Motorcycle gloves are an essential piece of safety equipment. 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 flimsy gloves should you fall off your bike.
In this article:
- 5 Best Motorcycle Gloves
- #1 Best Overall: Knox Handroid MK4 Gloves
- #2 Runner-Up: Dainese Carbon D1 Long Gloves
- #3 Best Budget Glove: Scorpion EXO Klaw II Gloves
- #4 Joe Rocket GPX 2.0 Gloves
- #5 Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2 Gloves
- Do You Need Motorcycle Gloves?
- How To Find The Best Motorcycle Gloves
- FAQ: Best Motorcycle Gloves
5 Best Motorcycle Gloves
#1 Best Overall: Knox Handroid MK4 Gloves
Price: About $300
Materials: Kangaroo and cowhide leather
Style: Full gauntlet
Weight: 1.25 pounds
We found the Knox Handroid MK4s to be the best motorcycle gloves on the market for many riders. They feature a flexible exoskeleton that offers full knuckle and finger protection, and the covered pinky outseam and box construction of the fingers provide added comfort. The gel-lined back of the hand helps absorb impact, while the patented Knox scaphoid protection system (SPS) keeps your palm safe and the BOA® Fit System ensures a secure wrist cinch.
These gloves are among the costlier options on the market, but the Knox brand is well-regarded for its superior safety technology. There is a Knox Handroid Pod MK4 model that’s slightly less expensive, but it does not include the gauntlet sleeve, so it offers less protection.
While the Knox Handroid MK4 is a superb choice, there are other gloves at lower price points that can keep your hands safe in many incidents. However, if you can afford the $300 price point, we highly recommend investing in this level of protection.
What Customers Are Saying
The Knox Handroid MK4 has an average Amazon customer review score of 4.7 out of 5 based on over 35 reviews. About 94 percent of reviewers rate the gloves 4 stars or higher. Positive comments mention that Handroid gloves are comfortable, warm, and break in quickly – several dedicated riders swear by the brand.
While the warmth of the leather gloves is advisable for cold-weather riding, they may overheat your hands in the warmer months. One customer reported difficulties dealing with the warranty department after his gloves began to wear prematurely. Also, note that you won’t be able to operate touchscreen devices while wearing these gloves.
Key Features
- European Conformity (CE) certified as safety apparel in the United Kingdom
- 0.8-millimeter kangaroo leather palm
- Microlock knuckle protection
- Cowhide leather cuff
- One-year warranty
#2 Runner-Up: Dainese Carbon D1 Long Gloves
Price: About $175
Materials: Sheepskin and goatskin leather
Style: Full gauntlet
Weight: 7.0 ounces
The Dainese Carbon D1 Long Gloves are all-season gloves suitable for commuting and street riding. They’re light and comfortable, featuring perforated leather for breathability and airflow.
The Carbon D1 gloves include a number of useful safety features, such as heat-resistant aramid fiber stitching with high tensile strength, carbon-fiber inserts over the knuckles, and a hard plastic palm slider. A distortion control process (DCP) also keeps your pinky from rolling under during a slide.
The Carbon D1 motorcycle riding gloves are comfortable and safe, and they make a great summer glove, but if you’re looking for a dedicated racing glove, you should consider something more heavy-duty (like the Knox Handroid).
What Customers Are Saying
There was only one review for these gloves on Amazon at time of publication, which gives the product a 4-star rating. There are more reviews of the Dainese Carbon D1 Long Gloves on RevZilla, where the product has a 4.4 out of 5-star rating based on about 30 reviews.
Reviewers mention superior airflow and comfort, but complain that the gauntlet sleeve protection could be sturdier. The gloves can also be uncomfortable for some riders, taking a few weeks to break in. One reviewer notes that the thumbs are too long, but fit will vary by hand. Still, for the price point, the Dainese Carbon D1 Long Gloves remain an excellent choice.
Key Features
- Silicone-print fingertips for grip
- Pre-curved
- Reinforced goatskin palm
- Carbon fiber knuckle guards
- CE-certified
#3 Best Budget Glove: Scorpion EXO Klaw II Gloves
Price: About $55
Materials: Goatskin leather
Style: Short cuff
Weight: 6.4 ounces
If you’re looking for the best motorcycle gloves that won’t break the bank but will keep 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 full winter weather conditions.
