Best Motorcycle Gloves

Motorcycle gloves are an essential piece of safety equipment. Ultimately, your hands are the first line of defense when you get into an accident or lose your balance – as it’s human nature to outstretch your arms in an attempt to break your fall. As pure instinct will always cause your hands to be the first point of contact with the ground, it’s worth protecting them with high-quality motorcycle gear.

In this review, we recommend several of the best motorcycle gloves for riders that need protection but aren’t sure where to start. You don’t want to be caught wearing any old gloves should you fall off your bike, so make the decision to invest in a pair of motorcycle-specific gloves today.

1. Editor’s Choice: Cofit Motorcycle Gloves
2. Best Value: Glove Station Tactical Gloves
3. Comfort Pick: Scorpion EXO Klaw II Gloves
4. Best Grip: Joe Rocket GPX 2.0 Gloves
5. Best Summer Motorcycle Gloves: Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 Gloves

When selecting the best motorcycle gloves, our review team considered the following factors: Protection, comfort, and customer reviews. However, safety certifications and the seasonality of your riding are two additional factors that are important to consider.

Protection

A motorcycle glove should protect your hands. A glove that does not feature a reinforced palm or knuckle protection isn’t going to cut it if you’re riding on asphalt. We only recommend gloves that offer superior protection, which means leather padding. Anything less will not hold up against the road. Palm sliders are also a plus, but they’re not vital unless you are using your gloves for track racing.

Make sure that whichever glove you choose fits properly. Even the best-designed gloves won’t work to keep your hands safe if they’re too loose. A motorcycle glove should fit snugly without cutting off circulation. Certainly don’t purchase fingerless gloves. Also, pay attention to the seams and the quality of the stitching. A poorly constructed glove may shortly become frayed and worn.

Most all motorcycle gloves will wear out eventually, but the best motorcycle gloves should last you a couple of years at least.

CE Certification

Most of the gloves we recommend are CE-certified. CE certification means that a glove meets the standards for safety products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). This certification is not required for products sold within the United States, but it is a good indicator that a glove offers quality protection. While there are reputable gloves that aren’t CE-certified, this seal ensures a certain level of protection.

For motorcycle gloves to be CE certified, they must meet certain standards for:

• Cuff length
• Abrasion resistance
• Impact resistance
• Tearing resistance
• Main seams resistance to traction
• Support resistance
• Cutting resistance

Gloves must meet these standards without hindering a rider’s ability to operate a motorcycle.

Comfort

Comfort is an objective assessment, and gloves that are comfortable for one rider may not be comfortable for another. However, by reading customer reviews and looking for certain features (such as exterior stitching for flexible panels), we can recommend gloves that are likely to be comfortable for most riders.

For our review of the best motorcycle gloves, we looked for gloves that were breathable and those that reviewers went out of their way to praise for comfort. We did not recommend a glove if many reviewers mentioned that the gloves were uncomfortable.

Season

We recommend riders purchase at least one set of winter gloves and another for summer. If you only ride in one of these conditions (warm or cold), then you may only need one set of gloves. Some of the gloves we recommend keep your hands cool, which is good for the summer, but bad for cold months. Others are more insulated, which can be uncomfortable in the heat.

Lastly, the gloves we recommend all offer a certain amount of water resistance. If you are riding in the rain, you don’t want your hands to become cold and wet.

Customer Reviews

Our team of expert reviewers combed through customer reviews on Amazon and RevZilla. We specifically looked for reviewers who had experienced incidents while wearing the gloves, providing a field test. Any gloves that were reported to not adequately protect the wearer after a crash were not included in our list of the best motorcycle gloves.

Designed as a multi-purpose glove, the Cofit Motorcycle Gloves can be worn for BMX, riding ATVs, cycling, motocross, climbing, and much more. Cofit, the manufacturer, states these gloves work best when used in temperatures between 50.0 and 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Air vents work together with the breathable polymer fabric the glove is made from to keep you cool. To secure these gloves to your hands, simply use the velcro fastening system.

The palms of these gloves feature wear-resistant silicone gel to optimize your grip on the handlebars. In terms of impact protection, palm and knuckle protectors provide another layer of added protection. It should be noted that these motorcycle gloves are touchscreen compatible, as both the index finger and thumbs of these gloves have conductive metal fiber.

We think that the Cofit gloves offer a solid option that will suit many riders, especially as a starter glove. They aren’t especially expensive but offer decent protection and comfort.

Key Features

• Cost: Around $20
• Certification(s): European Conformity (CE)
• Touchscreen compatible: Yes
• Material: Polyester

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 9,000 ratings

Reviewers speak to how comfortable and high-quality this riding gear is for its price point. An individual reviewer claims he got into a slow-speed crash and these gloves did their job – although he notes that he thought the gloves would survive the crash better than they did.

The Glove Station Tactical Rubber Knuckle Gloves are built to last – but even if they don’t  –  they’re backed by a lifetime warranty. If you like these gloves, they could be the last pair you’ll need to buy.

Polyurethane (PU) leather palms and fingertips not only enhance a rider’s grip but also enhance dexterity and make these gloves touchscreen compatible. While these moto gloves aren’t water-resistant, mesh panels on the back of the glove allow moisture to escape.

Pre-curved and molded knuckle armor offer optimal impact protection while neoprene joints afford riders their typical full range of motion. As touched upon earlier, these motorcycle gloves are undoubtedly durable as double-stitched seams are present throughout these gloves.

