How to Choose Motorcycle Gloves, Plus Our Top Picks!

Why do you need motorcycle gloves?

When riding a motorcycle, gloves are essential for hand protection, warmth, and reducing fatigue.

They protect your hands from small stones and insects that may fly up from vehicles in front of you while riding, and also cushion impact and prevent scrapes in case of a fall.

On cold days, hands can become numb and cold, making it difficult to properly operate the throttle and brakes. Gloves also help to keep your hands warm.

Furthermore, wearing gloves helps to dampen vibrations from the motorcycle, which is particularly useful for reducing fatigue on long rides.

The three main reasons why motorcycle gloves are necessary are: protection from impact in falls and flying debris, warmth to prevent hands from getting cold due to temperature and weather, and vibration dampening to reduce fatigue.

Let's delve into each of these points in more detail.

Motorcycle gloves improve operability

Wearing motorcycle gloves can improve operability.

This is because motorcycle gloves are designed to be worn while riding a motorcycle. The operability of the clutch, turn signals, and steering is incomparable to bare hands or work gloves.

Furthermore, whether it's winter or summer, if your hands get cold from the wind while riding, the movement of your joints will worsen, leading to reduced operability. Therefore, gloves are important for preventing your hands from getting cold.

Ensure safety with gloves

Unlike cars, motorcycles are ridden with the body exposed, so injuries in accidents tend to be severe. Hands, in particular, are prone to fractures and need to be protected as a priority with gloves, just like the head.

Also, unlike general gloves, many motorcycle gloves are equipped with protection to guard hands from damage. Such gloves are more durable than ordinary ones, significantly reducing hand damage in the event of an accident.

Keep your hands from getting numb in the cold winter with warmth

Motorcycle gloves also provide warmth, preventing your hands from getting numb in the cold winter.

Since motorcycles are constantly exposed to the wind while riding, your hands might get colder than you expect, even on slightly chilly days.

If your hands get numb, it becomes dangerous as you can't operate the throttle or brakes correctly.

They protect your hands from the wind and prevent body heat from escaping, keeping your hands from getting completely cold. Therefore, they are essential, especially for those who ride motorcycles in winter.

Additionally, continuous exposure to wind can increase fatigue even when the outside temperature is high, so gloves help reduce fatigue by protecting your hands from the wind.

They also have the effect of absorbing and dampening motorcycle vibrations, so you can expect them to help reduce fatigue from both wind and vibrations.

Can work gloves be used as a substitute if motorcycle gloves are not available?

While it's safer to wear dedicated motorcycle gloves when riding, work gloves can be used as a substitute if motorcycle gloves are absolutely unavailable.

From the perspective of safety and fashion, they are functionally far inferior to motorcycle gloves, but they are better than wearing nothing.

If using work gloves, choose ones with anti-slip features to ensure precise operation.

Motorcycle gloves are designed and made with materials and designs chosen to handle situations anticipated while riding a motorcycle.

If you ride a motorcycle frequently, it's a good idea to get a pair of motorcycle gloves.

Tips for choosing motorcycle gloves

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Motorcycle gloves are sold by various manufacturers, with a wide range of prices.

With such a variety, some of you might be wondering "what kind of gloves should I choose?"

Here, we'll introduce some tips for choosing motorcycle gloves to help you find your favorite pair.

The main points for choosing gloves are:

Choosing by size
Choosing by safety and functionality
Choosing to match your style

Even if you like the design of a pair of gloves, if they don't fit your hand size, they could impair your ability to operate the motorcycle.

The most important aspect when choosing is the fit.

Choose by size

No matter how high-performance motorcycle gloves are, if they don't fit, they are not suitable.

If the size is too small, it may be difficult to bend your fingers, or the tightness on your hand may cause discomfort and distract you from riding. Conversely, if it's too large, the fingertips will have excess space, reducing operability.

It is necessary to try them on in person or carefully check the size chart.

Choose for high safety

What is required of motorcycle gloves is how much damage they can mitigate, in terms of durability, impact resistance, and abrasion resistance. The leather used in many gloves excels in durability and abrasion resistance, while gloves with protection have high impact resistance.

Conversely, gloves made of neoprene or mesh material are excellent in water resistance and breathability, but their durability and impact resistance are not very high, so caution is required.

Choose by brand and design

While functionality and safety are important, gloves are also a crucial fashion statement.

If you coordinate your entire outfit with one brand, or wear gloves chosen to match the image of your motorcycle, your touring experience will surely be even more enjoyable.

In recent years, a wide variety of glove designs have been sold for both men and women, and there are even vendors specializing in women's motorcycle gear. Many products feature pastel colors or feminine designs as accents, so it might be a good idea to look for your favorite gloves.

