The Lid Test

The Best Motorcycle Gloves

Your hands hit the ground in almost every fall — and they're the piece riders skip most. Three gloves compared on CE armor, cuff length and touchscreen use.

By Stephen V.Last verified How we compare

The verdict

If you are buying one pair of motorcycle gloves, buy the Alpinestars SP-8 V3. It is the only glove here whose maker states CE Level 1 KP certification to EN 13594:2015 by name, and it pairs a MotoGP-derived dual-density hard knuckle with a gauntlet cuff that covers the wrist a short glove leaves bare. That makes it the right default for all-round sport and street riding — one glove for commuting, weekend roads and the occasional long day.

Two riders should buy something else. If you mostly ride in summer heat, the perforated leather-and-mesh SMX-1 Air V2 is the cooler short-cuff answer. If you commute and want a glove that doesn’t look like race gear, the leather-palm, softshell-backed Faster is the one. All three have touchscreen fingertips; none is waterproof or insulated, so for cold and wet riding see our winter motorcycle gloves roundup instead.

Gloves are the most-used, most-skipped piece of riding gear, which is backwards—your hands instinctively shoot out to break a fall, so they’re among the most likely parts of you to hit the road. A proper glove has a hard knuckle protector, an abrasion-resistant palm, and—on a full sport glove—a gauntlet cuff that covers the wrist a short glove leaves bare. And because a glove you can’t operate your phone in is a glove you’ll take off, touchscreen fingertips are what make good gloves something you’ll actually wear.

We picked three across the range—a do-everything sport glove, a ventilated summer glove, and a low-key urban glove—and ranked them on CE certification (the EN 13594 glove standard), protection (knuckle type, cuff length), materials, touchscreen compatibility and a live price. The Alpinestars SP-8 V3 wins as the versatile all-rounder, but the right glove depends on your climate and how you ride.

How this is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which helmet we recommend, and we’ll tell you plainly when a cheaper or lighter one is the better buy. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on our spec score — certification, weight, features and value. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not tested these gloves; here is exactly how we compare them instead.

#GloveBest forCE armorMaterialWaterproofOur scorePrice
1
Alpinestars SP-8 V3

Alpinestars SP-8 V3

The default do-everything sport glove. Full-grain goat leather with a MotoGP-derived dual-density knuckle, CE Level 1 KP certification and a gauntlet cuff that covers the wrist a short glove leaves exposed. Touchscreen fingertips make it livable day to day.

Best all-roundCE Level 1 KP (EN 13594:2015); MotoGP-derived dual-density knuckleFull-grain goat leather with synthetic panelsNo8.4
$124.95 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2

Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2

The hot-weather value glove. Perforated leather and air mesh keep your hands cool, a hard polymer knuckle handles the important protection, and touchscreen fingertips keep it practical — at around $80, the sensible summer short glove.

Best for summerCE Level 1; hard polymer knuckle (EN 13594 not stated on the maker page)Perforated leather with air meshNo8.0
$76.00 · View on Amazon

$79.955% off

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Alpinestars Faster

Alpinestars Faster

The everyday urban glove that doesn't look like race gear. A leather palm handles abrasion, a softshell windbreaker backhand cuts the chill, and a soft PU knuckle keeps it low-profile — the glove for commuting and around-town riding.

Best for the cityCE Level 1; soft viscoelastic PU knuckleLeather palm with softshell backhandNo7.9
$45.36 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 18, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Specs read from each manufacturer or retailer listing on the date shown in that glove’s write-up below; “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure. Prices are pulled live from Amazon and were last checked October 18, 2026.

The picks in full

#1Best all-roundOur score8.4

Alpinestars SP-8 V3

The default do-everything sport glove. Full-grain goat leather with a MotoGP-derived dual-density knuckle, CE Level 1 KP certification and a gauntlet cuff that covers the wrist a short glove leaves exposed. Touchscreen fingertips make it livable day to day.

