Dakine Concept Glove - Review

May 14, 2015
by Mike Kazimer  
Dakine Concept glove review
Dakine Concept glove review

The Concept is the thinnest glove in Dakine's lineup, constructed with a stretch mesh backing that's joined to a silicone mesh palm in order to achieve a feel that's as light and airy as possible. While it might be minimalist in design, the Concept still has microfiber fleece panels on each thumb for dealing with those mucousy moments, and if the sights and sounds of nature become overwhelming, the touchscreen compatible fingers allow for mid-trail Candy Crush breaks. Rather than a velcro closure, there's an elasticised panel on the wrist that makes it easier to pull them on and off. Colors: black, camo, paradise (shown). Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (black only). MSRP: $25.00 USD.


Dakine Concept glove review
A microfiber thumb helps with snot management.
Dakine Concept glove review
Mesh between the fingertips allows for even more ventilation.


Pinkbike’s Take:
bigquotesI put the Concept gloves into regular rotation nearly six months ago, and despite their tissue paper thin feel they've somehow survived with only a slight rip on one of the thumbs. All of the seams are intact, the mesh on the sides of each finger is free from any tears, and the majestic elk printed on the back of each hand is still standing tall. On the trail, the gloves feels as close to riding gloveless as you can get, but help keep sweat from making things too slippery, and provide a slight amount of abrasion resistance in the event of a crash. The silicone mesh palm doesn't break in quite like a leather palm would, but it's thin enough that I never noticed it bunching up between my hand and the bar. Of course, since wearing these gloves is almost like wearing nothing at all (cue Ned Flanders), they might not be the best choice for heading out on an all-day epic if you don't already have a healthy set of callouses built up, but for riders looking for a comfortable, ultra-light and ultra-thin glove, the Concept is well worth a try. - Mike Kazimer




www.dakine.com, @dakinenews

Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,719 articles

79 Comments
  • 55 4
 Nice glove but what happens when you fall?
  • 158 5
 Don't fall
  • 49 3
 ^this guy Cool
  • 45 1
 If you fall, the glove is handy.
  • 16 0
 Can't speak for this glove specifically but I've taken a few solid spills on the very similar fox attack glove and the material didn't rip and my hands were sore but my skin was fine. Certainly better than no glove.
  • 5 2
 thas probably the most important thing for me, gloves that are durable and impact resistant. something that will save my hands from the rocks and shit in my area, not something that will not be destroyed and i don't need to blow through 25 dollars in one crash
  • 5 0
 "provide a slight amount of abrasion resistance in the event of a crash" - so yeah, try to keep upright.
  • 4 0
 These aren't the gloves for you if that is your first question. These seem more like an XC epic type of glove or for those who would usually ride gloveless but want a tiny bit of warmth/protection in the lightest format they can find. There are plenty of thick, tough gloves out there which will keep you in one piece (at least in the palm region) in the event of a crash.
  • 4 3
 Seriously guys I can only encourage you to wear gloves with a minimal amount of protection .
On a very stupid stupid crash my hand hit a tree at a relatively high speed and it resulted in a fracture of the 5th metacarpal .
Doesn't sound crazy at first but after 8 weeks (and a surgery) I still have issue to correctly handle my grips and pain even while riding my xc bike ..
I also thought that riding without gloves would give me a better feeling and style though ...
  • 4 0
 I have a similar pair of gloves by oakley and the palm is pretty durable. The mesh inbetween the fingers ripped on my first fall in them and took a piece of skin off. Very minimal glove and does shift sometimes.
  • 3 14
flag jmrbauer (May 15, 2015 at 12:41) (Below Threshold)
 same old gloveless comment. if your hands are getting that messed up in a fall you should learn how to take a fall properly, you will probably help reduce your risk of serious injuries in the process. and if you are falling a lot and banging up your hands on trees and rocks all the time then yea you should probably be wearing some heavily fortified gloves until your skills progress. these gloves do a great job of meeting the needs a specific group of riders but they aren't for everyone.
  • 7 1
 Sorry dude thats exactly the kind of comment I used to say. I don't usually hit trees either ... It happened once ... and is was already too much and too late. Hands are really exposed , and easily breakable and until you get injured you don't really think about the consequences .
  • 2 9
flag jordache-keepers (May 15, 2015 at 20:58) (Below Threshold)
 A rather useless glove.
  • 3 0
 I know what you mean I bought a pair of nice 661 gloves and first bail I took I ripped the palms right outta both gloves it was abit of a piss off after just paying 35 bucks for them like a week before
  • 3 2
 I am a XC Racer and I use these gloves. They are the best! Thanks a lot Dakine.
  • 1 0
 So, I got these gloves right after this review came up. And I fell. Ripped a big hole in one of the fingers with some branches lying on the ground where I fell over. And after those 4ish months I got the gloves they are pretty worn out, too. Holes start to appear on the seams between the fingers and they became quite saggy. Not sure if I will buy them again. Ventilation and feel was excellent, as expected.
  • 1 0
 Got holes in the thumb where I shift and crashed on the palm and have a big tear. If you ride a single speed and never crash, this is the glove for you. Awesome feel though.
  • 42 1
 Maybe I have a shitty phone (I do) but the preview pic for this article looked liked the baddest-ass hand tattoo I've ever seen..
  • 32 6
 This is the kind of product the industry needs. Well-priced and durable. Way to go Dakine!
  • 3 14
flag HardtailHucker03 (May 15, 2015 at 4:14) (Below Threshold)
 But do they come in any other print?
  • 28 1
 From the article: " Colors: black, camo, paradise (shown)."

