Glove Styles and Cuffs
What Are Gauntlet Gloves?
Gauntlet gloves have a long cuff that runs past the wrist up the forearm. See what makes a glove a gauntlet, where the name comes from and who wears them.
Gauntlet gloves are gloves with a long cuff that runs past the wrist and up the forearm, usually to about halfway. The name comes from the armoured gloves worn in combat. Motorcyclists wear leather gauntlets to protect their hands and wrists from abrasion in a crash.
Part of our guide to motorcycle glove styles and cuffs.
What makes a glove a gauntlet
The cuff is the defining part. A short-cuff glove stops at the wrist, while a gauntlet covers the wrist and the lower arm. The cuff opening is wide, so it can go over a jacket sleeve.
Some gloves sit in between. A semi-gauntlet reaches past the wrist but stops short of a full gauntlet. How a gauntlet should close and sit on your arm is covered in how a gauntlet should fit.
Where the name comes from
A gauntlet was first a glove that protected a fighter's hand and wrist. Mail mittens came first; steel gauntlets made of overlapping plates arrived with jointed plate armour in the early 14th century.
The phrase "throw down the gauntlet" means to issue a challenge. A knight threw his gauntlet on the ground to call for a duel, and the rival accepted by picking it up.
Who wears gauntlets today
For everyday riders, one glove maker's guide says the long cuff helps keep wind, rain and debris out of the jacket sleeve, which suits touring and sport riding.
Firefighters also use the word, set against a knit "wristlet" cuff. We compare the two in gauntlet vs wristlet gloves. Weighing a gauntlet against a regular riding glove? See gauntlet vs standard motorcycle gloves.
| Who | Why they wear a long cuff |
|---|---|
| Motorcyclists | Leather gauntlets guard against abrasion in an accident |
| Road racers | Gauntlets come up over the sleeves of their leathers |
| Welders and metal workers | Protective gauntlets for hot work |
| Falconers | Leather gauntlets against a bird's claws |
Riding gloves from our store partner
Leather Collection leather motorcycle gloves do not list a gauntlet style on the pages we checked. The Motorbike Race Gloves close at both the wrist and the cuff. The store states no EN 13594 level for its gloves. For full-length styles, see our best gauntlet motorcycle gloves.
FAQ
Can gauntlets be leather?
Yes. Leather is the classic material for riding gauntlets, and falconers use leather gauntlets too.
Motorcycle Leather Gloves Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.