Biking Gloves

With a rough sport like mountain biking, you're bound to fall or injure yourself no matter how careful you are. That's why gloves are so essential: to ensure that your hands are kept free from pain even in the event of a horrible crash. 

Besides that, mountain cyclists are also prone to nerve damage from the impact of riding your bike. Wearing a padded mountain bike glove can drastically dampen the vibrations and shocks to your hand and subsequently minimize nerve damage. It's also much more comfortable to ride with gloves, allowing you to go on long bike trips.

On sunny afternoons, you might lose some control over your bike from sweaty palms. MTB gloves (mountain biking gloves) are made to absorb sweat while keeping your hands dry when cycling, which allows you to grip onto the handlebars for extended periods without losing control. Not only that, but some gloves even have a built-in soft towel on the thumb to quickly dab off sweat from your forehead on an intense excursion.

Fit

Your hands do a lot of heavy lifting when you're biking, so you'd want to make sure that the fit is perfect. One of the most important factors to consider is getting the right size, but since every brand varies from size to size, the best way to know your size is by measuring your hand.  

If your gloves are too tight, they will restrict your movements and cause some severe chafing. But if they're too loose, they might get caught on branches or affect your grip and control. The webbing between your fingers should also be taut. 

Try making a fist with your hands with the gloves on—if you can't do it, it's way too tight. But if it bunches up in your hand, it's too loose.  

Comfort Level

Small, well-made interior seams make all the difference in the comfort level of a good MTB glove. Conversely, poor seam placements create hotspots and blisters that could make your ride a living hell. This is why high-end brands often find clever ways to keep the seams away from the fingertips where they could potentially distract you. 

Look for breathability and comfort in the fabric itself. MTB gloves can be constructed with a range of different materials—whether it's polyester, synthetic leather, or lycra. Other riders prefer different fabrics, so make sure that your gloves can absorb sweat and let out the heat. For winter gloves, make sure that they have good insulation to keep your blood flowing. 

Touchscreen Compatibility

Touchscreen compatibility has become a common feature in cycling-specific gloves to make it more convenient for bikers to check their phones during their trip.

That being said, it could be a hit or miss as some designs and materials seem to work better. There's no single style that consistently performs better than the rest, so try out different brands to see how well they do for you. 

Durability

Between constant contact with the handlebars, encounters with branches, and protecting you from crashes, your gloves must be able to handle some abuse. 

Durability is essential, as your gloves should at least last an entire season without falling apart. Besides choosing a pair of gloves made of durable fabric, you should also check if there are reinforcements in easily breakable parts like the webbing between the fingers and the palm. 

Grip

Sweaty hands and handlebars are not a good combination. Besides being uncomfortable, you'd also lose control over your bike, which can be challenging when you're zipping down the trail. 

Wearing gloves is great for grip on multiple levels. Some are built with a silicone grip on the thumb so that you can hold onto the bars better. Some are made of breathable material to prevent sweaty palms. Besides that, gloves with the optimal shape and fit for your hand would also help you perform better. 

If you have bigger hands, you might appreciate a thicker grip that prevents your hands from slipping. It would also help facilitate better gear shifting and braking. 

Padding

Some bikers don't like gloves with a padded palm since they can be uncomfortable from trapping too much heat. Others prefer it for its shock-absorption properties. So it really depends on how you feel when you wear the gloves. 

Another important factor to consider is nerve damage prevention. You might experience some hand numbness or tingling when you ride for an extended time. This condition is so common that it's even called 'Cyclist's Palsy'! 

You can minimize the damage from this with well-thought-out gel padding. Each gel pad should be positioned over the major nerves on your hand to provide maximum cushioning without completely dampening vibrations from your bike. It should also relieve pressure on your hand while you're riding. If you're on a budget, you can opt for a glove with foam padding. 

Both the fingerless cycling glove and its full-fingered counterpart have their own strengths and weaknesses. 

Fingerless gloves are much more breathable but provide a lot less security. However, for mountain bikers who need a lot more protection, full-fingered gloves might be preferable. They also provide extra grip for dangerous downhill rides and extra insulation for colder temperatures up in the mountains. 

Ultimately, it depends where you usually ride your bike. If you don't intend to ride for long, fingerless gloves might be your solution. But for longer distances and colder climates, full-fingered cycling gloves are the way to go.

Although brands race to produce the best gloves, your choice should adapt to the demands of your trip. What one biker considers the best might not be your cup of tea and vice versa. 

The most important thing to consider is what you need from it. For example, if you do a lot of cross-country riding, you should consider lightweight gloves that absorb a good amount of vibration and sweat. But if you're into enduro riding, you should opt for long gloves with gel pads on the palm to relieve pressure from your hand.

Besides that, you should also consider the amount of protection you need from your gloves. Downhill racers would naturally need more heavy-duty protection than trail riders. This also applies in special cases like in kids' bike gloves.

Since gloves are sized differently across brands, the most secure way to ensure that your fit is to measure your hand. 

Measure from the tip of your longest finger towards the base of your palm to determine how long your glove should be. You should also wrap the tape measure on the widest part of your palm and make a fist before you take the measurement. This will help you figure out your width. Using these measurements, you can accurately determine your glove size.