How To Choose The Right Cycling Gloves

Keeping a good grip on your handlebars is essential whether you prefer cycling on roads, trails or over mountains. Gloves help to take the pressure off your fingers and palms so you can focus on twisting, turning, and braking at speed or over technical trails. 

To stay safe and comfortable on every ride, you need gloves that match your cycling style, are suitable for the time of year, and are the correct size. Plus, having a few extra features can also help improve your performance and make longer training sessions more enjoyable. We cover them all to help you choose the best pair for your rides.

Why Wear Gloves for Riding?

Wearing gloves for riding is essential for maintaining your comfort and safety, whatever your experience level or preferred cycling style. They help you keep a constant and secure grip on the handlebars, meaning you can continue to operate them and the brakes effectively. This includes having grips that stop slippage in wet conditions and padding which cushions impacts that come through the bike from the riding surface.

For all-weather riders, they protect your hands from harsh weather conditions, meaning your fingers don’t lose grip because they’re numb from wet and cold. They also give an extra layer of protection in the case of a fall, something which is particularly important for mountain and trail bikers. Endurance cyclists are also protected from painful blisters and hand fatigue, which is common over long rides. 

All these features help you stay in complete control of your bike, whatever the outside conditions or your training schedule throw at you. 

Choosing the Right Cycling Gloves

To make sure the cycling gloves you choose give you the right level of protection and comfort, there are a few features you need to consider. Having sufficient grips, padding and stretch to match your riding style will ensure you pick the right pair to support your performance. 

Consider Your Riding Style

Cycling on the road, across trails or over mountains puts very different demands on your body, including your hands. When riding on the road, your hands will mainly need thermal protection from rain and wind chill, particularly on cold days in winter or fall. Otherwise, your palms and fingers will soon become numb and lose grip. For long-distance riders, cushioned gloves can also help protect from hand fatigue after hours in the saddle. 

Trail and mountain riders will need more rugged, durable protection. With athletes’ hands suffering from more shocks and bumps coming through the handle bars, having gloves with cushioning is helpful. Looking for durable materials and grips will also protect the skin from scratches and scrapes in the case of a fall or when out on rugged terrain. 

Windproof or Waterproof

With your hands exposed at the front of your bike, wind chill and rain can quickly make your fingers and palms numb if they’re not protected. So looking for gloves made from windproof or waterproof materials is essential, particularly for all-weather riders. If you need a pair to see you through winter, then considering options with thermal properties will give you extra protection from the cold. 

Grip

To perform at your best, you still need to be able to feel and grip the handlebars and brakes when your hands are covered. Make sure the fabric used on the palm-side of your glove is still allowing you to have a close connection with your bike controls. There may be additional features such as silicone finger grips to help you maintain secure contact in adverse weather conditions. 

Padding 

Whatever your riding style, you should look for some padding in your cycling gloves. Foam or gel padding on the palm will absorb any shocks or bumps that come through the handlebars and help protect your hands from fatigue. For mountain and trail riders, some padding on fingers will guard them against impacts on off-road environments. 

Touchscreen Compatibility

If you’re heading out on a long or remote ride, then you might need to check your route map, session progress or messages on your phone or cycling device. Touchscreen compatible materials or grips in the forefinger and thumb mean you can do this without having to take your gloves on and off. 

Fastenings

Shifting or insecure gloves are the last distraction you need when you’re out on a ride. Choosing a pair with secure, adjustable fastenings will help them stay in place without being uncomfortable. Features such as elasticated wrists and velcro closures also make gloves easier to slip on and off quickly. 

Comfort and Stretch

Although gloves should be close-fitting, they shouldn’t restrict the movement of your fingers or thumbs. If they’re too tight, they might also make your hand go numb. Choosing a pair made from comfortable, stretchy fabric will ensure you can maintain complete freedom and control. Soft, breathable materials will also wick away sweat and minimize skin irritation or blistering. 

Popular Types of Cycling Gloves

The exact type of cycling gloves you choose will depend on your preference as well as your riding style. Finding a design you like will ensure you feel completely comfortable and secure as you ride. Below are some of the most common types you’ll find. 

Full Finger Gloves

Ideal for protecting your fingers and thumbs against wind chill and rain (particularly if they’re made from windproof and waterproof materials), a full fingered pair will be useful all year round for every type of rider. Make sure you opt for a pair with good grip and connection on the palm-side. Palm padding cushions shocks coming through the handlebars. Extra protection on the backhand side is recommended for mountain or trail riders. 

Thermo Gloves

Having gloves with extra thermal insulation will ensure your palms and fingers don’t go numb from cold temperature or windchill. However, it’s important you check that gloves aren’t so thick that you can’t easily grip the handlebars or brakes. So when you try on thermo gloves, make sure you still have a good connection with your controls. That way your hands will stay warm and continue to perform. 

Trigger Gloves

Trigger gloves have three separate compartments for the pointer (first) finger, thumb and the other three fingers. This gives you grip and control while enjoying a little extra warmth from most of your fingers being together. It also reduces the amount of surface area that heat can be lost from compared to gloves with individual fingers. 

Short Finger Gloves

For endurance road cyclists and mountain or trail riders, short finger gloves are great for giving extra cushioning and protection without making your hands too warm. With palm padding to absorb shocks and breathable, comfortable materials, they let sweat escape while minimizing hand fatigue. This makes them ideal for long sessions on road, trail or mountain on warmer days. 

Best Gloves for Road Biking

Wind chill and rain are the main conditions you need to protect your hands from when cycling on the road. Here are a few options to consider:

• C5 WINDSTOPPER Gloves are totally windproof, water-resistant and breathable, keeping your hands warm and dry in damp, chilly conditions

• C3 WINDSTOPPER® Stretch Mid Gloves are designed for shoulder season riding and will keep you warm without being bulky.

• GORE-TEX Insulated Trigger Gloves are made for keeping your fingers warm during deep winter riding

Best Gloves for MTB

With a little extra support and comfort from the right pair of gloves, riders can tackle the most rugged terrain and technical routes more easily: 

• Zone Gloves give complete protection without weighing you down thanks to their lightweight, breathable and durable materials

• Zone Thermo Gloves offer extra insulation without losing any contact with the controls or handlebars

• C5 Short Gloves support your hands with cushioning while allowing extra air flow during warmer days

Cycling Gloves Size Guide 

Getting the right glove size is essential to maintaining your comfort without any restriction or slippage. To work out your glove size, take the following measurements:

Circumference: around the widest part of your hand, which is usually just below the knuckles

Once you’ve got these measurements, choose the largest size range on the chart below. This will ensure your gloves give your fingers and palms enough space to move. 

How Should Cycling Gloves Fit?

Cycling gloves should be close fitting without being too tight or restricting the movement of your fingers and palm. To check your gloves are the right size, make sure you can perform the following actions without any shifting, bunching or pinching:

• Pinching your middle finger and thumb together 

• Balling your hand into a fist

• Rotating your wrist 

If you feel no excess material, pressure points or discomfort when performing these movements, then your glove fit is correct. 

Shop Cycling Gloves from GOREWEAR

They might only be a small item of kit, but having the right cycling gloves can make a huge difference to your comfort and performance, particularly over long training sessions. Whether you need extra padding for the trails or a windproof pair for hours out on the road, check out our range to find gloves that suit your riding needs.