From the Rukka Virium to the Oxford Montreal 4.0, this is Infinity's roundup of the best 'between seasons' motorcycle gloves.
When it's too warm for winter gloves but too chilly for summer gloves, the best alternative is a mid-season glove.
Ideal for wear in between the hottest and coldest seasons of the year, a mid-season glove should strike the perfect medium of weather resistance, lightweight design and on-road protection.
What makes a good mid-season glove?
The best intermediate gloves combine the waterproof features of a winter glove with the breathability and comfort of a summer glove. Designed for riding all year round, these gloves need to be prepared for any weather condition (outside frost and snow), so 3 season versatility is essential.
The main differences that separate a mid-season glove from their seasonally-dedicated cousins are the absence of a thermal lining, that make winter gloves great for freezing temperatures, and the lack of mesh. Mesh is best for those really hot or hyper-intense summer rides, especially when off-roading.
Mid-season gloves will also have a cuff, unlike short summer gloves and the thick gauntlets you find on proper winter motorcycle gloves.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Broadly speaking there are two basic types of motorcycle gloves: road and racing. Road gloves tend to be short (though like everything else in motorcycling this is a personal decision), whilst Race gloves need to be longer, gauntlet-style gloves to cover the cuffs and go over your leathers. Race gloves also need to be constructed of leather, whilst textile is a long-popular feature in road gloves.
Textile fabrics can range wildly from very basic nylons to high-tech abrasion materials like Superfabric. This is popular as a very strong abrasion-resistant panel, but be careful if your gloves have this in them - you wouldn't be the first to render a visor useless as you wipe the rain off or scratch your paintwork with what seems like a gentle rub. Neoprene, Lycra and other stretch materials help with fit, and comfort and breathability too and so are often found along with the fingers.
Leather gloves feature a variety of materials and sources from tanned animal hides to artificially built leather. Bovine is the most popular choice, however, Goatskin is also featured heavily in a lot of glove designs, partly due to how common it is as a manufacturing resource, as well as its durability and strength. Kangaroo is seen as the most sought-after material due to how thin and lightweight hide is, which provides a great tactile feel, and is 10 times stronger than cowhide and 50% stronger than goatskin. Buffalo leather can also be used, though this is used few and far between. You can also find animal-free leather gloves for any vegan riders out there, though make sure to look out for "synthetic" leather when researching these.
Hard knuckle protection was originally developed for track situations where the knuckles can become trapped between the ‘bike and track in low side mishaps, but this is now seen as an almost compulsory feature by many road riders.
As a general rule of thumb. hard palm sliders are more useful on the road than hard knuckles as they have been developed in an attempt to prevent jolting of the wrists by providing a near friction-free opportunity for your hands to slide away quickly in the event of tarmac contact which can help prevent injuries to the Scaphoid and other bits of the wrist. They have also been shown to help prevent collar bone injuries.
There’s also another consideration if you’re planning to venture further afield because since 2017 it is against the law in France to ride any motorcycle or scooter without CE certified gloves. Passengers also have to wear gloves on a motorcycle. This is a France only rule and is not part of the PPE initiative being forced onto other motorcycle clothing. Confused? You should try working here.
The best mid-season gloves to buy...
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You can use the key below to skip to the corresponding section:
- Alpinestars Andes V3 Drystar Gloves
- Rukka Virium Gore-Tex Gloves
- Oxford Mondial 4.0 Dry2Dry Gloves
- REV'IT! Sand 4 H2O Gloves
- Spidi Rain Warrior H2Out Gloves
- Held Air N Dry Gore-Tex Gloves
- RST GT Waterproof Gloves
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1.
Alpinestars Andes V3 Drystar Gloves
£94.99 RRP
As the third generation of Alpinestars' best-selling touring range, the Andes V3 Drystar glove is a mid-season glove that has improved with every iteration, offering peak all-weather performance and superior abrasion resistance.
Made from durable Micro Ripstop with a goatskin palm, the gloves combine maximum comfort and durability and are installed with Alpinestars' proprietary waterproof and breathable membrane for use in all manner of weather conditions without feeling too hot.
A viscoelastic protector on the knuckles and reinforcements on the outside of the hand provide essential protection from falls, and reflective detailing on the cuffs increase rider visibility. The Andes also boasts stretch inserts, a velcro wrist and cuff strap for a comfortable fit around your hand, and touch screen compatible fingers.
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2.
