#TourMaster

Updated April 2021

Well, there really is no “best touring glove,” because when you’re really going places on your motorcycle for days, the climatic conditions are liable to change more often than your underwear. From baking desert to bone-chilling mountaintop and all points in between, we know of no gloves with adjustable ventilation systems. Touring also implies that you’re probably on a bike with enough storage to carry more than one pair of gloves, which is really the way to go. Having heated grips gives way more flexibility to your glove selection as well. With them, behind handguards or a fairing, you can probably get away without needing really heavy winter gloves.

There are tons of gloves with the features to deliver the comfort and protection from the weather and mishaps that you’ll need out on the long and winding road. What makes a touring glove a touring glove is the ability to be worn comfortably for extended periods. Just like with a helmet, there’s no substitute for trying them on in an actual motorcycle store – most of which will gladly match your best online price. Add multi-weather adaptability. Finally, you need crash protection. All of the gloves featured here have these qualities in spades.

Here are more than a few of our favorites, in alphabetical order.

Updated March 2021 

All boots are not created equal. Like motorcycles, we can always find a reason to have one more in the garage. Of course, if we had to have one, the touring genre usually fits the bill for being pretty good at a lot of things. Touring boots are generally weatherproof, comfortable, and somewhat understated to work well in a variety of situations.

We looked at the brands and offerings currently on the market and put together a list of some of the best motorcycle touring boots we could find to bring you a one-stop peek into what makes these boots stand out.

The perfect solution for being able to ride year-round would be to have gear that can handle all four seasons. Wait – we do! That’s exactly what this list is about. Well, at least your upper half, anyway. What you’ll find below are our picks for four-season motorcycle jackets. You’ll notice as you scroll down that most of these jackets are touring-oriented. The reason is pretty simple: those are typically the riders that will face the gamut of weather extremes on just one ride. So, if a jacket will work for them in extreme conditions, chances are they’ll handle your ride to work in December just fine. Assuming you’re not working from home, that is.

Before we jump to the list, realize that while these jackets are made to handle all four seasons, by that very definition these jackets are a compromise. None of these jackets will outperform a dedicated summer jacket in the middle of July, but if you truly only have the budget for one jacket, and are willing to sweat a little, all of these picks are very versatile.

Yeah, we know that we constantly say that you should buy the best gear you can afford. We think it’s time to show you some  glove bargains. So, we’re gonna pull back a little and show you how nice gloves that cost less than a C-note can be. In fact, some of these motorcycle gloves are almost inexpensive enough to buy two pair without breaking our self-imposed ceiling. Our reason for undertaking this exercise is to illustrate the breadth of gear available to riders who maybe just spent all their scratch on a new motorcycle and don’t have much left for gear.

Second to your helmet, gloves are probably the most important piece of gear you can buy, because it is a natural human reaction to put out your hands to break your fall, and having bare hands as you tumble towards the asphalt at 30 mph (or more) won’t keep you from sticking those poor hands out, either. We’ve seen the results too many times.

So, dive in, dear rider, and see what we’ve rooted out (in alphabetical order, no less) from the tubes of the internet. Here are 11 great motorcycle gloves under $100. (Yes, we threw in a bonus pair because that’s how we roll.)

I’ve always been a fan of motorcycle tank bags. From within a month of my first bike purchase, I’ve had a tank bag for my bike. In fact, before I became a motojournalist, my tank bag was pretty much part of my motorcycle, only being removed for washing and track days. Twenty-five years ago, all tank bags were strapped on to their respective mounts, making them less convenient for folks who owned more than one bike. Along came magnetic tank bags, and the tank bag was revolutionized. So, naturally, the bike manufacturers countered with fuel cells below the seat and plastic “tanks” containing the airbox.

Well Tourmaster (and many other luggage manufacturers) now create mounting systems for both the magnetic and strap-on mounted denominations. In preparation for our Sports-Adventure Touring Shootout, I ordered up a Tourmaster Elite Tri-Bag Tank Bag to give me the carrying capacity and versatility I needed as staff photographer and chief device charger of the six-day ride.

2015 Ultimate Sports-Adventure-Touring Shootout

The plan was simple: I would outfit the lower cargo section as a charging station for action cameras and other small devices (with a USB cable going to the GPS pocket for the rider to charge his phone). The main cargo unit would hold the stuff needing more frequent access during the trip. I had it all planned out – or so I thought…

It’s June and the temperatures are now starting to hot up. That can only mean one thing: Summer’s here and riding season is in full swing. For some, riding in hot weather means shedding the protective gear in order to stay cool. You don’t need us to remind you what a bad idea this is, as one of our favorite adages when it comes to riding in hot climes is “I’d rather sweat than bleed.” For this buyer’s guide, we’ve put together 10 jackets and pants that’ll both keep you cool on a hot ride and also protect your hide should you have the unfortunate fate of falling down. The list is organized in ascending order based on price.

Shoes are the most common element on earth after carbon, so we’ve barely scratched the surface here of what’s available in warm-weather, vented moto street footwear. But we did attempt to hit all the major purveyors, almost all of which pack a plethora of different styles on their web pages, from high-top sneaker wannabes to serious adventure boots. Though the boots pictured are men’s, nearly all of them are available in women’s sizes too. It’s hard to be cool on your bike with sweaty dogs. Let’s get out there and shop for some coolness, people.