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Imagine this: you're heading to your local GP Bikes when you abruptly trip over a patch of an uneven sidewalk. What's the first thing to hit the ground? More often than not, you'll instinctively throw your hands out to break the fall—the same will happen if you experience a crash on your bike.
Falling hands first on asphalt from a standstill will do some damage, but hitting the ground at a speed of 100 km an hour will be much worse. Regardless of your riding style, every motorcyclist should own a pair of high-quality motorcycle gloves that offer substantial protection in the event of an accident.
There are different glove styles and materials available, but the type of glove you choose will depend on your riding style and the weather you typically ride in. You can find gloves specific for sport, touring, and dirt riding, as well as winter-specific options with added insulation. The most important thing to keep in mind when purchasing a pair of motorcycle gloves is their primary purpose: protection.
Top Motorcycle Glove Features & Materials
Like most pieces of motorcycle gear, there are leather and textile options available when it comes to gloves. But regardless of the material you choose, it's a good idea to ensure your gloves feature reinforced palms, knuckle armour, and cinching straps. These features will provide your hands with the most protection in the event of an accident.
The type of material you choose for your motorcycle gloves will impact how well they fit over time. If you plan on going for a leather glove, you can expect the fit to stretch out by about 5% with regular wear. Textile gloves don't stretch as leather gloves do, but they will soften as you break them in.
Best Racing Gloves for the Sport Rider
Sport gloves, often referred to as racing gloves, are designed for riders who travel at higher speeds and participate in race or track days. A racing glove will feature a more aggressive curvature on the fingers and sometimes webbing between the ring finger and the pinky; these design features hold your hands and fingers in place, providing maximum protection as you ride. Sport gloves sometimes use kevlar stitching and include enhanced protection in the wrist area. The palm of a sport glove often includes extra layers of material for superior abrasion resistance.
Here are a few of the best racing gloves on the market today: the Spidi Carbo 7 Leather Gloves, the Five RFX1 Replica Gloves, the Alpinestars SP-1 V2 Leather Gloves, and the Joe Rocket Highside Air Leather/Mesh Gloves.
Best Motorcycle Gloves for the Commuter
Touring gloves are designed to appeal to the commuter crowd and other long-distance riders. High-quality touring gloves will protect against the elements and potential injury from impact or road abrasion. Touring gloves won't fit as tightly as a racing glove. A looser fit will provide enhanced flexibility and allow you to maintain total control of your bike at all times.
These are our top picks when it comes to a high-quality touring glove: the Five GT2 Water Resistant Gloves, the Joe Rocket Element Insulated Textile Gloves, and the REV’IT Gloves Sand 4 H20.
Winter Motorcycle Gloves for Cold Weather Comfort
If you plan to ride in cold weather (regardless of your riding style), you will want to consider a winter motorcycle glove. Cold-weather motorcycle gloves provide the same protection as other styles but are best for insulation. Since early and late season gloves have the primary purpose of keeping your hands warm, they will be bulkier than a racing or touring glove. In addition to insulating layers, this glove design will typically feature a waterproof membrane to keep your hands dry, as well as the added benefit of windproofing. Cold-weather gloves should fit comfortably around your palm and fingers, but they shouldn't be too tight as you may want to add glove liners inside if the weather becomes exceptionally cold. A popular choice for early and late season riders are heated motorcycle gloves. Heated gloves are typically plugged into the electrical system on your bike or are battery operated. Heated grips are also an option for riders who wish to use a less bulky glove without losing dexterity due to numbness.
We prefer these gloves for cold weather riding: the Alpinestars Valparaiso V2 Drystar Gloves, the REV’IT! Stratos 2 GTX Gloves, the Five HG1 Heated and Waterproof Motorcycle Gloves, and finally, the Klim Powerxross Heated Gloves.
Stay Cool with Summer Motorcycle Gloves
Finally, there are summer motorcycle gloves, which are sometimes referred to as mesh gloves. This glove is ideal for summer riding when warm temperatures make a non-vented glove uncomfortable. Summer gloves provide all the same protection as other styles but are designed for comfort when riding in hot weather, which is why many feature increased ventilation and sweat-wicking materials to keep your hands dry.
These are a few of the best summer motorcycle gloves offered: the Joe Rocket Blaster S/R Leather Gloves, the Scorpion Exo Cool Hand II Glove, the Five Stunt Evo Gloves, as well as Five Stunt Evo Airflow Gloves.
How Should Motorcycle Gloves Fit? A Guide to Proper Fitment
Motorcycle gloves should feel snug, and there shouldn't be any excess material around the palm of the hand. Any extra material will hinder your dexterity and ability to maintain total control over your bike during a ride. Excess material can also bunch up around the hand and cause blistering.
To find your glove size, you'll want to use a soft measuring tape to identify your hand width and circumference. To find your hand width, you will need to lay your measuring device flat on the table, place your palm down on top of it, and measure the widest part of your palm. You might notice that some gloves use hand circumference rather than width. To find your hand circumference, you will need to wrap the measuring tape around your palm behind the knuckles.
Know You’re in Good Hands With the Best Motorcycle Gloves
When searching for the best pair of motorcycle gloves, it's important to remember why you should be wearing gloves. When selecting your motorcycle gloves, protection against impact and road abrasion should be the top priority. GP Bikes has a wide selection of motorcycle gloves to suit any riding style—ride with confidence, knowing you're in good hands.
