Why Pando Moto Ivy Gloves Changed My City Rides
Evan Rally
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I used to rip my gloves off at every red light.
City riding in Bangkok is a sweatbox of chaos, and finding the right gloves felt impossible. Most were either oven mitts with knuckle armor or paper-thin summer gloves that gave up on protection. I needed something that hit a sweet spot:
- Breathable enough to survive Bangkok’s heat
- CE-certified with real protection
- Comfortable for all-day use
- Stylish enough to not scream ‘track day’ at a coffee stop
After months of trial and error, I found the answer in the Pando Moto Ivy Gloves. I’ve been wearing them daily, and for once, I’m not constantly thinking about my gloves while riding, which is exactly how it should be.
Here’s why they’ve earned a permanent spot in my gear setup.
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
First Impressions
Right from the start, the Ivy gloves just fit really well. The goatskin leather is sturdy but also incredibly supple, with none of the stiffness or long break-in period you get with some leather gloves. They felt like a familiar, well-worn pair from the very first ride.
What I was really looking for was a glove that wouldn’t become a sweaty, uncomfortable mess in the Bangkok heat. My other short-cuff mesh gloves, even popular ones like the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2, would leave my hands feeling clammy after just 30 minutes in traffic. The Ivy gloves were a completely different story.
What I Love About These Gloves
Unbelievable Comfort in Heat
This is the Ivy’s superpower. I have been consistently impressed with how comfortable they are in high heat and high humidity. I sweat way less in these than any other summer glove I own. The soft goatskin leather seems to breathe incredibly well, and the fit allows for just enough air movement to keep things comfortable.
Even after an hour of navigating the city’s notorious traffic, my hands feel relatively dry and comfortable. It’s a level of performance that has made them my automatic choice for any ride that doesn’t involve a cold-weather forecast.
Style That Oozes Class
Let’s be honest, looks matter. Most protective gloves are covered in plastic, aggressive logos, and external stitching that make them look very technical. The Ivy gloves are the opposite. They look so casual and classy that they wouldn’t look out of place gripping the wheel of a BMW M4 or a classic Porsche 911.
The knuckle protector is cleverly hidden under the leather, and the palm sliders are low-key. This “stealth” approach to protection means you can wear them to a nice cafe or restaurant without feeling like you need to immediately hide your gear under the table.
Protection That’s There When You Need It
Despite their understated looks, the Ivy gloves are a serious piece of protective equipment. They are fully CE Level 1 certified, which means they’ve passed independent tests for abrasion resistance, seam strength, and impact protection.
The knuckle armour is a flexible SAS-TEC protector that’s comfortable and unobtrusive, and the palm is reinforced in key impact zones. While it’s not a race gauntlet, it offers a level of protection that is perfectly suited for street and urban riding, giving you peace of mind without the bulk.
Need to Knows & My Gripes
No gear is perfect, and I have a couple of small issues with the Ivy gloves.
First, while the palm is perforated, I found this feature to be pretty ineffective. When your hands are wrapped around the grips, those perforations are blocked, so you don’t get any real airflow through them. As I said, the gloves are already very breathable, so it’s not a major issue, but it feels like a feature that exists more on the spec sheet than in reality.
My other gripe is about protection. While the glove is CE-rated, I do wish it had a hard palm slider. A hard slider helps your hand slide on the pavement in a crash, which can prevent your wrist from catching and breaking. Pando’s older Onyx gloves had this feature, and I’d love to see it incorporated here. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in a slide.
The Pando Moto Crash Warranty
This is one of the coolest things about the Ivy gloves, and it has nothing to do with the gloves themselves. In addition to a standard two-year warranty, Pando offers a Lifetime Crash Warranty. If you get into a road accident while wearing their gear, you can send them the story and some photos, and they will replace your damaged gear with a new, equivalent item.
Offering this kind of support on a sub-$100 glove is pretty remarkable and shows a real commitment to the riders who use their products.
How They Compare to Other Gloves
- vs. Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2: The SMX-1 is a fantastic budget glove with a hard knuckle, but in my experience, the Ivy is significantly more comfortable in high heat and has a much more stylish, less technical look.
Summer-ready riding gloves that blend leather and mesh for cool airflow, plus CE‑certified knuckle protection—giving serious safety and comfort without breaking the bank.
- Excellent airflow keeps hands cool in hot weather
- Hard polymer knuckles for certified impact defense
- Pre-curved, flexible fit enhances control and comfort
- Durable full‑grain leather palm resists abrasion
- Velcro closure can loosen after extended wear
- Touchscreen fingertip works inconsistently across devices
- vs. Pando Moto Onyx: The Onyx is the Ivy’s sibling. It has a more retro look and, crucially, features the hard palm slider that the Ivy is missing. However, it’s made from cowhide and may not feel as supple or breathe quite as well as the Ivy’s goatskin.
Pando Moto Onyx Gloves blend protection, comfort, and style for everyday riders.
Buy from Pando Moto with code ROAD for 10% off.
- 0.8mm cowhide leather with perforation for ventilation
- TPU knuckle guard and PU palm slider for impact protection
- Touchscreen-compatible fingertip for easy device access
- Short cuff may not suit all riders
- vs. REV’IT! Veloz: The Veloz is another great urban glove, but like many in its class, it has a more aggressive, modern style. The Ivy is for the rider who prefers a more classic, understated aesthetic.
Urban-focused and ultra-ventilated, the REV'IT Veloz gloves offer all-day comfort with CE‑level protection, touchscreen tips, and soft knuckle armor—ideal for city commutes in warm conditions.
- Excellent airflow keeps hands cool in hot weather
- Comfortable Seesoft 3D knuckles mold to your hand
- OrthoLite palm padding absorbs vibrations
- Touchscreen-compatible thumb and index fingers
- Protection is softer than hard-knuckle options
- Fit runs snug—consider sizing up if between sizes
If you’re still exploring budget-friendly alternatives, we’ve also tested and reviewed the best cheap motorcycle gloves for summer and city riding.
The Verdict: Who Are These Gloves For?
The Pando Moto Ivy Gloves are for the discerning urban rider. They are for the person who values style and all-day comfort but refuses to compromise on real, certified protection. They perfectly solve the pain point of not wanting to wear bulky, uncomfortable gear for a casual ride across town.
Despite their retro-inspired appearance, they are packed with modern features, from the CE-rated protection and touchscreen compatibility to the brilliant crash warranty. They have rightfully earned a top spot in our Best Retro Motorcycle Gloves roundup.
If you’re looking for a single pair of short-cuff gloves that you can wear comfortably all day, in any warm-weather situation, on and off the bike, the Ivy is one of the best you can buy.
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
