RST Pro Series Paragon 6 CE gloves £79.99 ‘No-compromise winter gloves’
Tested by Emma Franklin for six months
RST’s Pro Series Paragon 6 are the British brand’s top-of-therange winter gloves. The Paragon 6s are a comprehensive overhaul of the – yes, you guessed it – Paragon 5. Gone is the zip cuff and carbon-fibre knuckle, replaced by a drawstring cuff and matt knuckle armour for an altogether less overtly sporty look.
For winter gloves the Paragon 6s are pleasingly lacking in bulk and as a result offer excellent feel. The fit is generous and the full-grain leather/textile chassis is quite soft, meaning that they’re easy to get on and off while still fitting perfectly in the fingers (I tested the women’s version in my usual size seven and found them to be spot on).
Inside, the brushed polyester lining feels soft and instantly warm, although doesn’t have the palm-pleasing wow factor of gloves which feature posh fleecy linings. That said, the Paragons aren’t lacking in warmth as they’re backed up with a 3M Thinsulate layer and at single-figure temperatures they’ll keep hands happy without needing heated grips.
With the gloves CE rated to EN13594:2015 1KP, the knuckle armour is lined with memory foam so there’s no harsh feeling across the backs of your hands, plus the wrist strap and cuff remain extremely comfortable too, allowing a good range of adjustability.
As they’re made from a combination of tough fabric and leather, they give a sense that they’d protect in a crash, especially as the palms are full leather with additional panels across the outside of the hand.
The Sinaqua waterproof/breathable membrane is still performing after 3000 miles, and waterproofing is massively assisted by the cuff. Thanks to the drawstring you can opt to wear the Paragon 6 over your jacket sleeves and then pull the drawstring tight to form a seal preventing rain from trickling down into the gloves. Alternatively, because of the cuffs’ lack of bulk you can pull your jacket sleeves over the top.
Even at their £79.99 RRP, they are excellent value, but now they’re widely available online for just £54.99, they’re well worth investing in.
Whereas many winter gloves can be a compromise – warm but lacking feel, comfy but lacking protection – the RST Pro Series Paragon 6 prove that you can have a winter weather glove that does it all.
Quality Value www.rst-moto.com