A driving glove is thin, snug and made for the wheel. It does not cut into your feel of the road, and it can add grip, warmth or sun protection depending on the pair.
Dents says driving gloves began as protection from the cold in open cars, and that later short, thin, tight leather gloves added perforations to keep hands cool and rows of palm stitching for grip.[1] Today most driving gloves are a comfort and style choice, while racing gloves are a separate category with their own fire standard.[2] This guide covers six driving gloves, from fingerless summer gloves to a Nomex racing glove.
Driving gloves at a glance
- Dents says driving gloves began as protection from the cold, and later became thin, tight leather gloves.[1]
- Dents says perforations keep your hands cool and palm stitching helps the grip on the wheel.[1]
- SFI Specification 3.3 covers racing gloves, which need separate fingers and flame resistant material and thread.[2]
- The Nappaglo and Elma are fingerless deerskin gloves, and the Dents Delta is an unlined leather glove with a cut-out back.
- The Riparo and Reed are lined winter gloves, and the RaceQuip is a non-SFI Nomex knit glove.
Why Wear Driving Gloves
Driving gloves look old fashioned, but they have practical uses. They began as protection from the cold in open cars, with thick leather that kept the hands warm and gave a firm grip.[1]
In a modern car with a heater and a non-slip steering wheel, many drivers still keep a light pair in the glove compartment.[1]
Benefits of Driving Gloves
- Grip – Palm stitching and leather give a firm hold of the wheel without a hard grip.[1]
- Cooler Hands – Perforations and cut-out backs keep hands cooler in warm weather.[1]
- Warmth – A lined glove, such as the Riparo or Reed, keeps your hands warm on a cold start.
- Wheel Care – A glove keeps sweat and skin oils off a leather or wooden steering wheel.
- Style – Many drivers wear them for the classic look.
Features of a Good Driving Glove
- Lining – Fleece or Thinsulate suits cold weather, and an unlined glove suits warm weather and gives the best feel of the wheel.
- Design – Full-finger, fingerless, cut-out back or perforated knuckles each suit a different season and style.
- Material – Deerskin, sheepskin and nappa leather are soft and thin. Nomex knit is made for racing.
- Sizing – Driving gloves should fit snugly, so use the maker’s size chart.
- Closure – A wrist strap or a pull-on cuff keeps the glove in place.
How We Chose These Driving Gloves
These picks come from research. This is desk research. We compared the manufacturer specifications and product descriptions for each pick. We did not test the gloves ourselves, and we did not check stock this time.
We looked at these factors:
- Season – Unlined summer glove or lined winter glove.
- Feel – Leather thickness and lining.
- Fit – Sizes, closure and finger design.
- Use – Everyday driving or racing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Driving Gloves
- Do I need driving gloves?
You do not need them in a modern car, but many drivers like the grip and feel. Dents says lightweight driving gloves are still in the glove compartment of many cars.[1] - What are SFI-rated gloves?
SFI Specification 3.3 covers driver accessories for competitive motorsports. Its gloves must have separate sections for each finger and thumb and be made of fire resistant material and thread.[2] The maker certifies that the glove meets the specification. - Is the RaceQuip glove SFI rated?
No. The RaceQuip 350 Series is not SFI rated, so check your racing series rules before you use it for competition. - Which gloves suit summer?
The Nappaglo and Elma are fingerless deerskin gloves, and the Dents Delta is unlined with knuckle perforations and a cut-out back. - Which gloves suit winter?
The Riparo is fleece lined, and the Reed is lined with Thinsulate and has touchscreen fingertips. - How should a driving glove fit?
Snug, like a second skin, so you keep a good feel of the wheel. Check the size chart before you order.
Our Picks: Driving Gloves
Here are 6 driving gloves for summer, winter and racing.
We hope you love the driving gloves we recommend!
So that you know, we may earn a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page. This does not change your price.
1
Nappaglo® Unisex Deerskin Fingerless Fingerless Deerskin Driving Gloves
The Nappaglo Deerskin is an unlined, fingerless leather glove for warm weather driving.
- The leather is soft deerskin, and the glove is handmade.
- It comes in several styles and colors and in a range of sizes.
- With open fingers and no lining, it is cool and keeps your fingertips free.
2
Riparo® Unisex Italian Nappa Fleece-Lined Nappa Leather Winter Driving Gloves
The Riparo is a winter driving glove made of Italian nappa leather with a fleece lining.
- The leather is supple, and the soft fleece inside adds warmth.
- It is a full-finger design that stays flexible.
- An adjustable wrist strap holds a secure fit.
3
Dents® Unisex Delta Classic Leather Driving Gloves
The Dents Delta is a classic black leather driving glove, sold in sizes for all hands.
- The glove is unlined, which gives better feel of the wheel.
- There are holes at the knuckles and a cut-out on the back for ventilation.
- It suits any season where you do not need a warm lining.
4
RaceQuip® Unisex 350 Series Single-Layer Nomex Driving and Racing Gloves
The RaceQuip 350 Series is a single-layer Nomex knit glove for driving and light racing use.
- This glove is not SFI rated. An SFI 3.3 glove carries a conformance patch on the cuff and passes thermal and flame tests, so check your series rules before you race in it.[2]
- The Nomex knit is comfortable and moves easily.
- It has a black upper and a white palm.
5
Reed® Unisex Winter Lined Sheepskin Touchscreen Driving Gloves
The Reed Winter is a lined sheepskin driving glove with touchscreen fingertips.
- The leather is soft, supple sheepskin, and the lining is Thinsulate insulation.
- The fingertips work on a touchscreen without taking the glove off.
- It is made for everyday use as well as driving.
6
Elma® Unisex Deerskin Fingerless Deerskin Driving Gloves
The Elma Deerskin is a lightweight, fingerless leather glove for warm weather driving.
- It is soft deerskin with an open design, and a hole on the back adds ventilation.
- It comes in brown, black or tan.
- The leather is medium weight.
Index Table: Top Rated Driving Gloves
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nappaglo Unisex Deerskin Fingerless - Fingerless Deerskin Driving Gloves |  |
| Nappaglo | - |
| 2 | Riparo Unisex Italian Nappa - Fleece-Lined Nappa Leather Winter Driving Gloves |  |
| Riparo | - |
| 3 | Dents Unisex Delta - Classic Leather Driving Gloves |  |
| Dents | - |
| 4 | RaceQuip Unisex 350 Series - Single-Layer Nomex Driving and Racing Gloves |  |
| RaceQuip | - |
| 5 | Reed Unisex Winter - Lined Sheepskin Touchscreen Driving Gloves |  |
| Reed | - |
| 6 | Elma Unisex Deerskin - Fingerless Deerskin Driving Gloves |  |
| Elma | - |
Sources
- Dents. Driving Gloves – A Brief History. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- SFI Foundation. SFI Specification 3.3, Driver Accessories. Accessed October 27, 2026.
Update History
- Oct 2026: Rewrote the article around Dents driving glove history and the SFI 3.3 racing glove specification, removed filler wording and the old score tables, corrected glove details, rewrote all product notes and added Sources
- Jun 2020: Published
