How should motorcycle gloves fit?

Gloves are the second most important piece of protective gear you can buy after a helmet because it only takes a very little bit of trauma to result in a permanent injury. But what’s also interesting is that modern motorcycle gloves not only offer protection from impact and abrasion, but can also enhance comfort based on environmental factors. Modern gloves, when they fit correctly, will actually enhance your grip and improve your ability to manipulate the controls of your motorcycle.

In today’s world, you can get gloves that will get your hands to stay cool during warm summer months, or warm during cold winter months, or you can get a touring glove that not only has to protect your hand but keep them warm, dry, and cool, sometimes all in a single day. So, it is very important to consider the fitment of your motorcycle gloves. You spend so much time choosing the correct fitting for your motorcycle jacket, and in fact, you should give similar importance in choosing the right fit for your motorcycle gloves. In this article, we are going to give you some tips that will help you selecting motorcycle gloves for yourself that will fit you comfortably and snuggly.

Which Material Gloves Will Fit You Perfectly?

Even if you are new to motorcycling, the chances are that you already know about the two different types of materials: textile and leather. Historically there has been a debate over which is safer, but what we really know is that with modern-day textiles, they are going to be just as safe as leather gloves in the event of a street crash. The main difference, however, is that after the crash, textiles will usually have to be replaced. Whereas, leather gloves can survive multiple crashes, or they can be repaired. The following are some details about the common motorcycle gloves materials.

• Leather
• Textile
• Hybrid

Leather

Leather is often used in the manufacturing of gloves because of the high levels of protection it provides while simultaneously giving you a great feel for level control. Now some of the pros and cons of leather are:

Pros

• Abrasion Resistant: Leather gloves are going to have a high level of abrasion resistance.
• Longevity: It can oftentimes survive multiple crashes.
• Molds to Hand: A pair of leather gloves will break and get more comfortable over time.

Cons

• Larger Investment: It is going to be more expensive than its textile counterpart.
• Waterproof Options Limited: It is not going to be ideal for waterproofing.
• Limited Seasonality: Typically, not the best in extreme temperatures.

Textile

Textiles are used in the manufacturing of motorcycle gloves because they offer a wide range of possibilities for protecting riders from extreme weather as well as in the event of a crash. Some pros and cons of textile are:

Pros

• Waterproof: A pair of textile gloves can be ideal for waterproof protection.
• Multi-seasonal: They are going to give you options for temperature extremes, both hot and cold.
• Consistent Fit: They are not going to have a break-in period the way that leather would, so you are going to have a consistent fit right out of the box.

Cons

• Doesn’t Mold to Hand: They are not going to break in and get more comfortable over time.
• One-time Crash Use: Usually, a textile pair of motorcycle gloves are going to be a one-time use in the event of a crash.
• Liner Cause Bulk: The thermal and waterproof liners can feel a bit bulky.

Hybrid Gloves

Leather and textile can actually be combined in a hybrid to give the best of both worlds. So, when you are looking at a leather-textile option for motorcycle gloves, some of the pros here are going to be that you get abrasion resistance and tactile feedback of leather while simultaneously offering some of the weather protection that textiles give you. So, you get mesh at the back of the hands for hot weather riding, or you can get more complex liner systems in the gloves to help combat the cold. Textile motorcycle gloves also give us really usable waterproof options. Although hybrid gloves have their pros, still they are not without cons. They are not going to be as durable as a true full leather glove in the event of a crash, and the liners can be a bit bulky.

How tight should motorcycle gloves be?

Fitment for your motorcycle gear has the utmost importance. You must require all of your gear to fit properly. Whether it is the helmet or the jacket, and not to miss, the gloves. Proper fitting is important because you need your gear to remain intact in case of a crash. Let us imagine you have an accident, and you are flying off your bike and get tossed down on the side of the road. Now, your gear will only be able to perform its duty when it is properly placed. Even if the armor inside the gear gets shifted, you are going to be in deep trouble. And not to forget about the worst-case scenario, your gear comes off completely because it was not tight enough to remain intact. Well, nobody would want that, right?

 

The second reason why your motorcycle gloves must have proper fitting is the fact that you need to have a proper feeling of the controls while riding the bike. Now, if your gloves are too tight. They will disturb you and will cause discomfort or even can interfere with the manipulation of the controls. And if they are too loose, you can have them annoy you during your ride. So, you just need the right fitting for a comfortable ride. Gloves are just like boots, and you got to have them fit right.

