Best cycling gloves for comfort and protection

To protect your hands over long-distance rides, you may want a good pair of cycling gloves. We’ve gathered some of the best you can buy online – but first, here are a few things worth discussing…

Should you wear gloves while cycling?

Wearing bike gloves has a number of different benefits, from keeping you comfortable to protecting against long-term health issues. So, if you’re often on your bike, it may be worth investing in a pair.

The best cycle gloves have well-positioned cushioning, which protects your hands in an accident and reduces the risk of developing blisters, handlebar palsy and potential nerve damage.

Bike gloves also mop up any sweat and help you grip the handlebars for extra safety.

Do you need cycling gloves in summer?

Some cyclists prefer not to wear bike gloves to avoid overheating in warm weather or to maintain a close feel with the bike. But for keen cyclists, protecting your hands is always a sensible choice if you can tolerate the extra fabric.

Should cycling gloves be padded?

Cushioning will give you extra protection against muscle strain, nerve damage and everyday blisters and calluses. It’ll also limit any vibration from your bike for extra comfort.

The best cycle gloves have well-positioned cushioning, but it’s worth paying attention to the padding when you buy a new pair, as different gloves will have padding in different areas. For example, mountain biking gloves often include extra protection over the top of the hands to allow for scuffs if you come off the bike, which road cyclists typically won’t need.

The best cycling gloves to consider

Here are some of the best bike gloves for a range of budgets. All our choices are designed to keep your hands cos and protected whatever the weather and conditions throw at you.

Gore Wear C5 Short Finger Gloves

Gore Wear is another brand to consider if you’re looking for new cycle gloves. This fingerless style is suited to the warmer months when you want something unrestrictive that’ll allow air to escape. The fingerless style will also allow you greater feel and control of the brakes and gears than you’d get with full-length options.

The brand says the materials are also breathable and stretchy, with the design looking ideal to provide comfort over long training sessions.

There’s gel and foam padding across the palm to absorb impact from the road, as well as Velcro closure tabs and reflective strips.

Endura Deluge cycling gloves

Best for autumn and winter

Ideal for autumn and winter rides, the Endura Deluge gloves are one of the thickest pairs on our list. They have multiple layers of fabric, including a waterproof inner and suede-like palm material.

While these cycle gloves have a water-repellent finish, the material doesn’t contain any toxic perfluorochemicals (PFCs). They also come with a sweat (or snot) wipe on the thumb, and touchscreen-friendly fingertips.

As an added bonus, Endura donates 1% of its net profits to good causes.

Giant Diversion cycling gloves

Best gloves with leather palms

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These ‘long finger’ gloves are designed for winter riding, offering both water repellency and windproofing.

Padding in the palms is good and there’s a heavy-duty Velcro wrist tab. The palms themselves are made from natural sheep leather, which is used so the gloves stay breathable while protecting you from the elements.

The ergonomic fit and long cuffs add extra comfort for long rides.

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Castelli Perfetto ROS cycling gloves

Best premium cycle gloves

Designed for 6-10°C temps, the ROS offer windproofing and water-resistance in a neoprene build that resembles open-water kit. Thanks to the elasticated construction, they’re easy to pull on and off for minimum hassle.

Other clever features include the thermoformed single-seam design, grippy silicone palms and reflective detailing. There’s also a warm fleece lining to keep you comfortable in colder weather.

Like lots of the best cycle gloves, these ones have touchscreen-friendly finger inserts, so you can easily check your phone without having to remove them.

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Sealskinz Waterproof Insulated Gloves

Best for cold-weather rides

These cycle gloves are designed to keep your hands warm in snowy conditions, so they’re perfect for cool days when you need a little extra protection against the elements. With a goatskin leather palm, they’re also waterproof, yet the materials are breathable for all-day comfort.

Designed with attention to detail, these gloves are cut to suit a relaxed hand position with curved fingers. You’ll also get touchscreen-compatible fingertips and a PU suede thumb pad for cleaning your sunglasses while you’re on the move.

Triban 500 Cycling Gloves Neon

Best high-vis bike gloves

These smart cycle gloves combine great visibility with a grippy finish. They include a thin brushed fleece layer to keep you warm, topped with comfortable elasticated fabric so they act like a ‘second skin’ against your hands.

Long cuffs give you extra protection against wind and rain when the weather is less than ideal.

Choose these bike gloves if you’re after a high-vis pair for the colder months.

Universal Colours Mono Short Finger Gloves

Helping to reduce waste, Universal Colours repurposes leftover fabric to create these fingerless cycle gloves, and they have plenty of useful features to protect you while you’re on the move.

You’ll get Clarino ‘leather’ through the palms for high shock absorption, as well as silicone detailing for extra grip.

Reflective elements complete the package, helping you increase your visibility in poor weather conditions or after dark.

GripGrab Supergel Half-Padded Cycling Gloves

With Velcro wrist tabs and 6mm DoctorGel padding, these cycle gloves have several practical elements for fuss-free comfort during long rides.

GripGrab has included a dedicated ‘sweat wiper’ to keep your vision clear during gruelling sessions, while the magnetic detailing is another useful addition, as it’ll keep your gloves together when you’re not using them to avoid you losing one.

There are multiple colours and sizes available, allowing you to get the perfect fit and style, while reflective patches help get the attention of other road users.