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best race motorcycle gloves

Entry-Level

Priced under $125.

Mid-Range

Priced $125 - $250.

Dainese X Ride

High-End

Priced $250+.

Rev’It Dominator GTX Gloves

Key Specs

• Premium, full-grain goat leather and synthetic leather material construction is comfortable, durable and offers excellent abrasion resistance

• Extended cuff for greater coverage with an integrated closure for security and ease of use

• An innovative microfiber and PU grip insert is strategically positioned on the palm and thumb for excellent levels of grip control and durability

• Ergonomic stretch insert between palm and thumb offers improved range of hand movement and greater sensitivity while operating the bike controls

• Incorporates premium quality synthetic suede palm and landing reinforcement for grip, control and durability

• Perforated cuff plus perforated finger sidewalls for superb breathability

• Hook and loop cuff and wrist closure, plus elasticized wrist design for secure, personalized fit

• Pre-shaped, anatomical finger design and half inner/half outer external seams for comfort and exceptional feel

• Touchscreen compatible fingertip on index finger and thumb for use with touchscreen devices

• New construction for reduced seams and enhanced rider comfort

Protection & Safety

• EVA foam provides protection throughout the gloves

• TPU armor added to the protection of the little finger and the knuckles

• TPU hard-shell palm slider for added protection and to eliminate abrasion concerns in a slide

Sedici Chicane

Key Specs

• Drum-dyed goatskin leather construction

• Localized perforations at the fourchettes and back of the hand

• Precurved construction to reduce fatigue

• External finger seams for increase tactile feel

• Accordion stretch panels at the fingers and thumb for added flex and superior fit

• Amara suede overlay on the palm with silicone grip

• Double wrist cuff with additional wrist closure

• Touch Tech conductive leather at the index finger and thumb allow you to control your camera or phone

Protection & Safety

• Full floating hard knuckle protector with impact absorbing temperfoam

• Ergonomic palm slider set into double layer of leather for increased slide and abrasion protection

• Leather overlays provide added abrasion protection to the fingers

• Full double layer of leather on the little finger and outseam

Key Specs

• Drum-dyed goatskin leather super soft palm

• Goatskin Leather

• Reinforcement in goatskin between thumb, index and palm

• Pre-curved finger

• Adjustable cuff strap

• Elastic insert on external thumb

• Microelastic elasticated inserts

• Neoprene cuff

• Smart touch technology

• Soft inserts

Protection & Safety

• DCP system on little finger

• Ergo-Tek knuckles

• Reinforced palm

• Thermoplastic resin inserts on side of little finger

• Gloves certified to CE – Cat. II – EN 13594/2015 Standard cat. II lev. 1

• Inserts in thermoplastic polyurethane on the palm

• One single leather panel to the side of the hand

Alpinestars GP Plus R V2

Key Specs

• Constructed from supple and durable full-grain cow and goat leather

• Localized perforations on palm and backhand

• Ventilated fourchettes keep the hands cool

• Ergonomic engineered leather reinforcements on the palm and outer hand landing zones provide maximum abrasion resistance in key impact zones

• Ergonomic stretch insert on palm

• Pre-curved finger construction reduces rider fatigue

• Alpinestars Dynamic Friction Shield (DFS) knuckle protection system features dual density mold construction for superior resistance to repeated impacts

• Molded knuckle protection air intakes and exhaust ports for improved hand ventilation

• Injected TPU palm and finger slider for superior impact and abrasion resistance

• Protective double cuff closure with TPR logo wraps around wrist and raises the entire profile of the glove to protect wrist bone from impact in a crash

• VELCRO® wrist adjustable closure strap

• Stretch leather accordions on fingers and thumb for superior fit and flexibility

• Internal top surface hand and thumb lining made with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber fabric

• Internal little finger lining made with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber fabric

• Alpinestars patented third and fourth finger bridge prevents finger roll separation in the event of a slide

• Palm pad panel combined into palm/thumb/little finger reinforcement

• External finger and palm seams for a close fit and superior feel

• Printed logos

Protection & Safety

• Designed by Alpinestars specifically for the track

• Alpinestars Dynamic Friction Shield is featured on the knuckles for maximum impact resistance

• TPU injected inserts are found all around the palm and fingers for added abrasion resistance

• DuPont™ Kevlar is found throughout the glove for maximum slide resistance

• CE certified to Level 1

Key Specs

Fit:

• Runs slightly small, order the larger size if you are between sizes

Features:

• Drum-dyed full cowhide construction

• Goat leather palm

• DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber stitching for increased protection and strength

• CE-approved KNOX® SPS (Scaphoid Protection System) on palm

• Pre-curved fingers for increased comfort

• Vented TPR knuckle protector

• Reversed seam finger construction

• Superfabric® on thumb, fingers, side of palm and gauntlet

• Digital leather overlays on palm, middle and index fingers for added grip

• Additional leather overlays on palm and fourth finger

• 360-degree dual gauntlet hook and loop closure

• Coolmax® insulation to reduce heat

Protection & Safety

• Kevlar stitching to prevent layer separation during possible high-abrasion events

