Long Term Test: Fox Submachine Glove

I destroy gloves.
Coated with dirt and mashed between my palms and the grips, worn frequently and washed once a week, gloves could be the single hardest working piece of gear I own. On average I trash 2-3 pair a year, but these gloves are the hardest used pair to date, and after 9 months they are still going strong.

I'll be the first to admit, I am a glove snob and in recent years, have not tried any brands aside from Fox. Most shops carry the brand in stock, so for me it has been a no-brainer buy. Formerly a fan of the Fox Sidewinder, I was upset to see Fox trade the tried-and-tested double layer palm for the cheaper single layer Clarino synthetic leather palm. I cannot own a single layer glove: re-read line #1 for reference.

That said, before I get into the nitty gritty on why the Submachine is the best darn pair of gloves ever, let me explain the short-comings of my past gloves.
The biggest gripe is blown stitching. I've had gloves unravel at the seams in the first week of riding. I cannot for the life of me explain why companies put soft rubber bumpers on the knuckles, under the guise of "protection". Rubber is for condoms and tires, not for gloves. It inhibits the breathability, limits flexibility and comfort, and they don't do anything for figner protection. Maybe the people at Fox think that with tough looking rubber pads on the knuckles you get some street-cred, and should any hikers mouth off you'll be showing them the action side of the gloves.

Gladly, The Submachines have no padding... What they do have is a massive terrycloth thumb and back area, handy for winter rides where your nose runs faster than your tires and for wiping the chocolate Hammergel from your lips. If your thumb gets too crusty from an hour of snot-rockets, guess what? You have a second one, so get those boogers off your nose you freak! The rest of gloves' back is made from a stretchy spandex-like fabric with an urban cammo motif. Ugly, but with just enough snugness to keep your hands perfectly cradled in comfort and thin enough to breathe on hot days, I'll take ugly any day. Oh, did I mention they are great when the weather is cool? Well now I did, so stop wondering.

The comfort of these gloves is what really sets them apart. I wear them at work often since I have to be outside in the cold while testing bikes. I wear them when driving too, keeping a thin barrier between me and the ice-cold steering wheel. I wore them while shoveling out (3 days in a row now) both work and home driveways.

These gloves won't do your taxes, but if you let them I figure they'll do just about everything else.