Searching for the best mountain bike gloves? Like most bikers, you’ve probably been burned before by buying sub-par biking gloves that ended up doing more harm than good. This happens to the best of us so don’t beat yourself up about it.
The good news is we did the research to make it easier to find the best MTB gloves and keep your hands protected from the elements when biking in harsh terrain.
What Are the Best Mountain Bike Gloves for Hot Weather?
It’s essential that you have good quality gloves by your side when hitting the trails.
The following guide is a result of that research and we hope it’ll bring you that much closer to making an informed purchase.
1. POC Mountain Bike Gloves
These unique gloves from POC feature silicon print brake fingers and a touchscreen-enabled thumb. This helps you operate your smartphone no matter where you may find yourself.
Thanks to the terry cloth layer, you can use these gloves to wipe the sweat off your face when it’s hot and they’re highly breathable and comfortable to wear in warm climates. Not only that, but these gloves are customized for use in rugged mountainside areas. They’re designed for comfort so you can wear them all day long with no complaints.
The fabric is highly flexible not to mention comfortable, thanks to the ventilated palms and moisture-wicking construction. You can wear them in summer, fall, and winter with the same ease.
2. Mechanix Gloves for MTB
Mechanix Wear has created something truly unique with these mountain bike gloves. These Mechanix gloves for mountain biking come with such unique features as D30 palm padding which helps your palms to easily absorb high-impact energy.
Then there’s the Nylon web loop. This loop is designed to offer additional storage for those who would like to bring their smartphone or other small gadgets with them.
You’ll be glad to know that no handwashing is required with these gloves, as they are machine wash friendly. These gloves also feature a built-in adhesive padding mechanism designed to absorb impact upon falling.
3. Giro DND Mountain Cycling Gloves
Although there’s no shortage of complaints online about the lack of durability of these gloves, this is to be expected considering the price tag at which they’re sold. You simply get what you pay for. But if you’re looking for a pair of gloves to use for one season or trip, then it’s worth looking into them.
Let’s say that you’ve forgotten your gloves at home and you need a pair to enjoy a ride on the mountainside during vacation. These are the best mountain biking gloves to get for that purpose.
They offer excellent protection, albeit for a short period of time, and come with reinforced fingertips for added safety. This is in addition to knuckle flex zones designed to help you enjoy the flexibility and they’re incredibly comfortable thanks to their super modern design with AX suede synthetic leather and super three-panel design.
4. Fox Racing Dirtpaw Gloves
Made with padded neoprene knuckle fabric, these Dirtpaw gloves from Fox Racing are designed to protect your hands, particularly the knuckles, from impact should you fall.
It’s a great pair of gloves to wear if you’re going biking in rugged terrain somewhere and it’ll definitely keep you safe from any potential hand injuries.
These are the best padded MTB gloves as they allow you to retain full movement of your hands through optimal flexibility and durable construction.
5. INBIKE Cycling Gloves
These cycling gloves from INBIKE are designed for rough riding. They feature a fleece lining for comfort and a convenient hook and loop fastener on the wrist area so that it’s easier to put them on and take them off.
This is in addition to internal gel lining which provides further comfort and shock absorption to protect your hands in case of an accident. At the back of the gloves is a reflective ribbon designed to ensure that you remain visible when riding in low light conditions. Thanks to the customized fingers, these gloves are touch screen compatible.
These INBIKE gloves also feature three anti-shock protection layers made from EVA and gel padding. Meanwhile, the wrist tie design is made to keep the gloves in place if you’re riding your bicycle while locking in warmth and keeping your hands from getting numb when it’s cold.
6. MOREOK Cycling Gloves
Next we have a pair of mountain biking gloves by MEREOK which are constructed from versatile Terry Cloth material.
Not only is this fabric durable but it’s moisture-resistant. This means you can use your custom MTB gloves to wipe the sweat off your face when you get hot. The Terry Cloth appears to be blended with breathable microfiber to further reduce sweating while promoting optimal airflow throughout.
Not only that, but these gloves feature a shock-proof system that is designed to protect your hands from dings and scratches in case you fall from your bike. This is in addition to extra padding for comfort and protection.
7. Arltb Winter Bike Gloves
These mountain biking winter gloves from Arltb are designed for style and comfort. They’re made from a lightweight and soft fabric that relieves pressure on your hands and absorbs moisture to prevent sweating during long rides.