Rukka Virium Gore-Tex Gloves
£169.99 RRP
Designed by one of the most relied on motorcycle clothing brands, the Rukka Virium gloves are the ultimate intermediate glove, combining a plethora of protection, waterproofing and breathability in one lightweight package.
The premium stretch nylon exterior is semi-bonded with Gore-Tex's X-Trafit technology for 100% waterproof and breathable performance.
A durable knuckle protector is embedded into the nylon outer, with temperfoam interior padding, a TPU palm slider and finger knuckles. A visor wipe can be found on the index finger, whilst a wrist strap and velcro cuff closure ensures the gloves stay on no matter what!
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3.
Oxford Montreal 4.0 Dry2Dry Gloves
£49.99 RRP
For the price-conscious motorcyclist, Oxford are here to lend a hand - pardon the pun - with the Montreal 4.0.
Designed with adventure touring in mind, these budget-friendly gloves offer plenty of protection and weatherproofing for three-season riding, without the need to break the bank. The high-density polyester outer shell and goatskin drum-dyed palm allows for effective protection and comfort for long-distance riding.
Thanks to Oxford's proprietary Dry2Dry membrane, the gloves are highly resistant to water and wind, whilst allowing built-up moisture to be released in a variety of weather conditions.
The CE approved TPU knuckle shield provides the bulk of the glove's protection. The accordion stretch panels increase freedom of movement, and the combination of a velcro strap and drawstring cuff fastener allows for a customised fit around your hand.
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4.
REV'IT! Sand 4 H2O Gloves
£119.99 RRP
The REV'IT Sand 4 is not only one of the best summer motorcycle gloves, but the H2O waterproof version is also one of their best mid-season gloves.
Purpose-built for adventure-touring and off-road riding, the gloves feature a abrasion-resistant goatskin leather palm, coupled with a PWR aramid textile outer and 500D PWR stretch cuff. Bonded with a water and wind-resistant Hydratex Z-Liner, the gloves offer protection in a variety of weather conditions.
The TPR injected knuckle protectors, finger inserts and palm sliders provide CE certified protection for the road, whilst shock-absorbing Temperfoam covering the fingers and knuckles provide additional protection.
The gloves are finished with Automan stretch panels, leather Connect fingertips and hook-and-loop cuff closure for easy wear.
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5.
Spidi Rainwarrior H2Out Gloves
£119.99 RRP
As the name implies, the Rain Warrior gloves by Spidi specialise in water resistance and tackling anything the road throws at you
Made from a combination of durable suede microfibre and high-tenacity stretch nylon, the gloves are laminated with Spidi's proprietary waterproof, breathable and windbreaking membrane.
The CE-certified Warrior knuckle shield, TPU finger inserts and palm slider provide an abundance of on-road protection.
The double-layer suede palm improves grip and comfort, the fingertips are touchscreen compatible, and the neoprene-lined cuff allows a comfortable fit around your wrist.
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6.
Held Air N Dry Gore-Tex Gloves
£199.99 RRP
The Held Air N Dry gloves are one of the best gauntlet gloves of their kind for touring riders.
Designed to deliver both superb waterproof protection and breathable summer versatility, the gloves takes advantage of a unique 2-in-1 compartment system that allows you to wear in two different ways depending on the weather.
The first pocket is unlined and perforated to allow maximum ventilation and comfort on hot days, while the other is lined with water-resistant Gore-Tex to shield your digits from the rain.
The Held gloves are constructed from abrasion-resistant kangaroo leather at the palm and Dupont Cordura on the back. The hard-plastic knuckle shield and SuperFabric reinforcement on the side of the hand protect you from harm, the 3M Scotchlite reflectors improve rider visibility and a convenient visor wipe can be found on the index finger.
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7.
RST GT Waterproof Gloves
£69.99 RRP
For a more sports-orientated glove, the RST GT waterproof glove may be more up your street. Blending exceptional value for money with a high-quality build, these grand-touring gloves sport enough waterproofing and protection to see you in-between seasons.
The gloves are made from supple cowhide leather which works in tandem with the fixed SinAqua waterproof membrane to seal out water whilst the comfort mesh interior releases built-up moisture to prevent sweaty hands. The pre-curved fingers and suede palm provide a comfier fit, and the adjustable hook and loop wrist strap ensures a secure fit.
The combination of a CE-certified TPU knuckle protector with finger joint protection and a double layer palm guarantees excellent wear and abrasion resistance.
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This article was written by Jonah Son.