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When the temperature starts to rise, it’s time to swap out some of the gear you wear on your bike. This includes gloves. While full-leather gloves are fine for part of the year, they can be too hot in the summer. A good alternative is fingerless motorcycle gloves. While not as protective as gloves with full coverage, many brands include knuckle armor and other features that can help in case there’s an impact. If you’re not sure which fingerless gloves are the best, check out our top picks in the buying guide below.
Benefits of Fingerless Motorcycle Gloves
- More maneuverability. Fingerless gloves allow you to complete tasks that are difficult or next to impossible to do with other types of gloves. You can more easily make phone calls, send texts, use a touchscreen device, fill the gas tank, etc.
- Hand protection. While fingerless gloves aren’t as protective as full-coverage gloves, they can protect the palms and knuckles from abrasions, blisters, and other types of minor injuries.
- Better grip. Since your fingers are more dexterous in fingerless gloves as opposed to full-coverage gloves, you have more control over the brake and clutch levers and other controls.
- Minimize sweat. Fingerless gloves are designed to provide more airflow to your hands than full-coverage gloves. As a result, your hands should sweat less. Sweaty gloves are uncomfortable and not very appealing.
- Stay warm. Fingerless gloves cover a good portion of your hands, including the pulse points, so they provide just enough warmth on a chilly morning or evening ride. While not super warm, they’re better than no gloves at all.
Types of Fingerless Motorcycle Gloves
Racing
Racing gloves are best used for street or professional racing. They typically have a heavy-duty armor construction to protect your hands from injury during high-speed crashes. Also, the palm area typically has an embossed finish to enhance grip.
Summer
Summer gloves are intended for the warm weather, and for that reason, they are short and do not cover the wrist. They typically carry a simple, breathable design to keep your hands from sweating but at the same time protect your palms from blistering.
Off-Road
Off-road cycling gloves are suitable for dirt bike riders. They have a rugged look and end just at the wrist. They are designed to offer adequate knuckle protection and to deliver comfort, even with the most intense grip.
Touring
Touring gloves offer all-season protection. They are made with breathable material that keeps your hands cool in the summer and are reinforced with waterproof membranes to keep your palms dry in the rainy season. They also have a heavy-duty construction that can hold up to year-round use.
Top Brands
Highway 21
Based in Boise, Idaho, Highway 21 is named after the Rocky Mountain route. The company prides itself on the details it puts into its products, which include jackets, gloves, boots, jeans, and more. We recommend the Highway 21 Half Jab Perforated Gloves.
Joe Rocket
Joe Rocket is headquartered in Winsor, Ontario, and has over 25 years of experience in making sports apparel, snow gear, luggage, and a variety of rider equipment. Its apparel line is intended to keep the rider safe, warm, and dry. Some of its best motorcycle riding gloves are the Joe Rocket Motorcycle Gloves and Joe Rocket Men’s Eclipse Gloves.
Hugger Glove
American-based Hugger Glove has been a manufacturer of high-quality men’s and women’s gloves since 1993. Its gloves are widely used in the automotive and weightlifting industry. It also makes accessories, like scarves and bags. Some of its best-selling leather motorcycle gloves are the Hugger Women’s Air Cooled No Sweat Knit Extreme Comfort Fingerless Riding Gloves and the Hugger Summer Touring Choppers.
Mechanix Wear
Since 1991, Mechanix Wear has specialized in making gloves for the automotive, construction, defense, mining, oil, and gas industries. It also makes other apparel, like shirts, aprons, and heat sleeves. Some of its best tactical biker gloves with hard knuckles are the Mechanix Wear Tactical Gloves and the Mechanix Wear M-Pact Framer Gloves.
Fingerless Motorcycle Gloves Pricing
- $5 to $50: This budget-friendly price range is mostly for gel-padded gloves that come in a variety of sizes. The gloves offer decent protection to your knuckles and palms, but most don’t offer sufficient wrist protection. You can find premium leather gloves within this range, but the synthetic leathers may not be as durable as the more expensive versions.
