Keep your hands cool with these summer motorcycle gloves tried and tested by MCN

Even though they can be exposed to the oncoming air on many bikes (despite some going to great lengths to protect them from wind-blast), your hands can get very hot and sweaty on warmer rides if you’re not wearing summer motorcycle gloves.

Even gloves with breathable membranes, that allow the moisture developed by the hand in the way of sweat to escape, can get a bit too warm if you’re enjoying the summer or on a busy ride. So a pair of vented summer gloves will help you to keep cool.

Air will generally be admitted to the gloves either by perforations in the main material they are formed from or through specially-designed vents – or both. Of course, if air can get in, then so can water and they aren’t generally meant to be waterproof – if you’re going for a ride in the summer and there may be showers en route, then either take a pair of waterproof gloves too or accept that you may get wet.

Typically, summer gloves will feature relatively thin material with little in the way of insulation, so feel for the bike’s controls should be very good. However, just because they are cool and give great feel doesn’t mean they can’t also give you protection. You should be seeing knuckle armour and protection to the fingers and the bottom of the palm.

Related: Best summer motorbike gear

Summer gloves can either be short or long, as many riders prefer shorter gloves that allow air to enter the sleeves of the jacket for better airflow. Longer gloves will inevitably protect the wrist better but will feel bulkier as a result – it’s down to personal choice which you wear.

Summer motorcycle gloves should feature a CE rating to be sold as motorcycle clothing and there are two scores; either 1 or 2 with the addition of knuckle protection, or KP. So you should be looking for at least a rating of 1 KP or ideally, 2 KP (the KP is optional for level-1 but compulsory for Level-2).

Here are some of the cooler summer gloves around…

How MCN tests products

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. If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. 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

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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