V3 Loaded Gloves,  Thursday, 06 August 2009 Those are my first sliding gloves, so I can't compare them to other brands, however, I have worn them enough to have a fair opinion! Remember however that my usual sessions do not include technical slides. I am a DH/drift guy with occasional slides thrown in.

First off, they look bitching. The green parts are really flashy, and the mix of mesh and kevlar really makes for an attractive glove. I won't really comment on "usefulness" or "ease of use" because, well, they are GLOVES! I will say however that the wrist strap is very useful to ensure the glove stays on and doesn't move around.

I don't know how they compare to other gloves, but those get very hot unless you can to fast enough for the wind to go through the top mesh. After a few runs, your hands WILL smell like old socks, but lucky enough, you just have to take the pucks and padding off and throw them in the washer with your old jeans. I left mine to dry for less than an hour and they were good to go, stink-free.

My problem with those gloves actually come from their durability. The pucks themselves are okay, and I have yet to lose one while sliding or breaking them. The stitching, however, doesn't seem very well done. My thumb is now poking out of a seam that hasn't touched the ground, located on top of the velcro. It might just be one in a hundred but I was a bit let down.

I don't regret my purchase yet though. Those gloves are doing their job so far, saving my palms and letting me take corners at high speeds without worrying about melting my hands. Give them a try, just don't expect a bulletproof glove.

 Stoked Tree,  Tuesday, 09 June 2009 It's a great first board. I wouldn't have gotten anything else even with the knowledge I have now. The Fleetwood is good at almost everything, making this a very valuable tool in anyone's quiver. In an age of fiberglass and carbon decks, this deck drops back to the basics of wood and concrete waves.

Ride on and stay stoked!