Tested: The Best Motorcycle Gloves For Every Type Of Rider

Our hands are our first line of defense when it comes to going down on a motorcycle, as humans instinctively brace and attempt to catch themselves from falling with their hands. In fact, this is usually the first part of our body to make contact with the pavement. As a result, keeping your hands protected with a quality pair of gloves is absolutely essential. Well aware of this reality, we’ve rounded up the latest and greatest moto mitts on the market in order to deliver this guide to and hands-on review of the best motorcycle gloves for every rider. 

Selection & Testing

Because there are literally hundreds of models to pick from, when we first set out to uncover the best motorcycle gloves on the market, we kicked off our search by first breaking down this larger space into sub-segments based on the uses and categories of gloves that we most commonly wear on the bike — from the best daily-wear and all-arounder gloves to the best adventure gloves to the best cafe gloves to the best race and track gloves. Once we’d come up with these categories, we then scoured each sector for the best available options, scrutinizing aspects such as design, material selection, features, and armor in order to guide or picks. This formula ultimately allowed us to generate a shortlist of candidates that we suspected of representing some of the latest and greatest that money can buy. 

With our shortlist in hand, we then proceeded to get our paws on a pair of every set of gloves comprising said shortlist. As helpful and informative as product descriptions and spec sheets can be, the reality is that the only way to really glean a comprehensive understanding of a glove’s overall user experience is to use and experience them. So, that’s exactly what I did. Riding a late 2010s Ducati Hypermotard SP, I spent anywhere from one to three weeks commuting to and from HICONSUMPTION’s Los Angeles office — while supplementing my commute with a few canyons runs here and there on evenings and weekends. This hands-on experience with each glove helped to shine a light not only on how each pair felt and performed, the level of tactile response afforded, and the level of protection offered, but also on the overall craftsmanship and build quality on display on each pair. 

This hands-on testing phase would eventually provide us with the information needed to narrow our initial shortlist down to a final selection of what we found to be the very best motorcycle gloves currently available. There were several pairs that came extremely close to receiving a main spot on this list, but for one reason or another were edged out — several of which can be found at the bottom of this review in our honorable mentions section. So, now that you know how we went about selecting and testing each pair, let’s get down to our hands-on review of today’s best riding gloves. 

Pando Moto Ivy Gloves

Best Cafe Motorcycle Gloves: Moving on to the newest gloves on this list, we have the latest release from Pando Moto. When it comes to combining retro looks with modern performance and protection, few do it better than Pando Moto — case in point the brand’s new Ivy Gloves. Sporting a scott-cuff design, these cafe-style gloves are crafted around a 1mm goatskin leather shell with a flexible semi-rigid knuckle guard and palm pads. Furthermore, the palm has also been overlaid with abrasion-resistant reinforcements — a treatment that was also bestowed upon the outer part of the glove’s pinky. Strategically-placed perforations also added to help with cooling the wearer’s hands. At the end of the Ivy’s short-cuff is an elasticized entry with an adjustable VELCRO-secured wrist closure decorated with a subtly-embossed Pando logo. 

The Good

Even though their appearance is decidedly old-school, the actual cut of these gloves is incredibly ergonomic, and includes modern pre-curved fingers. Additionally, underneath the surface, these gloves also conceal touchscreen compatibility — another very welcome and thoroughly modern feature. The tactile feel of the Ivy Gloves is pretty fantastic. So much so, in fact, that it’s actually a bit surprising that they’ve managed to achieve a CE rating. In typical Pando fashion, the Ivy Glove’s style is super on-point, and does a superb job of blending old and new visual themes. The lines across the back of the hands and the accordion panels just below the knuckles both add style points while at the same time bringing some practical functionality to the table. 

While they aren’t particularly revolutionary or innovative, Pando’s Ivy Gloves are just really practically designed, with a myriad of genuinely useful features and little else. As an example, the glove’s abrasion-resistant overlays at the palms and the outside of the hand/pink is just a really sensible design decision considering that those parts of the hand are practically guaranteed to make contact with the ground in the event of a crash, and are the most slide-prone for that reason. The touchscreen compatibility also makes them a lot easier to live with day-to-day — something that was definitely lost on me until spending a good deal of time testing some of the non-touchscreen-friendly gloves on this list. 

