Spend your $$$ in the right place with MCN’s guide to choosing the best motorcycle gloves for you

Whatever you’re riding through, your hands will feel it first. And if things go sideways, your hands will likely meet that first, too. Whether it’s the elements, road debris or even errant bees, your hands need protection. You need proper riding gloves, full stop. 

The tl;dr? Here are the best riding gloves we tested:

• Best sport gloves: RST Tractech Evo 4 Gloves – View on Revzilla
• Best summer gloves: Goldtop Predator Gloves- View on Amazon
• Best winter gloves: Held Champ GoreTex Gloves – View on Revzilla

How to choose the right pair of motorcycle gloves for you

It all comes down to what sort of riding you’re doing, and where you’re doing it. Leather is your friend if you’re heading to track day. You’ll want gauntlet-style gloves with a cuff that fits over your jacket and wrist, preferably with TPU sliders and proper knuckle protection. A KP2 CE-rating indicates higher testing standards.

• MCN gear guide: Get the right chain lube for your bike

Sport riding aside, weather, conditions and temperature will determine the best riding gloves for you. Textile gloves ventilate well and offer greater comfort for long rides. Cold weather usually means leather, but more importantly, heated gloves. Whether you’re trying to shed heat or preserve it, a wide variety of glove choices await.

The seasoned riders of MCN’s staff put in thousands of miles in good and bad weather to bring you these riding glove reviews. Check it out. 

Jump to:

• Sports Gloves
• Retro Gloves
• Summer Gloves
• Winter Gloves
• Heated Gloves
• Ladies Gloves

Our sport riding glove picks

Sports gloves offer maximum protection, with armored knuckles, reinforced palms and long gauntlet style cuffs. All that protection means comfort and feel can be tricky to dial in. Plus, sport riding gloves can get really hot. Or really cold. Be aware of perforated sections that help shed heat on fast, hot days, but lose it quickly in the cold.

Retro gloves that we loved

Retro gloves won’t have the same protection as sport riding gloves, due to their vintage style, studs and/or quilted leather. And they’ll generally be best for warmer weather riding. But they often have the same safety features as with any other glove, like knuckle protectors, reinforced areas and double stitching.

Summer riding gloves that send it

Summer riding gloves are lightweight and prioritize airflow for riding in hot weather. They’re sometimes textile motocross-style gloves that offer little abrasion resistance, but can also be extra-perforated versions of sport riding gloves (without gauntlet-style cuffs) with crash protection and ventilation holes added to leather panels. Many track or sports riding gloves come in versions like this, but remember: most track days require gauntlet-style gloves.

Best winter riding gloves

Winter riding gloves feature thermal linings such as Thinsulate and should have water-resistant or waterproof membranes. Some are leather construction while others are textile, with some emphasizing warmth and others protection. For seriously cold conditions, you’ll need heated gloves – unless you have heated grips.

Our favorite heated riding gloves

Heated gloves are a lifesaver for commuter riders without heated grips or hand guards. But even with heated grips, the backs of your hands and fingertips need heat too.

Some heated riding gloves integrate into your bike’s electrical system while others use lithium batteries. Batteries add bulk on your wrists and are usually concealed in gauntlet-style cuffs, but are lightweight. For versions that plug into your bike, make sure you have proper wiring, or even adapters.

Women’s riding gloves we loved

Women’s riding gloves are fitted and sized differently, but otherwise the same criteria and features apply. 

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What to look for when buying gloves

From perforated summer gloves and lightweight trail items to track-ready armor, the level of protection you need is up to you and should always be balanced with comfort. The weather is another factor to consider, and waterproof and thermal or even heated winter gloves will keep you able to use your hand controls through January commutes. There is a huge range catering to just about every motorcycling application imaginable.

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Riding glove safety standards explained

So you’ve figured out the what, where and weather of wherever you’re riding. Let’s get into safety ratings and metrics for protection and performance.

CE Certification

The CE testing standard for motorcycle gloves is EN 13594:2015, with Level 1 meaning adequate protection and Level 2 indicating the next step up. Testing incorporates the following criteria.

Impact Abrasion Resistance

If (and when) you go down in a crash, you’ll instinctively brace yourself, with outstretched hands and palms down. This test measures the protection offered for both initial impact and the ensuing slide. 

Knuckle Impact Protection

This is an optional test for Level 1 riding gloves and is rated at 1 or 2 KP. All Level 2 gloves will have achieved 2KP in order to pass.

Cut Resistance

Only the palm of Level 1 gloves get tested for cut resistance. All materials in a Level 2 glove have to pass to achieve certification.

Tear Strength

Three separate pieces of the protective layer are subjected to a tear test, with the lowest score dictating whether a pass has been achieved.

Seam Strength

Each type of seam gets tested at three individual points, ensuring the overall structural integrity of the glove meets the required standard.

Restraint

A glove must stay fastened, so this test measures force required to pull it off while worn. 25N dictates a Level 1 pass and 50N for Level 2.

Sizing and Cuff Length

Level 1 requires a cuff length of at least 5mm, measured from the line of the wrist. Level 2 requires a 50mm cuff length. Sizing must comply with the European standard of EN420.

Innocuousness

In order to make sure that apparel is safe to wear against the skin in normal use, this test covers the chemicals and dyes used in the production process that remain in the leather or fabric. This includes measuring pH values and checking for potentially harmful elements, such as azo colorants, chromium VI and pentachlorophenol. 

Ergonomic Requirements

Gloves must allow dexterity in order to operate switchgear, visor catches and other controls. This test ensures no significant restriction in movement.

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FAQs

Should I size up or down if I’m between sizes?

Leather gloves stretch over time, so avoid sizing up. Gloves should feel comfortable and allow good movement and feel without long gaps at the end of fingers. 

Are riding gloves worn inside or outside the sleeve?

A gauntlet-style glove is worn outside of the sleeve, while a short cuff should fit inside the sleeve. 

Should I wash my gloves?

Always check care instructions inside the gloves. Read and retain this information, as they often become illegible with use.

Are fingerless gloves OK on a motorcycle?

Fingerless riding gloves only offer protection to your palm and the back of your hand. Fingers are exposed to the elements, bugs and asphalt if you have an accident. Full riding gloves are highly recommended, though not legally necessary in the US.

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How MCN tests gloves

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

We’ve worn each of the tested pairs of gloves in this page while we’ve been covering miles on test bikes in all the appropriate conditions for the product.

We ask our testers to consider the perceived quality of the gloves they test and compare them to the countless other pairs they’ve worn over the years. Double-stitched seams, additional layers in impact areas such as palms, knuckle and scaphoid protection and TPU sliders will all impress them.

If you can’t see a review against a pair of gloves on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested them yet (or we still are). These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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Our scores explained

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

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