The Oxford North Shore 2.0 glove is on the thicker side making it a great option for the shoulder seasons not to mention a great addition to your best winter mountain bike gloves collection. The upper is tough and integrates some padding protection which is handy for fending off trail-side prickles. The palm is very comfortable and doesn’t detract from the feel of the grip. Some of the seams are a little tough inside and the finishing of the wrist could be better but at this price point, these gloves represent good value for money.
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Oxford North Shore 2.0 gloves – Technical details
These gloves are on the thicker side, certainly not depths-of-winter sub-zero thick but they’re a great shoulder seasons option. The upper is made from four-way stretch material while the palm is a one piece of Amara material which aids feel and grip at the palm.
The fingers have integrated padding on the outer surfaces to help defend from strikes.
The thumb and first two fingers receive silicone grippers. The thumb has a soft material that acts as a sweat wipe. And to finish it off, a good old-fashioned hook and loop wrist strap to secure the glove.
The North Shore 2.0 glove is available in four colour ways; black, grey, red and blue.
Oxford North Shore 2.0 gloves – Performance
The most important aspect of any glove is the fit and I can confirm the fit is excellent and the sizing is as expected. I like gloves to be tight fitting, particularly when the hand is outstretched which helps to reduce bunching when holding onto the bars. And the sizing Oxford has used achieves this. It is certainly worth trying before you buy to ensure you get the right size.
The wrist strap helps with entry and exit, which is particularly helpful after a wet ride when the gloves are soaked through and the adjustability around the wrist is a nice feature. The sweat wipe patch works well, the material is absorbent and does help when trying to keep glasses clean.
The silicone grippers help with grip on brake levers but they do wear off fairly quickly. The one-piece palm is comfortable and thin enough to numb any bar feedback and grip, and having no seams in between your hand and the bar certainly helps this.
The upper material is thicker and tougher than some gloves making these great for the shoulder seasons. The knuckle protectors won’t provide much help if you hit something hard like a tree but I’ve found them great for fending off gorse and brambles.
In terms of construction, I have no concerns about the durability or quality of the gloves. Although the palm is seam-free, I have found the upper areas of the glove have some tough seams that can be felt, particularly at the end of the fingers/thumb. Not a deal breaker and once riding I didn’t feel these seams but it’s worth noting. I can be a little picky about the finishing around the wrist, however. The folded-over cuff, I feel, could be tidier – it’s not a comfort issue just detracts from the finish of the glove.
Oxford North Shore 2.0 gloves – Verdict
With an RRP of £23, the North Shore 2.0 gloves represent excellent value for money. The Endura MT500 D30 glove is another option offering slightly more protection, this is a high-quality glove but retails at £43. Slightly cheaper at £18 are the Rockrider ST500 gloves, these have a padded upper for protection and also feature a padded palm.
The Oxford North Shore 2.0 glove represents a solid, affordable option for the shoulder seasons. It’s on the thicker side, provides some protection from trail prickles and, at this price, the gloves are definitely worth a try.
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Product purpose:
Integrated knuckle and finger armour pads in the gloves fabric help to prevent injury from knocks and scratches found on the most challenging of MTB Trails, whilst a 4 way stretch upper and Amara palm present total comfort for the rider which allows for better palm to grip feel, equalling better control.
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One piece palm
Padding on upper fingers
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Product likes:
Padding for trail side prickle defence
Comfortable palm