Supplementary Strengths

Another one of the coolest parts about the Ivy Gloves don’t have to do with the gloves themselves, but rather a policy that’s included from the manufacturer along with the purchase of them. In addition to a multi-year product warranty, the Ivy Gloves are also eligible for Pando’s “Crash Warranty,” which invites the gloves’ wearers to send a detailed story and a few photos to Pando about their wreck, and the company will straight up replace them with a new unit (or an equivalent if the item is no longer in production). I also think that it’s also pretty remarkable that Pando offers this policy on a pair of sub-$100 goatskin riding gloves with armor, touchscreen compatibility, and a CE-rating. In fact, I’d say that in addition to being our favorite cafe-style riding gloves, Pando’s Ivy Gloves are also arguably some of the best budget/affordable riding gloves currently on the market as well. 

The Not So Good

My issues with Pando’s Ivy Gloves are few and far between. First off, I didn’t find the palm perforations to be particularly useful or effective as that potion of the glove is constantly wrapped around my bike’s grips. In fact, I actually forgot that detail was even present when testing, and I didn’t remember it until review the spec sheet while writing this. Having said that, it’s hard to fault Pando for this, as the Ivy Gloves didn’t make my hands particularly sweaty, so the point is admittedly somewhat moot either way. Second, though they are admittedly CE Level 1-rated, I still feel like hard slider elements would be super beneficial on the palms, and hard exterior knuckle or flexible TPU armor would be a welcome feature as well — both items that were present on Pando’s older Onyx gloves (another fantastic pair of cafe-style riding gloves that boast retro looks and a host of modern features). Getting back on track; as far as gripes go, that’s about all I noticed. 

Verdict: Despite their unmistakably retro-inspired appearance, the Pando Moto Ivy Gloves conceal a wealth of modern amenities ranging from a goat skin construction with pre-curved fingers to touchscreen compatibility to knuckle armor to a CE Level 1 rating. Iin addition to being our pick for the best cafe-style gloves, these are also probably the best budget gloves on the market too. 

SA1NT Road Gloves

Best All-Arounder Motorcycle Gloves: Makers of some of our all-time favorite motorcycle jeans and riding jackets, SA1NT typically trades in delivering premium, plain-looking garments and clothing staples that conceal robust levels of protection. As such, seeing SA1NT deliver a highly-modern and highly-technical riding glove seemed a bit out of left field from the Aussie outfit, though after getting an opportunity to test a pair shortly after their launch, it quickly became abundantly clear that, while the gloves may take things in a a new direction for SA1NT, they maintain the meticulous attention to detail, eye for design, premium quality, and top-notch performance that the brand has become known for the world over. 

The Good

The Road Gloves are cut from supple yet durable goatskin leather and feature carbon fiber knuckle guards with underlying padding, and beefy padding adorning the palm, the back of the fingertips, and the back of the thumb — a setup that collectively allows the gloves to achieve a CE Level 1 rating. Reflective piping details further elevate the gloves’ overall safety. Touchscreen-compatible, the gloves are secured via an elasticized cuff that’s been paired with a VELCRO wrap-around strap at the cuff and a second smaller VELCRO strap at the wrist. Providing a snug fit thanks to featuring two points of adjustability, this setup is actually remarkably similar to the one found on Dainese’s super-premium — and super expensive — Full Metal 7 race gloves. 

At first I found the mid-sized length of the Road Gloves’ cuffs to be a bit strange, but after wearing them with a few different types of riding jackets, I quickly came to love this element, as it makes it incredibly easy to slip the cuffs inside the sleeves of a jacket or hoodie, or tuck the end of the sleeve into the cuff — depending on the garment. The gloves feel comfortable and afford a decent amount of tactile feel and response, while still feeling thoroughly protective. What’s more, perforations at the top of the palms and on the tops and sides of the fingers allow air to enter the gloves without compromising protection in any of the key slide or impact-prone areas. 

Supplementary Strengths

In the company’s typical fashion, branding on the Road Gloves is both subtle and minimal, consisting of just a SA1NT text logo on the top of the cuff, and SA1NT’s wing logo decorating the larger wrap-around strap — both of which are embossed details that give the gloves a more top-shelf feel. Because the company had sent us a pair to try out, I wasn’t actually aware of the Road Gloves’ MSRP, but after using them I assumed they were likely in the $250 to $300 range. As such, I was fairly blown away to eventually learn that these carbon-knuckled all-rounders can be picked up for less than $150 — a price point that affords them with some tremendous value and makes them something of a steal. 

