Don’t settle for a small set of men’s motorcycle gloves. Women’s motorcycle gloves are made specifically for women – they’re not just the same gloves with girly colour schemes.
Our review criteria
We set stringent review criteria for this women’s motorcycle gloves guide.
- Must feature leather in its construction
- High-quality technical materials
- Must get great owner feedback
- Bonus points if it has a wrist strap
- Bonus points if it has CE approval
CE Approval for Motorcycle Gloves
There is a CE-standard for motorcycle gloves, EN 13594:2015. It is broken down into two categories, Level 1 and Level 2.
The areas tested include The cuff length, resistance to removal, knuckle impact protection, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, seam strength and tear strength. So as you can see, a lot goes into the CE approval.
Motorcycle gloves with Level 1 performance provide a lower level of protection but offer greater flexibility than Level 2, whereas Level 2 gloves provide increased protection but due to their increased amount of protective qualities, they may not be as flexible as a Level 1 glove.
If your glove features the KP symbol on the CE approval label it means it has been tested on the Knuckle Protection test.
While you don’t have to wear CE approved kit in the UK, it’s worth noting if you ride in France you legally have to wear CE approved gloves. That includes pillions!
Before you buy
When it comes to buying, the usual mantra of buying the best you can applies to gloves as it does any product. Always look for the certification tabs (even if, annoyingly, some still don’t state exactly which they adhere to…).
Some people also like the RiDE magazine reviews. You can find some gloves with a RiDE Recommended rating or a RiDE Best Buy which might be all the validation you require.
If you’re mainly riding in good weather, you’re probably looking for a slightly more summer orientated glove, perhaps with more leather than fabric which should give you more feel.
Do your homework before purchasing and try on as many pairs as you can, to get a good understanding of what works for you.
As you have seen from our strict criteria above, all the gloves in this review have met a high bar.
Ladies Summer Gloves
RRP £29.99
A short goat-hide leather glove with PU moulded knuckle armour. The palm is reinforced with suede for abrasion protection. They’re obviously not a full-length glove so they’re not a good choice for trackdays but as a lightweight riding glove, they’re ideal.
RRP £80.99
The STS-R2 gloves are constructed from goatskin and cowhide with added padding throughout the glove for a soft finish. Protection comes in the form of built-in polyurethane hard knuckle armour and soft armour in the scaphoid.
RRP £79.99
A breathable short-design glove with hard knuckle protection plus wrist, scaphoid and finger supports. Touchscreen compatibility makes them perfect for road riding and touring. If you’re into trackdays you’ll need to get a pair of full-length gloves.
Ladies All Season Gloves
RRP: £54.99
Made from soft goatskin leather for added comfort, in a classic brown style, these regular length gloves have a Hipora waterproof membrane, and a Thinsulate insert in the palms for added warmth. These gloves have soft armour in the scaphoid, knuckles, wrist, and fingers plus anti-slip panels in the upper palm for extra grip.
RRP: £69.99
An elegant looking glove made from full-grain cowhide. Featuring internal moulded knuckle armour, Keprotec inserts on the palms and a waterproof Hipora membrane. Including a 3M Thinsulate thermal liner and a visor wipe.
RRP £89.99
The Ladies Arctic Gloves by Richa includes a reinforced Schoeller Kelprotec lining. Waterproof and abrasion-resistant for comfort and protection. Featuring TPU knuckle impact protection plus support in the scaphoid, finger and wrist areas with leather reinforced palms. Award-winning gloves that also won a RiDE magazine Best Buy.
Motorcycle Gloves Buyer's Guide
It's a good idea to try on different sets of motorcycle gloves from different manufacturers in order to find the best set for you. Every glove is different and they're all built to a standard defined by each manufacturer. If you buy the first pair you try, you'll never know if it really is the best glove for you.
If you're looking for the best adventure motorcycle gloves, these are the features that we think you should be looking out for.
- Wrist strap: A cuff strap is mandatory but a wrist strap will keep the glove in place in the event of an accident and by doing so, keep it comfortable too.