Stay in school kids!
  • 5 2
 But they did spell 'colour' wrong Wink lol
  • 1 1
 Dakine always kills it with pricing in relation to quality. However, mine already have multiple holes but I'm not blaming the quality. Any glove this thin is gonna get beat up after a while
  • 2 3
 Mike is from the States, so he did spell "color" right
  • 2 0
 I know, sarcasm obviously doesn't come across.. It was in relation to dingus' comment about school too. Facepalm
  • 2 0
 Oh, right haha. They didn't teach me sarcasm in school over here. And now that I think of it, I've got an old pair of Dakines that are beat to hell and full of holes but still offer a good amount of protection. Can't remember which ones they are. Old.
  • 10 0
 Oh man, haven't though of Ned Flanders in ages!
  • 4 4
 I believe I heard that the guy who does the voice of Ned died yesterday.
  • 4 0
 they need to take out his characters in the same fashion as Maude.T-shirt gun to the face.
  • 12 0
 Stupid sexy Flanders.
  • 8 0
 It feels like I'm wearing nothing at all, nothing at all, nothing at all.
  • 2 0
 They look very similar to the Dakine Ventilator gloves that I've had for the last couple of years and worn from around April to October each year on every ride, crashes and all, on xc and all-mountain/ epic day long rides. And they're still going strong after loads of riding and loads of cycles in the washing machine, only issue is the sun has now faded the fabric on the back of the hands they've been used that much!!
  • 5 2
 Look nice but how strong is the material nothing more annoying then gloves ripping in a few trips riding no not by falling.

And

at people say no gloves is better...
No gloves/sweat and jumps = hell
  • 2 1
 Happened to me once with muddy gloves. At least I can say I've done a one hander!
  • 4 3
 Despite their '2 year warranty' these gloves are in no way durable. I went through 3 pairs in 2 months with the palm wearing away each time. After only a few rides you can notice them starting to fray. After the third ruined pair the shop kindly gave me a different make of glove.
  • 2 0
 They look pretty good, especially at that price. I do wish some manufactures would throw a few skulls into the patterns though. Camo is everywhere, a few skulls couldnt hurt too.
  • 4 4
 Actually they look like sh*
  • 2 0
 I agree. I love me some skulls.
  • 1 1
 There were a ton of gloves available a few years ago that had skulls on them, then they just disappeared.
  • 6 1
 Check in ToysRUs
  • 4 0
 Wicked review I have Ned Flanders playing over in my mind now 'Nothing at all' ...
  • 1 1
 Lol!
  • 1 1
 Lol!
  • 2 0
 I've had these glove for almost a year. Many OTB's and crashes on them. Steep rocky DH runs. Not a single tear in the glove or my skin.
  • 1 0
 any info on the sizing of these? I've had mediums that were loose and larges that were tight...
gloveless is the way to go but sometimes it gets cold and rains here in the UK, these seem like the next best thing
  • 1 0
 I wonder if this kind of silicone material on the palm side is sticky enough to give you secure feel for the index finger of not sliding on the brake lever, as there is no extra silicone there?
  • 2 2
 "Rather than a velcro closure, there's an elasticised panel on the wrist that makes it easier to pull them on and off"