Choose a durable type that protects your fingertips

Choose gloves that protect your fingertips and prioritize durability.

Durability is greatly influenced by the material, so leather gloves are a good choice.

Leather is the material used for gloves worn by world-class riders in the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, MotoGP, due to its high durability and ability to protect hands from scrapes in a fall.

Even if they are leather, gloves with open fingertips are inferior in terms of protection, so it's best to choose a type that protects your fingertips.

Besides leather, there are also mesh gloves for good breathability in summer, and neoprene gloves made of synthetic rubber, but in terms of durability, leather gloves are superior.

Leather gloves are a bit pricier, but when considered an investment in safety, the cost shouldn't feel too high.

Choose materials based on needs such as breathability and warmth

If you're choosing based on breathability or warmth, mesh and neoprene gloves are also options.

While leather gloves excel in hand protection and warmth, they can get stuffy on hot days, like in summer.

Choosing breathable mesh gloves helps prevent heat buildup inside the gloves, even in summer.

Neoprene gloves are made of synthetic rubber and are characterized by their high warmth and waterproofness.

Due to their high airtightness, they prevent water from entering the gloves and body heat from being lost on rainy days or in cold winters.

Neoprene gloves have thick insulation, making the gloves themselves thick and slightly reducing operability. However, they are highly effective gloves for rainy days and cold winters.

Choose a type that matches your motorcycle style

Riders who care about fashion might also choose gloves that match their motorcycle style.

In this case, the main point is whether the gloves match the fashion and the motorcycle, rather than the material or functionality.

For naked bikes and cruisers, leather gloves are suitable, while for racer-type bikes, choose gloves with thick protectors on the back of the hand, depending on your preference and the style of your bike.

If it's touchscreen compatible, you can also use your smartphone

Recently, an increasing number of motorcycles are equipped with touchscreen information features, such as using a smartphone as a navigation device by attaching a holder or having a touchscreen navigation system installed.

If you frequently use touch panels, choosing touchscreen-compatible gloves means you won't have to take them off every time to operate the panel.

15 Recommended Motorcycle Gloves

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Here, we introduce recommended motorcycle gloves by season.

Finding the right motorcycle gloves starts with checking the size, but the points for choosing gloves vary from person to person, including functionality and matching the style of the bike.

Therefore, we will also explain "for whom each glove is recommended" and the key points to consider when choosing.

Please use this as a reference for choosing your gloves.

【All Season】 5 Recommended Motorcycle Gloves

We introduce five motorcycle gloves that can be used year-round (all seasons).

1. Alpinestars + Mustang V2 Gloves Black/Black L Size

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

Alpinestars Mustang V2 gloves, highly popular among motorcycle racers, are high-performance gloves that also support touchscreen operation.

Made of full leather, with reinforced thumb and palm areas, and suede reinforcement on the sides, durability is a key feature.

These high-performance, highly durable gloves feature a simple design that matches any motorcycle, and can be used in a wide range of situations, from city riding to touring.

2. Rough & Road + Comfort Knuckle Gloves

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

ROUGH&ROAD's Comfort Knuckle Gloves are touchscreen-compatible gloves for smartphones, on the thumb and index finger.

The back of the hand uses flexible rubber knuckles, which reduces the restrictive feeling when gripping or twisting the throttle.

With a simple and timeless design, these gloves can be used in a wide range of situations, from city riding to touring.

3. Henly Begins + Cow Leather Protector Gloves

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

Henly Begins Cow Leather Protector Gloves are recommended for riders who prioritize style and fashion.

These gloves are comfortable to wear, made from soft cowhide with a three-dimensional cut for a good fit, so they won't feel uncomfortable even during long rides.

The knuckle protectors offer high protection while being designed to minimize tightness when gripping your hands.

They are also smartphone-compatible, allowing you to operate touch panels while wearing the gloves.

4. Alpinestars + SP-8 LEATHER GLOVE 8317

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

Alpinestars SP-8 LEATHER GLOVE 8317 are gloves with high impact protection performance.

By incorporating ergonomically designed synthetic suede reinforcements, they enhance impact absorption during falls while offering comfortable wear.

Their enhanced abrasion resistance also reduces hand damage from friction in case of a fall.

They are also touchscreen compatible, making smartphone operation easy while wearing them.

5. Alpinestars + GP PLUS R GLOVE Racing Gloves 123

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

Alpinestars GP PLUS R GLOVE Racing Gloves 123 are high-impact absorption gloves primarily designed for racing.

They combine flexibility, durability, and protection, with good breathability as a key feature, reducing stress during long periods of wear.

