Tested: Leatt DBX 4.0 Lite Gloves

Finding the perfect balance between protection and breathability is a never-ending quest in the world of protective gear — and this is especially true when it comes to riding gloves. A major drawback of protective gloves is an overbearing thickness that keeps sensitivity low and temperature high. Leatt recently set out to bridge the gap between adequate protection and optimized breathability with their DBX 4.0 Lite gloves. We just so happened to snag ourselves a pair and after several months of testing, here are our impressions:

Strength

Light weight

Breathability

Weaknesses

Bulky elastic cuff

Mesh susceptible to wear

Highlights

3D molded impact protection across all knuckles and outer two fingers

Ultra-thin NanoGrip palm with touch screen function

CE tested and certified as:

Personal Protective Equipment 89/686/EEC

Knuckle Impact protection EN 13594:2015

Pre-curved, snug fit and seamless palm reinforced with synthetic suede

Lens/ sweat wiper

Multi-ply, nylon thread stitching

Size: S-XL

Available in blue, orange, yellow, and black

Initial Impressions

Pulling Leatt’s most protective glove out of their packaging, I was quite surprised at how light and non-bulky they were; two attributes commonly missing in burly gloves. Coming in at just 71 grams for the pair (XL), the DBX 4.0 Lite gloves could be considered a featherweight fighting in a heavyweight category of protection.

What really keeps these gloves “lite” isn’t so much the protective globs over the knuckles, but more the types of materials found elsewhere. The palm is made of an ultra-thin NanoGrip material that is a bit thinner than what can be found on other gloves within the same category. Throwing a mesh siding between the fingers reduces weight, also increasing breathable.

The DBX 4.0 Lite gloves come with a hefty — let me emphasize again, HEFTY — elastic cuff to keep the glove locked onto your hand. Although I was hoping it would change over the several months of testing, this cuff held very secure and never stretched-out, which made sliding them on my chunky hands a certified warm-up before hitting the trails.

On The Trail

Once on the bike and pedaling around, I quickly gained favor of the thinness provided by the NanoGrip palm. Details in the grips and levers of the bike came to life, something that highly protective gloves generally hide. And because the palm is a pre-curved, single piece of material, there aren’t any annoying stitching seams.

Unlike some gloves I’ve owned in the past, the DBX 4.0 Lite gloves offer adequate protection you’d expect without much overkill. The knuckles are protected with a solid chunk of rubber that flexes smoothly during normal motions but hardens upon impact — this protection also flows down the joints of the two exterior fingers, which I surely appreciated on several occasions. Being able to unlock my phone to take a call, or update Instagram, was possible thanks to the touch screen feature.

Flipping the gloves over reveals an additional layer of the NanoGrip material stitched into the palm. Compared to other gloves, it isn’t much but does add a bit more padding and protection where it’s specifically needed.

One of the most impressive aspects of the DBX 4.0 Lite gloves is their breathability. The top and bottom of the gloves are fairly thin, allowing for air to flow through — but, where they really breakaway from the pack is the mesh siding. Once up to speed, air would flow through this siding so effortlessly I had to stop just to check that the gloves hadn’t ripped open. Yes, they breathed that well.

Long Term Durability

Beyond riding, I’m an avid trail builder and generally very hard on my gloves. That being said, the DBX 4.0 Lite gloves have been through the wringer. Overall, I am impressed with how well they have held up. There are no major holes or tears anywhere, which says quite a bit for how thin they are in some locations.

The breathability is unsurpassed and if that’s your first demand of a riding glove, stop reading and move on to the next section. In terms of durability, the mesh siding could potentially be viewed as the weakest point. This siding has held up very well for general grip-grabbing and lever-pulling, but when it came time for throwing rocks around, it didn’t take too long to observe their first booboo. After taking a step back and leaving the heavier rocks for others to move, the rips, snags, and tears ceased.

Following several months of abuse, some of the rubber globs over the knuckles began to detach ever so slightly. To be honest, I was expecting this to happen as I’ve seen it happen with previous gloves I’ve tortured. Adhesives lose strength over time and the only fix would be sewing a stitch over the rubber, which would be very difficult if not impossible.

Things That Could Be Improved

Despite some durability issues, there are only a few things I can recommend.

First, the hefty elastic cuff could be tamed down a tad. Even after months of testing, this band gave very little in terms of breaking in and gliding the glove on/off was the biggest chore of the ride.

Second, although the rubber protection did their job during the testing period, the placement of some padding was a little off. In most cases, I feel they would still protect my hands well, but if rolling down a hillside like Rod Kimble in the movie Hot Rod, hitting some rocks just right could leave you with a sore knuckle — dispersing the padding to increase the surface area of protection would be an adjustment to consider.

What's The Bottom Line?

The Leatt DBX 4.0 Lite gloves are certainly a glove in their own class. They have a special niche for breathability without sacrificing protection. When it comes to optimizing the two, I’m not sure if there is a glove out there that does it better than the DBX 4.0 Lite. If you’re looking for a glove specifically for riding, you’ll be satisfied with their durability. However, if you’re looking for a single pair of “do anything” gloves, or are generally really hard on your hand protection, they may not be ideal. Although there are certainly some things that could be perfected, the Leatt DBX 4.0 Lite gloves, as they are, are a pretty good set to have around.

Visit www.leatt.com for more details.

About The Reviewer

Lance Starling - Age: 30 // Years Riding: 17 // Height: 6'3" (1.91m) // Weight: 190 pounds (86.2kg)

Lance got his first mountain bike in 2001. Fast-forward 17 years and not a day has gone by that he hasn’t completely obsessed over the sport. This obsession has transformed him into a mountain bike guru whose love for picking apart components and gear is similar to a honey badger consuming a king cobra. Nothing is left untouched. His playful riding style generally keeps him more in the air than on the ground and whatever tricks he lacks he makes up for with a good ol’ bar hump. Never at any time have consumers have had it so good and with over ten years in the industry as a certified mechanic and gear expert, Lance is devoted to helping those riders find the perfect gear to meet their needs.

Photos by Lance Starling and Jared Smith