as the Impeto gloves. They hit the sweet spot for aggressive street riding and moderate track days.
These gloves epitomize the Carbon lineage with an ideal balance of flexibility from textile accents paired with abrasion protection in key impact zones.
The long Dianese Carbon 4 gauntlets stand out with top-tier quality leather construction across nearly the entire glove.
These gloves go beyond typical street models by integrating extra armor for the side of the hand and pinky.
Yet does the newer generation earn top marks overall? Let’s break down other components of the Carbon 4 further.
Key Stats on Carbon 4 Gloves:
- Materials: Leather, textile, TPU protectors
- Construction: Goat skin palm, accordions, elastic, DCP2 fiber knuckle protection
- Fit: Slimmer fingers, redesigned palm and knuckles
- Protection: Hard TPU slider. DCP2 armor, finger shields
- Price: $180-$210
Armored Knuckles and Palm Slider Prep Riders for the Worst
I appreciate that Dianese stuck with high-quality leather for most of the construction, avoiding cheaper materials to cut costs.
The composite armor layers under the accordion panel on each knuckle look beefy. This rigid shield features Dianese’s DCP2 fiber that disperses and absorbs impact energy effectively.
They smartly shielded the middle and ring finger knuckles on both hands for extra insurance against scrapes.
The huge TPU shield travels all the way from the edge of your palm to just below the pinky knuckle. This slick slider lets your gloves glide over pavement rather than sticking and twisting your wrist or wrenching joints.
It definitely seems a bit overkill for regular street riding. But I’ll take bulky protection over shredded hands any day!
The rigid shield piece does limit flexibility when gripping the bars, though. So that’s the tradeoff for more armor.
How Does the Carbon 4 Stack Up for Protection?
✔️ Full hand coverage with leather
✔️ Hard armor for knuckles
✔️ Finger shields prevent hyperextension
✔️ Large TPU palm slider
Mesh Air Panels Enhance Breathability
Ventilation is crucial for riding gloves to prevent a sauna effect inside. Sweaty palms lead to fatigue as well as slippery grips.
Perforated mesh fabric on the back of the fingers allows air to flow in. Elastic Lycra inserts and textile arteries across the hands and wrist further aid in cooling airflow circulation.
The stretch material also allows the gloves to fit snugly without restriction. So you get a truly custom and comfortable feel.
While leather works well for abrasion resistance, it traps heat easily. By strategically incorporating porous textiles across stress points and the backside, the Carbon 4 gloves breathe adequately well for summer riding.
During colder winter rides, the mostly enclosed leather construction provides better insulation to retain hand warmth compared to full textile gloves.
So unless you’ll be riding exclusively in hot or cold weather, the Dianese Carbon 4 offers a nice balance usable across three seasons.
Premium Goat Skin Leather Optimizes Grip and Feedback
The Carbon’s Palm uses supple, premium-grade goat skin rather than lower-quality cowhide leather. This thin yet durable material maintains excellent road feel and sensitivity through the bars and controls.
Goat skin conforms to the movements and contours of your hand better than thicker bovine leather. The glove literally breaks in based on your grip style for a tailored fit.
Supple goat hide leather offers enhanced feel and grip
And the ClarkeTM E-Toque goat hide undergoes an extensive 17-step production process so the grain finish maintains consistent quality.
Its lightweight and soft composition still provides abrasion protection for the heel of your palm and pads below your fingers in a slide. But compromising on cheaper leather here would severely diminish road feedback.
The index finger and thumb also feature dual external seams for extra structure to prevent ripping or stretching at stress points. These extra strips of material act like internal splints.
Why Choose Goat Skin Leather?
✅ Optimized abrasion resistance
✅ Maintains road feel and dexterity
✅ Soft hand for better comfort
✅ Reinforced with doubled external seams
Neoprene Knuckle Material Offers Flexible Protection
The neoprene panel behind the composite rigid armor on each knuckle delivers impact cushioning as well as comfort. This synthetic rubber material integrates tiny air bubbles that compress to absorb shock effectively.
We commonly see neoprene applied as insulation for watersports wetsuits. But its shock-dispersing properties also work great for protecting motorcycle joints.
By overlaying the armor externally, you get a flexible glove that still moves freely with your hands. An internal rigid plate would make the gloves too stiff and restrictive.
The neoprene backs allow your fists to curl naturally without struggle for reduced fatigue. The airflow behind the knuckles enhances cooling as well compared to leather.
So, strategically combining multiple materials provides the winning blend of safety, flexibility, and comfort.
Neoprene backing disperses impact while aiding flexibility
Snug Wrist Strap Prevents Degloving Accidents
A secure wrist closure ensures your gloves always stay anchored properly to your hands during a crash. The last thing you want is your glove ripping off or shifting out of position.
The hook and loop wrist strap features a TPR pull tab. Just tug on the rubbery flap to cinch the strap tighter until it presses firmly on your jacket cuff.
I like that they opted for a simple Velcro wrist closure rather than a more complex gauntlet system. This ensures easy on and off while keeping the gloves firmly in place when riding.
The 4” long cuff on the gauntlet version fits perfectly under most motorcycle jacket sleeves. It provides ample overlap for full forearm protection without bunching too much.
Variants Cater to Riding Style and Budget
If you want maximum protection for track days or racing, check out the upgraded Dianese Druids gloves instead. They feature full kangaroo and goat skin leather construction with carbon fiber knuckle protection and Kevlar finger shields.
Conversely, for riders prioritizing flexibility and ventilation over armor, consider the more affordable Dianese Impeto perforated gloves. Their redesigned curved knuckle protects while maintaining an awesome feel.