You can rest assured that your hands will remain nice and comfortable while wearing this pair of gloves, thanks to the foam pad technology employed in designing the palm area. They’re made to reduce friction when bike riding in rough terrain and this is what makes them ideal for use in various outdoor activities and sports.
Not only will you enjoy a comfortable and stable grip with these gloves, but you’ll notice that they offer optimal ventilation at all times. The padded palms are super comfortable and ideal for use in various cycling activities.
8. FIRELION Cycling Gloves
These FIRELION cycling gloves are made for the modern-day outdoor enthusiast. They feature touch recognition technology so you can continue to use your phone without taking them off.
There’s shock-absorbing protecting gen designed to protect your hands from impact should you fall, and adjustable straps to ensure that you enjoy a customized and comfortable fit, as well as an optimal wrist support. These gloves are constructed from absorbent microfiber material which is known for its moisture-absorbing qualities. This makes these gloves perfect for use in the summer season.
The unique design on these gloves helps to relieve ulnar nerve pressure thus reducing the amount of nerve pressure that you experience. You’ll notice that while wearing these gloves, it’s much easier to ride your bicycle for long periods of time without your hands feeling tired. This is all thanks to the extra gel padding.
How to Choose the Best Mountain Bike Gloves
Now that you know what are the top rated mountain bike gloves, let’s take a look at the features that we considered when putting together this list, to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Palm
You know you’re dealing with quality bike gloves when you see synthetic leather palms. That’s because this material is known for its durability and stable grip, as well as its sweat-wicking capabilities.
You’ll also notice that a lot of brands incorporate silicone details and unique patterns on the palms to improve grip and balance. Just keep in mind that not all patterns are made equal. Some will wear out quicker than others. It all depends on the brand and how well-made the glove as a whole is.
Fit
Every glove manufacturer designs their gloves to have a certain fit, so sizing will depend on the particular brand that you’re looking at so you can have an easy time riding your mountain bike for larger riders.
However, the gist of it is that basic measurements are what determine sizing. To get proper measurements, simply measure the widest point of your hand’s circumference coupled with your middle finger’s length.
Padding
There are different protection layers featured in every pair of gloves. This padding is typically featured on the palm, fingers, and knuckles.
The type of padding utilized depends on the brand and type of glove you’re looking at. It could be anything, from fully armored mitts to mesh-backed gloves. The ones you pick will depend on your unique riding style as well as the weather patterns of your location.
Length
There’s just something about fingerless gloves that just doesn’t sit right with most cyclists. The main problem they present is the fact that they tend to bunch up and cause a myriad of problems like blisters and discomfort. That’s why the best padded mountain bike gloves are usually full-fingered ones.
Nose Wipes
Nose wipes are another important feature to look out for in the best MTN bike gloves which you might not need if you’re using an exercise bike for your knee.
This feature is usually on the thumb part of the glove and can be made from terry cloth or fleece. Terry cloth is much better by the way because it’s more effective and comfortable.
Velcro
Well-fitting gloves typically come with an elastic wristband designed to keep the gloves in place. A Velcro enclosure can also be utilized to keep air from coming in and this is a great feature to have if you plan on cycling in cold weather climates.
Phone Compatibility
Phone-friendly extras are a great feature to have in your gloves, especially if you plan to bring your phone or touchscreen GPS device with you. These features allow you to utilize such devices without taking off your gloves and include things like a small patch of fabric on the index finger or thumb, etc.
Price
Of course, as with any purchase you want your bike gloves to fit within your budget. Now, there’s a wide pricing spectrum when it comes to gloves and price is often an indicator of qualities but not all the time.
There are more than a few decent-quality low-cost gloves and some expensive ones have been shown to have useless extra features. The most important thing is to ensure that your gloves offer great value for money and some bang for your buck.
You’ll know that you have the best winter MTB gloves on your hands (excuse the pun) when you see outstanding customer reviews for them online. This is usually a good indication that the gloves actually work as advertised and are unlikely to let you down.
Conclusion
There’s no debate; if you want to enjoy a comfortable and high-performance biking experience, you need good quality mountain bicycle gloves, especially if you plan to go cycling in mountain trails. But, in our opinion, the best mountain bike gloves for numbness and all-season cycling are the POC Mountain Biking Gloves.
This is because these gloves come with features such as silicon print brake fingers including the thumb which makes it easier to operate your smartphone with your gloves on. They also fit comfortably and are made with breathable terry cloth that you can use to wipe sweat because it’s moisture-wicking.