If you are looking for a proper race glove but do not want to spend £250 to £350, the RST Pro Series GP D3O is one that deserves serious attention.
This sits right at the top of RST's glove range. It is effectively the evolution of the Tractech Evo glove, with more premium materials, more armour and a stronger race focus overall.
If you are new here, I'm Jamie from Moto Central. We stock the full RST range, we see what riders actually buy, and we hear the feedback once they have worn it properly - on the road and on track. So in this blog, we are going to break down exactly what the RST Pro Series GP D3O is, how it is built, how protective it actually is, how it feels on the bike, and who it makes the most sense for.
Video Review - RST Pro Series GP D3O Gloves
If you would rather watch the full breakdown first, you can check out our YouTube video below. We go through the materials, protection, fit and overall value in detail so you can see exactly what this glove offers.
RST Pro Series GP D3O Gloves - Key Specifications
- CE Rating: Level 2 KP
- Main Material: 100% kangaroo leather
- Construction: RST AST-R race-spec kangaroo leather build
- Reinforcement: DuPont Kevlar in key impact zones
- Stitching: Kevlar stitching thread
- Knuckle Protection: Forged carbon fibre protector with D3O underneath
- Additional Protection: D3O in the palm and thumb, palm slider, scaphoid protection, TPR finger and cuff protection
- Safety Feature: Conjoined little finger bridge
- Cuff Style: Long cuff with hook and loop wrist closure
- Sizes: XS to 2XL
- Season: Summer / dry weather riding
- Price: £149.99
Construction - Kangaroo AST-R and Kevlar Reinforcement
The headline material here is the outer construction.
This glove uses 100% kangaroo leather, specifically RST's AST-R race-spec kangaroo construction.
AST-R is not a separate fabric - it is RST's designation for their race-grade kangaroo leather build. Kangaroo is used in high-performance gloves because it is incredibly strong for its weight. You get excellent abrasion resistance while keeping the leather thin and flexible compared to traditional cowhide.
That matters because it gives you better feel at the controls without sacrificing strength.
Backing that up, you have got DuPont Kevlar reinforcement in key impact zones.
Kevlar is an aramid fibre originally developed for body armour. It has extremely high tensile strength and very strong abrasion resistance. In gloves, it is used to reinforce high-stress areas like the palm and side of the hand, helping resist tearing and maintain structural integrity in a slide.
RST also use Kevlar stitching thread, which means the seams themselves are reinforced with aramid fibre. That makes them far more resistant to bursting under load compared with standard thread.
On top of that, you get double-layer leather at the palm for extra durability, plus a brushed polyester lining inside to improve comfort and make the glove easier to get on and off.
At £149.99, that is a serious material package.
Protection - What CE Level 2 KP Actually Means
This glove is CE Level 2 KP certified.
For motorcycle gloves, Level 2 is the higher CE rating. It means the glove has passed tougher abrasion testing and higher impact performance standards compared with Level 1.
The KP stands for Knuckle Protection. That means the knuckle area has been impact tested and meets the required force reduction threshold.
So when you see CE Level 2 KP, you are looking at race-grade certification - higher abrasion resistance and certified impact-tested knuckle protection.
Across the knuckle, you have got a full forged carbon fibre protector backed with D3O reinforcement underneath. That gives you a hard external shell combined with impact-absorbing material behind it.
You also get D3O in the palm and thumb, plus a proper palm slider and scaphoid protection - which is critical in a slide because that is one of the first areas to hit the ground.
Across the fingers and cuff, you have got TPR protection.
TPR stands for thermoplastic rubber. It is a flexible moulded armour material that adds abrasion resistance and secondary impact protection without making the glove overly rigid. It is not primary armour like the carbon knuckle, but it strengthens vulnerable areas and adds extra resilience.
And finally, there is a conjoined little finger - the finger bridge - which helps prevent finger roll and separation in a crash. That is a proper race feature.
From a protection standpoint, this is absolutely positioned as a race glove first.
Fit and Feel - Aggressive and Purposeful
As soon as you put these on, they feel focused.
They are pre-curved, out-stitched on the fingers and designed to sit naturally in a riding position rather than with your hand flat.
One thing I really like is the stretch panel under the carbon knuckle protector. When you are gripping the bars hard, especially in a more aggressive riding position, it helps relieve pressure across the back of the hand.
However, there is something worth mentioning if you are mainly riding on the road.
The thumb can feel quite tight, and when you are using switchgear repeatedly - indicators, menus and so on - it can cut in slightly.
On track, where you are mostly throttle, brake and clutch, it is less noticeable. On the road, with constant control use, you may feel it more.
This is a race-focused glove, and it behaves like one.
Build Quality - Honest Notes
Overall, the glove feels solid and protective.
We did notice that some of the stitching on the outer looks slightly messy in places. Not weak, just not the cleanest finishing we have seen.
But these are £149.99.
The protection spec is there. The kangaroo leather is there. The carbon knuckle and D3O package is there. Compared with gloves nearly twice the price, that feels like a fair trade-off.
Colours and Styling - Designed to Pair with Tractech Evo D3O
The colour range is strong.
- Black / White
- Black / Fluo Red
- Red / White
- Blue / White
- Black / Black
- Black / Fluo Green
- Black / Fluo Yellow
RST have clearly designed these to pair with the newer Tractech Evo D3O suits and jackets. The colourways line up properly, especially the fluo options.
If you are running the latest Tractech Evo D3O gear, these will match straight out of the box.
That said, they are not locked into that ecosystem. You can wear them with any race suit or sporty textile setup. The pairing is there if you want the coordinated look, but performance-wise they stand on their own.
Practical Details
You get a proper long cuff with TPR cuff protection, hook and loop wrist closure, motion panels for flexibility, double-layer palm construction and that finger bridge for safety.
Sizing runs from XS through to 2XL, measured by palm width excluding the thumb.
As with any race glove, they should feel snug. If they feel loose in the palm, they are too big.
This is very much a summer race glove. There is no waterproofing and no insulation, so it is designed for dry, warm riding conditions.
Who Is This For?
If you are doing track days and you want proper CE Level 2 KP race protection without spending huge money, this makes a lot of sense.
If you ride fast road and want maximum protection - carbon knuckle, D3O throughout, kangaroo leather, palm slider and a finger bridge - it is hard to argue with this at £149.99.
If you mainly commute and want soft, all-day comfort and heavy switch use, it might feel a bit too aggressive.
This is a performance glove first.
Final Verdict
The positives here are serious protection, premium materials and strong value for money.
The things to be aware of are the tighter thumb feel for road use and slightly untidy stitching in places.
But if your priority is protection and race-level performance at a sensible price, this is one of the strongest value race gloves currently on the market.
If you want a race glove that looks the part, feels purposeful and gives you a very strong spec for the money, the RST Pro Series GP D3O is absolutely worth a serious look.
As always, I'm Jamie from Moto Central.
Ride safe, and we will see you in the next one.