Pulling off a glove just to tap your phone gets old fast, which is why touchscreen gloves are worth having. Just don't let the touchscreen decide for you. Protection comes first, because a glove that's great on a screen but leaves your knuckles bare isn't worth it. From there, it depends on your weather and how you ride:
- Hot weather and tight budgets: a mesh glove with a hard knuckle guard
- Everyday riding with some style: a leather and mesh hybrid, or a retro sheepskin glove
- The most protection-focused option in our range: a goatskin glove with a stated CE rating
Here is every touchscreen glove we stock, side by side.
| Glove | Type | Knuckle protection | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEMAR VE-131 Full-Finger Gloves | Mesh | Hard-shell knuckle guard | Hot weather, commuting, tight budgets | From $17.99 |
| Carbon Fiber Knuckle Gloves | Leather and mesh hybrid | Carbon fiber knuckle protectors | Spring to autumn, all-round use | $39.99 |
| Vintage Sheepskin Gloves | Retro leather | Built-in hard-shell knuckle guard | Café racer and scrambler style, soft feel | From $38.99 |
| Retro Perforated Goatskin Gloves (CE listed) | Perforated leather | Invisible hard-shell knuckle guard | Riders who want leather with a rating | From $53.99 |
Why touchscreen gloves are worth having
Taking a glove off to change a song, answer a call or check your GPS is a hassle at best and a safety problem at worst. Touchscreen-compatible fingertips let you operate a screen without exposing your hand, so you can stop, tap and go. Competing guides agree on this point: most treat touchscreen capability as a nice extra on top of protection, not a replacement for it.
A quick safety note. Even with the right gloves, don't operate a phone while the bike is moving. Set your route before you ride, use a handlebar mount, or use voice control, and keep touchscreen use for when you're stopped.
How touchscreen gloves work
A phone screen reads the small electrical charge from your fingertip. Regular leather and fabric block that, so touchscreen gloves add conductive material to the fingertips, often as a patch or a conductive thread. Many gloves only put it on the thumb and index finger, while some add the middle finger too.
Two things affect how well it works in real life:
- Fit: if the fingertips are loose, there's a gap between your finger and the conductive patch, and the screen won't respond well. A snug fingertip fit matters.
- Wear and dirt: conductive patches can lose sensitivity over time and with dirt or sweat, so keep the fingertips clean.
What to look for besides touch
Knuckle protection. A hard shell or carbon fiber guard over the knuckles helps absorb and spread impact. It's the single most useful feature on a budget glove.
Palm protection. Your hands hit the ground first in a fall, so a reinforced or padded palm helps with abrasion and vibration.
Material. Leather generally resists abrasion better than mesh. Mesh is cooler and lighter. Look for perforated leather if you want a bit of both.
Certification. Genuine protective gloves are tested to a standard such as CE (EN 13594 for motorcycle gloves in Europe). Read the label and the product description. A glove without a stated standard may still be comfortable, but you can't assume how it will perform in a slide.
Fit. A glove should be snug but not tight, with no pinching across the knuckles. We cover sizing below.
Season. Mesh gloves breathe well in heat but offer little in cold or rain. Leather is more versatile across seasons.
Our touchscreen gloves, by type
1. Mesh gloves with a hard knuckle guard
VEMAR VE-131 Full-Finger Motorcycle Gloves (from $17.99)
The VEMAR is the most affordable way into a touchscreen glove with knuckle protection. It's listed with a hard-shell injection-moulded knuckle guard, thickened EVA palm padding, a breathable mesh back, anti-slip palm grip and reflective details, at around 150 g a pair. It comes in black, red, green, pink and orange, in sizes S to XXL.
Pros: very affordable, light, cool in summer, lots of colours and sizes.
Cons: mesh offers less abrasion resistance than leather, and it's not a cold-weather or wet-weather glove.
Best for: hot-weather commuting, scooter riding and anyone on a tight budget.
2. Leather and mesh hybrid with carbon fiber knuckles
Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Gloves ($39.99)
This glove combines a genuine leather palm and a reinforced palm slider with a breathable mesh back and carbon fiber knuckle protectors. Touchscreen fingertips and an adjustable wrist strap round it out. It's listed for spring, summer and mild autumn riding, in black or white, in sizes M to XL.
Pros: leather where you need it, mesh where you want airflow, carbon fiber knuckle protection.
Cons: not designed for cold or wet conditions.
Best for: all-round spring-to-autumn riding.
