How to Choose the Right Bike Glove

The first decisions you need to consider when choosing a bike glove are

1. the level of padding in the palm
2. whether you go for a fingerless or a full finger length
3. how much protection you need

At goRide we have Recreation Bike Gloves or Endurance Bike Gloves…

Choosing the right level of padding is important to get the comfort you require from a bike glove.

Having a greater level of padding as in the Endurance Glove, can assist with comfort when riding over different types of terrains particularly bumpy terrain and/or if you ride for long periods (greater than an hour). If you have a lean forward riding position (not fully upright) and you feel a lot of pressure through the palms of your hands when you ride,  you can benefit from an Endurance Glove.  As can anyone who suffers from hand or palm conditions such as carpal tunnel.

The padding in the Recreation Glove is sufficient to support your comfort if riding shorter distances and over smooth terrain. It also suits the lighter hand grip an upright rider has.

To support your comfort when you ride

• an Endurance Glove is best suited to those riding on a variety of terrains and/or riding for greater then an hour and/or feeling pressure through the palm on the handlebars
• a Recreation Glove is sufficient for smooth surfaces and rides less than an hour

Choosing either a full finger or fingerless style will help you get the right temperature

A full finger glove fully encloses the fingers and will assist with keeping your hand and fingers warm.  This style is a good choice for riding on cooler days in Spring and Autumn and definitely necessary through Winter.  Thermal fabrics like fleece will provide extra protection from winter temperatures.

A fingerless style is open at the fingers and will help keep your hands cool and reduce sweat. This also helps to keep your hands dry which is what you need to maintain good grip and control on your handlebars. Fingerless gloves are a good choice for summer riding and also suitable on warmer days in Spring and Autumn

To support temperature control when you ride

• Full finger for riding in cooler/cold weather
• Fingerless for riding in warm/hot weather

Do you need to protect your hands from falls or knocks?

The majority of skin abrasions from falls will happen to the palm of the hand and so both a fingerless and full finger glove will provide protection from this type of incident. 

Gloves also protect your knuckles and the top surface of your hand from impacts and knocks.  An Endurance Glove will have extra padding or more durable fabrics on the top surface of the glove to protect your hand. This type of injury to the hand is more likely to occur on narrow single tracks where structures like trees or a rocky cliff face can cause damage.  Full finger gloves will increase your protection for this type of riding as well.

To support protection from injury when you ride

• Both Recreation and Endurance, full finger or fingerless gloves provide a good level of palm protection.
• Endurance gloves will have better protection for the top surfaces of your hand.  Full finger Endurance gloves provide the best protection and are often the best choice for mountain bike riders in all seasons. 

Once you know the type of bike gloves that will give you the comfort, temperature control & protection you need, it is really important to get the right size.  Bike gloves need to be firm fitting and not interfere with your ability to grip your handlebars.  Please use the Size Guides and fitting instructions.