Alpinestars Phenom Gloves Review: Love Them or Hate Them?
Evan Rally
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The Alpinestars Phenom gloves are tough short-cuff gloves with big knuckle armor, surprising airflow, touchscreen tips that actually work, and Velcro that holds up after heavy use. They’ve proven durable after 18 months of riding in heat and rain, but the comfort will depend on how your hands match the cut.
Rather watch this review? Here’s our full breakdown in video form.
The Ride That Started It
So these are the Alpinestars Phenom motorcycle gloves. While they’re a great set of gloves, they’re not quite right for me—and they may not be right for you either.
I’ve had these for about 18 months now. I first picked them up on a ride in Japan, somewhere outside Kyoto. At the time, I only had a really crappy pair of gloves with me, and I needed something better—something thicker, more protective, and hopefully more comfortable. I walked into a shop and came out with these. I paid for them myself, and since I bought them in Japan, the design may be a little different from what’s sold in the US or EU.
Comfortable and flexible, the Phenom are a mix between sport and casual riding glove. Lightweight yet all-leather where you need it, with a palm slider.
- Excellent knuckle and side-hand protection
- Soft goat leather gives instant break-in comfort
- Stretch inserts enhance flexibility and grip control
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips for device access
- Limited ventilation in hot weather
- Some reports of stitching wear over time
For context, I’ve had a lot of really positive experiences with Alpinestars gear. I also own the Tech 7 Enduro boots, and I absolutely love those—they’re insanely good. So my expectations for these gloves were high.
I’ve also mentioned the Phenom before in my Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 review, where I compared them with other short-cuff options. The SMX Airs weren’t the right fit for me, but it gave me a chance to show how different gloves in the same category can feel.
What I Like
The Knuckle Plate
The first thing I noticed on the Phenoms is the knuckle plate. If you can hear it when I tap, it’s super rigid. At first, I thought it might even be metal, but after bending it a little, I realized it’s probably plastic. Still, it’s way stronger than what you find on a lot of other gloves.
That plate is also big. It extends all the way across the knuckles, which is rare for a short-cuff glove. That’s one of the reasons I chose them. I wanted something easy to wear but still protective, and these looked like they would do the job.
Ventilation in the Heat
Living in Thailand means hot hands are just part of the deal if your gloves don’t breathe. Riding in the heat without ventilation is no fun. That’s why airflow was high on my list.
The Phenom gloves actually flow a lot of air. They’re leather on the top and bottom, but between the fingers, there’s a neoprene material that lets air come through. The first time I realized how well this worked was during another ride in Japan. It was over 100 degrees every day—absolutely brutal—but my hands never got hot in these. That balance of thicker construction with ventilation was exactly what I was looking for.
Touchscreen Tips That Work
Another feature that stood out is the touchscreen functionality. Plenty of brands say their gloves will work on a phone, but then when you try it, nothing happens. These actually do.
Sure, gloves add some bulk, so it’s harder to be precise about where you’re touching, but these still register swipes and taps. At first, I thought only the tips of two fingers would work, but it turns out all of them do. I’ve scrolled, tapped, and even used my middle finger on the screen, and it picked everything up. For me, that’s a big plus because it means I don’t have to take them off just to check my phone or GPS.
The Velcro Factor
This one might sound like a small detail, but it’s a big deal for me: Velcro. I can’t stand when Velcro closures wear out after a short time, and a lot of motorcycle gloves have this issue.
The Phenoms use really good Velcro. After 18 months of riding in the rain, in extreme heat, and in humid conditions, the closure still holds strong. It’s a little weaker than when it was brand new, but far from worn out. The hooks they use are high quality, and they basically never degrade.
That matters for safety too. If I crash and the glove gets yanked, I don’t want it flying off. I’ve tugged hard at the strap, and it doesn’t open up. That kind of durability makes me trust these a lot more than some of the cheaper gloves I’ve owned in the past.
The Fit Problem
Now here’s where things get tricky for me. The gloves are fairly comfortable when I first put them on, but after about an hour to an hour and a half of riding, I start to feel pain and pressure in my knuckles. The rigid protector pushes down on them, and it’s not a pleasant feeling.
I also get some pain in my pinkies, probably from how the glove is designed and how it presses in that area. Then there’s the “V” between my thumb and index finger—something about the cut rubs there and just doesn’t feel right after a while.
This might not be a flaw in the design itself. It may just be that my hands don’t match the cut of the glove. That means they could fit you perfectly fine. I think they might be better suited to a sport bike rider, given the fit and look.
Comparing with the Pando Moto Ivy
Another glove I’ve used a lot recently is the Pando Moto Ivy. These are actually my favorite gloves right now. Like the Phenoms, they’re short cuff, but they’re much lighter and more comfortable. They’re great for summer, and my hands don’t sweat in them.
The Pando Moto Ivy gloves offer cool summer riding with perforated goatskin, CE Level 1 knuckle armor, reinforced palms, and touchscreen fingertips—all in a sleek retro style.
Buy from Pando Moto with code ROAD for 10% off.
- Touchscreen fingertips for easy navigation
- CE Level 1 knuckle protection under leather
- Abrasion-resistant palm reinforcements
- Perforation is only on the palms, not the tops
- No hard sliders on palm—softer padding only
For the type of riding I do most—around the city—they make more sense. They’ve got a more classic look and feel, and they don’t cause me any pressure issues. The Phenoms, on the other hand, seem better suited to a sport or naked bike rider, where the more aggressive look and fit match the style.
Long-Term Durability
In terms of build quality, the Phenom gloves have held up really well. I’ve worn them in rain, in the blazing sun, and through humid weather in Thailand. After all that, the stitching is still intact, the leather hasn’t failed, and the Velcro is still holding strong.
For me, durability is one of the highlights of these gloves. Eighteen months in, they’re still usable, and I’d expect them to last a lot longer.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Alpinestars Phenom gloves are a solid pair of short-cuff gloves. They’ve got serious knuckle protection, they flow more air than you’d expect, they work with touchscreens, and they’ve proven durable after a lot of use.
For me personally, they cause some pressure points on longer rides, which is why I don’t wear them as often now. But that may just come down to the way my hands fit the gloves. For someone else, they could be the perfect choice.
They’re also one of the gloves I mention in Evan’s recommended gear list. If you’re looking at building up your kit, it’s worth checking that out to see how the Phenom stacks up alongside the other helmets, jackets, and gloves I use.
So in the end, the Alpinestars Phenom gloves might not be the right fit for me, but they could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Comfortable and flexible, the Phenom are a mix between sport and casual riding glove. Lightweight yet all-leather where you need it, with a palm slider.
- Excellent knuckle and side-hand protection
- Soft goat leather gives instant break-in comfort
- Stretch inserts enhance flexibility and grip control
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips for device access
- Limited ventilation in hot weather
- Some reports of stitching wear over time