Strengths

  • CE Level 1 KP certified to EN 13594:2015 with a dual-density hard knuckle
  • Full-grain goat leather with a gauntlet cuff for wrist coverage a short glove skips
  • Touchscreen-compatible at the index finger and thumb

Trade-offs

  • Leather sport glove with no waterproof membrane — not a wet-weather glove
  • Gauntlet cuff takes a moment longer to get on and off than a short glove
MaterialFull-grain goat leather with synthetic panels
ArmorCE Level 1 KP (EN 13594:2015); MotoGP-derived dual-density knuckle
WaterproofNo
Best forAll-round sport and street riders who want one versatile leather glove

Notable. MotoGP-derived knuckle; gauntlet cuff; touchscreen fingertip

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#2Best for summerOur score8.0

Alpinestars SMX-1 Air V2

The hot-weather value glove. Perforated leather and air mesh keep your hands cool, a hard polymer knuckle handles the important protection, and touchscreen fingertips keep it practical — at around $80, the sensible summer short glove.

Strengths

  • Perforated leather and air-mesh chassis for genuine hot-weather airflow
  • Hard polymer knuckle protector; CE-certified Level 1
  • Touchscreen-compatible fingertips at a budget price

Trade-offs

  • Short cuff and mesh construction — a summer glove, not a wet- or cold-weather one
  • The maker's page states CE Level 1 but doesn't cite the EN 13594 test on it directly
MaterialPerforated leather with air mesh
ArmorCE Level 1; hard polymer knuckle (EN 13594 not stated on the maker page)
WaterproofNo
Best forWarm-weather riders who want a ventilated short glove on a budget

Notable. Perforated leather/mesh airflow; hard knuckle; touchscreen

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#3Best for the cityOur score7.9

Alpinestars Faster

The everyday urban glove that doesn't look like race gear. A leather palm handles abrasion, a softshell windbreaker backhand cuts the chill, and a soft PU knuckle keeps it low-profile — the glove for commuting and around-town riding.

Strengths

  • Leather palm for abrasion with a softshell windbreaker backhand for cooler days
  • Soft viscoelastic PU knuckle guard; CE-certified Level 1
  • Touchscreen-compatible and understated enough to wear off the bike

Trade-offs

  • Soft knuckle guard is lower-profile than a hard sport knuckle
  • Not waterproof; windbreaker backhand isn't a cold-weather membrane
MaterialLeather palm with softshell backhand
ArmorCE Level 1; soft viscoelastic PU knuckle
WaterproofNo
Best forUrban and commuter riders who want a low-key leather-palm glove

Notable. Leather palm; softshell windbreaker backhand; touchscreen

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

How to choose motorcycle gloves

Match the glove to the season and use. A full leather sport glove like the SP-8 V3 gives the most protection with a gauntlet cuff and a hard knuckle—the safe default. A perforated summer glove like the SMX-1 Air V2 trades some coverage for airflow so your hands don’t cook in July. A short urban glove like the Faster keeps a leather palm for abrasion but adds a softshell backhand and a lower-profile look for commuting and around-town riding. None of the three is a cold-weather glove; for insulated, waterproof gauntlets and the honest case for heated gloves, see our winter motorcycle gloves roundup. None of the three is a track glove either — for full gauntlets with a palm slider and a finger bridge, see our racing gloves roundup.

Cuff length is a real safety spec. A gauntlet cuff overlaps your jacket sleeve and covers the wrist, which a short cuff leaves exposed in a slide. Short gloves are more convenient and cooler; gauntlets are more protective. Pick based on how much coverage you want versus how easily you want the gloves on and off.

Check the CE level and touchscreen tips. Look for a stated CE Level 1 (KP) rating under EN 13594—where a maker only says “CE Level 1” without citing the test, we note it. And confirm the fingertips are touchscreen-compatible; all three here are, and it’s the feature that keeps gloves on your hands at every stop.

