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The Klim Badlands Aero Pro gloves got off to a rocky start. Klim made some major updates to their flagship summer gloves recently though, so we took the latest out on tour to see how they hold up.
When we mention Klim products, people tend to think of a few specific things. They're well-made, they're high-tech, they're geared toward adventure touring, and, of course, they're expensive.
What folks generally don't associate with Klim products, however, is sub-par quality and questionable design. Perhaps that explains why the Klim Badlands Aero Pro gloves came as a shock to so many Klim fans when they first launched around 2018.
"The new Badlands Aero Pro gloves may look familiar, but they're dramatically different in many important ways."
Don't get us wrong: The original Aero Pros weren't terrible gloves. They included the premium materials you'd expect from Klim like ceramic-backed fabric and goatskin leather, but they were also uncomfortable and, most importantly, surprisingly fragile.
With that being said, we're big fans of Klim gear here at RIDE Adventures, and we also happen to believe in second chances.
Naturally, when we discovered Klim had given their "flagship hot weather glove" a top-down redesign, we jumped at the opportunity to take them on the road to see how much they've improved.
Here's what we found after tackling a long tour through Vietnam in the new Klim Badlands Aero Pro.
If there's one thing we've come to learn about Klim over the years, it's that they listen to their customer's feedback. The original Klim Badlands Aero gloves came out around 2018, and they were met with some pretty polarizing reviews.
Some folks loved the outgoing model, but most had multiple complaints with the design. The stitching pressed uncomfortably on the fingers, the touchscreen compatibility was seemingly non-existent, the liner was prone to snagging, and some even reported that the heavily perforated area around the wrist would tear after a few months of use.
Klim appears to have addressed all these common concerns and then some. Here's a quick breakdown of what's new with the latest Badlands Aero Pro glove.
"Detail on the new Aero Pro's external stitching design."
Uncomfortable seams were the most common complaint with the original Badlands Aero Pro, and of all the changes to the new model, the updated stitching is the most obvious. Klim has moved from traditional internal seams to external stitching construction in the fingers of the Badlands Aero Pro to solve this issue.
This is a feature typically found on high-end racing gloves from brands like Alpinestars or Racer. The idea here is that moving seams to the outside of the glove moves both bulk and potential pressure points away from the rider's hands, while also improving dexterity and feel at the controls.
All four fingers of the Badlands Aero Pro now use external stitching, while the thumbs retain internal stitching to limit seam exposure in a crash.
"No more perforations around the inside wrist, and fewer total seams in high-wear areas."
Another common complaint with the outgoing Aero Pro was durability. Customers had issues with stitching, a rapidly deteriorating liner, and tears in the heavily perforated leather around the bottom of the glove from pulling them on and off.
The latest iteration tackled this problem by removing any and all perforation around the bottom inside of the glove, the highest stress area for day-to-day use.
Klim has also revised the layout of the palm and heel of the glove to reduce the total number of seams and overlapping material for a stronger overall design.
Put simply, the touchscreen capability of the original Aero Pro was so bad many owners believed the gloves weren't actually touchscreen-sensitive at all. That's a tough pill to swallow on a pair of gloves with a $150 price tag, especially when there are plenty of $50 options out there that work great with a smartphone.
The new update claims to have fixed all that, with "new and improved" touchscreen panels in both the finger and thumb. Klim even went so far as to embroider lightning bolts on both areas this time around, so we assume they mean business...
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Klim Badlands Aero Pro Gloves
Clearly Klim has updated the Badlands Aero Pro gloves to address the concerns of their customers. If the brochure is to be believed, these gloves should be a knockout for hot weather ADV riders, but here's what we found after spending some time with them ourselves on one of the hottest tours we offer, our 14 day epic RIDE through the mountains of Vietnam.
"Testing the Badlands Aero Pro gloves in the thick of Northern Vietnam."
So how does the new-and-improved Badlands Aero Pro glove hold up? In short, Klim truly has fixed all the known issues, and we loved every mile wearing these summerweight gloves.
Where to begin? Leather gloves are rarely our first choice for hot-weather riding, especially when so much of that riding takes place in the dirt as it does on our Vietnam routes.
