A $139.95 vented adventure glove that runs roomy
The Short Answer: The Merlin Overland Air is a $139.95, CE Level 1 KP-certified adventure glove built from perforated goatskin with a carbon-fiber and D3O knuckle, D3O scaphoid foam and TPR finger armor. It breathes well, looks classy and scored a perfect five Speed Addicts lightning bolts, but it runs large in the fingers, so most riders should size down.
Some gloves are designed for surgeons. Others are designed for riders whose hands look like they could palm a watermelon. The Merlin Overland Air leans toward the second camp, and as Adam Waheed explains in this SpeedAddictsTV breakdown, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a lightweight, highly vented leather adventure glove from Merlin’s UK-designed Explorer Collection, and it packs more protection than its gentleman’s-driving-glove looks suggest.
Sponsored by Speed Addicts
This review comes courtesy of Speed Addicts, the fastest-growing gear site on the web. Speed Addicts stocks the Overland Air in multiple colors with no-cost returns, so you can try a pair on at home (indoors, tags on, no riding) and swap sizes if your fingers disagree with the chart. Riding through the American Southwest? Stop by the Speed Addicts Superstore in Orange, California, try them on, buy them and ride home in them the same day.
What Is the Merlin Overland Air?
The Overland Air is Merlin’s short-cuff warm-weather adventure glove. It’s built from perforated goatskin leather with Amara leather contrast panels, and it uses a two-point wrist closure with a webbed puller system instead of a bulky strap. Merlin certifies it to CE EN 13594 KP Level 1, the knuckle-protection level most street and ADV gloves carry.
Waheed quotes a retail price of $139 in the video; Merlin’s U.S. site and Speed Addicts both list it at $139.95. Sizes run small through 4XL, which is a wider spread than many gloves offer.
Fit: Size Down Unless You Have Big Fingers
This is the big takeaway. Waheed wears a size medium, and the gloves run a little large, especially in the fingers, which are both a bit wide and a bit long. The palm fits normally. “It seems like these gloves are almost made for someone with, I know this is going to sound bad, but fat fingers,” he says.
His advice: if you have average hands, go one size smaller. He’d pick a small for himself. If you have thick fingers and have struggled to find gloves that don’t strangle your digits, the Overland Air may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Speed Addicts’ no-cost returns take the gamble out of guessing.
Protection and Features
For a glove this light, the armor list is solid:
- Carbon fiber hard-shell knuckle with soft D3O impact foam underneath. Waheed likes the oversized coverage.
- D3O scaphoid foam on the palm to help protect that delicate scaphoid bone, a common fracture site in a fall.
- TPR finger knuckle protectors on the top of the fingers.
- PU grip fabric on the palm for a secure feel on the bars.
- Two-point webbed-puller wrist closure that Waheed says delivers a very secure fit.
- 3M reflective elements on the back of the hand for nighttime visibility.
- Microfleece lining for a broken-in feel right out of the box.
The one thing Waheed would add is a finger bridge, the link between the pinky and ring finger that helps keep fingers from rolling in a slide. He also likes that the cuff is a little longer than a typical short glove. And yes, there’s a little “Redefine your ride” script on the glove, in case you forget why you’re wearing it.
The Odd Perforation Pattern
Here’s the curious part. Most vented gloves put the perforations on the back of the hand, where the wind hits, and keep the palm solid. On the Overland Air, Waheed notes there’s comparatively little perforation on the outside and a lot on the inside. “Usually, you see it the other way around,” he says. It’s unconventional, but he thinks it works and could make this a decent glove for riding in more than one season.
Speed Addicts Score: Five Lightning Bolts
SpeedAddictsTV scores gear in five categories, one lightning bolt each. The Overland Air went five for five:
- Protection (1/1): Big carbon knuckle, TPR finger armor and scaphoid foam. A finger bridge would be nice, but it still earns the full bolt.
- Fit (1/1): It runs big, but Waheed refuses to penalize Merlin for making a glove that fits big-fingered riders.
- Aesthetics (1/1): Clean, a little English, “like an English driving glove with a big oversized carbon fiber knuckle.” It suits a V-twin, naked bike, cruiser or ADV bike.
- Performance (1/1): Good perforation and airflow, even if the layout is backward from the norm.
- Value (1/1): Lots of features and good looks for $139.95.
Who Should Buy the Merlin Overland Air?
Adventure and street riders in warm climates who want a breathable leather glove with real armor, and especially riders with thicker fingers who are tired of gloves that fit like sausage casings. Riders with slim hands can still make it work by sizing down.
Merlin Overland Air Gloves Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Merlin Overland Air D3O Glove (Explorer Collection) |
| U.S. MSRP | $139.95 |
| Warranty | 12 months standard; extended to two years total when registered with Merlin within one month of purchase |
| Certification | CE EN 13594 KP Level 1 |
| Chassis | Perforated goatskin leather with Amara leather contrast panels |
| Knuckle Armor | Carbon fiber hard shell with D3O foam beneath |
| Finger Armor | TPR finger knuckle inlays |
| Scaphoid Protection | D3O foam |
| Palm | PU grip fabric |
| Lining | Microfleece |
| Closure | Two-point closure with webbed puller system |
| Visibility | 3M reflective back of hand |
| Cuff Style | Short |
| Sizes | S–4XL |
| Colors (U.S.) | Black, Grey |
| Weight | N/A |
| Touchscreen Fingertips | N/A |
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FAQ
Do Merlin Overland Air gloves run big?
Yes. Waheed found the fingers both wide and long in a size medium, while the palm fit normally. Riders with average hands should consider going down one size; riders with thick fingers may find them a perfect fit.
Are the Merlin Overland Air gloves CE certified?
Yes. Merlin certifies them to CE EN 13594 with KP Level 1 knuckle protection.
What armor do the Overland Air gloves have?
A carbon fiber hard-shell knuckle backed by D3O, D3O scaphoid foam, and TPR finger knuckle protectors. There is no finger bridge.
What warranty comes with the Overland Air?
Merlin’s U.S. site lists a standard 12-month guarantee that extends to two years total if you register the product within a month of purchase.
Are they good for hot weather?
Yes. The perforated goatskin construction is designed for airflow, and Waheed thinks the glove could even work across multiple seasons.