Buying your very first pair? Our beginner glove rankingsorts on a narrower criterion than this page does — whether the maker prints the full EN 13594 clause, and whether the pair covers a whole first season rather than one hot month — and it ends up in a different order because of it.

Frequently asked questions

Do motorcycle gloves really need knuckle protection?

Yes. Your hands brace instinctively in a fall, so the knuckles and palm take a real hit. A hard or reinforced knuckle protector spreads and absorbs that impact, and an abrasion-resistant leather or reinforced palm handles the slide. A CE-rated glove under EN 13594 has passed impact and abrasion testing — that's the standard to look for.

What's the difference between gauntlet and short cuff gloves?

A gauntlet cuff extends up and over your jacket sleeve, covering the wrist and sealing out wind and debris — more protection, a bit more effort to put on. A short cuff sits at the wrist, is cooler and quicker to use, but leaves the wrist more exposed in a slide. Sport and touring riders tend to prefer gauntlets; urban and summer riders often choose short cuffs.

Are touchscreen motorcycle gloves worth it?

Very much so. A glove you can't use your phone or GPS in is a glove you'll pull off at every stop — and a glove that's off protects nothing. Touchscreen-compatible fingertips let you handle navigation and calls without removing them, which is why we treat it as a near-essential feature rather than a nice-to-have.

Can you wear summer mesh gloves year-round?

Not comfortably. Perforated summer gloves like the SMX-1 Air V2 flow air to keep your hands cool in heat, which is exactly wrong in cold or wet weather — the same vents that cool you let cold air and rain straight through. For year-round riding you'll want at least a summer pair and a warmer, more sealed pair for colder months.

Which motorcycle gloves should I buy first?

The Alpinestars SP-8 V3. It is the one glove in this ranking whose maker states CE Level 1 KP certification to EN 13594:2015 by name, it has a MotoGP-derived dual-density hard knuckle, and its gauntlet cuff covers the wrist that a short glove leaves exposed — so it is the most protective of the three and still usable every day thanks to touchscreen fingertips. If your riding is mostly hot-weather, start with the perforated SMX-1 Air V2 instead; if it is mostly commuting, start with the lower-profile Faster.

What does 'CE Level 1 KP' mean on a motorcycle glove?

Gloves are certified to EN 13594, which comes in Level 1 and Level 2 and tests abrasion, tearing and — at the higher level — knuckle impact. 'KP' means the glove includes a certified knuckle protector. Level 1 is the baseline road-riding standard and Level 2 is the more demanding one. The wording matters: the SP-8 V3 cites CE Level 1 KP to EN 13594:2015 directly, while the SMX-1 Air V2 and the Faster are listed as CE Level 1 without the EN 13594 test being named on the maker's page — so we report it that way rather than assume the best case.

Is a hard knuckle protector better than a soft one?

A hard knuckle spreads and absorbs impact over a wider area, which is why sport gloves use one — the SP-8 V3 has a dual-density MotoGP-derived knuckle and the SMX-1 Air V2 a hard polymer one. A soft knuckle, like the viscoelastic PU guard on the Faster, is lower-profile and more comfortable off the bike but gives up some of that impact spreading. If protection is the priority, choose the hard knuckle; if you want a glove you'll wear on a short city commute without thinking about it, the soft guard is a reasonable trade.

Do motorcycle gloves need to be waterproof?

Not for dry-weather riding, and none of the three picks here is waterproof — the SP-8 V3 is unlined leather, the SMX-1 Air V2 is perforated to let air through, and the Faster has a softshell backhand that blocks wind but is not a membrane. If you ride in rain or cold regularly, that is a separate pair of gloves with a waterproof membrane and insulation, which is what our winter motorcycle gloves roundup ranks.

Sources

  • Alpinestars — The maker behind most of our gear picks — published materials, CE armor and garment certifications (accessed July 19, 2026)
  • RevZilla Common Tread — RevZilla's editorial hub — gear explainers and how CE armor and EN 17092 garment ratings work (accessed July 19, 2026)

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