Mention Alpinestars to pretty well any biker and you'll get them thinking about race boots, high-tech leathers and the like. And rightly so, because that's what the Italian company is best known for. But there's a more prosaic, down to earth side of their product range as well. After all, even the most sporting of riders has to go out in the rain sometimes.

For the last few months I've been using a pair of Alpinestars' new Tech Road gloves. A mixture of goretex and leather, these rather splendid gloves combine the normal style and protection you'd expect with a healthy dash of everyday usability. Though they're not really true all season gloves, erring on the chilly side when old Jack Frost comes to visit, they are splendidly waterproof and warm enough for those brisk Autumn and Spring mornings. Right now, in mid January, I'm using undergloves as well.

So let's have a look at them, then.

First glance is certainly encouraging. About 3/4 of the glove body is made of Alpinestars' usual high quality leather, with moulded plastic armour over the knuckles and cordura-like material on the sides of the cuffs. The actual glove is all leather. There's the de rigeur suede panel on the palms to help grip and the fingers have concertina sections to help them flex as well as secondary padding on the ends of the fingers. That's good - you may not consider your fingernails as vulnerable points, but getting them smacked with, say, road salt as you pass the gritting lorry on the motorway might just change your mind. Of course, all the padding and armour in the world becomes useless if the glove comes off when you need it. Happily, this looks extremely unlikely. There is a sturdy wrist strap with plenty of meaty velcro which is well positioned and easy to use. The cuff also tightens down with another velcro strap.

Alpinestars sizing seems to be slightly different to everyone else's - though my hands aren't especially huge I'm wearing XL gloves and they're still quite a snug fit. Like a glove, funnily enough. So you'd be well advised to try a pair on to work out what actually fits you.

In use, they've taken everything that our so far mild but rather damp winter has thrown at them. They're certainly waterproof, though the cuffs are bulky enough to make getting them under your jacket sleeves a bit of a pain. They're warm enough most of the time, though I'd be inclined to take something more substantial for properly cold weather. And they're comfortable - far nicer to wear than many waterproof gloves which feel as though you're gripping the bars through a couple of duvets.

The only criticism I've really got of these gloves is a small one. There's no little pad on the left index figer to wipe your visor. Now I know that you shouldn't really do that anyway, but sometimes needs must. We all do it, and wiping your visor with smooth shiny leather just doesn't do the trick.

All in all I'd say these are good gloves. Good value, well made and likely to be protective as you like. For Spring, Autumn and mild winters they're pretty well all you'll need.

SB