Winter Motorcycle Riding: Warm Gloves, Warm Hands

Some riders put the bike in storage the minute the mercury dips.

But if you’re a winter rider, cold blustery weather doesn’t phase you. You already know that the secret to staying comfortable for year round riding really isn’t a secret — invest in good, warm gear.

Fortunately, gear and glove manufacturers continue to improve the gear that’s available. Our goal is to block the wind, seal out wet, keep hands warm, and lessen your exposure to the weather.

While we have always made insulated gloves, the materials we use are improving every year. Here’s what you’ll find in the way of warm, winter gloves.more

Winter Warm Gloves: Rugged materials, plus Insulation

The basic technology for an insulated glove: There are many forms of insulation used in motorcycle gloves, but they all follow the same basic principle: your body heat warms the air next to it, which is then trapped between within insulating fibers.

Primaloft, Thermolite and Thinsulate are the insulating materials we use most often in gloves. They differ in the amount of insulation, bulk, breathability and water resistance engineered into the particular fiber used.

Qualities of a good winter motorcycle glove: It’s not just the amount of insulation, but the placement that matters, too.

More insulation on the back of the hand and around fingertips, which are most exposed to cold, and less on the palms, for better feel of the grips. Here is what else to look for:

A windproof and waterproof barrier.
Lining that has wicking properties.
A rugged shell, or exterior in leather
Gauntlet to keep weather out of your sleeves.
Nice extras like google wipers, reflective materials, and more.

Winter Motorcycle Riding: Choices, Choices …

The motorcycle glove you choose depends on your needs and budget … but invest in a good set of gloves, and you are sure to get the comfort and protection you need, no matter what the weather for motorcyle riding!

Waterproof gloves are gloves that have sealed seams and a waterproof barrier (membrane).
Types of waterproof membranes: Brand include Goretex, Aquatex, and Drilock. Learn more about insulated and waterproof gloves options — and what makes these 3 types of waterproof barriers differ — here.

Note: You should be able to take the bucket test — ie, plunge your hand into a bucket of icy water, and keep perfectly dry …. in theory, that is. We don’t recommend it because fully saturating a glove like that will make it totally waterlogged (fully saturated) and heavy and take a long time to dry out, especially a leather glove, if the leather is not specially treated to be waterproof. However, theoretically if you tried this, the inside of the glove (your hand) should not get wet, because of the waterproof membrane.
For hand protection in windy riding conditions, look for a windproof protection in your next pair of gloves. And some riders combine windproof gloves with other bike accessories such as a wind guards/deflectors/muffs. You can read more about protection from wind, here.
For extra warmth, some riders choose electric gloves. While we don’t make ’em, we respect the riders who choose ’em. You can read more about how one rider made the decision about riding with or without heated gloves, for an extra bit of warmth and protection, here.

Now, you too can be one of those critters we see in polar weather, riding with a smile, rather than a grimace.

Best Cold Weather Motorcycle Gloves: 2014-15 BUYER’S GUIDE

We make over 70 styles of gloves, many warm winter styles are available with free shipping. To learn more about our winter motorcycle glove styles,

visit a local dealer or our online store: