Race Face Trigger Jersey
Size: Medium
Color: Turquoise
MSRP: $70
Days Tested: 12
Locations Tested: Whistler, BC; Park City, UT
Riding shirts that are comfortable, fit well, and look halfway decent are rarer than you’d expect. Because of that, I often end up in hiking or running shirts, and I was interested to see if Race Face’s Trigger jersey would meet my needs and offer anything my hiking and running shirts didn’t.
The Race Face Trigger Jersey is a silky t-shirt-style jersey. Race Face describes the fit as relaxed and I wouldn’t argue with that, but it certainly isn’t baggy. The length is slightly longer than average to prevent gaps between the riding shorts and and the jersey, and worked well for my longer than average torso, never riding up to reveal skin above my shorts. The crew neck is on the smaller side, and fits me well.
Its fabric is about average thickness for a riding shirt. I found the jersey to wick sweat pretty well and dry relatively quickly, and would put it on par with most other riding jerseys. My only criticism is that the fabric is just a bit clingy; not terribly so, but a little more than jerseys made out of more mesh-like materials. Occasionally, this makes the shirt less than flattering.
I really like the turquoise color, which is bright without being overly neon, a trend that seems to be appearing more frequently in riding apparel. The reflective logos help improve visibility if you end up riding on the road at night. The Trigger Jersey has held up well after ten washer and dryer cycles without any pilling or shrinking and the fabric has stood up to some snaggy branches and brambles without damage.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a riding jersey that offers clean styling, good durability, and breathes well, the Race Face Trigger is worth a look. The longer than average fit is appreciated and can be hard to find in non-riding specific clothing.
Race Face Stage Glove
Size: Large
Color: Black
MSRP: $36
Days tested: 21
Locations Tested: Whistler, BC; Park City, UT
Everyone looks for something different in gloves. Some folks like heavily padded gloves that could be used for boxing matches (with trees), while others prefer super minimal gloves that disappear more easily on one’s hands. The Race Face Stage is a lightweight pair of gloves that I was hoping would meet all my needs for a minimal glove.
The Race Face Stage is a very light glove, with stretchy mesh on the back and a single layer of leather on the palm. The thumb has a terry cloth snot wipe area, while the index finger has a rubber grip, and the middle finger has a silver nylon patch that works on touchscreens.
The Stage glove slips on easily, and fits true to size for a Large. It feels slightly smaller than Troy Lee Designs’ sizing, but about the same as One Industries. The Dakine Sentinel glove feels similar, but has slightly shorter fingers. Surprisingly, the Stage glove is actually a decent amount larger than Race Face’s Trigger glove. While the Large Stage fits me well, I would have needed a larger size in the Trigger.
The mesh backing definitely makes the Stage one of the cooler gloves I’ve worn, on par with something like the ONE Industries Vapor glove. While I’ve appreciated the glove’s breathability on hot days, the back isn’t going to do much to prevent knuckle damage if you decide to punch a tree. The palm has a single layer of leather of a similar thickness to Troy Lee Designs Ace glove, which isn’t going to stop a sharp rock, but should effectively prevent road rash.
The touchscreen compatible finger works well. I had to get used to using my middle finger rather than my index finger, but for answering a call or taking a photo it was just fine. I was glad they didn’t put the material on the index finger though, as it would have made for a slippery interface with the brake lever.
The stretchy back and thin palm meant that the Stage glove only required a couple of days to break in, but also meant that I’m starting to see some pilling on the palm and pulling on the mesh after just ten days of riding.
Bottom Line
The Race Face Stage glove is a great choice for someone looking for a lightweight pair of gloves with a touchscreen compatible finger.
Raceface Trigger Glove
Size: Large
Color: Lime
MSRP: $37
Days tested: 6
Locations Tested: Whistler, BC; Park City, UT
The Raceface Trigger is a lightweight glove that offers good ventilation, but also has a burlier palm than most lighter gloves.
The top of the glove is built with a light, stretchy mesh, which also wraps around portions of the fingers, providing decent ventilation. The Trigger is not quite as airy as the Dakine Ventilator, but it’s not far off and the Trigger’s fabric is a little more substantial. The top of the glove is designed for breathability, so there isn’t any padding or chunks of rubber; if your priority is knuckle protection, this isn’t the glove for you.
Fit wise, the Trigger is pretty snug. Out of all of the Large gloves I’ve worn in recent memory, the Trigger’s fingers are the shortest, so you might consider sizing up.
The Trigger has a nice, large velcro closure on the bottom of the cuff, though I prefer closures on the top of the cuff. The thumb has a god snot wipe area that most gloves come with these days.
The most notable feature on the Trigger is the Kevlar panel that runs about half way up the palm and a little higher on the outside of the hand. If you’re going to put your hand down in a crash, this pad will likely save you from turning your palm into raw chicken.
I’ve noticed two downsides to the Trigger; the first is that the mesh along the fingers has already started to separate at the seams. This isn’t too unusual for a lightweight glove, and my Dakine Ventilator is doing the exact same thing, but it’s still worth mentioning.
The second issue is that the seam between the Kevlar and the “regular” part of the palm is significant, and I find it to be noticeable and annoying when gripping the bar. There may be some people that aren’t bothered by it, and there are probably others that are willing to deal with it to gain the extra protection the Kevlar affords, but I’m not a big fan.
Bottom Line
The Race Face Trigger is a good option if you’re looking for a glove that breathes well while also offering some palm protection.