Warm-Weather Gloves Buyer's Guide
Protection can be cool
When the temperature climbs, even the most dedicated rider may hesitate a moment before donning gloves. Without vents, leather and armor can turn gloves into a mobile sauna for your digits. Then there’s the indignity of sweating so much inside a pair of gloves that the dyes leech into your skin, leading to embarrassing questions. Well, we’ve scoured the interwebs to find a variety of gloves that offer both protection and a means to keep your paws cool during the summer months.
Read on to attain enlightenment.
Price: $149
Size Range: S–2XL
Colors: Black, Black/White, Black/Red, Black/Blue
For good ventilation in a track-worthy glove, AGV Sport offers the GPR Gloves. Built from premium cowhide leather with an abrasion-resistant kangaroo leather underside, the GPR’s pre-curved fingers and all seams are stitched with high-tensile thread. Venting comes from perforated leather panels between the fingers for intake ventilation, while exhaust is handled by perforated leather panels on the back of the hand. Finger vents on first, second and third fingers give individual fingers a cooling breeze. Steel-covered carbon fiber armor with shock-absorbing memory foam on the knuckles deliver extra protection. A double cuff closure gives a secure fit.
Ten warm-weather gloves are featured on the AGV Sport website.
Price: $300
Size Range: S–3XL
Colors: White/Black, White/Black/Red
Race fans have seen Alpinestars gloves used by top racers for years. The GP Tech Glove gets its venting from perforations in the glove body in addition to an exhaust port on the back of the glove. The main glove is constructed of kangaroo leather, which is known for its abrasion resistance and light weight, while the palm receives Pittards leather, which promotes greater grip. Well-placed armor and accordion stretch inserts keep the gloves supple. Palm, thumb and finger TPU sliders are mounted on poly-foam to blunt impacts and resist abrasion. A Kevlar liner in strategic locations maximizes the abrasion resistance.
With 28 warm-weather gloves for men and women in its catalog, you can take a look at Alpinestars’ website.
Price: $85
Size Range: S–3XL
Colors: Black
Icon’s Pursuit Touchscreen Glove looks every bit the part of a classic motorcycle glove with a thoroughly modern interpretation – and features. Constructed of supple but durable sheepskin leather, the short gloves utilize integrated plastic knuckles and a wrist closure for protection. Ventilation is provided by perforations on the back of the gloves. The ability to access capacitive touchscreen devices without removal of the glove is a notable feature.
Icon has a whopping 42 warm-weather gloves for men and women that can be found on the company’s website.
Price: $160
Size Range: XS–3XL
Colors: Black, White
Known for gear capable of withstanding inclimate weather, KLIM also makes two warm-weather Induction Glove models – a long and a short ($140). Both feature maximum airflow, which, in the case of the long, carries over into the gauntlet. Other features include Pittards Armortan ceramic-reinforced leather palm construction, carbon fiber knuckle impact plates, and integrated Poron XRD Extreme Impact Protection foam on the knuckle, wrist, and palm.
KLIM makes only two warm-weather gloves, and they can be found at the KLIM website.
Price: $110
Size Range: S-XL
Colors: Black/White, White/Black
Rev’It has created a women’s glove with the same features and performance given the other gender’s gloves in the Chevron Ladies Glove. The goatskin construction provides supple abrasion resistance with air-flowing perforations in key areas. Carbon hard-shell knuckle armor backed with Temperfoam soaks up the impacts, while TPU armor protects the finger knuckles.
Seventeen summer gloves are offered on the Rev’It website.
Price: $60
Size Range: XS–3XL
Colors: Black
Roadgear started in 1989 with two pairs of gloves and a phone line on a bedside table. Over the years, the company has gained a reputation for creating high-value products at reasonable prices. The AirTec glove lives up to that heritage with leather construction on all the major impact points. Additionally, the backs of the knuckles receive protective padding. Venting comes courtesy of high-tensile strength mesh. Reflective piping is also used for nighttime conspicuity.
Road gear offers three warm-weather gloves ranging in price from $36-$100. Visit Roadgear’s website for ordering information.
Price: $36
Size Range: S–2XL
Colors: Black, White, Red, Blue
Speed and Strength offers a mesh line of warm-weather gloves with the Trial By Fire gloves stepping in at the top of the heap. Manufactured with a pre-curved cut, the mesh back and leather palm assume your fingers’ natural position on a motorcycle. Protection comes in the form of reinforced leather on the palms and engineered thermoplastic knuckle protectors and TPR finger protectors. All of this is held in place by an adjustable hook-and-loop wrist closure.
Visit the Speed and Strength website to learn more about the 13 warm-weather gloves offered for both men and women.
Price: $300
Size Range: S–3XL
Colors: Black, White, Black/White, Black/Blue, Black/Red
Spidi is known for its quality gear, and the Carbo Track is a prime example. The full-grain leather is 0.8mm thick and features cooling perforations. The cowhide palm uses Clarino reinforcements in addition to a Keramide lining for maximum abrasion and heat resistance. Keramide is also used for the stitching and double-stitched in high-abrasion areas. Carbon fiber armor on the knuckles, phalanges and metacarpus keep those delicate bones safe. Additionally, special reinforcements with Spidi’s “Warrior technology” applied on the entire side and over pinkie finger.
The Spidi website offers 20 summer gloves for men and women.
Price: $95
Size Range: XS–3XL
Colors: Black
So, you want to be cool – and dry – when you ride? Tourmaster has got a glove for you. The Dri-Perf Gel Gloves are made of perforated goatskin leather for the protection and cooling while a breathable E-Dry barrier keeps the rider dry from the elements. Gel inserts on the lower palm reduce vibration from the road. EVA foam padding protect from impacts, while hard knuckle armor dissipates impact forces. The thumb and index finger even have touchscreen-compatible conductive overlays. Stretch panels and a wrist closure keep the fit secure and comfortable.
There are 10 summer gloves for men and women available on the Tourmaster website.
Price: $70
Size Range: S–2XL
Colors: Black, White/Black/Red
Troy Lee Designs is well known to the dirt side of motorcycling, but the company is also increasing its presence on the street. The Apex Pro is a short glove constructed of perforated leather and a lightly padded dual-layer goatskin leather palm. The ball of the hand receives additional padding for protection, while the knuckles and fingers benefit from composite armor. Accordion leather at the cuff, finger and thumb keep the fit snug but comfortable.
Troy Lee Designs has four street-focused warm-weather gloves listed on its company website.
Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.
More by Evans Brasfield
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Spidi Jab-RR works awesome in super hot weather. You will give up some protection but 1) better than nothing and 2) better than your hands spontaneously combusting.
Speed and Strength 'Trail by Fire" gloves are the best vented gloves that I have ever worn. I used to ride with half-gloves that left my finders exposed. [Not a great idea.] The Trial by Fire gloves provide a lot of protection in a glove that is very comfortable in hot weather.