Five TFX-1 GTX review | Waterproof Gore-Tex Level 2KP gloves

Date reviewed: April 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £220 | https://bikerheadz.co.uk

The fact that you’ve clicked through to this review of the Five TFX-1 GTX gloves tells me that you’re at least interested in what makes them so pricey. Are they worth £220? Well, that’s something only you can decide, but I’ve been wearing them for several months on a BMW R1250GS, Honda Hornet CB750, Zontes ZT350-T and a Honda ADV350, and have to say that they’re excellent. They’re almost – but not quite – perfect…

Pros & Cons

Construction, fit and feel

Available in black and grey or the sand/brown on review here, the Five TFX-1 gloves are a mixture of RipStop and stretch fabric on the top, with goat leather and abrasion-resistant SuperFabric on the palm, up the outside edges and over the last two fingers.

The Gore-Tex waterproof membrane is laminated to the inside of the gloves, meaning it won’t pull out when you take them off – this is the ‘GoreGrip Technology’. The palms also have a silicone-like print for better grip, especially in the wet.

Fit is of course subjective, but it’s where I have my one slight reservation about the TFX-1 gloves – the thumb is a fraction too long. This can be annoying when operating an action camera, as while it’s not flapping around loose in use, it just has a small amount that folds over when pressing little buttons.

I’m usually a size large in gloves, but in Five I’m an XL, so do check your sizing as all Fives appear to come up a little small. The long thumb isn’t a consistent thing across the Five range, and it might be fine for you; it certainly hasn’t stopped me wearing them.

Every detail seems to have been considered, from the comfort of the outside seams on the fingers to the positioning of the protective material and the clever restraints. These are premium quality gloves…

Protection and certification

The Five TFX-1 gloves are certified to Level 2KP, the highest protection under the current certification, and it’s why they’ve rightly earned a Bennetts HPA Gold Award for safety. The KP means they have effective knuckle protection, but it’s worth noting that, due to the way motorcycle gloves are currently tested under the EN13594 standard, if the higher levels are achieved, that’s what they’ll be awarded. Put simply, a glove might claim to be the safest on the market, but if it’s Level 1 or Level 1KP, something has let it down (be that abrasion resistance, seam strength, tear resistance etc) compared to a glove that meets the highest Level 2KP like the TFX-1.

For as long as gloves are tested this way, there’s no hiding from the fact that some are demonstrably safer than others.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Warm and cold weather use

I’ve not yet been able to wear the Five TFX-1 GTX gloves in hot weather, but I will update this review over time. However, I can already say that they’re the coolest waterproof gloves I’ve ever worn, adding no noticeable warmth in use. So far 20°C is the hottest it’s been and the Fives were superb.

In fact, at 10°C I deeply regretted wearing these as my hands were way too cold. Although the waterproof membrane does of course make them windproof, the breathability and incredibly lightweight construction makes them barely distinguishable from normal summer gloves.

I do need to do summer testing, but I would say that they’re unlikely to be a complete replacement for a full summer glove in really hot weather. Still, for trail riding where you’ll likely get wet hands, or road use when you don’t want hot winter or two/three season gloves, these are absolutely outstanding.

Wet weather use

The Five TFX-1 gloves have proven to be totally waterproof, and despite the raised logo on the cuff, they cinch down tight enough to easily go under most jacket sleeves, which is the best way to keep your hands dry. There’s also space to get them over most jackets if you prefer.

There’s no visor wipe, but the inside of the left forefinger does have a soft section to wipe rain away. Keep it clean of course, to avoid scratches, but it works well enough, even if you will still be wiping with sections of the palm and the fabric over the finger joints. Wiping anything over a grotty visor has the potential to scratch it, so always take care.

Even when thoroughly soaked, being a laminate waterproof construction the TFX-1s tend to dry out very quickly.

Fastening

The Five TFX-1 GTX gloves have a superb strap system. The wrist – unusually – is elastic, pulling across from the back of the hand to secure its hooks onto the large patch of loops on the cuff. This can be pulled tight and secure without feeling uncomfortable against the inside of the wrist like some. In fact, it doesn’t tend to cross the centre of the wrist, which is perhaps why these gloves don’t cause any tingling in my hands like others at times (I have carpal tunnel).

The cuff is also a dual elastic strap design, fixing to the same patch of loops, making for a very quick and easy to use system.

Lining

With just a very thin, lightweight lining, unlike other waterproof summer gloves I’ve used, the Five TFX-1s feel just like ‘normal’ gloves to wear. Partly down to the GoreGrip laminated waterproof membrane, it’s quite an achievement to have such lightweight all-weather gloves, let alone ones that also meet the highest levels of protection.

Touchscreen compatibility

Conductive patches on the tips of both forefingers and both thumbs give good control of a mobile phone screen – the only way they could be a bit better would be if the thumb wasn’t a tiny bit too long for me.

Three alternatives to the Five TFX-1 gloves

These are truly excellent gloves, but they are undeniably pricey. Here are some others to consider…

• Alpinestars Range 1 in One. £189.99 | Also using GoreGrip, these are very good in summer, only really let down by a slightly iffy fit. This could be down to the removable liner that makes them more practical in colder weather, so try them on for yourself first. Read the full review of the Alpinestars Range 2 In One gloves here.

• Five TFX-2 WP, £109.99 | A much cheaper version of the TFX-1, these are Level 1 KP, and have a more noticeable lining and warmth to them. There’s definitely money saved here, though the thumb is the right length for me. Read the full review of the Five TFX-2 gloves here.

• Oxford Mondial, £99.99 | A lot cheaper than the TFX-1 gloves, but they don’t have a bonded lining, which could pull out. They’re also a lot warmer to wear. Read the full review of the Oxford Mondial gloves here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the gloves we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Five TFX-1 gloves review: Verdict

Clearly I’m impressed with the Five TFX-1 gloves – the highest levels of protection, great waterproofing, brilliant straps and very wearable in warmer weather.

They are relatively pricey, but if you need to keep your hands dry, and don’t want to wear hot winter gloves, they are very highly recommended.

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