Best Winter Motorcycle Gloves

John Burns
by John Burns

Don’t get caught cold-handed

Updated October, 2020

Keeping your fingers warm and touchy-feely isn’t just a comfort thing, it’s also a survival thing: You really do need to be able to apply fine control inputs to your, ah, controls, to safely operate your bike, especially when the pavement’s cold and/or wet. How are you gonna brake hard to avoid that moose if your fingers are half-frozen? You can’t modulate like Marquez with hands you can’t feel, nor gas it with finesse to escape sliding SUVs. That’s especially true if your old beater doesn’t have antilock brakes or traction control. Everybody already knows, we hope, about the value of heated grips, handguards, etc. But the first line of defense against the cold, ever since our Eskimo ancestors’ first strapped sled to a surprised group of dogs, is a nice, warm pair of gloves. Here’s a small sampling of some of the best winter motorcycle gloves available.

Table of Contents

Alpinestars Winter Surfer Gore-Tex – $150

This less-bulky, short-cuff glove consists of a premium bonded Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable membrane plus PrimaLoft lining, inside a stretch fabric softshell chassis reinforced with hard polymer knuckles, leather palms, and aramid fiber reinforcements for CE-certification-level protection. Accordion leather inserts on the fingers, and stretch panels between thumb and palm give great flexibility and fit, and touchscreen compatible fingertips let you play with your phone or GPS.

Bottom Line

  • A compact, urban glove to combat the cold

Scorpion Tempest – $85

If you live where winter is more liquid than solid, these Scorpion’s could be your friend. They feature a unique double gauntlet that prevents water from running down your sleeve and getting your hands wet. One gauntlet goes inside your sleeve, and the other goes over your jacket, positively keeping your paws dry. There’s also a waterproof Hypora lining, 100 grams of Thinsulate insulation, and uninsulated goat leather palms for great control feel and to let your heated grips shine. Hard knuckle protectors, dual visor squeegees and reflective piping make these a lot of warm glove for the money.

Bottom Line

  • You won't care if it rains or freezes

Klim Glove Liner 1.0 – $16

Glove liners, available from several glove makers, can be an economical way to go if you already have good gloves and you only need a little more warmth. These Klims are made from a hyper-wicking fabric to quickly move moisture away from your skin for increased comfort and decreased conductive heat loss. Not sure how the e-touch fingertip function is going to work if they’re inside other gloves, but okay. These are supposed to fit inside all standard-sized gloves and come in seven sizes from XS to 3X.

Bottom Line

  • Easily storable cold-weather insurance

Answer Taiga – $35

Answer says these are for winter off-roading, but they seem tough enough for pavement, too, with those impact resistant knuckle pads. With ultra thin palm pad, insulation and waterproofing layers, these are supposed to provide excellent control feel in cold riding conditions. A DryAR windproof backhand and micro fleece palm, embossed neoprene fingers and cuff panels are said to provide more flexibility than typical winter gloves.

Bottom Line

  • The price is right

Fly Racing Aurora – $65

When flying low and cold, these Fly Auroras also draw pretty good reviews when it comes to keeping your digits warm and dry – so much so that Fly is now marketing them for snowmobile use. Nicely styled and reflectively piped, these are genuine leather stuffed with Thinsulate inside a Hipora waterproof, windproof, breathable membrane, and backed up by an extended neoprene cuff for a tight seal. Fingertips are touchscreen compatible.

Bottom Line

  • Lots of warmth for not much cash

Tourmaster Polar-Tex 3.0 – $75

For $74.99, these puppies have it all including lots of 5-star reviews: Goatskin leather palm and thumb construction, 600 denier polyester upper, padded articulating, accordion stretch knuckles. There’s 100 grams of 3M Thinsulate Flex insulation in each one, as well as 100g polyester fleece lining. A Gore-Tex-like waterproof and breathable barrier should keep your hands dry but unclammy – and there are touchscreen-compatible conductive thumb and index fingertips so you can order a pizza on your phone. Ladies sizes too.

Bottom Line

  • Master the cold

Dainese X-Tourer D-Dry Gloves _ $120

Thermal Dexfil insulation and a D-Dry breathable liner inside these uncool gloves holds heat in to keep your hands warm. Dainese Smart Touch allows you to interact with your electronic devices, and an Amica suede palm helps you keep your grip. The knuckles are backstopped by Ergo-Techno armor, and there are leather palm reinforcements too. Pre-curved fingers help make these comfy, and yes there’s a visor wiper on the left thumb.

Bottom Line

  • On sale...

Rev’It Stratos 2 GTX   $170

The newly upgraded Stratos GTX 2 packs Gore-Tex waterproofing, Thinsulate G insulation, and a tri-fleece liner inside a water-resistant goatskin shell. There’s stretchable, water-repellent fabric on the upper of each glove, with a special goatskin leather on the palm. Seesoft 3D knuckles, EVA foam at little fingers, thumbs and palms – and a TPU hard shell palm slider add even more protection from life’s hard knocks.  

Bottom Line

  • Gloves designed where it winters a lot make sense

Aerostich Luxury Cowhide Winter Gloves – $197

I trust the Duluthians explicitly when it comes to cold, and they say these are top quality, really comfortable Japanese-built gloves for colder-weather rides: $197 is a lot, but they’re “made by skilled craftsmen who take the time to align the cut and grain direction of the leather, individually for the right and left glove.” A triple layer all-weather design incorporates 1) Super-Excel water resistant hide treatment to keep water out while maintaining natural breathability and softness. 2) A water resistant and breathable inner lining keeps rain and moisture out while wicking away perspiration. 3) Thermotron insulation is a super soft brushed nylon that uses ceramic micro-particles to produce and hold heat for comfortable warmth. Etc. These are hand washable and come in sizes: 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10. (Aerostich of course has a handy hand-measuring deal on its site.)

Bottom Line

  • Japanese attention to detail

Thermosport – $80

These made-in-England winter gloves have been around for quite some time: Why fix what’s not broken? These are Grade A semi-aniline leather with a Thinsulate thermal liner. Internal Kevlar reinforcements add strength and abrasion resistance, along with carbon knuckle guards and extra padding in all impact zones including the side of the hand. Furthermore, the Thermosports are claimed 100% waterproof, and said to keep you “as warm as sitting by the fire at your favorite pub.”

Bottom Line

  • Pub-level warmth

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John Burns
John Burns

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  • Piers Denney Piers Denney on Oct 23, 2020

    I’ll vouch for the Fly Auroras - I’m in KC so we get some pretty damn cold weather... add heated grips and you are good to go.

  • Rick Rick on Nov 21, 2020

    I don't like the thickness of winter gloves. I use summer gloves and the three finger over/rain gloves from Aerostich when it drops below 50 or it rains. I also have heated grips. That combo has worked well down into the 30's on long trips. So well it just isn't something I think about anymore.

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