Untacked

24 M AY/J U N E 2 015 UNTACKED EDITOR'S PICKS After a long winter in Northern Virginia, I could not be more excited to say goodbye to ice in the water buckets and dark evenings turning circles in the indoor. But riding in warm tem- peratures has just as many challenges as in the cold, and it's often difficult to find the right equipment to keep you cool and comfortable when a heat wave strikes. I ask myself the same questions every year when the mercury begins to climb: Why can't our sport's uniform be shorts and a T-shirt instead of long breeches, tall black boots and heavy show coats? Do I really need to wear gloves today? Mountain- ous blisters are a fair trade-off for cooler hands, right? My conundrum with mesh-top gloves has always been finding a durable pair without the bulkiness. In my search for a new warm- weather pair this spring, most available designs felt as though the mesh on top would tear, or the stitching would come loose after only a few rides on an especially strong horse. I have pretty long fingers, and as I tried on various summer models in the store, I felt like my fingernails might almost puncture the fabric at the tips before I even made it to the barn—not very encouraging. But when a brand attempts to combat the flimsiness of its mesh by reinforcing the entire palm with bulky material or a thicker clasp, the glove loses most of its lightness, flexibility and cooling effect. I even tried on one pair that had so much padding on the palm that I could barely form a fist. All I could think about was how much sweat that padding would collect once I put the pair to use. But SSG has always been one of my favorite brands, so I figured I could count on them to offer a glove that's cool and thin, yet durable, and I was right. SSG's Kool Flo model lives up to its name; the minute you put them on, you almost forget you're wearing gloves at all. e Kool Flo is designed with stretchy, breathable mesh fabric backs made of Lycra. ey have thin but durable cow- hide leather palms with handy rein ridges to help keep your reins in place and, of course, reinforced fingers. e wrist clasp is a simple hook and eye (aka Velcro-like) closure. While the design is sturdy—no risk of fingernails protruding through these babies—they don't feel cumbersome when you're riding in them, and the stitching is strong enough to hold up ride after ride. Now, that's not to say any mesh glove will last 10 years with everyday use. But for around $20, you can still get a great-qual- ity product that doesn't leave you feeling like you've stuck your hands in the oven. And because of the Kool Flo mesh's small weave, they appear opaque from a distance, meaning this glove can take you from your weekly lesson straight into the show ring. Barring a handy-dandy addition of a smartphone touch- screen-friendly forefinger, I can't think of any improvements I'd make to this summer staple. SSG Kool Flo gloves are available only in black, but they range from size 4/5 (children's) up through unisex size 10. ey retail for $23.99. Visit SSGRidingGloves.com to find a retailer near you. —Haley Burton, Editorial Staff SSG Kool Flo Gloves

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