What Customers Are Saying
The Scorpion EXO Klaw II has a 4.8-star Amazon customer review score based on more than 20 ratings. The majority of reviewers rate the product 4 stars or higher. On RevZilla, the glove has a 4.3-star rating based on more than 230 reviews.
According to reviews, the EXO Klaw II is comfortable, tough, provides good airflow, and is a solid choice for the price range. Several buyers mention that they might not be the best motorcycle gloves for winter riding, as they do not keep your hands very warm.
Key Features
- TPU knuckle and finger protection
- Neoprene wrist panel
- Rib-stretch knuckle expansion panels
- Goatskin leather construction
#4 Joe Rocket GPX 2.0 Gloves
Price: About $65
Materials: Goatskin leather
Style: Full gauntlet
Weight: 9.3 ounces
The Joe Rocket GPX 2.0 Gloves are a durable, full-gauntlet glove constructed with goatskin leather protection on the palm and fingers. Extra rubber padding and an impact-absorbing liner provide improved safety, while the temper foam gauntlet material adds ulna and radius protection.
To keep your hands comfortable, 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 the gloves secure and snug.
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon customers give the GPX 2.0 Glove an average score of 4.6 out of 5 based on about 30 reviews. Around 85 percent of reviews rate the glove 4 stars or higher. 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.
Key Features
- Goatskin leather chassis
- Injection-molded knuckle protector
- Reinforced leather palm
- Padded finger and thumb protectors
- Double top stitching
#5 Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2 Gloves
Price: About $60
Materials: Goatskin leather
Style: Short cuff
Weight: 7.0 ounces
Our final recommendation for the best motorcycle gloves 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 perforated 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 this glove for track riding.
What Customers Are Saying
The Alpinestars SMX-1 Air v2 Gloves have a 4.6-star Amazon review score based on more than 1,500 ratings. About 91 percent of reviews rate the gloves 4 stars or higher. 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.
The 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.
Key Features
- Premium leather-and-mesh construction
- Hard polymer knuckle protection
- CE-Certified
- Touch-sensitive fingertip for use with touchscreen devices
Do You Need Motorcycle Gloves?
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.
In addition to providing necessary protection, motorcycle gloves enhance your grip, offer comfort, prevent calluses, and keep your hands warm, dry, or cool in the elements. Gloves can also help with the tingling and numbness many riders experience from handlebar vibrations.
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.
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. While we recommend what we’ve determined to be the best motorcycle gloves for the standard rider, they won’t be the best motorcycle gloves for you if they don’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 on the motocross course where there is no asphalt, but they are not suitable for the road.
How To Find The Best Motorcycle Gloves
When selecting the best motorcycle gloves, our review team considered the following factors:
- Protection
- Comfort
- Customer reviews
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
Some 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 safe gloves that aren’t CE-certified, this seal is a good sign.
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 excessively hindering dexterity and the rider’s ability to operate the 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 best motorcycle gloves review, 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.
FAQ: Best Motorcycle Gloves
What are the best motorcycle gloves?
There is no single best motorcycle glove for every rider. The best motorcycle gloves offer superior protection. Depending on the size and shape of your hand, certain gloves will be more comfortable than others. Also, certain gloves may fit differently than others, which impacts protection.
What makes a good motorcycle glove?
Above all, a good motorcycle glove should protect your hands. Look for gloves that feature a reinforced leather palm, knuckle protection, and abrasion-resistant material, especially along the outside of the pinky finger.
Should motorcycle gloves be tight?
Motorcycle gloves should fit snugly but not restrict your circulation. If your hand goes numb while wearing your gloves, they are too tight. If your motorcycle glove is too loose, it will not adequately protect your hands and could fly off in an incident.
Why do motorcycle gloves have hard knuckles?
Motorcycle gloves often have hard knuckles to protect the back of your hand in the event of a crash. Metal and TPR materials can save your hands from the unforgiving asphalt.
Do you need motorcycle gloves?
You absolutely need motorcycle gloves if you are going to ride a motorcycle on asphalt. Even a minor spill can mean a long and expensive stay in the ER if you fail to protect your hands. The skin on your hands is thin and can be easily broken by pavement without protection.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