The Not So Good

There’s honestly very little that I would change if given the opportunity to design SA1NT’s Road Gloves, though there are a few tweaks that I would for sure make. The first is that I’d really like to see every finger tip bestowed with touchscreen compatibility, rather than just the thumb and trigger-finger tips. Second, and more imporrtnay, the things could very much benefit from the addition of hard palm sliders. I applaud SA1NT for clearly considering this area, as they did treat the gloves to a pair of beefy pads on each palm, though overlays the outer one with a hard-shell slider could really further elevate an already extraordinary riding glove. 

Verdict: From touring to commuting to days at there canyon or track, if you’re looking for a versatile pair of all-around riding gloves that won’t break the bank — but will still offer ample quality and protection — you’d be hard pressed to do better than the SA1NT Road Gloves. Affording tremendous bang-for-your-buck, these carbon-knuckled, goatskin-shelled items tick just about every box one could hope for in a pair of everyday gloves. 

REV’IT! Cayenne 2 Gloves

Best Adventure Motorcycle Gloves: Offering equally impressive levels of both value and protection, the REV’IT! Cayenne 2 Gloves are a second-generation pair of adventure and touring riding gloves that benefit from a host of features found on the Danish brand’s top-of-the-line gloves. Utilizing a harmonica construction, the Cayenne 2s are pieced together from a premium amalgamation of drum-dyed goatskin leather, synthetic HYPALON rubber, and Goat Digital WR100X. Inside, this pair is fitted with a tricot liner, while the outside boasts a knuckle guard, a palm slider, and a thumb slider all made from hard-shell TPU. Additionally, the exterior of the shell also sports laminated reflective elements and PU-injected finger knuckle guards and out pinky protection. 

The Good

The REV’IT! Cayenne 2 Gloves are technically designed for warm-weather riding, though considering that the majority of motorcyclists do most of their riding in warmer weather, these gloves tend to work as general-use adventure and touring mitts, and are conducive to every season but winter. They also offer fantastic airflow thanks to ample perforations on the sides and bottoms of the finger and palms. Though they’re made in Indonesia, I’d have just as easily believed they were handcrafted in America or Europe based on the stellar build quality that’s on display — a detail I was no doubt taken with. I was also really fond of the special grip patch that adorns the palms and thumbs, as it does a super effective job of bolstering traction and grip. 

Though I fortunately didn’t get to experience how well these gloves held up in a crash, I’m still confident they would fair incredibly well, considering they have hard-shell armor on the knuckles, palms, and thumbs — a setup that practically guarantees that any part of your hand that makes contact with the ground will be armored. Add to trios all the internal padding and the bevy of PU-injected armor elements, and you’ve got some outstanding overall protection. The armor on the knuckles and the back of the hands also features a geometric-looking motif that gives them a much more unique feel. Typically getting a pair of hardcore adventure gloves from REV’IT! With envelop-pushing features comes at a pretty steep price, though in the case of the Cayenne 2 Gloves, the company was able to take amenities and tech it had already spent money developing, and allow it to trickle down to these second-gen ADV mitts, ultimately allowing them to offer some truly outstanding bang-for-your-buck. 

Supplementary Strengths 

The gloves feature an elasticized cuff with a Y-strap hook-and-look adjustment VELCRO closure. Though it doesn’t sound all that different from other gloves, this design really does provide a super snug and secure fit, while also making it wildly easy to don and doff the things — a pretty major rarity as most gloves feature a tradeoff between the two. In terms of glove sizing, I typically fall right between medium and large, though I tested this pair in a size large and (pardon the pun) but they fit like a glove. And while this worked out well fo me, it does mean the sizing can be a bit tricky, and it’s recommended that you order roughly one size up from what you normally would. 

The Not So Good

With most of the more accessibly-priced, budget-friendly pairs of riding gloves on the market, sacrifices and concessions are made in order to keep cost down. And while this makes for an objectively value-laden pair of gloves, it also often results in one with a few faults and issues mainly stemming from corners cut. REV’IT!’s Cayenne 2 Gloves, however, buck this trend, and manage to deliver the best world in terms of both fair pricing and great protection, quality, and performance — another major rarity in the moto gear realm. Having said that, I did stumble across a few minor gripes while testing these gloves, though they’re pretty negligible. Because of their more lightweight construction and perforation holes, these gloves don’t really lend themselves to cold-weather use. Lastly, while I actually like the geometric knuckle armor design, I imagine this detail may be somewhat divisive, as several people I rode with while testing these gloves weren’t partial to the look.  

