Mountain Bike Gloves

Mountain biking is fun and exciting, and it is expensive once you add the gear. Gloves are one item worth spending on, because your hands carry your weight and take the bumps.

A 2022 systematic review found that mountain biking injuries commonly involve the upper extremity, with clavicle fractures the most common, followed by fractures of the hand and wrist.^[1] This guide covers why you need gloves, how to choose them and six pairs for the trail.

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Why You Need Gloves for Mountain Biking

• Grip – Mountain biking is hard work, and sweaty hands slip. Wet or muddy trails make it worse, and a good palm helps you keep hold of the bars and the levers.
• Protection – Rough trails put your weight on your palms. A glove covers your palm and knuckles if you fall, and it protects against scrapes from trees and branches. Hand and wrist fractures are among the common injuries in the sport.[1]
• Padding – Gel or foam in the palm adds cushion. In a 2011 study of road cycling, padded gloves reduced pressure over the ulnar nerve by 10 to 28%, with thin foam slightly better than gel.[2]
• Climate – Full-finger gloves are warm in cool weather, and lightweight ones suit warm days. Many riders have a summer pair and a winter pair.

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Choosing Mountain Bike Gloves

• Your Riding – Think about the terrain and how hard you ride. On rocky and risky trails, choose more padding and tougher materials. On casual rides, a lightweight glove is enough.
• Fit – A loose glove can chafe and blister, and a tight one reduces circulation and makes it hard to work the controls.[3] The fit should be snug and comfortable, and many have an adjustable wrist strap. Measure your hand and check the size chart before you order.
• Full Finger or Half Finger – Half-finger gloves are common for road riding. Full-finger gloves cover more of your hand, so most mountain bikers wear them.

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Features of a Good Mountain Bike Glove

• Durability – A good brand holds up to spills.
• Padding – Choose more padding for rocky terrain and more protection if you ride where branches scrape your hands.
• Comfort – Look for a soft lining and a breathable design.
• Touchscreen – Several picks have a conductive fingertip or palm.
• Closure – A hook-and-loop strap adjusts the fit at the wrist.

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How We Chose These Mountain Bike 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 – Padding and back of hand.
• Grip – Palm and finger material.
• Fit – Sizing, cuff and closure.
• Weather – Lightweight or waterproof.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Mountain Bike Gloves

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Our Picks: Mountain Bike Gloves

Here are 6 mountain bike gloves, from a padded enduro glove to a waterproof glove.
We hope you love the mountain bike 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.

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1
The Seibertron Dirtpaw is a full-finger glove for off-road and road riding, in synthetic leather, polyamide and neoprene, with a touchscreen-compatible fingertip.

• Rubber logos and injections on the back of the hand add protection, and the Lycra fingers are gusseted for dexterity.
• The wrist has a TPR hook-and-loop closure.

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2
The Dakine Cross is a padded slip-on glove with an AX suede Deuce shell, polyester palms and 3 mm of foam padding, made for enduro trail riding.

• The closure is hook-and-loop.
• It comes in several colors and sizes.

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3
The Royal Racing Quantum is a unisex glove with a pre-curved shape, a touchscreen-compatible finger and thumb and adjustable cuffs.

• It can be used in all weather.
• The cuffs adjust for a secure fit.

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4
The Sealskinz Racing is a waterproof, three-layer, all-weather glove with foam pressure point padding, silicone grip palms and pre-cut fingers for agility.

• The waterproof build is for wet and cold rides.
• The silicone palms improve grip and control.

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5
The Fox Defend for women is a lightweight, durable glove with a TruFeel design, which uses internal silicone for feel and lever control.

• The thumb is absorbent micro-suede for wiping your nose or brow.
• The palm is conductive Clarino, so it works a touchscreen.

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6
The Fox Defend is a lightweight, durable unisex glove with a hook-and-loop closure, TPU plating for protection from debris and silicone grips on the fingers.

• The thumb and forefinger are touchscreen compatible.
• The compression-molded cuff gives a secure fit.

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Index Table: Top Rated Mountain Bike Gloves

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Sources

1. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. Injuries in alpine summer sports – types, frequency and prevention: a systematic review (2022). Accessed October 27, 2026.
2. Clinical Biomechanics. The influence of glove and hand position on pressure over the ulnar nerve during cycling (2011). Accessed October 27, 2026.
3. CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Cold Stress. Accessed October 27, 2026.

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Update History

• Oct 2026: Rewrote the article around a 2022 systematic review of mountain biking injuries, a 2011 study of glove padding and NIOSH cold stress, removed the unsupported injury and shock absorption claims and the old score tables, rewrote all product notes and added Sources
• Apr 2021: Published

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