Glove Styles and Cuffs
Motorcycle Glove Styles and Cuffs: Types Compared
Short cuff, semi-gauntlet, gauntlet or fingerless? Compare motorcycle glove types, how cuffs meet your sleeve and what EN 13594 says about cuff length.
Motorcycle gloves come in a few main types, sorted by how far the cuff reaches and how much of your fingers they cover. Short-cuff gloves stop at the wrist, gauntlets run up to the middle of the forearm, and semi-gauntlets sit in between. Fingerless gloves leave the tops of the fingers bare.
Part of our guide on how to choose motorcycle gloves.
Key takeaways- Longer cuffs keep wind, rain and debris out of your sleeve; short cuffs are lighter and cooler.- Most gauntlets are made to go over the jacket sleeve, but under-cuff designs exist.- Sources disagree on the shortest cuff allowed for an EN 13594 level 1 glove (5 mm or 15 mm); both say 50 mm for level 2.- Fingerless gloves leave your fingertips without cover in a fall.
The main types at a glance
| Style | Where it ends | Best known for | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short cuff | At the wrist | Light, cool, quick to put on | Best short-cuff gloves |
| Semi-gauntlet | Past the wrist, short of a full gauntlet | A middle ground | Gauntlet-style gloves: cuffs and fit |
| Gauntlet | Up to the first half of the forearm | Touring, sport riding, cold and rain | What are gauntlet gloves? |
| Fingerless | Fingers half-length and open | Grip and feel, palm cover | What are fingerless gloves for? |
| Convertible | A mitten flap folds back off the fingers | Switching between cover and dexterity | See finger coverage below |
Cuff length: short, semi-gauntlet or gauntlet
Gauntlet gloves
A gauntlet carries the glove up your wrist and lower arm. One maker's guide says the long cuff helps keep wind, rain and debris out of the jacket sleeve, and suits touring and sport riding. Road racers wear gauntlets that come up over the sleeves of their leathers.
Compare them with regular riding gloves in gauntlet vs standard motorcycle gloves. Ready to shop? See best gauntlet motorcycle gloves.
Short-cuff gloves
Short gloves are lighter and simpler. They suit commuting and short rides in hot weather. A gear site notes they stay comfortable in the hot season.
Gauntlet vs wristlet
"Wristlet" has two meanings. In firefighting it is a knit cuff, often Nomex, as opposed to a gauntlet made from the glove's own layers. We untangle the terms in gauntlet gloves vs wristlet gloves.
Not sure how long a cuff your arm needs? Our sister site explains how to choose the right glove length.
Over or under the jacket sleeve?
Most gauntlet gloves are made to go over the jacket cuff. Some riders prefer a slim gauntlet tucked under the sleeve to stop wind and cold. Tucking under is hard with jacket cuffs that close with snap buttons.
| Wear it | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Over the sleeve | The way most gauntlets are made | Check that wind and rain stay out at the seal |
| Under the sleeve | Blocking wind and cold with a slim cuff | Snap-button jacket cuffs |
What the safety standard says about cuffs
EN 13594, the European motorcycle glove standard, sets a minimum cuff length past the wrist. The sources we read disagree for level 1:
Until the team checks the standard text, treat level 1 as unsettled. The standard also asks for an adjustable restraint at the wrist or cuff, tested at 25 N (level 1) and 50 N (level 2). A rider-safety council adds that the base of the palm and the wrist need abrasion-resistant material. More in our motorcycle glove safety guide.
| Level | SATRA summary | D3O summary |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Level 2 | 50 mm (2 in) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Finger coverage: full-finger, fingerless or convertible
Fingerless gloves keep the palm covered while the fingertips stay free. Motorcyclists wear them for handlebar grip and palm cover. The trade-off is plain: in a fall, riders tend to put their hands out first, and fingerless gloves leave the fingertips bare.
The SATRA summary of EN 13594 does not mention fingerless designs at all. Convertible mittens add a flap you can fold over the fingers. Our fingerless page, linked in the table above, covers when they make sense.
Which style for your riding
For cold-weather gloves, see winter riding gloves. Using your phone on the bike? Try touchscreen gloves. Off-road riders can start with ATV riding gloves.
| You ride | Style to look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-weather commutes, short trips | Short cuff | Lighter, cooler |
| Touring, sport riding | Gauntlet | Covers wrist and lower arm, seals the sleeve |
| Track days | Gauntlet over the suit sleeve | What road racers wear |
| Cold or wet days | Gauntlet | Keeps cold air and rain out of the sleeve |
Short-cuff and race gloves from our store partner
Leather Collection leather motorcycle gloves are cowhide, 0.8-0.9 mm (0.03-0.04 in) thick. The Short Style pair has a short cuff that sits under a jacket sleeve and a Velcro wrist strap. The Motorbike Race Gloves close twice, at the wrist and at the cuff.
We found no gauntlet or fingerless styles on the category pages we checked. The store pages state no EN 13594 level, so treat these gloves as unrated.
Related guides
- Choosing on looks? Compare the coolest motorcycle gloves by style.
FAQ
Why are motorcycle gloves fingerless?
Most are not. Fingerless styles exist for grip and feel, with the palm still covered. They leave the fingertips bare in a fall.
What type of gloves are best for motorcycle riding?
It depends on the ride. Short cuffs suit hot, short trips; gauntlets suit touring, sport riding and bad weather. Whatever the style, check for a wrist strap that locks the glove on.
Motorcycle Leather Gloves Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.