Verdict: The REV’IT! Cayenne 2 Gloves are a pair of advanced three-season adventure riding mitts that offer much of the protection and many of the features of high-dollar ADV gloves in an accessibly-priced package. Whether you’re looking to head off-road or simply put in some long hours in the saddle, you really can’t go wrong with these. 

AETHER Moto Glove

Best Warm-Weather Motorcycle Gloves: Since its inception in 2009, Los Angeles-based boutique riding gear brand and clothing purveyor AETHER has developed a reputation for delivering ultra-clean minimalistic designs with modern features, and either clean, technical aesthetics or vintage-inspired items. The AETHER Moto Glove is undoubtedly in the latter camp. Cut from premium goatskin leather, the glove features a leather pad overlay across the palm adorned in horizontally-running stitching lines, and second smooth leather overlays providing a bit of padding on the inside of the thumbs. The gloves are secured via a VECRO wrist closure with an embossed AETHER logo on its adjustable flap, and elasticized sections at the top and bottom of the cuff’s entry. The horizontal quilted stitch detail covering the palm overlays is also present on the knuckles. Beneath that lies a set of D30 knuckle armor.

The Good

With its all-leather construction and ample perforations throughout, AETHER’s Moto Glove offers a feel that I found to be almost comparable to wearing a tight-fitting pair of gentleman’s leather driving gloves, albeit with slightly thicker leather (and D30 knuckle armor).  Because the gloves are cut from a slightly thinner leather than most other pairs of premium riding gloves, the tactile feel and response they offer is truly second to none. Same goes for the overall dexterity. Hell, I was even able to type when wearing these gloves for a few minutes without making many typos. The perforations that cover every inch of the gloves — save for the quilt-stitched and smooth leather overlays — do a phenomenal job of providing airflow and ventilation, though your hands still feel secure and not exposed to wind, rather just cool. For obvious reasons, this cooling effect is most noticeable when riding at speed. On an unrelated note, these gloves also offer pretty solid value when you factor in the goatskin leather construction and fairly top-notch craftsmanship — a pretty common trait I’ve experienced with every AETHER garment or piece of riding gear I’ve used thus far. 

Supplementary Strengths

For the most part, aside from the hidden D30 armor, the AETHER Moto Glove is largely a case of what you see is what you get, though there are a few cool design elements that I didn’t really notice or at least fully appreciate until getting hands on with them. This includes the fact that the use of D30 armor not only allows the gloves to remain super low profile across the top of the hands while still providing solid impact protection, but it also gives this vintage-inspired design a more authentic feel, as they legitimately look like they could be straight out of the ‘70s. This is not only one of my very favorite parts of AETHER’s Moto Glove, but it’s also one of the biggest factors that separates it from other pairs of retro-inspired and cafe-stye motorcycle gloves on the market. Lastly, while this isn’t really a good thing (or a bad thing), I still think it’s worth touching on the manufacturing origin of these gloves. AETHER’s website says these gloves are made in Vietnam, the actual label inside the glove reads “made in Indonesia” so I’m honestly not sure where these things are made, but it’s presumably one of these two locales. 

The Not So Good

There’s no such thing as the perfect motorcycle gloves, as all pairs have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the AETHER Moto Glove is no exception. While I very much enjoyed my time with these gloves, they weren’t without a few minor issues, though none of them were in anyway dealbreakers. For starters, the lack of any hard exterior knuckle armor does slightly mitigate the level of protection that these gloves offer, though I think this is a sacrifice that’s well worth it considering the authentic old-school feel the lone D30 padding affords. Next, with AETHER being known for its technical designs and modern suites of features, I was honestly pretty shocked to swipe at my phone for an embarrassingly long time at a stoplight — to no avail — the first day I tested these gloves, only to learn then and there that they aren’t touchscreen compatible. They’re also not at all waterproof, but it’s hard to deduct points for this when judging them as warm-weather riding gloves. 

Verdict: For those that favor pure vintage over retro-modern, AETHER’s Moto Glove is a fairly unbeatable option with its authentic old-school looks and modern-day protection. Ample perforations throughout also make them a great choice for warmer weather or climates.  

