Understanding Types of Motorcycle Gloves

Motorcycles gloves are an obvious necessity for riding in cold weather. But they serve other purposes as well. In this article, we will explorer the pros and cons of each style of glove and why you will likely want multiple styles.

Motorcycle Gloves can provided added protection in an accident. Obviously, anything covering skin provides some additional protection against scrapes or abrasions. Many gloves also incorporate some form of armor or additional protection from impacts in key areas of the hand. In most European countries, motorcycle gear has to be CE Certified if it claims to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). There is no law (that I'm aware of) requiring a certification in the USA. However, many manufacturers build their gear to these standards or above to sell in those markets. So, finding gear that is CE certified is a great way to ensure that it actually meets the standards that the manufacturer claims.

In addition to protection, gloves also can make a long ride more comfortable. They can reduce the vibration felt through the hands from the handle bars and provide a better grip of the well, grips.

There are several styles of gloves. This is not to suggest that you need to pick one. You may likely need one of several styles. Which of the styles of gloves likely depends on where you live and what type of weather you ride in. I will explain the benefits of each of the styles in the sections below.

Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless gloves are great for summer weather. Fingerless gloves will have a short cuff and are obviously missing the finger portion of the gloves, only coming down to the first knuckle of your fingers. Most, but not all are perforated to maximize airflow. With this design, they will obviously not keep your hands warm. The primary purpose or reason to wear them is for the padded palm. This greatly reduces the vibration felt through your hands when you ride. It can make a long distance trip much more bearable. Many riders find that having a pair of summer gloves is not necessary. Personally, I wear them all summer. I love the feeling of a secure grip on the motorcycle without having to worry about sweat or rain making the grips slippery. The "necessity" of fingerless gloves may also come down to the style of grips you have on your bike. There are grips that do a much better job of absorbing vibrations than others and provide adequate grip without the fingerless gloves. As with all things motorcycle, it's a personal choice. There is some level of protection, but it is minimal with this style of glove. If you are falling, the natural reaction is to reach out to brace yourself. This means palms down on the pavement. Anything between your hands and the road is going to be a blessing in that situation.

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Short Cuff Gloves

Short cuff gloves are the most versatile of the glove styles. This is the most common type of glove you see riders wearing. They provide more protection than a fingerless glove. Like fingerless gloves, they are often worn in warmer weather. They help isolate vibration in your hands, which can lead to improved comfort on longer trips. They provide some level of protection through padded palms. You often also see knuckle protection in this category. That is usually in the form of a hard plastic over the knuckles.

Short Cuff Gloves can vary a lot. You will see perforated leather, unlined leather or unlined synthetic, which are both great for hot days. Some are lined leather or insulated synthetic, which are better for cooler days. I have several pairs of Short Cuff Gloves. If it is a hot day, and I am riding one of my bikes where I mount my phone, I usually go fingerless. Otherwise, I wear a synthetic glove that allows good air flow. On Harley-Davidson's Navigation (Boom GTS and the new Skyline) any glove will operate the touchscreen. I feel the full finger glove offers more protection incase of a slide, and better grip on the controls. I also have an insulated and waterproof pair that I keep if the weather turns cooler or if it rains.

I would recommend adding a few variations to your collection. If you are only going to have one pair of riding gloves, I would recommend a insulated short cuff glove. There are a lot of great options that you can check out at the link below.

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Gauntlet Gloves

Gauntlet gloves are the great for riding in cool and colder weather. They cover the full hand and the cuff will extend further up the arm. The longer cuff allows the glove to go over your jacket to help block out wind. If you are trying to stay warm on a motorcycle, wind is your enemy. Almost exclusively, these gloves are insulated and will do a great job of keeping your hands warm on cold weather rides. The nature of gauntlet gloves is also a big advantage if riding in the rain. A pair of waterproof gauntlet gloves will keep your hands warm and dry. Since they go over your jacket, whether you are wearing a waterproof jacket or a rain suit, they will keep water from running under the cuff of your jacket.