So, the Carbon 4 hits a nice price and performance sweet spot as compared to the other Dianese offerings I mentioned. Casual street use won’t warrant upgrading to the Druids. And sacrificing the Carbon 4’s armor would seem unwise for aggressive riding.
Break-In Time Required for Optimal Comfort
Expect some slight discomfort and restriction when you first wear the redesigned Carbon 4 gloves until the leather softens up. The snug contours feel restrictive during break-in compared to well-worn gloves.
Plan to log at least 100 miles while varying your grip position before the goat skin molds perfectly to your hands. The initial palm stiffness diminishes greatly after a couple of weeks putting them through paces.
Utilize Dianese’s glove cream to keep the leather moisturized as you ride to accelerate the break-in process. Just avoid over-conditioning them too often, as that can deteriorate stitching over time.
Quick Tips for Faster Break-In:
- Apply glove cream every couple weeks
- Vary hand position frequently while riding
- Hydrate leather by wearing gloves in shower
- Massage and flex palm leather with hands
Within about 500 miles, my Carbon 4 gloves felt like a second skin. By that point, the pre-curve shape aligned flawlessly with my relaxed grip. Shifting and braking control improved noticeably as the palm leather softened up.
So, allow some time for the gloves to conform perfectly to your hands. But afterward, they’ll provide superb feel and feedback every time you ride.
Touchscreen Fingertip Lacking on Long Cuff Model
I do wish Dianese offered touchscreen conductive fingertips on both the long and short-cuff versions of the Carbon 4 gloves. Stopping to remove your gloves gets annoying if you need to interact with a mobile device.
Riders wearing the gauntlet style for maximum protection shouldn’t need to sacrifice technology convenience, especially with motorcycle Bluetooth systems that integrate with smartphones for GPS navigation, incoming calls and messages, and music control.
Being able to tap the screen or trigger buttons with gloves on makes everything easier. So, hopefully, Dianese will address this minor issue in the next generation release.
Premium Price Justified for Safety and Performance
With a circa $200 MSRP, the Carbon 4 definitely falls into the premium glove tier. Serious riders shouldn’t compromise with cheaper options that lack equivalent protection and material quality.
Value Comparison to Other Brands
| Comparison to Similar Gloves | |
|---|---|
| Alpinestars Copper Short Riding Gloves | Minimalist summer riding glove with copper infusion for odor control |
| Icon Pursuit Classic Gloves | Lightweight nylon and polyester gloves focused on ventilation |
| Dainese 4 Stroke 2 | Race-inspired design with reinforcements in high abrasion areas |
| Alpinestars GP Plus R V2 | Race inspired design with reinforcements in high abrasion areas |
| Joe Rocket Phoenix 5.1 Gloves | Armored knuckles and TPR protectors on back of hand |
The options range from minimalist to fully armored track gloves. The Icon Pursuit and Alpinestars GP Plus R V2 offer more protection with leather construction, while the Dainese 4 Stroke 2 prioritizes ventilation for hot weather riding.
The Copper Short gloves are simple, lightweight summer options, and the Joe Rocket Phoenix 5.1 has rugged styling with plastic armor shields. Ultimately, riders need to evaluate their protection needs vs desired comfort and feel.
Key Takeaways on Dianese Carbon 4 Gloves
After thoroughly testing the updated Dianese Carbon 4 gloves myself, here are the crucial takeaways for fellow riders considering them:
- Redesigned fingers, knuckles, and palm to improve fit
- Break-in period required before optimal comfort
- Armored knuckles, finger shields, and palm slider
- Pitched between premium and budget tiers
- Add touchscreen to next iteration!
So, if ultimate hand protection ranks as your top priority, the Carbon 4 gloves won’t disappoint. The redesigned third generation builds on the success of a proven formula.
While the break-in might initially seem stiff, once the supple leather conforms to your hands, it achieves that broken-in feel. And the pre-curved shape reduces rider fatigue tremendously over hundreds of miles.
For riding predominantly on paved roads rather than off-road, the ample armor shields hands from traumatic injury without overly sacrificing flexibility. The road feels from the tactical goat hide leather proves exceptional for confident control feedback.
So the Dianese Carbon 4 earns its spot among the best premium motorcycle gloves money can buy! Feel free to share your impressions on these gloves after logging some miles with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Carbon 4 gloves have touchscreen fingertips?
The short cuff version comes with touchscreen capability on the index fingertip. But the long gauntlet cuff model currently lacks any conductive fingertip.
What type of leather comprises the palm material?
Dianese utilizes premium goat skin leather rather than cowhide in the Carbon 4 palm for optimized road feel, grip, and abrasion resistance.
How long is the break-in period?
Expect at least 100 miles before the gloves mold perfectly to your hands. But they’ll continually form to your grip over about 500 miles of riding.
Does the neoprene knuckle material make the gloves hot?
The perforated textile backing allows decent airflow behind the knuckles to prevent heat buildup inside. They breathe well unless riding in extreme summer heat.
What other Dianese models compare most closely?
The Druids have upgraded protection for track riding, whereas the Impeto style prioritizes flexibility and ventilation over armor. The Carbon hits the best balance overall.
And Finally…Are They Worth Buying?
If you seek the ideal blend of flexibility, top-notch protection, ventilation, and long-term comfort from a premium motorcycle glove, the Dianese Carbon 4 earns my highest approval marks.
Few other gloves can claim such a perfect balance across the range of attributes discerning riders’ demands.
So ultimately, yes, the Dianese Carbon 4 gloves deliver tremendous value that justifies their exalted price tag!
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