HARKEN
3/4-Finger Black Magic Sailing Gloves

Comments about Harken 3/4 Finger Black Magic Sailing Gloves:

The first couple of pair that I used lasted really well. The last pair just desentigrated in one season. The working part, the palms and the inside of the fingers seemed to be good quality leather and lasted pretty well. The remainder of the leather was really cheap leather and it just tore to shreads. It seems that they tried to save costs and got really cheap with the heal of the palm, the part that wraps arount the thumb and the sides of the fingers. I tried to keep using them because the working parts were still in reasonable shape but they just wouldn't stay on my hands. To bad. These used to be good gloves and the rest of the crew started buying them when they saw how good the first pair lasted.
I own and race a 33 ft sloop in the great lakes. One to two times a week, May - Sept. As owner, I play all positions at some point in time. I would recommend them, but I would look them over good first.

Comments about Harken 3/4 Finger Black Magic Sailing Gloves:

I've owned three pairs. The first were great and lasted a long time. The second set fell apart after two years. The fabric on the back of the hands and fingers just disintegrated, starting with the ventilation holes. Thinking this a fluke I bought a third pair. The stitching is completely falling apart after 1.5 seasons. I trim mainsheet on a J105, sailing maybe 25 days/season.

Comments about Harken 3/4 Finger Black Magic Sailing Gloves:

I must not be using these gloves correctly, after two seasons they're raged and tearing. I love the fit but after a while the elastic becomes stretched out. When gybing I can't hold onto the mainsheet and end up with some amount of rope burn on my fingers. Time for a new pair...something else.

Comments about Harken 3/4 Finger Black Magic Sailing Gloves:

I used the sizing guide and got small, but I went with a medium instead. The mediums fit well, if a touch tight. These gloves have good grip and feel durable, but I'm not convinced they stand out among their competitors. I do like the second securing tab, and the velcro seems to be of high quality.