Alpinestars HT-7 Heat Tech Drystar Heated Gloves

Best Winter Motorcycle Gloves: The Alpinestars HT-7 Heat Tech Drystar Heated Gloves are a full-featured, heavy-duty set of winter riding mitts that conceal some impressive, cutting-edge tech. Stuffed with 80 grams of lightweight, synthetic Primaloft insulation and equipped with a full waterproof Drystar membrane, the glove is constructed around a micro ripstop soft-shell with stretch inserts, and goatskin leather adorning the palm and backs of the hands. CE-certified, the Heat Tech Drystar glove features dual-density TPU knuckle protection, TPR protectors on the top of the finger joints, and hard palm sliders fortifying the exterior of the shell. The gloves are secured via a wrap-around VECLRO section at the base of the cuffs, and an elveastiiced wrist supplemented via a second, smaller VELCRO strap at the base of the wrist — a setup that provides a snug and secure fit while also going a great job at keeping heat trapped in. Rolled fingertips further bolster the glove’s heat retention. In fact, even with the heating elements turned off, the gloves are still pretty warm. I’d actually actually go as far as to say these are probably the best winter riding gloves that money can currently buy — and they do cost quite a bit of money. 

The Good

Each glove features an underlying connected stand of stainless enameled copper-nickel heating yarn that snakes up and down, extending to each fingertip before curving around the back of the hand. The palms and the inside of the fingertips aren’t heated, though this would compromise tactile feel — plus isn’t really necessary as that’s what heated grips are for. Offering 10 temperate settings, the gloves can be turned on using an exterior button, or have their heat more precisely adjusted using the Heat Tech app. You also have the option of simply pressing the soft rubber-coated exterior button to cycle through a trio of basic modes (low, medium, high). What’s more, said button also has color-coded LED backlighting that use a logical choice of hues for each mode, going from yellow to orange to red as the temperature increases. I also really like that the button to turn these gloves on is positioned right where I’d normally wear a watch, giving it a very natural and familiar feel — the button is even sized similarly to a watch case. 

Consisting of 7.4-volt Lithium cells, the glove’s onboard batteries are houses in compartments at the bottom of the wrist and can easily be removed thanks to VELCRO-secured openings just inside the cuff. The batteries also allow the heating elements to warm up in around two-to-three minutes. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for motorcycle gadgets and gear that pair with phone apps to sometimes have difficulty connecting to their app or in some cases simply have super buggy, glitchy, and/or crashing-prone apps. This just isn’t the case with Astars’ Heat Tech app, as it really does work like a charm. It connects quickly every time, and it takes just a fraction of a second for the commands and adjustments to quick in once prompted from my smartphone. 

Supplementary Strengths 

Easily one of my favorite parts of the HT-7’s overall user experience, the app is minimalistic and easy to use. Not only does the app show the batteries’ life, but it also tells you how many hours of life remain at their current heat setting. Additionally, it has an “Auto Slip” feature that automatically powers on the glove’s heating elements as soon as you slip them on. And while it’s a small detail, I like that the gloves are sold with an included Y-cable that allows you to charge both gloves using a single outlet. Though they’re made in China, they’re more importantly made by Alpinestars, and as such the build quality on the HT-7s is pretty stellar. Not a single stitch, seam, or panel is loose, misaligned, or out of place. Waterproofing on these gloves is also excellent, as they’re legitimately waterproof, not water-resistant or weatherproof. 

I was also anticipating the insulation and membrane to mitigate tactile feel, and while these gloves did admittedly have the worst of any of the gloves I tested, it wasn’t by all that much. They’re shockingly thin for how warm and well-insulated they are. The base of fingers have small grippy overlays to increase traction on the bars or throttle, helping to make up for their slight lack of response and feel. Additionally, despite having embedded heating elements, a waterproof liner, and a generous amount of insulation, the HT-7 Heat Tech Drystar Heated Gloves still manage to offer touchscreen compatibility, which really surprised me. I also expected the HT-7s to make my hands really sweaty, though even when worn for a long period, my palms only got a little clammy at most. This is fairly impressive all things considered (those things being the heating elements and insulation, mainly). I also love the fact these gloves feature hard palm sliders, as you’re going to put your hands out and have your palms make contact with the ground in the vast majority of accidents, making this a feature that I’m surprised every pair of riding gloves doesn’t come equipped with. 

The Not So Good

I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed these gloves, and they only grew on me more and more the longer I wore them. With that said, there were a few pretty minor downsides and issues that I came across — granted they’re all pretty massively outweighed by everything else the HT-7s have going for them. Because the battery packs’ positioning just inside the cuff at the bottom/inside of the wrist, they make it little bit difficult to put the gloves on, and always require just a bit of wriggling. I was able to put them on faster after I got used to the process and they’d broken in a bit. 