3. Retro sheepskin gloves
Vintage Sheepskin Leather Motorcycle Gloves (from $38.99)
Sheepskin (lambskin) is softer and more flexible than standard cowhide, so these feel broken-in from the first ride. They have a built-in low-profile hard-shell knuckle guard, touchscreen thumb and index fingertips, an anti-slip palm, ventilated fingers and a short retro cuff. There's a full-knuckle version and an open-knuckle version for extra airflow. Sizes M to XXL.
Pros: comfortable, stylish, soft leather feel.
Cons: the soft leather is less tough than heavier hides, and the short cuff gives less wrist coverage.
Best for: café racer, scrambler and retro bikes, and riders who care about looks and comfort.
4. Goatskin gloves with a stated CE rating
Retro Perforated Goatskin Motorcycle Gloves (from $53.99)
This is the most protection-focused glove in our touchscreen range. It's genuine goatskin with an invisible hard-shell knuckle guard, protective palm padding, perforated panels for airflow, pre-curved fingers and touchscreen fingertips. It's listed as CE certified under EU PPE Regulation 2016/425. There are two models: the MJ-G03 retro (brown or black) and the MJICON-10 sport (black, or an open-knuckle version).
Pros: leather construction, hidden knuckle protection, a stated certification, two style options.
Cons: the highest price of the four, and it needs a little break-in.
Best for: riders who want leather and a recognised rating without the bulk.
What about cycling-style touchscreen gloves?
We also stock the WEST BIKING Full-Finger Cycling Gloves (from $35.99). They have a 3D padded palm, touchscreen fingertips and a breathable mesh back, and they're very light at around 50 g. They're built for cycling comfort, with no knuckle armour, so treat them as a light option for e-bikes, scooters at low speeds and commuting, not as protective motorcycle gloves.
Looking for something else? Browse the full range in our Motorcycle Gloves collection.
Which glove should you buy?
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Ride in hot weather or want the lowest price | VEMAR VE-131 mesh gloves |
| Want an all-rounder for spring to autumn | Carbon Fiber hybrid gloves |
| Ride a retro bike and want soft, stylish leather | Vintage Sheepskin gloves |
| Want leather with a stated certification | Retro Goatskin gloves |
| Commute at low speed on an e-bike or scooter | WEST BIKING cycling gloves (light use only) |
Getting the fit right
- Measure your palm. Wrap a soft tape around the widest part of your palm, not including your thumb.
- Use the size chart on the product page, since sizing differs between models.
- Between sizes, size up. Our product pages advise sizing up for comfort and airflow.
- Expect leather to loosen. Sheepskin and goatskin gloves feel snug at first and soften with wear.
- Check the fingertips. For touchscreen use, the fingertips should sit snugly against your fingers without squeezing them.
Note that size S isn't currently available for some of our leather gloves. Contact support@motorbikelovers.store if you need to check.
Caring for your gloves
- Leather gloves: wipe clean with a damp cloth, apply leather conditioner every two to three months, and air dry away from direct heat. Don't machine wash them.
- All gloves: keep the touchscreen fingertips clean, since dirt and sweat can reduce sensitivity.
Frequently asked questions
Do touchscreen motorcycle gloves work on every phone and GPS screen?
Most work on standard capacitive touchscreens, which includes most phones and many GPS units. Results vary with fit and with the screen, so a snug fingertip fit and a clean glove help.
Can I use my phone while riding?
No. Touchscreen gloves are for convenience when you're stopped or for quick taps on a mounted device. Don't hold or operate a phone while the bike is moving, and check your local laws.
Do touchscreen fingertips wear out?
They can lose sensitivity over time, especially if they get dirty, wet or worn. Keeping them clean helps.
Are cheap touchscreen gloves safe?
It depends on the glove. Look for a hard knuckle guard, palm padding and a stated safety standard. A budget glove with real knuckle protection is a far better choice than a fashion glove with none.
Are leather or mesh gloves better?
Leather generally resists abrasion better, while mesh is cooler and lighter. A leather and mesh hybrid, or perforated leather, gives you a mix of both.
How should motorcycle gloves fit?
Snug but not tight, with no pinching across the knuckles and no loose material at the fingertips. Measure your palm and check the size chart for each model.
The bottom line
Pick a glove for protection and fit first, then check that the touchscreen works for you. For hot weather and low budgets, a mesh glove with a hard knuckle guard like the VEMAR is hard to beat on price. For all-round use, the carbon fiber hybrid is a good choice, and for retro style the sheepskin gloves are comfortable and good-looking. If you want leather with a stated certification, the goatskin gloves are the one to look at.