Key Features

• Cost: Around $20
• Certification(s): N/A
• Touchscreen compatible: Yes
• Material: Polyester

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on around 1,800 ratings

A large number of customers mention how protective the molded knuckle plates are and how well they protect the back of the hand. Many also note how useful it is to be able to use their touchscreen device without having to remove these gloves. Those with negative feedback complain that this motorcycle glove is not true to size.

If you’re looking for one of the best motorcycle gloves that will keep your savings intact and your hands protected, consider the Scorpion EXO Klaw II. These leather motorcycle gloves feature TPR finger protectors, dense foam padding at the palm, and a dual-stitch lateral seam along the pinky and palm. The full goatskin leather construction adds durability and abrasion resistance.

The rib-stretched knuckle expansion panels provide extra flexibility and comfort, and the Klaw II is pre-curved for a better fit. An elastic panel on the sides of the fingers offers some extra stretch that may be appreciated by those with thicker fingers. Plus, the wrists are padded with neoprene so they won’t chafe.

These gloves have perforated leather at the tips of the fingers for airflow. They should keep your hands warm in mild to chilly temperatures, but they may not be warm enough for  wet weather or full winter weather conditions.

Customer reviews attest that the Klaw II gloves are good for all-day wear because these gloves strike a balance between padding, flexibility, and airflow.

Key Features

• Cost: Around $55
• Certification(s): N/A
• Touchscreen compatible: No
• Material: Goatskin leather

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 200 ratings
RevZilla Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 260 ratings

According to reviews, the EXO Klaw II gloves are comfortable, tough, provide good airflow, and offer a solid choice for the price range. A number of customers reference the trust they have in this brand, after previously purchasing one of Scorpion’s best motorcycle helmets. Several buyers mention that they might not be the best motorcycle gloves for winter riding, as they do not keep your hands very warm.

The Joe Rocket GPX 2.0 Gloves are durable, full-gauntlet gloves constructed with goatskin leather protection on the palm and fingers. Extra rubber padding and an impact-absorbing liner optimize safety, while the temper foam gauntlet material adds ulna and radius protection.

To keep your hands comfortable while commuting, the GPX 2.0 gloves feature exterior seam construction at the back of the fingers and thumb as well as vented knuckle protection for airflow. The velcro fastener keeps these leather gloves secure and snug on your hand.

Key Features

• Cost: Around $55
• Certification(s): N/A
• Touchscreen compatible: No
• Material: Goatskin leather

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 110 ratings
RevZilla Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 50 ratings

Most customers are pleased with the comfortable design and low price point, especially considering the goatskin leather construction. Some also mention that these are some of the best gloves for aggressive riding.

Critics of the glove claim that they are not very warm and start out a little tight. However, the gloves do break in after some use.

Our final recommendation for the best motorcycle glove on the market is the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2. Alpinestars is known for quality racing and cruising gloves. At around $60, this is a low-cost option for the brand, especially considering the quality leather construction.

The SMX-1 Air v2 gloves include a stretch zone on the fingers and perforations in the leather for breathability. The covered outer seam along the pinky and palm heel improves comfort. And these gloves don’t skimp on protection. Suede side padding offers added abrasion resistance, and there are poly-blend reinforcements between the palm and thumb.

However, there is no palm slider on this glove. Though your palms are protected by thick leather construction, we wouldn’t recommend the SMX-1 Air v2 as racing gloves.

According to reviewers, the Air V2 gloves offer excellent airflow, making them ideal gloves for summer riding.

Key Features

• Cost: Around $60
• Certification(s): CE
• Touchscreen compatible: Yes
• Material: Goat leather

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 4,300 ratings
RevZilla Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 480 ratings

Most reviewers claim that these gloves are comfortable and offer excellent protection. Reviewers also note the glove offers good airflow. This is a boon for riding in hot weather, but it means the gloves do not make for a good cold-weather option.

These summer gloves are well-designed and are unlikely to tear in part because of the high-quality stitching. However, they may still wear out more quickly than a high-end glove. You may save in the short term with this low-priced glove, but you will likely need to replace the product more often.

Yes, you need motorcycle gloves. “All the gear, all the time” is an important mantra for anyone who plans to ride a motorcycle. Without gloves, what would otherwise be a minor injury could instead become a trip to the emergency room.

Hand injuries can result in permanent damage and reduced dexterity. This may not only hinder your ability to ride in the future but also to perform any number of important tasks.

• Handling: In addition to providing necessary protection, motorcycle gloves enhance your grip, offer comfort, prevent calluses, and keep your hands comfortable in whatever weather you’re riding in. Gloves can also help with the tingling and numbness many riders experience from handlebar vibrations.
• Ride environment: When shopping for a pair of motorcycle gloves, consider your typical riding conditions. Do you go for long rides or short rides? Do you ride in warm weather or cold? Many riders own multiple pairs of gloves for different situations.
• Fit: Be sure to pick a glove that fits properly. Motorcycle gloves should fit snugly, with no extra space in the fingers or bunching in the palm when you make a fist. Regardless of how great a glove is, it won’t be the best motorcycle glove for you if it doesn’t fit your hand.

Above all, safety should be your most important consideration. In this review, we only recommend safe gloves designed for street riding. Dirt bike gloves may work off-road where there is no asphalt, but they are not suitable for the road.

If you’re looking for the best motorcycle gloves to upgrade your ride and keep your hands safe, look no farther than some of the great options on our list. Whether you’re looking for extra comfort with the Scorpion EXOs or a great all-around pair with the Cofits, the right fit is bound to be one of these great options.

*Data accurate at time of publication.