Moving on…considering that these are premium, heavy-duty winter riding gloves with armor, insulation, and a waterproof membrane, as well as a Bluetooth-connected heating system, it’s honestly not that difficult to justify the cost of the HT-7s in my opinion. With that said, just shy of $500 is still objectively a lot to spend on a pair of riding gloves. 

Verdict: Paired with an excellent smartphone app, the Alpinestars HT-7 Heat Tech Drystar Heated Gloves offer a world-class combination of warmth and protection while barely mitigating tactile feel. If you’re riding in frigid climates — and can swing the price — these glove are the (very) obvious choice. 

Dainese Full Metal 7 Gloves

Best Sport & Track Motorcycle Gloves: Unless you have a spare six-or-seven-figures laying around and happen to be lucky enough to see one come up for auction or sale to the public, chances are that you’ll never get to enjoy the privilege of riding the same factory-built prototypes used by top-level MotoGP riders. With that said, for just a few hundred bucks, you can get the same world-class level of protection enjoyed by MotoGP riders thanks to Dainese’s seventh-generation Full Metal Gloves — or FMG7s. 

The Good

Offering the absolute pinnacle of protection for riders’ paws, the Dainese Full Metal 7 Gloves are constructed around a drum-dyed goatskin leather shell with an Aramidic fiber lining and stitching, and reinforced leather palms with Kevlar inserts. Affording rides a truly unrivaled degree of fortification, the exterior of the gloves boast titanium Pro-Tek armor adorning the knuckles and back of the hands — both of which are set in a rugged PU co-injected base. It doesn’t end there, however, — not even close — as the Full Metal 7s also hugely benefit from the use of the elite Italian brand’s proprietary multi-compound hard-shell Pro-Hand sliders, along with TPU finger joint sliders and Dainese’s DCP system, though more on that below.  

One of the many — and I mean MANY — highlights on the FMG7s include the fact that these gloves manage to deliver both world-class levels of protection, and a ridiculous amount of response and tactile feel, unlike most gloves that offer something of a tradeoff or balance between the two normally-opposing areas. Another blatant selling-point on these gloves would undoubtedly be their completely unrestricted range of motion — another area made all the more impressive by their unparalleled levels of protection. This next-level mobility is collectively owed to the glove’s bi-directional-flexing micro-elastic stretch panels, pre-curved fingers, elastic, high-tenacity fabric fingers inserts, and generally ergonomic cut. 

To secure the gloves, there’s a wrap-around Velcro cuff strap with a semi-rigid form that extends three-quarters of the way around the FMG7. There’s also an elasticized wrist and a secondary VELCRO strap at the wrist as well. At the base of the fingers where they meet the palm, the area has been capped off with a proprietary Dainese feature that’s commonly referred to as a “Rossi Tickler” — a soft overlay adorned in a forest of tiny rubber spikes that hugely bolster traction and grip of the bars and throttle. What’s more, Dainese’s proprietary Distortion Control Pinky — or “DCP” — system is also present, which is a thermoplastic polyurethane insert set at the base of the pinky that prevents over-rotation, twisting, or bending of the wearer’s little finger. 

Supplementary Strengths

I imagine the palm slider on the gen-seven FMG not only works better than the unit on its predecessor, but it also looks quite a bit better as well, as the older gen’s slider was plenty effective, though had a somewhat cheap look and feel to it. And, though they’re small, the tiny intake and exhaust port holes at the front and rear of the top of the glove does a surprisingly excellent job of funneling air into the gloves’ shell and over the wearer’s hands. Further upping the fortification on the FMG7s is a single piece of leather that covers the entire area on the outside of the hands. The FMG7’s extensive and highly-robust suite of armor, sliders, and padding ultimately afford the exact kind of protection a MotoGP rider would want when suffering a high-side or low-side at triple-digit speeds. 

Touted as by the manufacturer as the “ultimate expression of Dainese technology in terms of materials, comfort and protection,” — and rightfully so — the FMG7s really do represent the best protection that money can buy, and will likely remain as such until Dainese inevitably releases the Full Metal 8s. Long story short, if one set out to design the ultimate race and track glove with zero concern for cost and a sole focus on achieving the best possible performance and protection, the end result would likely look a whole lot like Dainese’s Full Metal 7 Gloves. 