- $50 to $80: Fingerless gloves within this price range are highly functional and offer sufficient wrist and multiple joint protection. However, compare the features of the product with other gloves to ensure that you aren’t just paying more for a brand name.
Key Features
Material
Leather is the best glove material since it’s durable, flexible, and abrasion-resistant. However, it doesn’t hold up well to extreme weather conditions. Some types of leather can crack when it’s cold or stretch out when it’s too hot. Textile gloves aren’t as comfortable, but the material isn’t affected by extreme heat or cold conditions.
Protection
Choose gloves that protect your wrist and delicate parts of your hand, specifically the palms and knuckles. They should come with sufficient gel or foam padding around the palm area to protect the skin from damage. The knuckle area should be reinforced with plastic or other flexible but tough material.
Size
Pick a model that offers a snug fit. Use the manufacturer’s size chart to get the right fit. If it’s too small and tight, it may not cover the wrist and may restrict blood flow when you clench your fist. If it’s too loose, it may feel heavy and rub uncomfortably on your knuckles when you clench and unclench your fist.
Other Considerations
- Weather. Choose gloves with waterproof qualities, breathability, and hot and cold weather protection, depending on the season the gloves are intended for.
- Comfort. The best fingerless gloves feel comfortable on your knuckles and the space between your index finger and thumb when you clench your fist.
- Style. Prioritize gloves with a great visual appeal or one that suits your personality, general dress code, and taste.
- Reflective Material. For night riding, you need gloves that are constructed with reflective material or strips at the back of the hand to make you more visible on the road.
Best Fingerless Motorcycle Gloves Reviews & Recommendations 2021
Best Overall
Highway 21 Half Jab Perforated Gloves
Best Value
Joe Rocket Motorcycle Gloves
Honorable Mention
Mechanix Wear Tactical Gloves
Honorable Mention
Riparo Men’s Leather Half-Finger Motorcycle Gloves
Honorable Mention
Au0026amp;H Apparel Cowhide Fingerless Gloves
Honorable Mention
Street u0026amp; Steel Sawed Off Fingerless Gloves
Honorable Mention
Street u0026amp; Steel Fingerless Gel Gloves
Honorable Mention
Highway 21 Ranger Women's Gloves
Tips
- Fingerless gloves are more flexible than full-finger ones. Still, if you don’t choose a proper size, they can be just as restrictive as any other type of glove. A tight pair of gloves will cut off circulation, while a loose pair will prevent you from having a firm grip on the handlebars. Choose a pair of gloves that allow you to move your fingers freely without being too loose
- Get gloves that feel soft on the skin. With fingerless motorcycle gloves, you should especially watch out for the knuckles. They should be comfortable enough in the part where the “fingers” are cut off. This mostly depends on the material type, so choose wisely.
- Choose a material thickness according to your activities. If you need extra mobility, go for thinner material. For more warmth during a ride, thicker material is a must.
FAQs
Q: Why wear fingerless motorcycle gloves?
Gloves without fingers allow for more breathability while still protecting the wrist and palm areas. They are cooler than those with full fingers and more comfortable during the summer. It’s also easier to grip and handle small things when your fingers are uncovered. People also wear them when driving, gardening, working in workshops, and more.
Q: Are fingerless motorcycle gloves warm?
They are not as warm as those with full fingers, but they can keep your hands a little cozy. The padded palm and wrist areas usually provide enough warmth to prevent your hands from freezing.
Q: Are fingerless motorcycle gloves considered stylish?
Fingerless gloves became popular during the 1980s when a lot of pop and rock stars began to wear them as accessories. Madonna and Billy Idol made fingerless gloves truly fashionable items. Over the years, their popularity has decreased, but fingerless gloves are a sign of a retro look that is making a big comeback in the fashion industry.
Final Thoughts
Our pick for the best fingerless motorcycle gloves are the Highway 21 Half Jab Perforated Gloves. They have padded palms and knuckle protection, so they’re both comfortable and protective.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Joe Rocket Motorcycle Gloves.