The fit and surrounding protective areas also provide a high sense of security when worn.

These gloves offer extreme protective performance to shield hands in the event of a fall.

【Summer】 5 Recommended Motorcycle Gloves

Next, we introduce five recommended gloves for summer.

In summer, outside temperatures are high, making gloves more prone to stuffiness and sweating, so high breathability is key.

We'll introduce models that offer both excellent breathability and the crucial protective performance of gloves.

1. Daytona + HBG-035 Carbon Leather Gloves

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

DAYTONA HBG-035 Carbon Leather Gloves are motorcycle gloves designed for spring to summer, featuring breathable mesh.

Mesh is placed from the fingertips to the back of the hand, which helps suppress heat buildup inside the gloves even on hot days.

These gloves enhance the function of protecting hands from impact by using genuine leather on the palm, which is prone to contact in case of a fall, and carbon on the back of the hand.

2. Rough & Road + Riding Mesh Gloves

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

Rough & Road's Riding Mesh Gloves are stylish summer gloves with an impressive lime green color.

They are characterized by high breathability and use quick-drying mesh that is easy to wash.

The fingertips are made of smart touch leather, compatible with touch panels.

3. Alpinestars + Closer Air Touring Gloves

Product details: https://bikeman.jp/

Alpinestars Closer Air Touring Gloves are highly durable gloves that use reinforcement material in areas that come into contact with the motorcycle, such as the throttle and brake levers.

Their flexible material and design help reduce fatigue during long periods of wear.

With reflective material on the fingers, these high-performance gloves also enhance visibility to other traffic.

The index finger uses touchscreen-compatible material, allowing for smartphone operation.

4. Rough & Road + Tactical Gloves Y. Blue

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

The Rough & Road + Tactical Gloves Y. Blue are stylish gloves featuring dimple mesh and raschel mesh on the fingertips and back of the hand.

Made from materials like synthetic leather, cowhide, and perforated leather, they offer a comfortable fit that reduces pressure when gripping, which is also a key feature.

These gloves are breathable and touch-panel compatible on the thumb and index finger.

5. Daytona + HBG030 Perforated Mesh Goatskin Gloves

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

Daytona's HBG030 Perforated Mesh Goatskin Gloves are stylish gloves with a chic design that particularly suits American and naked bikes.

They boast high breathability due to mesh placed from the fingertips to the wrist.

Their soft and easy-to-grip design makes them recommended for a wide range of riders, from beginners to advanced.

They are also touch-panel compatible, allowing you to operate smartphones and other devices while wearing them.

【Winter Use】5 Recommended Motorcycle Gloves

Winter motorcycle gloves require high thermal insulation to prevent heat loss from the hands.

Since cold hands can affect operations like acceleration and braking, here are some gloves with excellent sealing and insulation.

1. SUOMY + Sport Winter Gloves

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

SUOMY's Sport Winter Gloves are all-weather gloves with a waterproof film.

They come in three colors: black, orange, and red, allowing you to choose one that matches your bike or style.

These are highly stylish winter gloves featuring a unique design on the knuckle area.

2. Rough & Road + CK Knit Cuff Winter Leather Gloves

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

Rough & Road's CK Knit Cuff Winter Leather Gloves feature a simple design characterized by the contrast of black and red.

Their simplicity makes them suitable for various motorcycle styles.

Based on cowhide, they have pads on the back of the hand and fingers to protect your hands from impacts.

They are also touch-panel compatible, making smartphone operation easy.

3. Alpinestars + SUPERTECH GLOVE Racing Gloves

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

Alpinestars' SUPERTECH GLOVE (Supertech Gloves) are top-of-the-line racing gloves packed with MotoGP expertise.

While flexible, the protectors extending from the fingertips to the back of the hand effectively shield your hands from impact.

The use of stretchy leather on the fingers ensures a high level of fit.

4. Rough & Road + GORE-TEX Protection Winter Gloves

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

Rough & Road's GORE-TEX Protection Winter Gloves are made with high-performance GORE-TEX material.

GORE-TEX is a material with excellent durability, waterproofing, and windproofing, effectively protecting hands from rain to winter cold.

They also utilize Feelthermo, which has heating and heat storage functions, making them as warm as a winter blanket.

5. Rough & Road + Wind Guard Protection Gloves

Product Details: https://bikeman.jp/

Rough & Road's Wind Guard Protection Gloves are designed to keep hands warm and protected from the wind.

Wind can rapidly strip away body heat, but as their name suggests, these Wind Guard Protection Gloves use Wind Guard fleece to enhance their ability to protect hands specifically from the wind.

Despite their high insulation, these are multi-functional gloves that are also touch-panel compatible.