There's nothing quite like sitting at a red light in July with your hands cooking inside thick gloves. It's tempting to ditch them, or to grab the thinnest mesh pair you can find. Please don't do either. Your hands are the first thing to hit the ground in a fall, so the goal is a glove that keeps you cool and still protects you. Leather, mesh and carbon fiber knuckle gloves all manage that in different ways, and the right one depends on how and where you ride. Here's how they compare.
The short answer
- Want the coolest, cheapest option? A mesh glove with a hard knuckle guard.
- Want protection and airflow in one glove? A leather and mesh hybrid with carbon fiber knuckles.
- Want the toughest feel and a classic look? Perforated or soft leather, though it runs warmer than mesh.
| Type | Airflow | Abrasion resistance | Knuckle protection | Typical price in our range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh | Very high | Lower | Hard-shell guard (on the model we stock) | From $17.99 | Hot weather, city commuting, tight budgets |
| Leather and mesh hybrid | High | Medium to high | Carbon fiber knuckle protectors | $39.99 | All-round summer and spring-to-autumn riding |
| Perforated or soft leather | Medium | High | Hidden hard-shell guard (on most models) | $38.99 to $75.99 | Retro bikes, longer rides, riders who prioritise leather |
The summer glove trade-off
Every summer glove is a compromise between airflow and protection. The more open and light a glove is, the cooler it feels, but the less material there is between your skin and the road. Leather resists abrasion best. Mesh moves the most air. Most riders end up somewhere in between.
One point nearly every buyer's guide agrees on is that airflow alone is not protection. A glove that feels great at a stoplight but has no knuckle guard, a thin palm and a loose wrist strap isn't doing its job. Look for the combination of a breathable upper, a reinforced palm, knuckle protection and a closure that stays put.
Leather gloves
Leather has been the standard for riding gloves for a long time, and for good reason. It resists abrasion better than most fabrics and moulds to your hand over time.
Perforated leather has small holes punched through the hide, so air flows through while you keep full leather coverage. The catch is that the open area is smaller than on mesh, so it won't be as cool on a really hot day. Some guides suggest perforated leather is the better balance for summer, while others argue a hybrid is the sweet spot. Which is better depends on your climate and how fast you ride.
Pros
- Strong abrasion resistance
- Softens and fits better with wear
- Classic good looks, especially on retro bikes
Cons
- Warmer than mesh, even when perforated
- Feels snug at first and needs a short break-in
- Usually costs more
Leather gloves we stock
- Vintage Sheepskin Gloves (from $38.99): soft, light sheepskin with a low-profile hard-shell knuckle guard, finger vents and touchscreen thumb and index fingertips. There's a full-knuckle and an open-knuckle version for more airflow.
- Retro Perforated Goatskin Gloves (from $53.99): goatskin with perforated panels, an invisible hard-shell knuckle guard, palm padding and touchscreen fingertips. They're listed as CE certified under EU PPE Regulation 2016/425. Choose the MJ-G03 for a retro look or the MJICON-10 for a sportier one.
- Genuine Leather Racing Gloves (from $61.99): full-grain cowhide with perforated panels, a textured palm, pre-curved fingers and an adjustable wrist strap, in black or white and sizes S to XXL. The listing doesn't mention a hard knuckle guard or touchscreen fingertips, so this one is about leather construction and fit.
Mesh gloves
Mesh gloves are the coolest choice because the back of the hand is mostly open fabric. They're also usually the lightest and the cheapest.
The quality of mesh gloves varies a lot, though. Cheap mesh can wear out fast, and some ultra-light gloves give up too much protection. A good guide is to avoid anything that feels more like a bicycle glove than a motorcycle glove, and to look for a proper knuckle guard, a reinforced palm and a secure wrist closure.
Pros
- The best airflow
- Light and comfortable straight away
- The most affordable
Cons
- Less abrasion resistance than leather
- Not suited to cold or wet weather
- Quality varies widely between brands
Mesh gloves we stock
- VEMAR VE-131 Full-Finger Gloves (from $17.99): breathable mesh with a hard-shell injection-moulded knuckle guard, thickened EVA palm padding, touchscreen fingertips and reflective details, at about 150 g a pair. Five colours, sizes S to XXL.
- Fingerless Motorcycle Gloves (from $12.99): a padded palm and breathable mesh back with open fingers for maximum feel and airflow. They offer only light protection, so they suit short, low-speed city rides rather than highway riding.
