A motorcycle glove has two jobs: help you hold the grips and protect your hands if you fall. A glove with real leather and a knuckle guard gives more protection than one that only looks the part.
This guide covers how motorcycle gloves are tested, what to look for and ten gloves. Several picks, such as the COFIT, the Seibertron Dirtpaw and the AHL, are multi-sport gloves for motocross, BMX or mountain biking, and two are fingerless.
Motorcycle gloves at a glance
- EN 13594:2015 is the European standard for motorcycle riders’ gloves, and it has two performance levels: Level 1 for low ergonomic penalty and Level 2 for greater protection.[1]
- For Level 1 the cuff must extend at least 5 mm from the wrist line, and for Level 2 at least 50 mm.[1]
- The EN 388 code on some gloves lists abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture levels in that order, but it is a general work glove standard, not a motorcycle standard.[2]
- Only the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2 is sold as CE certified. For the rest, check the label for a standard.
- The INBIKE and Seibertron Dirtclaw are fingerless, and the AHL is a half-finger comfort glove.
Benefits of Wearing Motorcycle Gloves
- Protection – SATRA says motorcyclists’ gloves are intended to give mechanical protection to the hands and wrists in accidents.[1]
- Grip – Palm overlays and silicone give a firmer hold on the grips and levers.
- Comfort – Mesh and vents help in summer, and linings help in cold weather.
- Dexterity – SATRA says the gloves should give protection without unduly reducing your dexterity on the controls and switches.[1]
- Touchscreens – Many picks have fingertips that work on a phone or a GPS.
What the EN 13594 Standard Covers
EN 13594:2015 covers protective gloves for motorcycle riders. It specifies two performance levels, Level 1 for gloves designed to give protection with low ergonomic penalties and Level 2 for gloves that give greater protection.[1] The cuff length must be at least 5 mm at Level 1 and at least 50 mm at Level 2, and a retention test checks that the glove stays on the hand.[1] Look for the standard on the label, since a glove without it was not tested against it.
Features of a Good Motorcycle Glove
- Materials – Goatskin, full-grain leather or synthetic leather, with or without a lining for warmth.
- Knuckle Guard – Hard polymer, PVC, thermoplastic or alloy steel guards cover the back of the hand on several picks.
- Cuff – A gauntlet cuff, as on the Joe Rocket, covers more of the wrist than a short cuff.
- Weather – Ventilated gloves suit summer, and lined gloves suit cool weather.
- Fit – A glove that is too tight will hurt, and a loose one can slip off, so use the size chart.
- Fingers – Full-finger gloves cover the fingers, and fingerless gloves do not.
How We Chose These Motorcycle 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:
- Protection – Leather, guards and standards named.
- Weather – Vents or lining.
- Fit – Sizes, cuff and closure.
- Use – Road, motocross or general riding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Motorcycle Gloves
- What is the standard for motorcycle gloves?
EN 13594:2015 covers protective gloves for motorcycle riders and has two performance levels. Level 2 gives greater protection than Level 1.[1] - Should motorcycle gloves be tight?
They should fit snugly without blocking circulation. SATRA says the gloves should give protection without unduly reducing dexterity on the controls and switches.[1] - Why do motorcycle gloves have hard knuckles?
The guard covers the back of the hand and the knuckles in a fall. The ILM, INBIKE, Joe Rocket, MOTOW and Alpinestars gloves in this guide have one. - Are fingerless gloves safe for riding?
They leave the fingers bare, so they give no finger protection. The INBIKE and Seibertron Dirtclaw are fingerless. - Does an EN 388 mark make a glove a motorcycle glove?
No. EN 388 is a general standard for mechanical risks, and the code lists abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture levels.[2] The motorcycle standard is EN 13594.
Our Picks: Motorcycle Gloves
Here are 10 motorcycle gloves from fingerless summer gloves to full gauntlets.
We hope you love the motorcycle 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
Alpinestars® Unisex SMX-1 Air V2 Short-Cuff Leather Sport Gloves
The Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2 is a short-cuff sport glove for warm-weather street riding.
- The glove is full-grain leather with 3D mesh for abrasion resistance and air flow.
- A hard polymer knuckle protector and reinforced landing zones add protection, and Alpinestars sells it as CE certified.
- The fingers are pre-curved with stretch inserts, the fingertips are touchscreen compatible and a hook-and-loop closure holds the fit.
2
COFIT® Unisex Full Finger Multi-Sport Full-Finger Riding Gloves
The COFIT Full Finger is a vented polyester riding glove sold for motorcycle, BMX, ATV and mountain bike use.
- It has knuckle and palm pads, and a silicone gel palm for grip on the bars.
- Conductive fiber on the index finger and thumb works with touchscreens.
- COFIT rates it for 50 to 95°F, and this pair is a black large. No motorcycle glove standard is named.
