Riding Gear Review: Sprint Mesh Jacket & Blaze Semi Gauntlet Leather Gloves

On the road, it is our own responsibility to stay safe out there. While a car, for example, provides the most basic safety to its occupants in the form of sitting inside a steel cage, there’s also stuff like seat belts, air bags and various other safety features that offer enough protection for most situations barring few extremities.

Things get much more tricky on a two wheeler since the rider is completely exposed to everything around him – vehicles, environmental elements like dirt and other pollutants that often distract and of course the tarmac. Although a helmet and a pair of shoes provide the absolute basic protection, we know that they are simply not enough other than in case of a minor fall. Commonly, hands, knees and elbows are the areas that take most injuries and it is unfortunate to see that these are the body parts most ignored primarily because of the careless attitude of the rider.

A good riding gear can help not only change that but also provide the protection we need and deserve. As a matter of fact, I would say it is our responsibility to provide such protection to ourselves. On that note, we bring you a detailed review of two of the most important things in a riding gear – a pair of Solace riding gloves with knuckle protection and a Solace riding jacket, that can save you from injuries in case of an accident.

Sprint Mesh Jacket



The primary purpose of a good riding jacket is to provide protection and prevent physical damage to the parts of body it covers. The Sprint Mesh Jacket by Solace has all the important parts covered – elbows, shoulders and the back as well – by providing removable CE approved protectors. CE Approved essentially means that the protectors meet European Standards. Riding gear certified as such enables for uninterrupted and free travel across Europe and also, it is a standard accepted universally.

The jacket is quite comfortable for all day wear although it must be understood that it would not provide the comfort of a normal jacket meant for casual wear. Initially, the back protector gives a prominent feeling on the back for the first few minutes after the jacket is put on which could feel slightly uncomfortable; however, things get normal eventually as the rider gets used to it. There’s no such noticeable feeling in any other area.



The fabric on the inner side is 100% Poly Soft Honey Comb Mesh and is pretty comfortable. While the rider gets the clear sensation of protectors at elbows and shoulders due to their hardness, it never gets uncomfortable even with prolonged wear. The hand movement remains free and natural (which is absolutely necessary of course). The fit is fine and as it should be, the jacket covers the upper body starting from the lower neck to the lower back.



The back protector overall feels nice and provides the jacket with enough weight and should I say, stability, which further prevents the jacket from shaking when riding at high speeds. The collar, waist, forearms and wrists are adjustable providing various levels of fit as per the rider’s preference.

There’s also a removable thermal liner which is water proof. As it is clear enough, it is appropriate to attach and use in rainy season and also in winters since it should provide decent resistance against cold weather. The practicality aspect also increases with the inclusion of 3 pockets (2 outside and 1 inside) that can be used to carry a mobile phone and other similarly sized stuff. There’s one more pocket at the back, a big one, which can be used either to put an extra back protector or to carry small things.



Lastly, good riding jacket also increases the visibility of the rider for other road users. The Sprint jacket has a reflective insert which makes the rider more visible at night increasing the safety aspect.

Below are the specifications of the Sprint Mesh Jacket:

- Price Rs. 5600

- ALL SEASONS TEXTILE MESH JACKET

- SPRINT-Red- You can enjoy it in all weather

- 600D & 1000D Cordura Combination

- 100% Poly soft Honey Comb Mesh

- Thermal Water Proof Lining

- 100% Polyester lining

- CE Approved Shoulders, Elbows, Back Protector

- Adjustable Collar, Waist, Forearms and Wrist

- Reflective insert

- 2 external 1 internal pocket

- YKK zipper used throughout

- Back pocket use for extra protector or as a cargo pocket

Blaze Semi Gauntlet Leather Gloves


Gloves are another thing whose importance is largely underestimated. In many instances, the hands (especially the palm) is the first part of the body that makes contact with the road in case of a fall. The hand not only takes the whole weight of the body (almost) but also slides violently against the roughest surface given the situation. It is only natural to provide the best possible protection to your hands, the thing that plays the most important role in controlling a two wheeler.

These gloves from Solace are made from premium grade cow hide leather of 0.8 to 0.9mm thickness. The fit is nice and tight without becoming irritating on the skin. The leather on the fingers is slightly stretchable which aids in the movement of the fingers. It is also perforated at key areas providing adequate ventilation and to keep sweat under control in hot weather conditions.



Silicon has been incorporated on the inner part of the fingers and the palm enhancing the grip of the glove. The Velcro adjustable wrist acts as a locking mechanism and allows the rider to tighten the glove as per his comfort level. Still, the inner fabric could be little bit more comfortable especially during finger movement. That said, the gloves are pretty comfortable to wear.

Knuckles are another vulnerable area on the hand and there are instances when they are hit by small stones that are thrown at a near bullet speed by tyres of the vehicles (especially buses and trucks) moving in the front. They are protected by a hardened material TPU.

Below are the specifications of Blaze Semi Gauntlet Leather Gloves:

- Price Rs. 2350

- 0.8 – 0.9mm Premium Grade Cow hide leather

- Velcro Adjustable wrist

- Perforated leather panels

- Schoeller Keprotec® reinforced palms

- TPU Knuckles for maximum protection

- Leather stretched fingers for better movement

- Silicon “Power Grip “on fingers & palm for secure grip.

- Nylon Bonded Thread used

- Pre Curved Fingers

- EVA Padding used on palm and wrist area

- Double layer leather used in palm area

It is suggested that riders understand the importance of good riding gear. While I believe nothing can guarantee 100% safety when things are too extreme to handle, wearing a good quality riding gear is part of precautions that everyone should consider taking.

It must also be mentioned that with the continuous rise of motorcycle market in India, there are all sorts of motorcycles coming here. With that, there’s been a noticeable increase in the awareness about riding gears as well, which is a very good thing. Normally, it is the motorcycle enthusiasts (as we like to call ourselves) that are seen wearing such protective clothing; however, a casual rider should give equal importance to it as well because it doesn’t matter how much a person rides a two wheeler, it only takes a moment for things to go wrong on the road. It is always safe than to be sorry.

If one wishes and have enough money, they can always go for world class brands like Alpinestars and Dainese as well. However, for people on budget, Solace is a very good option.

All said and done, we hope that you stay away from dangerous situations and that these riding gears are not put to test.

Keep the rubber side down. Ride safe.