 

To tell in short, the gloves must be snug around the whole hand and must not have any excess material at the tip of the fingers. If you are going to opt for leather motorcycle gloves, keep in mind that they are a bit tight at the start, and as time passes, they loosen up for the perfect fit. But if you are going to go for textile gloves, make sure they feel perfect at the very first wear. When we talk about fitting for motorcycle gloves, there are two types of common fits. Both of them might look identical when put on a table, but when you try them on, they have two distinctly different fits.

• American Fit
• European Fit

American Fit.

American Fit motorcycle gloves are designed by an American manufacturer, and they have a more relaxed fit overall. And while there are some European manufacturers that have shifted to more relaxed fit as well. Still American fit gloves have an additional room around the circumference of the palm, circumference of the fingers and slightly less length throughout the entire glove.

 

 European Fit

European fit gloves are typically designed by folks outside of the US, and they’re really focused on a more snug, secure, and aggressive fit. So, this means that the motorcycle gloves will be narrower around the circumference of your palm and the circumference of your fingers. You will have an additional length at the fingertips.

Measurement of Motorcycle Gloves

Now that you know how your gloves should fit and what are different types of fit available in the market. Now is the time to understand how to measure for your motorcycle gloves. And this is probably the hardest part. The reason is that almost every manufacturer sizes gloves differently, and the sizes can be different for different models of a single brand.

As mentioned earlier, European brands have smaller, and snug fit as compared to American brands. This is why it is a better idea to go a size up when ordering from European brands. If you are planning to buy online, then make sure you always check the manufacturer’s sizing guide. You will usually find it on the product page

How to Measure for Motorcycle Gloves

Wow, you have almost made it to the end glove seeker. You have gone through different materials for your gloves, how they should fit right in, and you have read through the difference between American and European fit. Now is the time to determine your glove size. It is very simple and requires no rocket science. For this, you can use any of the two methods mention below.

1. Measuring-tape method
2. Draw Hand Outline, and measure the distance

Measuring-tape method

Get a hold of a measuring tape and use it in order to find the width and circumference of your hand. If you don’t have a measuring tape nearby, then you don’t have to worry. You can always use a string and then place it against a ruler. Now what you got to do is see the size chart of the gloves in which you are interested. See whether the manufacturers are using width of the hand or circumference of the hand to depict the sizes.

 

If you want to measure the width of the hand, then all you got to do is place the measuring tape on a flat surface and place your palm down on the top. Now, go on measuring the widest part of your palm and do the same process for your other hand. It is possible that both of your hands have different measurements even though they might seem equal. So, use the size of the bigger hand when you place your order.

 

If you are interested in measuring the circumference of your hand, then you need to wrap the measuring tape around your palm just behind the knuckles. Keep the measuring tape all stretched to ensure accurate measuring. Exclude the thumb. Now, compare it to the manufacturer’s size chart, and you are all set.

Draw Hand Outline, and Measure Distance

For an accurate, comfortable and correct glove fitting, use the following method

3. Place your open hand on a flat surface with palm down, and draw an outline of your hands.
4. As shown in the figure below, mark point ‘1’ and point ‘2’.
5. Now, measure the distance between the two points
6. This will give you the correct measurement of your size.

Conclusion

We know that motorcycle gloves are one of the most important pieces of gear for bikers. You certainly are going to pay well to buy yourself a perfect pair of gloves. And even after spending so much money, getting a pair of gloves with wrong fitting can be a little frustrating. This is why, in this article, we tried our best to touch each and everything important in the motorcycle gloves selection process.

We had a brief overview of different materials used in the manufacturing of gloves. How your gloves should feel when you wear them. We also went through different fitting available in the market. Last, but not least, we learned how to take measurements of your hands. So, we hope that this article helped you clear up your mind, and will enable you to proceed further in your Motorcycle gloves buying quest.

A little about hold fast gloves.

The gloves came from the term HOLD FAST. The meaning of Hold Fast is interesting and you can read our full article on it here.

Check out our full line of gloves here.

The Steadfast glove is a good all-around glove that provides some protection while still giving you flexibility and airflow for those summer/spring riding days.

The Vigilant glove is a very light, almost second-skin type of glove. This glove will help reduce fatigue, improve your grip, reduce vibration on your hands and give you that extra confidence to conquer any obstacle in your way.

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