Roadskin Easyrider gloves review | Stylish and rugged gloves ideal for summer riding

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I’ve been wearing my Roadskin Easyrider motorcycle gloves exclusively since early spring and they look as stunning now as when I first took them out of the box. They’ve become an important addition to my summer bike kit. 

There’s an immediate feeling of confidence when I wrap these gloves around the handlebars of my motorcycle. The leather overlays on the palms are designed to keep a firm grip and they haven’t let me down. They’ve helped me keep control of my bike over every surface, and through every pothole that has sprung out of nowhere. 

Are Roadskin’s Easyrider gloves comfortable?

The Easyriders are made from a robust cowhide leather so they are supple and adapt to the shape of my hand. The inner lining is a breathable polyester fabric that feels soft but never sweaty. Mesh sections are strategically placed so the wind passes through to cool the hand – crucial for a summer bike glove.

Roadskin size their gloves using the circumference measurement of your hand, and mine sized up as a Large. But when those arrived the fingers were too long to be practical. I swapped down to a Medium and my fingers fit almost perfectly in these. The glove does feel quite snug, though not too tight. Leather is like that, I tell myself – a bit tight at first then eventually it stretches into a perfect fit. 

• Related: How to choose summer motorcycle gloves

Are these good looking summer gloves?

Easyriders have that certain ‘cool’ factor. Look closely and you’ll see how much thought has gone into every section of the design. But they don’t shout about it. Maybe it’s because they were born as active service kit for the Special Forces and SWAT teams, and from there they evolved into motorcycle gloves.

Even the logo and its placement add to the subtle good looks. That’s not why you’d buy them, but these elements of the design begin to stand out as you travel the miles with them.

What about the quality factor?

The Easyriders are constructed with a mixture of polymers and soft cowhide, with added components of an incredibly strong Maximite fabric developed by (and trademarked to) Roadskin. This makes them a hard wearing glove which Roadskin claims will last for at least 60,000 miles if treated with a good leather conditioner and a water repellent solution. The seams are double stitched to guarantee that they live up to their claim of long lasting service. 

I’ve been caught in an unexpected heavy downpour with the Easyriders and they were water resistant to a point, but eventually succumbed to the relentless drenching. That said, they still performed brilliantly to the end of the ride.

• Related: Best waterproof summer gloves

How protective are the Easyriders?

The Easyriders are tested to CE level 1 KP (the lower of the two testing standards for gloves) but this is pretty common in the lightweight, short-cuffed summer glove market.

The landing zone on the palm is protected by a thick, military-grade aramid material that is both abrasion- and cut-resistant. The velcro fastener keeps the glove firmly on the wrist, adding to that sense of security.

The other reinforced leather sections on the palm also play their part in protecting the hand in a skid situation. And I would not like to be on the receiving end of the knuckle armour, but I’m sure those Special Forces and SWAT teams would have put them to good use in close combat situations.

But for us mere motorcyclists, it’s good to know our hands are safe in these hardwearing, protective and malleable gloves. 

Are they good value for money?

Roadskin’s Easyriders are unquestionably a 5/5 for value. You’d be hard pressed to find gloves of this quality at this price range. When I climb into the saddle it’s important that my kit will not only be good looking and well-made, but will protect me and inspire confidence. It’s both a special feeling and a practical consideration. That’s how I measure the value of my kit.

Other summer gloves to consider

What’s my overall verdict?

The Roadskin Easyrider gloves combine great looks with confidence-inspiring feel and performance. Their remarkable history and thoughtful design make them both practical and protective, especially when it matters most. After sorting out the initial sizing issue, they now fit me like a second skin. Plus, they offer genuine value for money, which is not so common these days. In essence, the Easyriders convey a strong, silent statement that speaks volumes.

How I tested the Roadskin Easyrider gloves

I rode exclusively with the Easyriders for my 3+ months of testing. Leather, as opposed to textile, will stretch to adapt to the shape of your hand, so I wanted to allow that to happen. I covered over 1000 miles on both longer and shorter rides, and in varying weather conditions from blazing hot sun to torrential downpours. 

The last ride before I wrote my review was to Mersea island in Essex from my home in the Midlands (via Hertfordshire, where I met up with friends). We rode in 30° weather and almost exclusively through A/B roads and country lanes, encountering a variety of situations where absolute control of my machine was paramount. The Roadskins never let me down. 

I made my own way home from Mersea, which was a mixture of A/B roads, lanes, and Motorway. The gloves never became uncomfortable or sweaty, even after a long day of riding, but of course my hands themselves got weary so I used cruise control on my BMW 850 GSA whenever I could. 

This one day represented the kind of riding I’ve done over the 3+ months in these Easyriders. After the first couple of days getting used to them they’ve felt like a natural extension of my hand. 

When I test a product for review I always make notes as I go. I look out for pros and cons, and for any product characteristics that would be helpful for our readers. Apart from the initial sizing issues, I continue to be impressed with Roadskin’s Easyrider gloves as I cover the miles.  

How MCN tests products

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.

If you can’t see a review against an item 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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