Leather and mesh hybrids with carbon fiber knuckles
A hybrid glove tries to give you the best of both worlds: a leather palm where you grip and slide, a mesh back for airflow, and a hard knuckle guard on top. Many riders find this the sweet spot for summer.
Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Gloves ($39.99) have a genuine leather palm with a reinforced palm slider, a breathable mesh back, carbon fiber knuckle protectors, touchscreen fingertips and an adjustable wrist strap. They're listed for spring, summer and mild autumn riding, in black or white, in sizes M to XL.
Pros
- Good airflow plus leather where it counts
- Real knuckle protection
- A fair price for what you get
Cons
- Not designed for cold or wet conditions
- Less airy than a full mesh glove
What to look for in a summer glove
- Knuckle protection. A hard shell or carbon fiber guard is the most useful feature on any budget glove.
- Palm reinforcement. Your palm takes the first hit in a slide, so look for a leather palm or a padded, wear-resistant one.
- A secure wrist closure. A strap that holds the glove on matters as much as the material.
- Short or mid cuff. Summer gloves are usually short-cuff for airflow. The trade-off is less wrist coverage.
- Touchscreen fingertips. Handy for stops. Our touchscreen glove guide covers which of our gloves have them.
- A stated safety standard. Look for certification information, such as CE, on the label and product page. A glove with no stated standard may still be comfortable, but you can't assume how it will perform in a slide.
Which glove should you buy?
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Commute in hot weather on a budget | VEMAR VE-131 mesh gloves |
| Want one glove for most of the riding season | Carbon Fiber hybrid gloves |
| Ride a retro or café racer bike | Vintage Sheepskin gloves |
| Want leather with a stated CE rating | Retro Goatskin gloves |
| Prefer classic leather racing style | Genuine Leather Racing gloves |
| Ride only short, slow city trips and want maximum feel | Fingerless gloves (light protection only) |
We also stock WEST BIKING cycling gloves, but they're built for bicycles, with no knuckle guard, so we don't recommend them as motorcycle protection. If you want the full range, browse our Motorcycle Gloves collection.
Getting the fit right
- Measure your palm. Wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your palm, not including your thumb.
- Check each model's size chart. Sizing differs from glove to glove.
- Expect leather to start snug. Leather gloves loosen with wear, while mesh and textile gloves should fit well from the first ride.
- Between sizes, size up. Our product pages suggest sizing up for comfort and airflow.
- Check availability. Size S isn't currently available for the sheepskin and goatskin 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.
- Mesh gloves: check the care label on the pair you buy, and let them dry fully so sweat doesn't build up.
Frequently asked questions
Are mesh gloves safe for motorcycle riding?
They can be, if they have a real knuckle guard, a reinforced palm and a secure wrist closure. Mesh offers less abrasion resistance than leather, so it suits lower speeds and warm weather better than highway riding.
Are leather or mesh gloves better for summer?
Mesh is cooler, and leather is tougher. A leather and mesh hybrid, or perforated leather, is a popular middle ground.
Do perforated leather gloves keep you cool?
They let more air through than solid leather while keeping leather coverage, but they won't match the airflow of full mesh.
What are carbon fiber knuckle gloves?
Gloves with carbon fiber guards over the knuckles to help absorb and spread impact. They're often paired with a leather palm and a mesh back.
Can I wear summer gloves in cooler weather?
Mesh and perforated gloves let in wind, so they feel cold on cool mornings. Check the season listed on the product page, or carry a lined glove for colder rides.
How should summer motorcycle gloves fit?
Snug but not tight, with no pinching across the knuckles and no loose material at the fingertips. Leather loosens slightly with wear, so a snug fit at first is normal.
The bottom line
The best summer glove is the one that keeps you cool enough to keep wearing it, and protected enough to be worth wearing. For the lowest price and the most airflow, go with a mesh glove with a hard knuckle guard. For a good balance, choose the carbon fiber hybrid. If you prefer leather, our sheepskin, goatskin and cowhide gloves are worth a look. Whatever you pick, make sure it fits well and keep the safety basics in mind: knuckle guards, a reinforced palm and a secure strap.
Still not sure which glove fits your riding? Email us at support@motorbikelovers.store with how and where you usually ride, and we'll point you to the right pair.