$200 features in a $99 glove

Crush Hardware has introduced a new racing glove, called the Ultra.  While those outside the Southeast may not recognize this brand, Crush’s custom leather suits have been a hit with the WERA and trackday crowds down south for the past decade. The company has been in business for ten years, launching their suit line in grand style by providing leathers for Hooter’s Suzuki in 2000. Their first offering was custom leather suits, made in standard sizing and then altered for the customer. In addition to leather suits, Crush has since added off-the-rack and custom street jackets in both fitted and street styles.

Some manufacturers cut costs by using split grain leather. This is the bottom layer of the hide and provides scant structural integrity compared to top grain leather.  Top grain construction means that the leather is taken from the top layer of material, which is the strongest part of the hide.  Crush Hardware cuts no corners with the Ultra glove, using top grain cowhide construction that is pliable right out of the package. For additional crash protection, the gloves also feature a Clarino palm overlay.  Clarino is a synthetic leather that chemically reproduces the fine, non-woven structure of natural leather. It is based on a fabric composed of synthetic fibers that are three-dimensionally intertwined to form a tough material.

You may have owned a pair of gloves that had seams sewn in such a way that they created pressure points on your finger tips. Crush Hardware took care to eliminate this problem by making the seams on the fingers feel… well… seamless. There are no pressure points created on the fingers or palm from incorrectly or improperly designed seams or joints.  High impact areas such as the palm heel and side area feature double layer protection to help prevent burn-through in a rough accident.  Additionally, Kevlar armor is placed on the sides of the hand and over each set of knuckles. Padding is added to the well-ventilated gauntlet to help protect your wrist from injury.  Not only does the gauntlet feature a large double enclosure on the forearm, but the smaller wrist strap is also a double enclosure, something rarely seen on other manufacturers’ offerings.  If a slide should burn through the top strap, the second Velcro enclosure will keep the glove securely on the user’s hand.

As for feel of the gloves while on the bike, one of our test riders stated, “After they broke in, they were one of the most comfortable sets of gloves I’ve worn. I don’t even notice the seams on the fingers like with other gloves. I like the security of the double wrist enclosures; it’s an incredibly secure glove. The price is also very effective. It’s a top quality glove but it’s the same price as other brands’ bottom end. The Ultra gloves are a great deal.”

Crush Hardware supports Brad Graham of VRC Racing, the 2008 CCS Southeast Champion. The gear produced by Crush is top level quality and fit for riders of all levels, from trackday novice to expert number 1 plate holders.

The Ultra glove from Crush Hardware comes in several color schemes, including Black/Red and Blue/White/Black as featured in our photos, as well as White/Red/Black, Black/Green, and White/Fluorescent Red/Black. A pair retails for the extremely reasonable price of $99, and are available for delivery right now. Go to www.crushleathers.com to view the rest of the Crush Hardware line!