As far as motorcycle safety gear goes, most of the emphasis is understandably placed on the helmet. While a helmet may be the only required piece of safety equipment in many places, that doesn’t mean your riding gear should stop there. Take the hands, for example. Even if you’re not a particularly clumsy person, you’ve almost definitely fallen down at some point in your life. So you’re probably well aware of the impulse to use your hands to break your fall. It’s unpleasant falling on solid ground, and it’s unimaginably more so falling off a high-speed vehicle and skidding on the ground. Motorcycle gloves are the answer to protecting your hands while riding.
While an average pair of winter gloves might be comfortable and stylish, most are not designed to resist high-impact contact with the ground. Motorcycle gloves have padding on potential impact areas, including the palms and knuckles. This protects the rider in the event of a crash. Motorcycle gloves often have clasps to ensure that they don’t come off if a rider is flung from their bike, and they’re shaped in a way to be comfortable while gripping the throttle. An additional appeal of motorcycle gloves is that they can protect against wind, water, and generally unpleasant weather.
Looking to check out the best motorcycle gloves now? Check out all the best below.
1. TitanOPS Motorcycle Gloves
These gloves from TitanOPS have a distinct tactical look to them, and are available in black, green, and tan. The knuckles have pronounced shielding for protection while riding, and the palm has a textured grip for comfortably holding the throttle. At the wrist is a velcro cuff for a tight and secure fit.
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2. Milwaukee Leather Cruiser Gloves
These gloves from Milwaukee Leather have a more sophisticated, traditional look. The wrists have a tightening strap, and the knuckles and palms are padded. The gloves have a perforated texture across the surface. Sizing runs from small to XXX-Large.
3. Superbike Leather Motorcycle Gloves
For another leather option, these motorcycle gloves are available in perforated or non-perforated styles. The knuckles and palms are reinforced, and there’s a strap on the inner part of the wrist for making adjustments. Best of all, the fingertip can be used with touchscreen devices (just as long you’re not scrolling through Twitter while riding).
4. Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 Motorcycle Riding Glove
No matter how big or how small your hands are, you can ride dirty with the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 Motorcycle Riding Gloves. Each glove is complete with mesh for breathability but have enough grip for tearing the streets up with your bike. The area where your fingers sit is extra stretchy for easy moveability to lack that claustrophobic feeling, too.
5. Indie Ridge Pre-Weathered Premium Leather Motorcycle Gloves
Cheap leathe gloves exist? Yup, cheap leather gloves exist. These gorgeous pre-weathered glove have a worn look to them, so much so that it looks like you could have just picked them up at a local thrift store. Each glove is pre-curved and flexible to provide total comfort when driving. They’re complete with touchscreen fingers just in case you need to do some texting (when you’re pulled over, at least).
6. COFIT Motorcycle Gloves
Want to exude some serious badassary? Look no further than the COFIT Motorcycle Gloves. These bad boys are ready for all kinds of riding, from motorcycles to go-karts to bikes and more. Each glove has touchscreen fingers for texting when you need to and full hand, padded protection. Grip with ease and look cool doing so, clad in either full black, black and blue or black and red pictured below.
7. Indie Ridge Denim & Leather Motorcycle Gloves
Denim AND leather? Hang on a second while we swoon. Considering this is their second time making an appearance here, it’s safe to say that Indie Ridge makes some of the best-looking motorcycle gloves on the market. Each glove is made from high-quality denim and brown leather for an all-year long ride. There are touchscreen fingers for texting and have a curved design so your hands don’t feel too stiff and uncomfortable. Not to mention, you’re probably going to have the coolest gloves out of all your friends.
8. Fox Racing Mens Dirtpaw Motocross Glove
While it’s technically not made for your motorcycle, these Fox Racing motocross gloves will get the job done. Will you get a few odd looks from bikers who’ve been in the game a bit longer than you? Maybe. But, this is the perfect glove for someone that finds themself riding numerous bikes under varying circumstances. They keep your hands safe from rough winds and debris and move around as you’d like.