Ulhmann Gripstar vs Ulhmann power glove vs. other gloves?

[yearsofwisdom]

well my AF glove is getting quite worn down so i was thinking bout getting a new glove. i want a good durable glove that has great grip. i have used a gripstar and i love the grip. does anyone have experience with the power glove. and are there better alternatives out there? i want it to be durable and gripppy, comfortable and protective.

[Delta]

I know that the Uhlmann Gripstar's grip spots will fall off...more quickly if you're a profuse sweater. See spot run! See spot fall down! See spot gone!
I have a friend who uses the PBT sticky glove (washable too) and if I'm not mistaken, the actual material is made with the sticky quality. He ended up choosing that one over the Uhlmann Gripstar after our teammates complained about the spots falling off after less than a year, and he only used it for competitions. Other people I've seen using that glove have huge patches of the stuff missing.
I don't know anything about the power glove besides that its seams are curvacious and sexy.
Hope this helped.

[yearsofwisdom]

PBT?what is it? where can i get it?

[SJCFU#2]

PBT?what is it? where can i get it?

PBT is a Hungarian manufacturer of fencing equipment. Assuming you are ordering from within the US you have to go through PBT USA (no ordering directly from Hungary).

[CvilleFencer]

If durability is your criteria, the Uhlmann Gripstar is utter crap. The spots wear away, the seams split and the velcro is not the best. They are however the glove I use as I absolutely love the feel of them and they fit my hand pretty much perfect. Even if I replace them every 6 months. I have not tried the new style. The PBT gloves are a bit thick for my tastes and the fingers seem to me to run a bit short, especially the thumb. They do hold up well and last a long time.

I have been meaning to try the new FWF gloves, but the leather cuff just weirds me out for some reason. Still, you might want to add them to your list as I have heard some very good reviews so far and several fencers in my club love the saber version.

[yearsofwisdom]

do u guys know of any thinner gloves that are extremely durable? i have found a method of making my own grip on gloves.

[Eejit]

Just purchased a POWERGLOVE a few weeks ago and I am pretty happy with it. A short review:

The glove comes not in the standard S, M, L sizes but in half-inch increments measured around the palm of your hand excluding the thumb + 1/2 inch. This produces a nice, snug fit that does away with all that annoying loose material that causes your grip to slip but that's not too tight. Overall it's very comfortable to wear and doesn't abrade the hand anywhere. I don't know what the material on the back of the hand is made of, it feels foamy to the touch. It's slick enough not to catch blades but I have as-of-yet unfounded doubts as to its durability. The entire back of the hand up to just before the first finger joints gets comfy 1/4 inch or so padding that offers a good compromise between protection and movememt. The gripping part of the glove is made of a sueded material (I think it's Alcantara) that seems pretty durable so far. The palm, the crook where thumb meets hand, and significant portions of the pointer and middle fingers have been reinforced with a second layer that is double-stitched on (for a secure connection, unlike the AF gloves I've owned previously where the second layer comes undone) and provides extra durability and padding (though not enough to do away with the need for medical tape for me during long practices or competitions). The cuff is made of the standard slightly elastic stuff with a wide soft velcro strip and narrow hard (the part with the hooks) velcro strip so to minimize non-velcro-on-velcro area. The narrow strip hasn't produced any problems with the cuff staying closed so far.

As a new owner I can't really advise anyone about the durability of the glove but my impression is that it is at least as durable as any other glove out there and probably on the upper-end of glove lifetimes. I fence 3-4 times a week and so far all is well. The padding hasn't started to compress and the gripping areas don't show any signs of wearing out yet. I really like the materials used because they're comfortable and I think it's just solidly constructed and looks sharp, but it's a bit expensive overall. I'll just have to wait and see whether or not the increased cost hopefully leads to a slightly longer lifetime which would justify the premium pricing.

My overall recommendation is that if you're going to buy a glove, the Power Glove is worth it. Everyone I know has felt gipped by the Gripstar. The only other "premium" glove I would consider buying is the FWF one with the gel. I tried it on and it wasn't as comfortable as the Power Glove, but the gel DOES offer better protection. Neither has been out long enough to compare durabilities yet, so that can't be factored in.

Uh, I think that's everything. That wasn't short, but is pretty comprehensive?

[Nolano]

As a new owner I can't really advise anyone about the durability of the glove but my impression is that it is at least as durable as any other glove out there and probably on the upper-end of glove lifetimes.

Sadly, the general consensus about Uhlmann gloves now is that they have about a 6 month life span.

[Cookeit]

I have had an Allstar Gripstar for about 2 years and only recently retired it because I felt it was wearing a little too thin, not because it had a hole in it or the velcro was messed up.

I have replaced it with another Gripstar, except the Uhlmann.
I notice no difference except for the color.

Good Gloves.

Cheers.