3
Seibertron® Unisex Dirtpaw Full-Finger Motocross and MTB Gloves
The Seibertron Dirtpaw is a full-finger glove made for motocross, BMX, ATV and mountain bike riding.
- The index fingertip works on a touchscreen.
- The glove is machine washable, and the back of the hand uses durable, flexible material.
- Seibertron sizes by palm length and palm circumference, so measure both. This pair is a white large.
4
INBIKE® Unisex Fingerless Goatskin Fingerless Goatskin Riding Gloves
The INBIKE Fingerless is a goatskin summer glove with the fingers cut off at the base.
- The back has breathable holes, and a PVC shell covers the knuckles.
- A thickened pad protects the thumb and the sides of the hand, and an anti-slip pad sits on the palm.
- The cuff adjusts with a hook-and-loop strap, and pull tabs on the middle and ring fingers help take the glove off. The fingers are bare, so it gives no finger protection.
5
ILM® Unisex Steel Knuckle 10C Alloy Steel Knuckle Gloves
The ILM Steel Knuckle is a full-finger glove with injection-molded alloy steel guards over the knuckles and finger joints.
- A large U-shaped guard follows the back of the hand, and the finger joints have their own guards.
- The palm has 3D plastic non-slip lines for grip.
- The fingertips work on a touchscreen, and this pair is a black large in model 10C.
6
Joe Rocket® Unisex Goatskin Gauntlet Street Gloves
The Joe Rocket gloves are full gauntlet gloves made of genuine goatskin leather.
- Injection-molded knuckle protectors sit inside the glove.
- The palms have non-slip textured overlays that are padded.
- The track-style gauntlet cuff covers more of the wrist than a short cuff, and the glove is made for street use and general riding.
7
Motow® Unisex Summer Hard Knuckle Faux Leather Summer Riding Gloves
The MOTOW Summer glove is made of faux leather with a thermoplastic knuckle protector and finger inserts.
- Holes and mesh fabric make it a warm-weather glove.
- The thumb and index finger work on touchscreens.
- It comes in sizes small to XXL and in black, black and white, and black and orange.
8
Cnon® Unisex Full Finger Lined Lined Full-Finger Riding Gloves
The Cnon gloves are warm, full-finger gloves for motorcycle and bicycle riding.
- The palms are anti-slip, and the padding is meant to absorb shock.
- The gloves are lined, which makes them a cool-weather choice rather than a summer one.
9
AHL® Unisex Half Finger Light Half-Finger Sport Gloves
The AHL Half Finger is a light stretch nylon glove with the fingers open.
- It is anti-slip and ventilated, and a wrist strap adjusts the fit.
- AHL sells it for cycling, driving, climbing and strength training as well as motorcycle riding.
- No knuckle guard is named, so it is a comfort glove rather than a protective one. This pair is a black XL.
10
Seibertron® Unisex Dirtclaw Gel-Padded Fingerless Gloves
The Seibertron Dirtclaw is a fingerless glove padded with gel.
- The palms are anti-slip, and the gel padding takes pressure off the hand.
- The fingers are open, so the glove does not cover the fingers in a fall.
- More sizes are available.
Index Table: Top Rated Motorcycle Gloves
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpinestars Unisex SMX-1 Air V2 - Short-Cuff Leather Sport Gloves |  |
| Alpinestars | - |
| 2 | COFIT Unisex Full Finger - Multi-Sport Full-Finger Riding Gloves |  |
| COFIT | - |
| 3 | Seibertron Unisex Dirtpaw - Full-Finger Motocross and MTB Gloves |  |
| Seibertron | - |
| 4 | INBIKE Unisex Fingerless Goatskin - Fingerless Goatskin Riding Gloves |  |
| INBIKE | - |
| 5 | ILM Unisex Steel Knuckle 10C - Alloy Steel Knuckle Gloves |  |
| ILM | - |
| 6 | Joe Rocket Unisex - Goatskin Gauntlet Street Gloves |  |
| Joe Rocket | - |
| 7 | Motow Unisex Summer Hard Knuckle - Faux Leather Summer Riding Gloves |  |
| Motow | - |
| 8 | Cnon Unisex Full Finger Lined - Lined Full-Finger Riding Gloves |  |
| Cnon | - |
| 9 | AHL Unisex Half Finger - Light Half-Finger Sport Gloves |  |
| AHL | - |
| 10 | Seibertron Unisex Dirtclaw - Gel-Padded Fingerless Gloves |  |
| Seibertron | - |
Sources
- SATRA. EN 13594:2015 – Protective gloves for motorcycle riders. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- SATRA. The EN 388 glove standard. Accessed October 27, 2026.
Update History
- Oct 2026: Rewrote the article around the SATRA EN 13594 and EN 388 pages, removed the unsourced claims about vibration, numbness and crashes, the testing hours and the old score table, rewrote all product notes and added Sources
- Jun 2021: Published