- Hard armour: Hard armour on the knuckles on the back of your hand will reduce the impact force if you slap your hand down in an accident. If this is a single piece it won't be as comfortable as a split-piece protector.
- Finger bridge: This is where the little finger (pinky) is joined to the ring finger. This reduces the chances of your little finger being dragged back when sliding and ending up broken.
- Ventilation: Any ventilation will create airflow and reduce the sweat build-up. Sweaty hands are uncomfortable and they could be the cause of blisters.
- Double-stitching: Double stitching in impact areas (or ideally across the majority of the glove), will help prevent the glove from bursting in an impact.
- Double-layered leather: If your glove features any panels of double-thickness or dual-layer leather then it'll help the glove hold-up to any abrasion tears caused by prolonged contact with the tarmac.
Women’s Motorcycle Gloves FAQs
What are the warmest motorcycle gloves?
Undoubtedly, the warmest motorcycle gloves are heated motorcycle gloves, which are winter thermal gloves with a heating element built-in. They can be battery powered but the most powerful ones wire into your bike’s wiring loom. These ones from Keis are brilliant.
What’s the best leather for motorcycle gloves?
There are lots of different types of leather used in the production of motorcycle gloves. The most common is cowhide, often referred to as full-grain leather. Goatskin and kangaroo skins are used in areas such as the palm on high-end motorcycle gloves as they are stronger than cowhide and so can be used thinner to offer more feel. You might even see some gloves using stingray leather, which has calcium deposits in it and is around 20-times more abrasion resistant than cowhide.
Should I tuck my gloves in or wear them over?
If you’re wearing leathers it’s best to wear the gloves over the leathers as they will offer more protection. Some racing gloves have hard plastic (TPU) cuffs which are impossible to tuck under the sleeves of your leathers and hard to tuck under a jacket. So if you’re a ‘gloves in’ kind of rider you don’t want to buy a pair with hard-wrist protection. Most waterproof motorcycle gloves are designed with wider cuffs, to be worn over your sleeve.
How do you dry motorcycle gloves?
It’s best to leave them to dry as naturally as possible. However, if they are unlikely to dry in this way (i.e it’s cold) then gently warm the gloves. If you place them on a towel on a radiator, for example, this will help them dry out. Drying them with a hair-drier or other forced heat is risky as the air can get extremely hot, damaging stitching and the qualities of the fabric or leather.
What are the best motorcycle gloves for cold weather?
Winter motorcycle gloves are designed for cold weather. They have thermal layers and waterproofing to protect you from the elements.
How tight should motorcycle gloves be?
Motorcycle gloves should be snug without being restrictive. Your gloves shouldn’t be so tight they cut off circulation nor should your fingers reach the very end.
Why do bikers wear gloves?
The main reason is protection; from the elements and from the road surface. Not only do gloves protect your hands during an accident, but they also keep your hands warm and to an extent, reduce vibrations from the engine.
Should motorcycle gloves be tight or loose?
Gloves shouldn’t be overly tight that they feel uncomfortable and restrict movement but they should be loose either. Choose a glove that fits snuggly and allows for your hand to move as it would on the handlebars.
Will motorcycle gloves stretch?
Leather motorcycle gloves should not actively stretch if you look after them well. If you need to stretch them for a bit more comfort, they will over time as they soften. You can also apply a bit of leather softener or rubbing alcohol. Textile gloves should not stretch if looked after well and remain undamaged.
Why do motorcycle gloves have hard knuckles?
Knuckle armour is present on high-quality motorcycle gloves to protect your knuckles during a crash.
How do you break in motorcycle gloves?
If you have leather gloves, you can break them in by soaking them in hot water until they are wet through. Once they’ve cooled down slightly, put them on and wear them until they’re dry.
Sources
Thanks to the following websites which helped us research and write this review of the best women’s motorcycle gloves:
Motorcycle clothing CE Ratings:
https://www.d3o.com/ce-standards-motorcycle-clothing/
