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Alpinestars’ Techstar gloves are designed for downhill riding, but there’s nothing stopping a trail or enduro rider using them for extra protection. They’re well made and offer a great bar feel, but the cuff isn’t the most comfortable.

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On the Techstar glove, you get a suede reinforcement on the palm, TRP protectors on the outside of the fingers for abrasion resistance, silicone fingertips, and a Velcro closure.

At the knuckle, there’s an impact-responsive viscoelastic (much like D3O) knuckle protector, and the whole glove is constructed from a light and thin fabric.

I go for a large glove and the fit of the Techstar is absolutely spot on. There are no issues here.

However, the neoprene cuff doesn’t do much for comfort, and that's mostly because of the position of the closure. While it’s out of the way of potential snags, the neoprene feels stiff and doesn’t flow with the natural curve of the wrist.

The hooked part of the Velcro sits on the inner wrist, which also doesn’t gel particularly well, and it's pretty thick. All this creates a slight resistance to your movements.

If the whole closure was on the other side of the wrist, it might be more comfortable.

The cuff issues aside, the rest of the glove is perfectly comfortable and the thin suede palm provides excellent, precise bar feel. Even the stiff-ish knuckle protector doesn’t get bothersome.

While there’s no venting or mesh to encourage airflow, the Techstar gloves are cool and breathable thanks to the thin fabric upper, though they can hold onto sweat.

If you find yourself assaulting trees a little too often for your liking, the Techstar offers the exact protection you need while being lightweight, comfortable, and breathable. It’s just a shame the slightly uncomfortable cuff holds them back.

• www.alpinestars.com

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