The REVI’IT! Sand 4 design takes notes from the motocross world but is built for riding pavement. There’s a full leather palm. Stout knuckle armor is made of rubber — not carbon like you find on many street or race-focused mitts. The REV’IT! motorcycle gloves have elastic zones between the armor and incorporated a palm slider that’s critical for dissipating energy if a fall takes place on the blacktop.

In short: You want motorcycle gloves like the REV’IT! Sand 4 ($120) if your routine includes off-road riding on hot, dusty terrain. But it’s also an excellent summer commuting glove on days when your go-to full-leather pair might leave your hands coated in sweat. The Sand 4 was constructed with screen-enabled fingertips, so you can send a text while gassing up. Given that there is no insulation, the Sand 4 has excellent dexterity, and the glove’s stretch zones help reduce hand fatigue while riding trails.

Read the full review or see how the gloves compare in The Best Motorcycle Gloves buyer’s guide.

REV’IT! Sand 4 Review

I tested these motorcycle gloves during the spring and summer, which is their sweet spot due to their breathability. If you need insulation or waterproofness, you’ll need a second pair on hand to swap these out for warmth, protection from wind and precipitation, and better grip with dampness.

On sweaty trail days, I also found that I dug this pair, thanks to the flexibility. REV’IT! added stretch panels across the backs of the fingers, and the rubber armor on the fist isn’t rigid — it gives when the hand is clenched.

Back on pavement, the goatskin palm offers a great grip for any ride across town or just around the corner. The minimal palm slider also makes these gloves a very comfortable option for hot-weather days.

For all these reasons, soon into testing, the Sand 4 became my tank bag gloves. I’d start a ride wearing a burlier pair with insulation and later switch to these. Typically, I’d finish the ride in the Sand 4 unless the skies opened up with rain.

Flexible & Comfortable

Some cheaper motorcycle gloves have interior seams that feel irritating against the fingers, but not these. REV’IT! avoids that by pulling the front-side seams away from your palm and toward the back of your hand, and the seams are comfortable around every digit, too.

The finger shape is boxy, and there’s a bit of extra space to move without tension. Between each finger, the space has elasticity and is well vented. The mesh that vents the thumb (and every zone that isn’t armored at the back of the hand) has stretch.

Also, the palm is precurved. The armor across the knuckles and backside of the hand sits in a single plane but separates into segmented pieces when the hand curls, enhancing the glove’s feeling of flexibility.

I also really like the neoprene-like cuff. It seems simple, but a lot of short (versus gauntlet) motorcycle gloves are too minimal, so the underside of the wrist is exposed between your jacket and gloves. Here, the Sand 4 is slightly longer. And the hook-and-loop closure stays put, so you won’t find dirt and grime up your sleeve.

I also like that there’s a giant pull tab on the interior of each wrist rather than a wispy little fabric wand. That large nylon loop makes it much easier to pull your hand into the second glove.

Thermoplastic Rubber

You may not want to worry about this, but knuckle armor is important. A rock kicked from a car while you’re on the road could snap a joint. So riding in minimal dirt gloves without knuckle armor could be tempting, but it’s not a swell idea. Your knuckles are pretty exposed on a bike.

Hard armor made of carbon for street riding makes sense. But rubber is a great substitute for the Sand 4 because it’s comfier and more forgiving. The palm slider is made of the same stuff, which adds cushion, so the base of the palm is less likely to feel a pressure point that leads to discomfort.

REV’IT! Sand 4 Motorcycle Gloves Fit: They Run Small

There’s a reason REV’IT! sells these up to size 4XL — they run about a full size small, in my experience. Usually, I wear size medium motorcycle gloves, but I went up to a large for the Sand 4. They’re narrower across the hand’s width compared to other motorcycle gloves I’ve worn.

I’ve also found this to be typical with REV’IT! products in general. This isn’t a big problem, as long as you’re aware and double-check the sizing charts before you purchase or order a pair.

REV’IT! Sand 4 Motorcycle Gloves Review: Conclusion

The REV’IT! Sand 4 are a lightweight, breathable motorcycle gloves that’s great for trail days or hot days on pavement. The brand’s attention to detail sets this pair apart from others -— like the pull tab on the wrist cuffs and the semi-rigid knuckle protector.

While it’s not insulated or waterproof, these gloves are an excellent fit for mellower weather days. Most of all, I loved how flexible and ergonomic this design is, which helped reduce hand fatigue without sacrificing protection and armor in the event of a tumble.

Also, the Sand 4 barely takes up room in a moto jacket pocket or bike bag, meaning you can always bring these gloves along as a spare. Or, as became my summer norm, as your number-one motorcycle gloves for adventurous or hot days.