With all the leather motorcycle gloves on the market today, how do you know what's best?

Leather motorcycle gloves range from fingerless to gel padded and even long gauntlet style to electrically heated ones. All have their purpose so let's break them down and talk about what the uses are and which ones you should use. I have three different pairs of gloves that I use. A fingerless, gel padded glove for summer, a light long fingered glove for cool mornings and a heavy winter pair with long gauntlets that come up and over my jacket sleeves. It took about three years of riding to find just the right set, but these all work well for me.

Let's first talk about gloves in general. Leather motorcycle gloves are not for everyone. I for one have to wear something on my hands when I ride. I have too many spine chilling memories of falling off my bicycle as a kids and scuffing the palms of my hands. Most of the time I wear a fingerless glove in the summer. I started out with some inexpensive leather ones and found that when it rained, not only did they become slimy, but the die also came off on my hands. So for the summer, I have changed over to an abrasion resistant fabric with gel inserts. The only thing I would say here is to watch the thickness in the gel. If you get too much and the handlebars are thick, it may cause some cramping and difficulty with gripping the brake and clutch levers.

I use fingered leather motorcycle gloves for chilly days in the spring and fall. They are light enough to keep the touch and feel that I like yet keep the cool wind off my hands. For a more comfortable fit, look at ones that have an elastic fabric sewn into the gloves. It helps to provide a snug fit and will allow your hands to breathe as well. If you can't find those or if you would rather wear the full leather gloves, make sure they're perforated. You'll be surprised how fast your hands can heat up in leather gloves that don't breathe.

Winter riding is another story. Leather motorcycle gloves are almost a necessity. I would stay away from big bulky winter "fashion" type gloves and get a good pair of gloves designed for motorcycling. They should have a good lining preferably of Thinsulate for insulation and light weight. Find a soft leather, this will help with the touch and feel. A long gauntlet helps for keeping out the wind.

Lastly are electrically heated gloves. These are mainly made of fabric and not leather. Some models will hook up directly to the bike where as others are designed to tie into heated jackets. They come with a thermostat to control the amount of heat and will keep you toasty all winter. I myself don't use them since I'm not out that much in the winter, but those I know that wear them, swear by them for a nice comfortable ride when it's cold out.

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