Scorpion EXO Gripster Women’s Gloves Review: Hidden Gem or Overhyped?

I’m always on the lookout for high-quality but affordable women’s motorcycle gloves to keep my hands safe while riding.

So when I came across the Scorpion EXO Gripster gloves, I was intrigued. At just $55, could these goatskin leather gloves provide decent protection?

But the main question I will answer in this review is: Are these the best women’s motorcycle gloves?

I decided to take a closer look at the Scorpion Gripsters to see if they could make the cut for my collection of motorcycle gear. Here’s an in-depth review of what I found.

Scorpion EXO Gripster Women’s Gloves

Key Takeaways

• Retro cruiser style
• Perforated goatskin leather
• Stretch panels across knuckles

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My Verdict After Testing the Scorpion EXO Gripster Women’s Gloves

Overall, if you’re looking for reasonably priced leather gloves (1) for street riding with a retro look, the Scorpion EXO Gripsters are a great option.

While they don’t provide premium protection features, the combination of abrasion-resistant leather, foam armor, and impact panels offer good value at this price point.

Just don’t expect these gloves to have robust insulation for cold-weather riding or waterproof membranes for excessive moisture.

For all-around street use in dry conditions, though, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and comfort. The perforations do help keep hands cool in warmer temps as well.

While I’ll still use my high-end track motorcycle gloves for performance riding, the Gripsters earned a spot in my collection as a stylish, affordable pair of leather street gloves.

So, if you ride a cruiser or standard motorcycle and want basic protection without breaking the bank, take a look at the Scorpion EXO Gripster Women’s gloves!

Comparison to Similar Women’s Motorcycle Gloves

The Alpinestars Stella gloves provide maximum abrasion protection with full goatskin leather construction.

The Sedici Lucca gloves are the most affordable option at $60, with a combination of synthetic leather and perforated goat hide in high wear areas.

For comfort and flexibility, the Icon Anthem 2 have four-way stretch microfiber panels while retaining goatskin abrasion zones.

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A Straightforward Design Tailored Toward Cruisers

The Gripster gloves have a straightforward design geared toward cruiser riders or those who like that retro café racer style.

The gloves are made from perforated goatskin leather with stretch panels across the knuckles. This combination provides abrasion resistance while allowing good flexibility.

According to Scorpion’s size chart, I took a palm circumference measurement to determine my glove size. For the best fit, you’ll want leather women’s motorcycle gloves to initially have a snug feel since they stretch out over time. The Gripsters fit me well in an XL.

One thing I immediately noticed was the extremely short wrist cuff. For some riders, this may be bothersome if you have gaps between your jacket and the gloves, exposing your skin.

However, for that classic motorcycle jacket look, the shorter cuff design is preferred. A single velcro strap secures the gloves.

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Decent Protection for the Price Point

Considering their affordable $55 price tag, the Scorpion Gripster gloves provide decent protection for street riding.

The goat hide leather should be sufficient to slide across the pavement in a crash, avoiding nasty road rash on your hands. Leather generally offers better abrasion resistance compared to textile gloves.

Foam padding on the knuckles and extra leather layers reinforcing the palm adds impact protection as well. I wouldn’t choose these for hardcore track days, but the armor seems sufficient for typical street use.

The foam, though, isn’t too bulky, retaining good flexibility and feel on the handlebars.

The perforations and stretch panels do help airflow to keep your hands from getting overly hot. Just don’t expect the cooling and breathability of mesh or textile gloves.

As far as waterproofing, the Gripsters aren’t designed for wet weather riding. You’d likely want to apply a water-repellant spray treatment or wear rain gloves over them when they’re wet.

One missing feature is conductive touchscreen fingertips. However, for those wanting maximum grip and feel from their leather gloves, this omission is typically preferred. You’ll just have to remove the Gripsters briefly if you need to use your smartphone.

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Additional Details

Here are a few other details about the Scorpion EXO Gripster gloves:

• Come only in a black colorway
• Covered by a 1-year manufacturer warranty
• Suitable for cruising, standard, cafe racer, and some touring motorcycles
• Offer vintage styling with modern protections
• Gauntlet cuff is quite short at around 2 inches
• Palm has perforations for ventilation
• Foam padding on the side of the palm protects from fatigue
• Double stitched abrasion zone with extra leather layer
• Knuckle armor contains shock-absorbing foam
• Stretch panels on fingers and back of hand
• Scorpion “EXO” branding on the wrist is subtly done

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FAQs

What types of bikes are the Scorpion Gripster gloves designed for?

These gloves cater to the cruiser and standard crowd, though some cafe racers, bobbers, touring, or adventure riders may like them too. They have vintage styling while providing modern impact protection.

How do these compare for summer vs winter riding?

The perforations will help airflow to keep hands cooler in summer. But for winter riding, they lack insulation or waterproofing for heavy rain or snow. You’d need to layer with a water/windproof winter glove.

What is the expected longevity of the conductive fingertips?

The leather construction should retain touchscreen conductivity for the normal lifetime of the gloves. Unless excessively worn down from crashes or abrasion, the fingertips will work for touchscreens for years before needing replacement.

Does goatskin or cowhide leather offer better abrasion resistance?

Goatskin leather is actually preferable for many motorcycle gloves because it stretches better to contour hands for maximum dexterity. It also often costs less than cowhide. Both provide excellent abrasion protection.

How long is the wrist cuff from the base of the palm?

The gauntlet cuff on the Gripsters measures around 2 inches from the palm base. It’s designed to be short for a vintage style but long enough to overlap most motorcycle jacket sleeves.

And Finally…

Finding high-performing motorcycle gloves these days that are built specifically for cruisers and retro bikes can be challenging.

The choices typically narrow down to racing-style track gloves or basic work gloves that provide insufficient protection.

That’s why I was excited to discover the Scorpion EXO Gripster gloves. They blend vintage styling with modern armor features tailored to the needs of street riders.

The perforated goatskin strikes an ideal balance between abrasion resistance, breathability, and flexibility.

While they lack insulation and waterproofness for extreme conditions, the Gripsters work beautifully for standard street use. For just $55, you’d be hard-pressed to find another leather glove that provides similar quality protection.

So, if you ride a more classic-styled motorcycle like a cruiser or cafe racer, I highly recommend checking out the Scorpion Gripster gloves. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!

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Sources: Motorcycle personal protective equipment (1)