To that end, Klim's "big bore" perforations work exactly as advertised, and as long as we kept the bike moving, we never had any issues with heat or ventilation compared to more "dirt friendly" textile alternatives.
"The Aero Pro's sizable perforations keep heat and sweat at bay, even in the peak of a Vietnam summer."
Of course what the Badlands Aero Pro does that motocross-inspired alternatives don't is provide serious crash protection on the pavement, and while we've yet to properly crash in them ourselves, all signs point to positive in terms of safety.
The chassis of this glove is made entirely out of goat leather, and while there are some valid concerns over the sheer amount of perforation on the surface, Klim has done a great job of putting reinforcements in the most slide-prone areas.
Take the heel and palms of the Aero Pro, for instance. While Klim has maintained the large perforations around the thumb of the glove, the heel and wrist are now entirely unperforated on the underside, and the most slide-prone area has retained its ceramic-covered padding for maximum impact and abrasion protection.
As for the touchscreen issue, we're happy to report that the Badlands Aero Pro now performs flawlessly. Both the finger and thumb are super responsive, and we've seen no loss in functionality after a few thousand miles of regular all-terrain use.
Comfort-wise, all previous concerns also appear to have been remedied. While the Aero Pro's external stitching isn't the most handsome design on the planet, it serves its purpose well.
"Works as advertised: The new external stitching eliminates hot spots and pressure points, making these gloves much more comfortable than the original design."
Because there are no seams folded in around your fingers, the gloves are comfortable straight out of the box. No one on our team reported any pinch points or blisters, and no break-in period was required to get the gloves fitting like they should.
Last but not least, while we're still in our first year of use with the redesigned Badlands Aero gloves, we have yet to report any durability concerns. Klim's update to the layout of the glove's materials and stitching seems to be working as intended, and we've seen no signs of premature wear inside or outside of the glove.
Klim Badlands Aero Pro Gloves: The Bad
As far as we're concerned, Klim has officially "fixed" this glove, and it deserves a place on any wish list for the best hot-weather ADV gloves out there. We do have a few caveats to mention though, so let's touch on those in the name of fairness.
Our single biggest issue with the Badlands Aero Pro is cosmetic, and you should absolutely take that as a good sign. Specifically, those external seams that work so well from a comfort standpoint are a bit of an eyesore, although we'll take function over form any day to be fair.
"While we appreciate the visor wipe, there's a lot going on here cosmetically."
The other important note we'll flag here is that we haven't managed to crash on the pavement in these yet, so we can't speak firsthand to how well the perforated leather will hold up in a serious slide. Again, Klim doubles up on the reinforcements in the areas that matter the most, but the aggressive perforations on the inside of the thumb and fingers feel a little sparse when we're running fast on the open road.
We'll also note that the price has increased somewhat over the outgoing model, which used to retail for just under $150. MSRP is now typically about $160, which we could blame on inflation, but any way you look at it, the Aero Pro is a big investment for a glove that really only works when it's warm outside.
Lastly, while we've had no issue with the large knuckle protector on the top of the glove, we have heard some riders complain that it creates pressure points on the knuckles, especially if you have exceptionally wide or "high volume" hands.
For what it's worth, we found the padding does "bed in" somewhat after a few rides, but you may need to size up if they feel a bit tight out of the box.
"If long miles and warm weather are on your horizon, the Badlands Aero Pro gloves are now worth the investment."
You've got a lot of options out there for ADV gloves nowadays. Even within Klim's own lineup, you've got about half a dozen options for warm-weather shorties, and the Badlands Aero Pro is the most expensive of the bunch.
After spending some time with these gloves ourselves, we're comfortable saying this is easily Klim's highest-performing and most advanced hot-weather glove, if not the best hot-weather ADV option overall. These gloves deliver all the perks of full-grain leather construction while also benefitting from obscene amounts of airflow thanks to the heavy perforations throughout the chassis.
With that being said, we know $160 is a tough pill to swallow for many riders, and we've had great experiences with summer gloves at half that price including Klim's own Dakar Pro and Mojave Pro.
Still, the Badlands Aero Pro has finally received the kind of overhaul needed to justify its high asking price, so if you want the best money can buy for protection and hot weather comfort in equal measure, we believe they're now worth the investment.
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Klim Badlands Aero Pro Gloves
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