Buying guide for best dirt bike gloves
Riding a dirt bike is a lot of fun, allowing you to cover various types of terrain as you venture out on rough roads and trails. The sport can help you build endurance, increase strength, and even get a cardio workout. Riding a dirt bike can be dangerous, though, so you need the proper protective gear to stay safe, and that includes dirt bike gloves.
A helmet is obviously the most essential piece of protective gear, but you shouldn’t overlook the importance of a good pair of gloves. They can protect your hands from minor injuries like scrapes and cuts and help prevent more serious injuries like a broken finger or sprained wrist. The gloves also offer protection from the weather and give better control when steering your bike. Some gloves are versatile enough that you can wear them for other activities too, such as riding a motorcycle or mountain bike.
Key considerations
Why wear gloves?
It might be tempting to ride your dirt bike without wearing gloves, but there are several reasons to reconsider.
Prevent injuries: Dirt bike gloves can help prevent hand injuries, including scrapes, cuts, and blisters, as well as more serious injuries like broken bones.
Improve grip: Dirt bike gloves are highly effective at helping you maintain a firm grip on the handlebars. Your hands are likely to get sweaty when riding, and the palms of the gloves have a textured surface that helps you maintain a secure grip for better control.
Provide protection: Dirt bike gloves can also offer protection from the weather. Most are waterproof to keep your hands dry in wet conditions, and many are insulated to protect against the cold.
Types
Dirt bike gloves are available in two main types: full-fingered and fingerless.
Full-fingered gloves cover your hands, providing complete protection. Most styles end at the wrist, but you can find some that extend up the arm beyond the wrist.
Fingerless gloves only cover the palms and backs of your hands, leaving your fingers exposed. They provide a full range of motion for your fingers and help keep your hands cool in the summer, but fingerless gloves aren’t as effective at protecting against broken bones and other injuries.
Size and fit
Finding the right size and fit in dirt bike gloves is crucial if they’re going to be comfortable and offer adequate protection. If the gloves are too tight, they can limit your range of motion; too loose and you run the risk of developing blisters.
To ensure a proper fit, you need to measure the circumference of your hand just under your knuckles, with your fingers stretched out and apart. Each glove manufacturer uses different measurements for its sizes, so it’s important to consult the sizing chart for any pair you’re considering. These are general guidelines:
- Extra small: between 8.2 and 8.5 inches
- Small: between 8.5 and 8.7 inches
- Medium: between 8.7 and 8.9 inches
- Large: between 8.9 and 9.25 inches
- Extra-large: between 9.25 and 9.6 inches
- 2X: between 9.6 and 9.8 inches
- 3X: between 9.8 and 10.2 inches
If you often go riding for long periods, it’s best to bring several pairs of dirt bike gloves with you. That way, you’ll always have dry gloves to wear if your hands get sweaty.
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Features
Material
Dirt bike gloves are typically made of leather, synthetic materials, or a combination of the two.
Leather dirt bike gloves are the most expensive, but they provide a classic motorcycle glove look that some riders prefer. They’re usually more durable, so they hold up well in extreme weather and on rough rides, but they can get pretty hot in warm weather. Leather gloves tend to mold to your hands over time, which allows you to get a custom fit.
Synthetic gloves can be made of faux leather, spandex, polyester, or other textiles. They’re usually more affordable and can breathe well in warmer weather. You can find some pairs that have a thermal lining for warmth in winter.
Combination gloves include both leather and synthetic materials. These offer the best of both worlds, providing a durable glove that’s highly breathable in warmer weather.
Components
Reinforcement: Dirt bike gloves are reinforced to provide additional protection for your hands. Some styles feature rubber reinforcement on the outer layers to offer protection from impact if you’re in a crash. A few gloves even have steel reinforcement, which is extremely hard and protective.
Padding: You can also find dirt bike gloves that offer extra padding to provide even more protection for your hands. Many styles provide this padding in the fingers and palms to prevent road rash if you have an accident.
Air vents: While synthetic dirt bike gloves are usually breathable enough to keep your hands cool and comfortable, you may want a little extra help in warmer weather. Some gloves have air vents in certain areas to help wick moisture away and keep your hands more comfortable.
