Buyer’s Guide: LEATHER GLOVES

Your hands are pretty much the first line of defence when riding a motorcycle. Whether it’s the weather or the impact of a crash, it’s important to keep them protected.

You’ve decided you need a new pair of gloves, and you’ve narrowed it down to wanting a leather pair. But what else should you look for? Here’s a quick guide to get you up to speed, from knuckle protection to double layer leather palms…

COW, GOAT, KANGAROO…

The kind of leather you choose can make a difference – and there are more out there than you may think, all of them with their own pros and cons. The Furygan Higgins gloves featured here are made from goat leather. Characteristics of this kind of leather include suppleness and softness, as well as good levels of abrasion resistance. Other leathers often used include cowhide and kangaroo leather. Cowhide is likely to be the one you’re most familiar with. It’s affordable, comfortable, durable, and offers good levels of abrasion resistance. Strong and lightweight, kangaroo leather is often the choice of racers for their one-piece suits, but it is sometimes used in gloves. Be sure that you’re comparing like-for-like as leather comes in different thicknesses too and can sometimes be double layered for extra protection on impact zones.

LENGTH

The preferred length of glove is very much down to personal choice – some riders prefer shorter gloves and others longer. It will also depend on the style of your jacket and the cuffs as to which gloves will sit the best with the rest of your kit. Ideally, try the gloves on with your riding jacket, so you know how they fit around the cuff. If the gloves are too long there will be a lot of bunching around the wrist, which could get uncomfortable. If they are too short, you’ll get cold wrists and in the event of an accident, you’ll be unprotected.

FIT

As with all riding gear, the fit is extremely important. Riding along and your mind focusing on how tight your gloves are or how there’s an uncomfortable seam digging into your little finger means your attention isn’t on the task in hand of riding. By wearing kit that you trust and you’re comfortable in, you can enjoy the ride and know that you’re safe and well protected. You want the gloves not to be too tight or too loose, and to not restrict your hands too much when you bend your fingers to close into a fist. Speak to your local dealership though, as some leather ‘gives’ once it’s bedded in. Look for things like stretch fabric on the wrist and also pre-curved fingers. This means the material won’t be fighting against the natural resting position of your hands, a bit like a pre-curved sleeve in a leather racing jacket.

FEATURES

Depending on the style of gloves, there may be some additional features such as touchscreen inserts on the fingertips, microfleece linings and visor wipers. It all depends on what you’re after and what weather conditions you plan to ride in.

PROTECTION

One of the most important elements is the protection that the gloves offer. While there are some very stylish gloves on the market, they’re not necessarily going to offer much protection in the event of an accident. Look for gloves which are CE-approved – this means they are tested for abrasion resistance, impact protection and also dexterity (i.e. can you move your hand properly and feel things when wearing them?). Look for protective features such as knuckle protection and secure fastenings and adjusters.

FEEL

You don’t need us to tell you that being able to feel the brake lever and handlebars are important when riding. Feel is sometimes more of an issue with thicker winter gloves, which feature lots of thermal linings and waterproof membranes. But it’s important to check all the same. The feel you get will be linked to the fit of the gloves. Too tight and your fingers may go numb. Too loose and the material may gather and make your palms uncomfortable on the bars.

WARMTH OR VENTILATION?

If you only plan on riding with them in the winter time, then be sure to look for gloves with a thermal lining and waterproof membrane, as just because they’re predominantly leather, doesn’t mean you have to get wet hands. However, if you plan to use them as summer gloves only, then look for gloves without lots of warm linings.