The Not So Good

All of my issues and gripes with Dainese’s Full Metal 7 Gloves stem from the fact that they’re engineered for use on the track and not built for daily riding duties on the street. As such, they don’t come equipped with touchscreen-compatibility, and are practically devoid of any and all weatherproofing or reflective details. For motorcycle gear — especially race and track gear — to properly do its job, it needs to precisely fit its wearer. The FMG7 is no exception, and while it does afford a super snug fit, it’s definitely harder to slip on than your average street glove — though it does get a little easier once they’re broken in a bit. 

Additionally, the fact that they’re super advanced, state-of-the-art MotoGP-grade seventh-generation gloves also unsurprisingly means that they come up an exorbitant price — in fact I’ve ever purchased running motorcycles secondhand (albeit some real beaters) for less than the MSRP of these gloves. With that said, the enormous cost of these gloves super top-shelf materials and the extensive development period they were born out of makes it fairly easy to justify how Dainese arrived at the FMG7’s $500 price point. Justifiable or not, $500 is objectively a huge chunk of change to drop on a pair of riding gloves, so pricing is definitely an area that deserves calling out. 

Verdict: If you want the absolute pinnacle of protection, than you want the Dainese Full Metal 7 Gloves — the same ultra-advanced seventh-generation race and track mitts worn by a slew of today’s leading MotoGP, WSBK, and TT riders. While they don’t come cheap, they legitimately don’t get any better than this. 

Motorcycle Gloves Comparison Chart

What To Consider When Shopping

Motorcycle gloves serve an incredibly specific purpose, needing to protect one’s hands from impacts, slides, and the elements, without overly compromising dexterity and tactile feel. As a result, buying new gloves can be a tricky process, especially to those unfamiliar with the space. In an effort to help streamline your buying process and ensure you get the right pair for your specific wants and needs, we’ve compiled this condensed list of the eight crucial elements to think about before making your buy.

Intended Use: The most important factor to guide your purchase when buying gloves should always be your intended use, as different riding applications require different types of gloves. By considering the type of riding you plan on doing, you should be able to hugely narrow down your search to a particular type of glove. From there, you can start examining the different features on the gloves in that segment to better determine which amenities you’ll want or need — a process that will narrow down your search that much more.

Primary Construction(s): Unsurprisingly, one of, if not the biggest factor in determining a pair of gloves’ overall quality and level of protection is the main material — or materials – used to construct it. Typically comprising the construction of the fingers, the back of the hands, and sometimes the palms, primary glove material is almost always some type of leather — or synthetic leather — and quite often is made from an exotic hide such as goatskin, deerskin, kangaroo, and even stingray leather.

Secondary Materials: Most gloves — at least those on the more premium end of the spectrum — are made from multiple materials, with their primary constructions being supplemented with other materials such as different types of leather as well as membranes and/or liners, stretchy or elasticized elements, and closure systems. It’s also worth exploring a pair of gloves’ construction techniques such as whether its seams are stitchless, welded, welted, or only applied externally, or if a glove’s fingers are pre-curved or rolled. Many gloves have also been given finishes or treatments to further fortify their constructions — another area worth exploring when shopping around.

Armor: A high-end leather and quality construction will afford gloves with the ability to survive a slide or skid, however, their resistance to impacts and slams is owed to a pair’s armor. Not always present on riding gloves but far more common than not, external armor on gloves can range from anything from polycarbonate to TPS to titanium constructions, and are typically located across the knuckles and sometimes on the inner edge of the palms — almost always the very first part of the glove to meet with tarmac as a rider puts their hands out when going shiny side down. Some gloves also sport additional internal armor or padding — such as foam or D30 — while others boast finger “anti-distortion systems” that act as braces and prevent your phalanges from getting broken.

Weather Fortification: Having cold and wet hands while riding isn’t only uncomfortable — if not outright painful — but it can also be tremendously dangerous, as frigid temperatures hugely lessen a rider’s hands’ dexterity, sensitivity, and range of motion — thereby impeding their ability to properly control the bike or quickly react to an obstacle or hazard. Motorcycle gear companies are well aware of this reality and for years have been producing gloves designed to stand up to harsh weather with elements such as wind and waterproof membranes, added insulation, and robust shells. For those interested in taking on extreme cold-weather riding, gloves with built-in heating elements will almost always be your best choice.

Style: Even if they’re the same style of glove, the appearance of moto mitts can massively differ from model to model and company to company. Once you’ve figured out which genre of glove is most conducive to your intended riding application(s) and how much you’re willing to spend, you can then let your aesthetic tastes guide the rest of your decision. It is probably worth noting that a pair of gloves’ appearance shouldn’t be the primary thing driving your decision, as looks should take a back seat to construction, armor, and genre.