Insulation: If you regularly ride your dirt bike in cold weather, you might want gloves that are insulated for extra warmth. This is a particularly important feature if you opt for synthetic gloves, which tend to be more breathable.
Color
Most dirt bike gloves are multicolored, primarily black with accent colors. You can find dirt bike gloves with white, red, green, yellow, blue, and other bold-colored accents.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some dirt bike gloves have touchscreen-compatible fingertips, so you don’t need to take off a glove to use your smartphone.
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Accessories
Dirt bike loading ramp: Black Widow AFL-9012 Ramp
If you need to transport your dirt bike from location to location, you definitely want a high-quality ramp to quickly load the bike into your truck or trailer. We love this 7.5-foot ramp because it’s affordable, can support up to 750 pounds, and folds down for easy storage.
Hydration pack: TETON TrailRunner 2.0 Hydration Pack
If you’re planning some long dirt bike rides, you might want to invest in a hydration pack to make sure you have plenty of water with you. This one from TETON is a favorite because it’s lightweight and comfortable thanks to its breathable mesh straps.
Dirt bike glove prices
Dirt bike gloves vary in price based on the type, material, protection, and other features. Most pairs cost between $3 and $140.
Inexpensive: The most affordable dirt bike gloves are children’s sizes, fingerless styles, and some synthetic pairs. These don’t offer much reinforcement or padding and may not have adequate ventilation. They typically cost between $3 and $12.
Mid-range: These dirt bike gloves are full-fingered synthetic styles. They typically have fairly effective reinforcement and padding to protect your hands and are suitably vented to keep your hands cool. Some in this price range are insulated for colder weather too. These gloves generally cost between $12 and $40.
Expensive: The most expensive dirt bike gloves are full-fingered synthetic, synthetic and leather, and full leather gloves. They’re highly reinforced and padded to provide significant protection for your hands. They typically have highly effective air vents, and the synthetic pairs are usually lined. Synthetic and synthetic-leather combination gloves cost between $40 and $70, while all-leather gloves can cost as much as $140.
If you’re having trouble keeping your hands dry inside your gloves, sprinkle a small amount of baby powder on your palms before putting on your gloves. It will help soak up the moisture and reduce the friction that can cause blisters.
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Tips
- Check the fit. To make sure that your dirt bike gloves fit correctly, take hold of your bike’s handlebars the way you would if you were riding. You should be able to get a firm grip on the bars that feels comfortable without the gloves bunching up or pinching into your skin.
- Break in leather gloves. Leather dirt bike gloves take some time to break in, so they may feel a little tight when you first put them on. Leather stretches with regular use, so you can eventually get a perfect fit once you’ve worn them several times.
- Check the size. Synthetic and textile dirt bike gloves don’t stretch over time, so if your gloves feel tight when you first put them on, they’re likely the wrong size. If you’re having trouble choosing between two sizes, you’re usually better off going with the larger size.
- Dry your hands. To prevent blisters when riding your dirt bike, make sure your hands are completely dry before putting on your gloves. If there’s sweat or other moisture on your palms, it can create friction between your skin and gloves that leads to blisters.
FAQ
Q. Are dirt bike gloves really necessary?
A. Dirt bike riding can be dangerous, so wearing proper safety gear is essential to avoid injuries. While gloves may not seem as important as a helmet, they can effectively reduce the risk of injury to your hands, including broken bones. They also help you keep a secure grip on the handlebars, so you’re less likely to lose control of your bike and have an accident.
Q. Do dirt bike gloves come in unisex sizes?
A. Many manufacturers offer unisex sizes, though they’re often geared toward men, so the sizes can run somewhat large. Women usually have to opt for smaller sizes, and in some cases, the gloves still may not fit correctly. You can find some brands that offer women’s sizes, which are tailored for a woman’s smaller hands and have a more snug, comfortable fit.
Q. How should I clean and care for my dirt bike gloves?
A. If you want your dirt bike gloves to last, it’s essential to clean them regularly. Many gloves made of synthetic materials are machine washable, which makes caring for them extremely easy. If you have leather gloves, you’ll need to clean them by hand according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid damaging them. Never put your dirt bike gloves away when they’re dirty and/or wet. Clean them after each use, and allow them to dry fully before storing them.