If you are planning on riding when it is very cold outside, which I personally consider anything below 28 degrees, I would suggest looking at some heating element. If your motorcycle has heated grips, you will probably be fine with just the gauntlet gloves. Most motorcycles do not have this feature, it can be a pricey upgrade as wiring has to be run, and it often doesn't fit with the design styles that certain riders seek. That's where heated gloves come in. When selecting heated gloves, you want to make sure that the heating elements has full coverage of the hand and not just on the back of your hand. Your fingers always get cold and stiff at the tips first. So, it is important that the heating elements extend to the tips of your fingers. The second consideration for heated gloves is how are they powered? Some heated gloves must connect to a heated jacket and then the jacket connects to the battery on your motorcycle through an adapter that plugs into your battery tender. I would suggest heated gloves that are battery powered or can connect to the bike independent of a jacket. I have never felt the need for a full heated suit. Of course, maybe I've just not been riding in cold enough climates. But, I know my hands get cold way faster than the rest of my body, as they are fist first in the wind. Either way, having the option of wearing the gloves separate from the jacket is a big plus in my opinion. The one draw back to heated gloves is they can be bulkier than a traditional gauntlet glove. This is especially true if they house their own battery pack.

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Motorcycle Glove Liners

Motorcycle glove liners are not actually riding gloves, but designed to be worn under your primary cold weather gloves for added insulation. They are specifically designed for this purpose. With that being said, if you were to wear glove liners as actual gloves, you would wear them out very quickly. They also do not usually provide any type of wind protection as their primary purpose is insulation. If you ride in colder climates, glove liners can make a lot of sense. They do a great job of keeping your hands warmer than just wearing gauntlet gloves. Fit and comfort are very important with glove liners. I have found the thinner, the better. Glove liners that use a material that is too thick can make operating the controls of the motorcycle very difficult and on longer rides, even painful through the hand fatigue they cause.

In recent years heated glove liners have been popping up everywhere. These can be a great option, as long as they are paired with the right outer gloves. Any time extra components are added, such as heating elements, it is going to add bulk. Bulk in a glove liner is a bad combination. If this is the way you decide to go, I would order a size larger than I normally would in the outer glove I am going to pair them with to account for the added bulk and look for a thinner outer glove to ensure I still had good feel for the motorcycle.

If your motorcycle has heated grips, skip glove liners. The glove liner will actually insulate your hands against the heat of the grips and actually make your fingers much colder. I have a few pair of glove liners that I wear when I ride one of my bikes that does not have heated grips. When the weather dips into the teens, the liners are nice, but can be restrictive. I don't think I would want to ride very far with liners, but they do serve their purpose. If we are honest, I wouldn't want to ride far if the weather is in the teens, regardless of what I'm wearing. I'm good for about an hours worth of riding before I want to pull over and warm up a bit, liners or not.

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Handlebar Mitts / Gloves

Okay, so these aren't gloves, but they do an awesome job of keeping you hands warm in cold weather. They do not go on your hands, but actually slide over your grips and strap to your handlebar. Then you slide your hand into them to grasp the grips and operate the controls. They are not actually designed for motorcycles. Typically, they are found on snowmobiles and ATV's. Now, I am never one to criticize anyone's style when it comes to their motorcycle as you are supposed to make it your own, but these are ugly as sin. Despite the appearance, the fact that they do such a great job, makes it worthy of consideration. I do not own a pair of these, but did try a set on a friends bike and spoke to lots of riders that use them throughout the winter months. They do such a great job of warming your hands that a lot of times no other glove is necessary. The vast majority of riders do at least wear a thinner pair of gloves with them. Personally, I found operating the controls of the motorcycle fairly easy, but there is certainly an adjustment period in the feel of having something over the brake and clutch. It's worth noting that I had a few people tell me that the handlebar mitt did apply just enough light pressure on the front brake lever to turn on the brake light.