Best Fingerless Motorcycle Gloves: Stay Cool On the Road

Let your hands breathe and move freely with these fingerless motorcycle gloves.

byNoelle Talmon|
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BYNoelle Talmon/ LAST UPDATED ON April 15, 2021

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.

Best Overall
Highway 21 Half Jab Perforated Gloves

Highway 21 Half Jab Perforated Gloves

Summary

These gloves are perforated for ventilation. They include padded palm and knuckle protection, dual-density memory foam, and Dupont Kevlar construction.

Pros
  • Pre-curved fingers minimize fatigue
  • Adjustable Velcro wrist closures provide a custom fit
  • They’re comfortable and easy to move in
  • They minimize vibrations
  • They’re durable
  • Backed by a two-year warranty
Cons
  • Sizing may be off
  • Padded palm may not feel good with padded grips
  • Can be tough to remove if your hands are sweaty
Best Value

Joe Rocket Motorcycle Gloves

Summary

These are classic fingerless gloves designed for riding. They absorb impacts and protect the hands in dangerous situations. They are safe, stylish, durable, and designed to suit different riding styles.

Pros
  • Protects against cuts and scratches
  • Soft, comfortable, and odor-free 
  • The FreeAir mesh allows for more breathability
  • Suitable for both warm and mild weather 
  • The reinforced palm ensures a firm grip and prevents vibrations
  • Adjustable wrist strap
Cons
  • Tend to run small
  • No loops between fingers, so they might be harder to take off
  • Daily use could cause some tears
Honorable Mention

Mechanix Wear Tactical Gloves

Summary

These gloves are designed for rough terrain. The reinforced knuckle area ensures protection on the road, and the soft material makes them warm and breathable. The combination of safety, comfort, and durability makes them ideal for heavy bike use. 

Pros
  • EVA foam padding ensures protection and a firm grip 
  • It prevents vibrations and stress on the hand
  • The inner material is soft, warm, and comfortable
  • They’re sturdy yet allow for free movement
  • Easy to put on and take off
  • Adjustable wrist strap
  • Machine washable
Cons
  • Uncomfortable tags inside are hard to remove and doing so could cause the stitching to tear
  • Material has a strong odor that lingers for a couple of days

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

The Highway 21 Half Jab Perforated Gloves provide padded palm and knuckle protection when you need it most. A great alternative to full-fingered gloves, the Half Jab gloves are made of goatskin and feature dual-density memory foam and Dupont Kevlar knuckle panel. The pre-curved fingers minimize hand fatigue and increase comfort, while the adjustable Velcro wrist closure lets you customize the fit. 


Users report that they feel comfortable on your hands and are easy to move in. They are well-made, hold up well over time, and reduce vibration. The manufacturer also provides a two-year warranty should you experience any issues. 


You may want to order one size up for a better fit. While they stretch a little when you're breaking them in, they may feel a little tight if you order a size that’s too small. Also, since they're padded, they may not be the best option if you have padded grips. They can also be tough to remove if your hands sweat a lot.

The Joe Rocket Motorcycle Gloves are a classic pair of fingerless gloves with a FreeAir mesh upper that offers maximum breathability. That means the gloves can be used in both warm and mild weather. They are designed with Aeroprene and leather reinforcements on the entire palm area and parts of the wrist. The leather enhances grip and keeps your palms from getting scratched or blistered. 


They also feature vibration dissipating gel around the palm area. The gloves provide a secure fit due to the hook and loop wrist strap. What’s more, the gloves come with a pre-curved, rider-friendly shape that makes it easy to differentiate the left and right-hand gloves. It also makes it easy to clench your fist. 


However, the downside of these Joe Rocket gloves is that they tend to run small. You may have issues getting the right fit if you are dealing with this brand. Also, it can be hard to take them off because there aren’t any loops between the fingers. They also wear out easily with daily use.

The Mechanix Wear Tactical Gloves have a rugged, masculine look that screams optimal protection and dexterity. They feature Mechanix Wear’s patented Impact Guard and are reinforced with EVA foam padding around the knuckles to protect from scratches, cuts, scrapes, and injury. The gloves are also reinforced with D30 padding around the palm area, which absorbs and dissipates high-impact energy. 


The gloves offer half-finger protection and adequate padding to the back of the hand, which is great for off-road and rugged terrain riding. For maximum gripping power, the gloves are designed with Armotex palm reinforcement. They are also machine washable. 


The downside to this pair of gloves is that there are uncomfortable tags inside. You have to be careful removing them, otherwise, you could end up with a tear at the seams. Also, they have a strong smell that may take a couple of days to go away.

These reverse-stitched motorcycle gloves from Riparo are stylish and functional. Made of lambskin leather with holes for the knuckles, as well as various holes for breathability throughout, they are attractive and will keep good airflow to prevent your hands from sweating. They come in various colors, including black, camel brown, dark brown, cognac, red, white, and more. Sizes range from extra small to XXXL. They are made by hand, giving them a top-quality you won’t find with machine-made gloves. 


While there is no padding in these gloves, they protect your skin well, given they are leather. They tend to fit snug, so you may want to order a size up. They also do not go back far on the wrist, and for some, that may be an uncomfortable fit.

If you are looking for a good deal but still a sleek look, these motorcycle gloves from A&H Apparel are a great choice. They are made from cowhide and come in sizes extra small to XXXL. They have holes for the knuckles as well as small holes throughout for better airflow. They come in black and fasten around the wrist. These are incredibly affordable and well below competitor pricing. Despite the low price, these tend to last well and only wear down after a few years of continuous use. 


However, these gloves tend to run a bit large, so you may want to order one size smaller. Also, the hole for the thumb is not enclosed, leaving part of your finger exposed. While this allows for better maneuverability, it may feel uncomfortable for some. They also could leave some black on your hands after taking them off.

The Street & Steel Sawed Off Fingerless Gloves feature padded gel palms for comfort and are perforated for airflow. They're made of aniline leather and are designed to minimize vibrations. Features include injection-molded knuckles, a hook and loop Velcro closure, and a pre-curved fit. They're very comfortable even on extra-hot days. 


The armored knuckles are barely noticeable, and they're durably constructed. Users report that they don't require much of a break-in period compared to some other brands. They're easy to remove due to the extended leather on the palm side of the fingers, and overall they feel good and look good. 


It's important, however, that you measure your hands to get the right fit. Users have complained that they're either too snug or too large, so double check the size before placing an order. Also, they may fade a bit after long-term use.

The Street & Steel Fingerless Gel Gloves include gel padding that's designed to minimize vibration. They're made out of premium-grade cowhide leather and feature a hook-and-loop Velcro wrist closure for an adjustable fit. 


These gloves are one of the cheapest options on our list, yet they're comfortable and the color doesn't run onto your hands when they get wet. They are good quality and provide decent airflow in hot temperatures. They minimize fatigue and feature padded palms for comfort. Whether you ride long distances or just cruise around town, they're a good option.


Unfortunately, they tend to run small, so you may need to order a size up for the best fit. In addition, they are a little thick and bulky compared to some other brands.

The Highway 21 Ranger Women's Gloves are great for female riders and are available in small, medium, large, extra-large, and extra-extra-large. They feature padded palms, which reduce vibrations caused by the motorcycle. 


Constructed of genuine leather, these gloves feature perforated top panels for ventilation and a Velcro cuff on the wrists, which provide a customized fit. They also have finger pull tabs, which makes them easier to remove. Users report that they fit really well and are comfortable to wear. They're also stylish and affordable.


However, the thumb may be too large for some riders. It's unclear if the issue is a production defect or not the best fit for women with smaller digits.

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

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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