Glove Styles and Cuffs
Best Gauntlet Motorcycle Gloves: How to Pick the Right Type
No ranked brands: compare race, street-sport, touring and textile gauntlets, then use our checklist for closures, armour, materials and EN 13594 rating.
The best gauntlet motorcycle glove is the type that matches how you ride, built with two closures, hard armour on the knuckles and fingers, and a cuff that closes over your jacket. We have not field-tested gloves side by side, so this page compares gauntlet types and what to check rather than ranking brands.
Verdict: track riders want a race gauntlet that goes over the suit sleeve. Street and sport riders get a more flexible wrist from a street-sport gauntlet. Touring riders want the long cuff to seal the sleeve against wind and rain.
Part of our guide to motorcycle glove styles and cuffs. New to the style? Start with what gauntlet gloves are.
Gauntlet types compared
Every full gauntlet shares one trade-off. It covers the wrist, the ulnar bump and part of the forearm, but it is usually less ventilated than a short-cuff glove and blocks air from flowing up your sleeve.
| Type | Built for | What sets it apart | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race gauntlet | Track days, racing | Most armour and top materials; worn over the leather suit's sleeve | Too bulky to tuck under a sleeve |
| Street-sport gauntlet | Fast road riding | Simpler than a race glove; ring and little fingers not joined; more flexible wrist | Less armour than a race glove |
| Touring gauntlet | Long trips, wind and rain | Long cuff keeps wind, rain and debris out of the sleeve | Rain can still find its way around the cuff |
| Textile gauntlet | Adventure (ADV) riding | Made mainly for ADV use | Not covered in detail here |
| Semi-gauntlet | Riders who want a middle ground | Reaches past the wrist, short of a full gauntlet | Less forearm cover than a full gauntlet |
What to check before you buy
On the rating: the EN 13594 summaries we read, from SATRA and D3O, disagree on the minimum cuff for level 1 (5 mm or 15 mm) but agree on 50 mm (2 in) for level 2. See EN 13594:2015 explained for the full test list. Why the knuckle shell matters is covered in why motorcycle gloves have hard knuckles.
| Check | What good looks like | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Closures | At least two: one at the wrist, one on the cuff | A single closure can let the glove come off in an accident |
| Cuff opening | Room to go over your jacket cuff | A narrow cuff can stop the glove going fully on |
| Armour | Hard armour on knuckles, fingers, thumb and the blade of the hand; foam is acceptable in the palm | Those are the major contact points named by the reviewer |
| Stitching | Seams at least double-stitched | Structural strength |
| Material | Full-grain cowhide, kangaroo or goatskin; microfiber is becoming common | All three leathers are rated adequate by the same reviewer |
| Ventilation | Vents between the knuckle armour, perforations or an exhaust vent | Gauntlets run warmer than short cuffs |
| Rating | A stated EN 13594 level on the label | The standard sets cuff length and a pull-off test for the restraint |
Picks by rider type
Still deciding between a long and a short cuff? Our gauntlet vs standard motorcycle gloves comparison weighs them head to head.
| You are | Look for | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Track-day rider | Race gauntlet over the suit sleeve | Motorcycle glove safety guide |
| Sport or fast road rider | Street-sport gauntlet with two closures | Gauntlet-style gloves: cuffs, coverage and fit |
| Tourer | Long cuff worn over the sleeve | Best touring gloves |
| Cold-weather rider | A cuff that still closes over your liner | Winter riding gloves |
| Cruiser rider | Classic leather shapes; our store partner files vintage and retro gloves under cruisers | Best gloves for cruisers |
| Hot-climate commuter | Maybe not a gauntlet: short cuffs are lighter and cooler | Best short-cuff motorcycle gloves |
Fit and break-in
Leather gauntlets feel stiff at first; a couple of hours of wear at home helps, and a few rides finish the break-in. Gauntlets work with most mesh, textile, leather and adventure jackets, but thick thermal liners can stop the cuff closing.
Measure your hand before you order. Our sister site shows how to find your glove size.
What our store partner offers
Our store partner sells no gauntlet gloves. None of the 25 riding gloves on its two category pages is called a gauntlet. If you want a true gauntlet, this store is not the place to buy one.
What it does have is two-closure leather gloves. 21 of its 25 riding gloves list a wrist strap plus a cuff closure. Leather Collection leather motorcycle gloves are hand-stitched cowhide, 0.8-0.9 mm (0.03-0.04 in) thick. For a longer glove that covers the wrist, the store itself points to its Motorbike Race Gloves, which add a Velcro cuff to the wrist strap. For cruisers, the store lists vintage and retro styles. It states no cuff lengths and no EN 13594 level, so treat these gloves as unrated.
FAQ
What is the best brand of motorcycle gloves?
We have not tested brands side by side, so we do not name one. Judge any brand's gauntlet on the checks above: two closures, hard armour at the knuckles and fingers, double-stitched seams and a stated EN 13594 level.
What is a gauntlet glove?
A glove whose cuff covers the wrist and reaches up to the first half of the forearm. Our definition page, linked at the top, covers the name and its history.
Motorcycle Leather Gloves Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.