it may be easier to remove, but this usually means that it's easier for them to shift while riding. I haven't had much luck with non-Velcro strapped gloves
  • 3 0
 My question is what happens if you drop the glove in a wooded Forrest, lands backside up can't find it! It's camo'd
  • 3 0
 Is it just me or do half the pictures have nothing in them?
  • 4 2
 Like it. Minimal and breathable...and the camo pattern is nice. Freeride isn't dead.
  • 4 1
 Just found my new hunting gloves
  • 1 0
 Dakine makes good products in general. but all the gloves i had from them were very bad quality, poor fitting and would not last long.
  • 1 1
 I have no trouble finding thin gloves. It's the thick and armored gloved for dh that are a bitch to find. I've been riding work gloves because they are so much better than anything else I've found.
  • 1 0
 Great for summer but I'd recommend buying a size up if you can..... Unless my index finger/thumb are just abnormally long.
  • 3 0
 I can't see the gloves
  • 1 0
 I just had one tear right apart on one ride, then they warrantied them and got a thicker glove
  • 1 0
 look sick but they are pretty much troy lee ace gloves with a different print
  • 1 0
 Bought these gloves and before i got home with them i saw they had a unsewn seam. Cheap price , cheap quality. Avoid them.
  • 1 0
 No stitching , its painted on
  • 2 1
 Good glove
  • 1 0
 Buy mx gloves.
  • 8 9
 Terrible print, like you shit on the top of your hand. 661 Raji for me.
  • 4 6
 It looked like puke to me. Apparently there's an elk in there somewhere.
  • 3 3
 Hahaha lol...I love funny comments like that^^ Smile
  • 1 0
 I loved the Raji gloves but the stitching sucked... I had 2 pairs of raji's where the stiching just literally fell apart. These are every bit as comfortable if not more and a whole lot more durable than the raji's. Can't remember if it was jenson/backcountry or whoever it was but you can usually find these on sale around $12-$15. I picked up 3 of them for $12 all in different colors for cheaper/same price as a fox attack glove which I also have. While I do like the fox attack gloves, they are significantly thicker, hold too much sweat, and do a poor job at wicking away the moisture. I have to say, the Concept have been my favorite gloves thus far for a minimalist feel.
  • 1 0
 I am a firm Raji fan... They've never suffered damage from riding or crashing bur I find myself wearing them while on tools building...Then they suffer...
  • 5 7
 cant see them giving much impact protection in the event you crash.
  • 2 2
 Do you know any gloves that will stop anything more than grazes ? You can hardly expect gloves to stop fingers from being broken
  • 1 0
 Previous generations of raceface had additional padding that was noticeable when crashing. Any thing thicker then these is going to help rather then ripping a hole in your skin
  • 5 8
 Try naked, it's actually pretty awesome and saves you $50 every couple of weeks.
  • 2 1
 Couple of weeks? Sounds like you might need to go back to stabilisers Big Grin . My last pair of gloves were a set of Royal Neos. Which for some reason Royal discontinued in 2012 (douchebags) The neo was the best glove I have ever ridden over Race Face, 661 and even TLD gloves (I'm a TLD whore too). My neo's lasted me over a year and a half with 3 crashes. One crash was that serious I tore my ACL, Meniscus and broke my knee. Yet I only retired this pair of gloves last month. Sure they were looking tatty but they still functioned. I have replaced them with another set of Neo's Big Grin I can't ride gloveless either feels odd Razz
  • 2 0
 The hunt for reliable gloves is ridiculous, just commit naked works. When it's hot and slippery, it will train your elbows to stay loose. Grippy white knuckle straight arm is TOTALLY wrong.
  • 1 0
 I have 100% 'bare' gloves. This way I can feel like im riding gloveless even when I am.
  • 1 0
 For a second I thought you meant full naked and that the saving was from not having to wash dirty clothes
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