5 MIN READ
The perfect fit: This is how a motorcycle glove should fit!
Motorcycle gloves that fit well are important for comfort and safety while riding. Ill-fitting gloves can negatively affect your control over the motorcycle and provide less effective protection when needed.
Determine the right motorcycle glove size
A motorcycle glove should fit snugly while still providing the necessary freedom of movement. If you ask Jochem Shakespeare from RAD, there’s a reason why the saying “Fits like a glove” exists. Every hand is different and finding the perfect motorcycle gloves is not as simple as you might think. We give you the following tips to find the right motorcycle gloves.
Measure the circumference of your hand: Use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your hand at its widest point, at the knuckles. Also measure this when you make a fist to account for the expansion of your hand. Measure the circumference of both hands and use the largest size for size determination.
Use the available size chart: Each brand of motorcycle gloves has its own fit and provides a size chart for this. You can find this just above the size selection or consult it on the manufacturer’s website. This gives you a guideline for the size to fit.
Choose the right type of motorcycle glove for your desired use
There are various types of motorcycle gloves available, each with their specific characteristics and purpose.
Racing gloves: These gloves are designed to provide optimal protection during racing. They offer advanced protection thanks to the use of leather, hard knuckle protection, and reinforced palms with extra protection. The fingers are often pre-shaped for optimal grip and control, and the cuff of the glove also protects your forearm. Some race gloves connect the pinky to the ring finger with a “finger bridge”, so it cannot flip over if you were to slide at high speed.
Summer gloves: These lightweight and breathable summer motorcycle gloves are ideal for rides in hot weather and provide good airflow to keep the hands cool. They should fit snugly for optimal comfort.
Mid-season gloves: These lightweight and waterproof gloves are ideal to wear during the transition of seasons and the various weather conditions you may expect. Some gloves can be seen as waterproof summer gloves, other pairs are lightly lined and waterproof. A little bit of space at the fingertips for extra insulation doesn’t hurt, if you continue to wear them at the beginning of winter or if you are going to combine them with handlebar heating or hand guards.
Winter gloves: Winter motorcycle gloves are designed to keep your hands warm during cold weather conditions and often feature a thick thermal lining and waterproof membrane. A little bit of space at the fingertips for extra insulation is recommended to better preserve the heat and maintain the feeling in your fingertips for longer. The longer cuff prevents cold wind from entering your sleeves.
Gore-Tex motorcycle gloves: For when it really needs to be waterproof. There are Gore-Tex variants for the summer, for the mid-season, and the winter.
How to wear the motorcycle gloves?
Depending on how you wear the motorcycle gloves, you can further narrow down the selection. If you have a motorcycle jacket with a laminated waterproof membrane, it is wise to wear the cuff of the gloves under the jacket. This prevents the raindrops on the sleeves from starting to run into your gloves. If you have a leather track suit, you will wear the cuff over the sleeves of your suit. Winter gloves also often have a longer wider cuff to pull over your sleeves, preventing cold wind from entering through your sleeves.
How to fit motorcycle gloves?
Whether you have broad or elegant hands, long or short fingers, it’s wise to compare gloves from different brands. Check the following points to determine if you’ve found the right gloves.
Check the finger length: The fingertips should come up to the end of the fingers of the gloves, without pressing against it. With winter and mid-season gloves, a little bit of space is good, the extra layer of air acts as insulation to better retain heat.
Check for flexibility and potential pinch points: Your fingers should be able to move freely in the glove. You should be able to grip the motorcycle’s handlebars comfortably and without any pinching sensation. Test the range of motion of your fingers and wrists while wearing the gloves.
Tip: Stretch your fingers and make the L-shape with your thumb to check if the glove fits well. It is also important that the glove feels comfortable between the fingers. After that, make a fist to check if the glove doesn’t pinch anywhere.
Check if you can operate everything properly: You want to be able to operate the throttle, brake and clutch levers and indicators without your fingers getting pinched. Test on your motorcycle’s handlebars if you can operate everything smoothly. If you are fitting in a RAD store, you can find a handlebar with brake and clutch levers near the gloves to check this on the spot.
Comfort and feel: Ultimately, it comes down to trusting your instinct. If gloves don’t feel comfortable, are too tight or too loose, it is best to test a different model or brand of motorcycle gloves. This way, you are one step closer to the right fit. If you want gloves with hard knuckle protection, make sure they match your knuckles and don’t feel uncomfortable.
TIP: Leather motorcycle gloves often feel a bit tight and stiff when trying them on. Keep in mind that these gloves start to mold to your hands after a week and stretch out a bit.
Motorcycle gloves for people with long fingers
For people with longer fingers, it can sometimes be more difficult to find good gloves that don’t become too loose around the hands. This can reduce steering feel and folds on the palm can cause discomfort. If the gloves fit tightly around your hands, they can be too short for the fingers. In this case, it is important to try on as many models as possible and find the right balance.
Remember that a good size and correct fit are crucial for safely and comfortably riding your motorcycle. So definitely take the time to extensively try on the motorcycle gloves to avoid a bad purchase. Feel free to visit a RAD store for more advice and the luxury of testing out various gloves.
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Nathan is our webshop employee who is ready with advice and assistance to help customers. When he is not answering customer questions, he writes helpful texts and blogs for the RAD site.