Motorcycle clothing: how to choose the perfect gloves

Never underestimate the importance of the right gloves: they are a priority in motorcycle clothing. Here some advice to help you choose.

When it comes to motorcycle gloves, you need to be sure to buy the right kind for the type of riding you do. Since you drive with your hands, let’s say it’s essential that your fingers are comfortable and protected. Sometimes bikers focus more on jackets, trousers or boots, but also gloves are important and they shouldn’t be overlooked. If you choose a good quality and well-fitting pair of gloves, your riding experience will be even more satisfying! There are many on-line shop with a wide assortment of motorcycle clothing, where you can find exactly what suits you.

Before starting your search, you need to consider how far you travel, what is your main type of riding, if you ride only with good weather or if bad weather is not a problem for you, if you ride on-road but also off-road, and so on. You will probably need more than just a pair of gloves, in order to to meet the different needs in different situations.

This means you are supposed to have Winter motorcycle gloves, medium weight multi-season motorcycle gloves, __Summer motorcycle glove__s. Any type of gloves you should buy, the criteria you have to take into account are:

• Comfort
• Protection
• Control

Comfort: when you wear your motorcycle riding gloves, you need to feel comfortable, with any situation and any kind of weather: windy, cold, hot, rainy and so on. Gloves need to fit tight but not restricted. Your fingers must be free to move!

Protection: it’s essential that your gloves protect your hands against possible bruises caused by flying objects like rocks, bugs, birds, debris. Most of all, your hands need to be safe also in case of accident. If you choose good quality gloves, your fingers, knuckles, palm or wrists will suffer a less serious damage or no damage at all. Remember that the heel of your palm is the first thing to touch down in any impact: you need gloves with a good requiring protection against abrasion. Gloves can have extra impact protection in the form of hard or soft protectors, to help your knuckles and finger joints survive an impact.

Control: your gloves must allow you to feel and use your motorcycle's hand controls easily. For example, you must be able to push buttons, pull levers and have a good grip on the accelerator and to flip switches.

What else? It is important to consider the type of material. Most motorcycle riding gloves are made primarily of leather but also of very strong nylon or other textiles. There are also different type of leather. Cowhide is heavy and rigid but works well in case of more serious abrasion. Kangaroo skin is definitely lighter and it can withstand a lot of abrasion. Goatskin is very soft. High tech materials are often integrated into leather and nylon gloves, to increase functionality and protection.

For instance, micro-porous textiles are able to create a waterproof barrier to keep your hands dry, preventing rain and moisture from entering. Kevlar, titanium, __carbon fibers __and other tough materials are ideal to protect your knuckles and finger joints. Also silicone gel padding protects hands from handlebar pressure and vibrations, providing extra crash protection. That’s why some models intend to benefit from several different materials, using for example soft goat and sheepskin leather in order to maintain maximum dexterity, while carbon knuckles, polyurethane inserts and distortion control keep give you the best protection.

A glove for each season

In winter, you need to choose gloves with a heavy weight liner and longer cuffs. They are designed to keep your hands warm and dry during very cold, wet weather. Pay attention because they might be too rigid. You can have also gauntlets: special extensions on the top of a glove, intended to cover the end of your sleeves and keep the wind out. Don’t forget also the waterproof lining in a lightweight material. Some gloves have a __removable lining __you can take out and wash.

In summer you should opt for gloves that give you padding and protection, but also the right ventilation. Modern high-tech materials are designed to give you light-weight strength and protection.

You can also opt for medium weight gloves in spring or autumn.They are usually less ventilated than summer gloves and they come with a thin insulating layer. They can be a good compromise because they ensure you comfort across different weather conditions and they give you better control than more heavily insulated winter gloves.