• SuperFabric on all primary sliding points

• TPR armor on the knuckles

• KNOX SPS on palm to prevent ulnar and wrist injuries

Dainese Carbon 4

Key Specs

• Drum-dyed goatskin leather super soft palm

• Micro sheep leather

• Available in two unique colourways

• Perforation at fourchettes

Protection & Safety

• Reinforcement in goatskin between thumb, index and palm

• Carbon fiber knuckles guards

• DCP system at fourth finger

• Polyurethane slider on the palm and joints of the fingers

• Thermoplastic resin slider on fourth finger

• Gloves certified to CE - Cat. II - EN 13594/2015 Standard Category II Level 1

Alpinestars GP Pro R3

Key Specs

• Mix of cow and goat leather with kangaroo leather on the palm

• Outer seam palm construction

• Long cuff

• Hard knuckle

• Knuckle panel perforated gusset for better ventilation

• Print on finger

• Finger bridge

• Double closure system with Cuff DFS protection

• Side reinforcements with palm hard slider

• Accordion panels in leather on fingers thumb and backhand to increase fit and direct comfort

• Thumb and palm reinforcement for a superior grip

• TPU finger protection

• Soft padding protection on fingertips

• Ergonomic stretch insert on palm

• CE certified CAT II Level 2

Protection & Safety

The protection offered by the Bryce Gore-Tex is exactly what riders have come to expect from Alpinestars in safe yet comfortable armor.

• Armored knuckles with a panel of perforations for better ventilation for added grip

• Armor on the gantlet for added abrasion protection in the event of a slide

• Side reinforcements with a palm slider

Dainese Full Metal 6

Key Specs

Protection:

• Carbon fiber inserts at the joints of the fingers and the head of the ulna bone

• Composite inserts in carbon fiber and titanium on the knuckles and back

• DCP system on little finger

• External thermoplastic resin inserts on side of little finger

• Gloves certified to CE – Cat. II – PrEN 13594 Standard lev. 1

• One single leather panel to the size of the hand

• Polyurethane insert on the palm

• Quadruple elastication between knuckles and back of the hand

• Reinforced leather palm

• Reinforced preformed cuff construction

Ergonomics and Comfort:

• Aramid fiber stitching

• Drum-dyed goatskin leather super soft palm

• Goatskin Leather

• Internal reinforcements with aramid fiber jersey

•Adjustable cuff strap

• Elasticated inserts

• Micro-injection reinforcement on the palm

• Microelastic elasticated inserts

• Palm Super Touch in goatskin

• Pre-curved fingers

• Precurved wrist

• Tightening strap

Other Features:

• Cover on the tightening strap

• Elasticated cuff inserts

• Soft inserts

Protection & Safety

The protection in Dainese Full Metal 6 sounds like something from a futuristic movie but here it is…

• Carbon fiber inserts at the finger joints and at the head of the ulna bone, (that’s basically the outside bone in your lower arm where it meets your wrist) work as a suit of armor

• Knuckles and back of the hand are covered by carbon fiber and titanium inserts and there is a polyurethane insert to protect the palm

• Little finger is protected by the DCP system and an external thermoplastic resin insert

• Gauntlet cuff is reinforced and pre-curved for added safety

• Overall, these gloves are certified to CE – Cat. II – PrEN 13594 Standard Level 1

What makes racing gloves different from street sport gloves?

While there are many similarities between street sport gloves and racing gloves, this style of glove is designed specifically to provide maximum protection, maximum abrasion resistance, and be very well ventilated. All seams are at minimum double stitched, and high stress areas are often triple stitched. Racing gloves are also extremely well armored with hard armors like carbon fiber and TPU, and impact foam is very rare to find here except as backing to the knuckle armor. As well, almost all racing gloves are gauntlet-style to provide the best wrist protection possible.

Can racing gloves be used for street riding?

Certainly! In fact, these gloves are often safer than street sport gloves. They work for all types of riding, but are suited best for sport touring and supersport/superbike riding, due to their track-oriented nature. 

What materials are racing gloves commonly made from?

For the majority, powersports-grade full grain leather. The palms and grip areas can either be cowhide, a combination of goathide and cowhide, or use kangaroo hide. Armor is 99% of the time high impact capable TPU, covered or supported by carbon fiber to keep the gloves light while also providing protection.

Are racing gloves worth it compared to sport gloves?

If you are not planning to put in any track time or attend a track day, then the extra expense of racing gloves may not be worth it. If you do plan on hitting the track at any point, having gloves specifically designed to keep your hands safe and injury free during track days is well worth it. It’s better to sacrifice a glove than sacrifice your hands or skin!

A lot of these racing gloves have the little finger and ring finger sewn together. Why is that?

By sheer biology, the human little finger does not have a great amount of support, being a thinner and narrower finger than your other digits. In the case of a crash, your little finger can get dragged away from the others, and sprains, breaks, or worse can happen. By combining the strongly supported ring finger with the little finger, it prevents little finger injuries related to it being twisted or torqued away from the other fingers.

Are there short-cuff racing gloves?

They are very few and far in between, but short-cuff racing gloves do exist. For the most part, they are designed for use with SuperMoto-style bikes and racing, where you need to twist the handlebars into opposite lock positions during slides. Having that extra wrist mobility helps with those types of maneuvers.