These are the best women's motorcycle gloves our expert testers have reviewed

There are now many more options available in terms of women’s riding gear than ever before. Gone are the days of simply buying small men’s kit, or all ladies’ variants featuring pink accents. However, in fairness women’s motorcycle gloves don’t differ all that much from men’s motorcycle gloves. The main differences are in the slimmer fit, smaller sizes and slightly more feminine design styles.

Jump to:

• What to consider
• Women’s sports gloves
• Women’s winter gloves
• Women’s summer gloves
• Frequently asked questions
• How we test kit

What to consider when buying women’s gloves

As with any motorcycle clothing there are gloves designed for different types of riding. There are gloves for sportsbike riders, adventure riders, retro and vintage styles and so on, but also for the different conditions that riders face in the different seasons. winter gloves, heated gloves and summer gloves all cover different demands.

The material that is used in a pair of gloves will vary depending on it’s intended purpose. Leather is generally considered the most hardwearing and safe and for this reason almost all sports focused gloves will be made from leather. Retro or vintage style gloves will also usually be made from leather thanks to its ability to look the part, as well as offering good protection.

Touring or season-specific gloves like summer or winter gloves will typically be made from some sort of synthetic textile to allow manufacturers to include additional features like thermal linings or waterproof membranes.

Safety Ratings

In terms of safety, motorcycle gloves will be CE rated to either KP1 or KP2, with the KP standing for ‘Knuckle Protection’.

KP1 represents a lower level of safety than KP2, which is usually found on gloves intended for track use. Factors assessed include cuff length, restraint, tear strength, seam strength and impact abrasion resistance.

If you find some gloves without ‘KP’ in the CE rating tag, then they don’t have knuckle protection at all. We would advise you steer clear of these.

Ladies sports gloves

Sports gloves usually offer the best level of protection with armoured knuckles, reinforced palms are long gauntlet style cuffs, but should also offer a good feel for the controls too.

Sporty gloves are suitable for road or track riding and there are perforated models that make good summer gloves, too. If you’re new to riding, you’ll be surprised how quickly sporty leather gloves let your hands get seriously cold in lower temperatures (anything from around 10°C and below is painful).

Ladies winter gloves

Winter gloves are obviously designed to keep your hands warm in harsher riding conditions, to achieve this they will have thermal linings such as Thinsulate and tend to have waterproof membranes to keep the weather out.

Most commonly this type of glove will be made of a textile material but some will be from leather, with a priority of features for warmth, while others are more about protection. If you plan on riding in seriously cold conditions regularly then a set of heated gloves might be more appropriate – but you’d be surprised how far a decent set of winter gloves will get you (especially if you have heated grips).

Heated gloves have been a game changer for a lot of commuter riders who are exposed to the elements riding all year round. Keeping you warm on the backs of your hands and fingertips where heated grips may not be enough.

Ladies summer gloves

Summer gloves are a lightweight type of glove that prioritise airflow to aid in cooling when riding in hot weather.

Summer motorcycle gloves range all the way from motocross-style gloves offering minimal protection on the road through to perforated leather race gloves providing maximum protection with ventilating holes to leather panels.

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 definitely what we’d suggest, but there is no law in the UK regarding gloves to be worn on a motorbike.

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How MCN tests ladies gloves

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. 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.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, these 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, and these are no exception. Factors assessed include how comfortable they are from the off, what knuckle protection gloves have, are they breathable, and if they include details such as waterproofing or perforations.

However, we also assess how they fit, their perceived build quality and how comfortable the gloves are during daily use.

We’ve worn each of the tested gloves in this page while we’ve been covering miles on test bikes in all the appropriate conditions for the product.

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 items 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.

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

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Our scores explained

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product 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 product 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 product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product 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 product 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.

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