Summer motorcycle gloves to keep your hands cool and protected | Tested by the experts at MCN

Even though they can be exposed to the oncoming air on many bikes (despite some going to great lengths to protect them from wind-blast), your hands can get very hot and sweaty on warmer rides if you’re not wearing summer motorcycle gloves.

What makes a summer motorcycling glove?

Even gloves with breathable membranes, that allow the moisture developed by the hand in the way of sweat to escape, can get a bit too warm if you’re enjoying the summer or on a busy ride. So a pair of vented summer gloves paired with your summer gear will help you to keep cool.

Air will generally be admitted to the gloves either by perforations in the main material they are formed from or through specially designed vents – or both. Of course, if air can get in, then so can water and they aren’t generally meant to be waterproof – if you’re going for a ride in the summer and there may be showers en route, then either take a pair of waterproof gloves too or accept that you may get wet.

What to look for in a pair of summer gloves

Typically, summer gloves will feature relatively thin material with little in the way of insulation, so feel for the bike’s controls should be very good. However, just because they are cool and give great feel doesn’t mean they can’t also give you protection. You should be seeing knuckle armour and protection to the fingers and the bottom of the palm.

Summer gloves can either be short or long, as many riders prefer shorter gloves that allow air to enter the sleeves of the jacket for better airflow. Longer gloves will inevitably protect the wrist better but will feel bulkier as a result – it’s down to personal choice which you wear.

Summer motorcycle gloves should feature a CE rating to be sold as motorcycle clothing and there are two scores; either 1 or 2 with the addition of knuckle protection, or KP. So you should be looking for at least a rating of 1 KP or ideally, 2 KP (the KP is optional for level-1 but compulsory for Level-2).

Here are some of the cooler summer gloves around

Frequently asked questions

If i’m between sizes should I size up or down?

If you are buying a leather glove it is worth bearing in mind that leather will give and stretch a little over time. With this in mind it is advised not to size up to prevent to gloves from ending up too loose. Your gloves should feel comfortable and allow good movement and feel without there being long gaps at the end of your fingers.

Are motorcycle gloves worn inside or outside of your sleeve?

This will depend on your preference and which type of glove you go for, a gauntlet style glove will usually be worn outside of the sleeve but a short cuff will sit under the end of you sleeve.

Should I wash my gloves?

The label that comes with the gloves should include care instruction, it is best to read and retain this information to know what is best for your particular gloves.

Are fingerless gloves OK on a motorcycle?

Fingerless gloves are more for the look than protection as they only offer any protection to your palm and the back of your hand. Fingers are still left exposed to the elements, bugs and the tarmac should you have an off. Full gloves are advised but there is no law in UK regarding gloves to be worn on a motorbike.

How MCN tests summer gloves

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, summer gloves must have been worn for thousands of miles by our team of experienced testers, show no major flaws, and meet modern safety standards as well as offering decent value for money. 

Each of our expert reviewers tests their gloves for a variety of things, both subjective and objective. Factors assessed include the CE safety rating, how comfortable they are, if their stitching rubs, how well vented they are, whether they have capacitive fingertips for smartphone use, and the quality of the closing mechanism.

We cover thousands of miles in these gloves but also regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

If you can’t see a review against a pair of gloves on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These gloves will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

Here’s a brief run-down of the star rating system we use, and what each score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A glove with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A glove with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A glove with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A glove has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A glove has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

– Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us.

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.