Fit & Feel: When riding a motorcycle, one is markedly more connected with their vehicle compared to piloting a car. The control inputs on a motorcycle must be given precisely, and tactile feedback plays an enormous role in allowing the bike to communicate vital information to its rider. For these reasons, having a pair of gloves that fits snugly — without being too tight or constricting — and affords ample tactile feel and response is extremely important. The best way to get a sense of this is simply by trying on a pair of gloves, though this obviously isn’t an option when shopping online. As a result, reading reviews from users can be a stellar way to get a better understanding of this area.

Price: It is true that riding gloves can vary pretty wildly in terms of pricing, though the vast majority of the time, opting to spend more will yield a better, more high-quality — and more importantly, more protective — pair. Spending several hundred dollars on a pair of riding gloves may appear exorbitant, though the reality is they simply do a much better job of fortifying your fingers, knuckles, and palms, and will be far cheaper than dealing with the medical bills and lost wages from an injury that could have been prevented by wear a solid set of moto mitts.

Honorable Mentions

The Roland Sands Design Wellington Gloves CE is a stellar pair of vintage-inspired riding gloves that combine old-school looks with modern protection — with these gloves now boasting a CE rating. As great as they are, these RSD gloves were edged out by Pando Moto’s Ivy Gloves, resulting in them receiving a very honorable mention. It’s also worth pointing out that the CE-rated Wellington Gloves are priced at only $50, giving them some pretty terrific bang-for-your-buck. 

Born out of a collaboration between two renowned brands, the Goldtop x Urban Rider Viceroy Gloves are a premium take on classically-styled cafe gloves that sport a myriad of decidedly premium touches including a soft silk liner on the back of the hands, a 1mm thick Aniline cowhide leather shell construction, a CE rating, and five-strand cotton thread stitching used throughout. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re sold at an exceedingly fair price — though they do have to be ordered from overseas, which played a role in this pair ultimately becoming an honorable mention. 

Made by one of the motorcycle industries best-kept secrets, the Aerostich Merino Insulated Elkskin Gauntlet Glove draws light inspiration from classic work gloves with its elkskin shell and minimalistic design. Lined with Merino wool, these gloves are meticulously crafted in America by a small team of artisans that ultimately allows them to exhibit a level of build quality that could never be achieved when producing gear on a mass scale. Despite their terrific protection, craftsmanship, and value, these Aerostich gloves simply aren’t the most stylish, which has lead to them being relegated to an honorable mention — albeit a particularly honorable one!

The Dainese X-Ride Gloves are engineered from the ground up for daily riding and commuting. Equipped with a short-cuff design, these gloves benefit from a host of features borrowed from the Italian brand’s top-of-the-line race gloves, including its DCP system and hard palm slider, while also sporting amenities that make them more practical for day-to-day use such as touchscreen compatibility. If SA1NT’s Road Gloves don’t strike your fancy, we’d urge you to consider Dainese’s X-Ride Gloves if shopping for a pari of daily-wear all-arounders.

The Knox Handroid Pod Gloves MK5 are unequivocally some of the finest and most unique gloves currently on the market. Not only do they sport an idiosyncratic outward appearance  with cord-like protective elements running across the fingers, but these almost-robotic-looking gloves also come outfitted with a BOA fit closure system, hard knuckle armor, ultra-grippy inner palm overlays, and two separate hard sliders on each palm. Though I highly recommend these gloves,  logistical issues ultimately prevented us from sourcing a pair to review for this guide. 

While I stand by my statement that Dainese’s Full Metal 7 Gloves represent the best track and race gloves that money can buy, I’ll also readily acknowledge that the HELD Titan RR Gloves are a fairly close second. Also priced at $500, the Titan Double-R’s boast a laundry list of impressive features and highlights including stingray skin leather reinforcements, SUPROTECT shock-absorbing special foam at back of hand and ball of the thumb, a ring and pinkie finger bridge reinforced with an Aramid ceramic polymermatrix coating, titanium-reinforced hard-shell sliders on the edge of the hands, and titanium armor adorning the knuckles — just to name a few of the Titan RR’s laundry list of premium and advanced features and selling points. 

Tested: The Best Motorcycle Boots for Every Type of Rider

Now that you’re up to speed on today’s latest and greatest available riding gloves, why not browse some of the markets finest moto footwear options — a curated selection of which can be found in our guide to and hands-on review of the best motorcycle boots for every type of rider.