Protection for your hands, peace for your mind
Do you know what’s the most common first body part to hit the ground in a crash? Your hands!
They must be protected, as they are the first to take the impact, as a rider involuntarily uses them for support. Your hands are also the ones that have all the necessary controls of a motorcycle like clutch, brakes and the throttle. When looking for riding gloves, you will come across a wide variety of products and it might get quite overwhelming. But, you don’t need to be confused, here’s a detailed guide to find the perfect gloves:
What Protection Should Your Gloves Have?
The one job gloves are expected to do well is–protecting your hands from injury in a crash. Ideally, the gloves you are buying should have CE certified protectors (even Level 1 certified ones will do the job), mainly the knuckle protection for impact and palm sliders in case of a crash to prevent the gloves getting stuck to the ground and should be able to slide easily to minimize the effect.
For finger protection, look for gloves with foam or small armour inserts in the fingers to prevent fractures and other injuries as fingers are fragile. If your gloves have wrist closure or foam and padding for more protection, it’s the best.
For overall protection, we suggest you get the gauntlet gloves, as they also help in securing the elbow armour in place along with all the above qualities. The gloves should have good straps for a secure fitting and a finger bridge is a good addition to the feature list for additional safety as it will help avoid twisting or breaking of fingers when sliding.
Choosing The Right Material
All the available protection, to be held in place, needs good materials for it to work effectively. The leathers, obviously, are the best in terms of abrasion resistance as they will slide easily and won’t rip off. If you can get the kangaroo leather gloves, it’s the highest quality of leather for gloves and also the thinnest while offering the most protection.
For city riding, especially in the Indian conditions, the textile ones with some leather combined in its construction are the best, as they offer excellent protection while providing enough ventilation.
Offroad, is a whole other area and you will need all the feedback and flexibility as well as the protection from dirt and debris. A hybrid (textile-leather-mesh, preferably a gauntlet type) glove with armour as well as good ventilation should be enough to suffice your needs. Additionally, look for gloves that come with special materials to help you grab and modulate the throttle easily.
Also some other gloves come with summer, winter and waterproof liners to keep your hands protected from harsh weather conditions.
Fit And Comfort
Ironically, the phrase “fits like a glove” doesn’t always apply when buying new gloves. Get a glove that fits your hand quite snugly but doesn’t restrict your movement when applying throttle or pulling the clutch. With extended use, the glove will break-in and become more comfortable and always check if your fingers reach the fingertips of the gloves.
When buying new gloves, always check the protection provided is aligning with the knuckles, palms and the wrists and you can grab the handle bar without any issues and discomfort.
If you can, go for gloves with precurved fingers, that will not hold your fingers back and reduce fatigue while riding. Also, watch out for the fit of the wrist strap, and if the inner lining is uncomfortable as it will always be a distraction and can be a reason for a crash.
BikeDekho Says:
Gloves are considered an underrated riding gear, but they can be lifesavers in a crash, protecting your hands, one of the most valuable riding aids, helping you control the bike. Whatever gloves you decide to buy, make sure they have ample protection, suit your riding needs and are comfortable enough along with secure fitting. Choosing the right pair of gloves is a crucial task as it will always be an extra line of defence in the event of a crash. A good pair of gloves will always make a difference and we hope this article will help you find the perfect pair of gloves. Ride Safe!
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