Riding a motorcycle is basically like having free air-conditioning. Once you get a little wind in your hair, that 90-degree day starts to feel a lot cooler, and if we’re being honest, who cares what the thermostat says if you’re having a good time? Of course, that’s assuming you’ve got the right summer motorcycle gloves on.
Being hot and sweaty is no fun, but sweaty hands suck particularly hard. If you’re still rocking full leather gauntlets, insulated touring gloves, or something else that feels like sticking your hand in a furnace, here are a few of our favorite light and breezy options to keep your hands happy while you’re twisting the wick.
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Roadworthy and wildly affordable | CHECK PRICE |
| New version upgrades ventilation while keeping it's CE-2 Level protection | CHECK PRICE | |
| 100% Waterproof for those Summer rains | CHECK PRICE | |
| Bombproof protection with premium materials. | CHECK PRICE | |
| Motocross level ventilation | CHECK PRICE |
Plain and simple, a good pair of summer motorcycle gloves should do two things: keep you cool, and keep you safe. Here's our picks that do exactly that.
Safety-wise the Air V2s punch way above their price point and deliver reliable protection where you need it. At the top of the hand and throughout the palm and fingers you get soft full-grain leather, the knuckles are covered by an uninterrupted strip of carbon fiber.
Alpinestars’ SMX Air series has been many a rider’s first pair of summer motorcycle gloves, but even if you’re a veteran motorcyclist, they bring a ton of value to the table. The SMX-1 Air V2 is a particularly budget-friendly pick, and if you’re shopping for something around the $60 mark, these are tough to beat.
"Testing out Alpinestars SMX-1 V2 Summer Gloves while riding the Washington BDR"
Additional reinforcement comes courtesy of synthetic goat skin leather at the palm and along the vulnerable outer seam. Everywhere else on the glove you’ll find highly breathable mesh and elastic panels designed to optimize comfort and keep air flowing freely.
Now, this is an extremely budget-friendly option, so it feels a little unfair to take shots at it here, but there are definitely a few compromises you’ll want to consider if these summer motorcycle gloves are on your shortlist.
The first is that although they’re 100% road worthy, they’re lacking the high-tech safety features of the more premium gloves on this list. There are no hard TPU sliders at the palm, and you’re definitely not getting any Superfabric at this price.
We’ll also mention that while Alpinestars did a great job of adding reinforcements without adding cost, they achieve it by using synthetic leather in those areas rather than natural full-grain goat or kangaroo leather.
Alpinestars SMX-1 V2
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Dainese updated their ever-popular Mig C2 summer motorcycle gloves this year, and the latest iteration is their best yet. The original Mig gloves were always a great hot-weather option, but Dainese managed to upgrade the airflow even further without losing the CE-2 level safety certification of the original.
More 3D mesh has been added to the low-risk zones at top of the wrist and the ends of the fingers, while the outgoing model’s all-synthetic suede palm has been beefed up with more full-grain leather in the areas you want it.
"Garrett out creating our newest route option in Vietnam"
There’s still a healthy base layer of synthetic suede throughout the palm for optimal comfort, but the reinforced portions look and feel much more protective now. Aside from that, much of the Mig 3 is still the summer motorcycle glove you know and love.
It’s still got the split hardshell knuckle protectors that provide impact protection without limiting flexibility, the side seam is still well protected with double-stitched full-grain cowhide, and the glove still gives the svelte European fit Dainese is known for.
The latest model also boasts Dainese’s latest Smart Touch material at the finger and thumb, so the Mig is now fully touchscreen-friendly.
As far as cons go, the only real complaint we have is the price. The new Mig 3 is about $10 more than the outgoing model depending on where you shop, and while that’s nothing outrageous, the Mig is no longer a “sub $100 glove.”*
Dainese also swapped out the previous Mig’s silicone finger grips for the new Smart Touch material, so while we consider it a welcome tradeoff, riders who aren’t using touchscreen devices may lament the loss of extra grip at the levers.
*Update, Dainese released the Mig 3 Air which is sub $100 but offers less protection.
Dainese Mig 3 Leather Gloves
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The Held Air N Dry is arguably one of the most underrated motorcycle gloves of all time. Perforated materials are impossible to waterproof (you know, because they’re full of holes), yet here we have a full-length perforated gauntlet that is 100% storm-ready.
So how does Held do it? Simple: They cheat. On the outside, the Held Air N Dry looks like a highly breathable full-length touring glove, because that’s what it is. Take a look at the inside, however, and you’ll see how the sausage is made.
Held uses a “dual compartment” system inside the Air N Dry which allows you to choose which opening you slide your hand into. Go with the bottom section, and you’ll be treated to one of the most aggressively perforated kangaroo leather palms we’ve ever seen.
Should storm clouds appear on the horizon, however, all you need to do is slide your hand into the top compartment, and you’ll be completely protected by a full-length Gore-Tex membrane.
“Waterproof hot weather touring glove” isn’t a phrase that should exist, and yet, here it is. The fact that these summer motorcycle gloves also happen to pack enough top-notch protection to suit even the most aggressive sport-touring junkies (hard TPU protection on the knuckles, Superfabric seam protection, and a healthy smattering of full grain leather and Cordura fabric) seems too good to be true.
You’ll have to pay a pretty penny for the Held Air N Dry’s versatility, and they won’t flow nearly as much air on the top of the glove as the mesh-laden mitts on our list, but the simple fact that you can have this much weather and safety protection in the dead of summer makes them too good to leave out.
Held Air N Dry Gloves
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Klim’s “Badlands” line of adventure gear is widely regarded as the best in the business, and the Klim Badlands Aero Pro is the hot-weather version of their popular Badlands GTX glove.
Essentially what you’ve got here is all the same bombproof protection of the Badlands GTX, but you’re trading out the waterproof GoreTex liner for breathable perforated leather panels.
Safety-wise, everything else is left intact here: You’re still getting that insanely rugged carbon/ceramic knuckle guard, the same XRD padding along your digits, and the same ceramic-printed palm slider that makes the Badlands GTX feel so indestructible.
Everywhere else you’re looking at full grain leather, but with the added benefit of box-stiched seams, so there are no uncomfortable edges digging into your hands while you ride.
You’ll also get Klim’s fantastic Mult-e-Touch panels at the fingertips for touchscreen compatibility, and some extra low-profile reflectivity courtesy of 3M Scotchlite carbon black panels.
The Badlands Aero Pro is an impressive piece of kit, but it has its tradeoffs as well. The first is that it’s pretty damn expensive, especially for a short cuff summer motorcycle glove. The second is that although its perforated leather is well suited for airflow, we’ve got some concerns on how well it would hold up to asphalt compared to non-perforated material.
Klim does a good job of using non-perforated material in the most crucial areas (the heel of the hand in particular), but the thumb and fingers don’t look too confidence-inspiring.
Klim Aero Pro Gloves
If you mainly ride off-road but occasionally find yourself linking dirt trails with stretches of tarmac, take a look at the 100% Derestricted gloves. These summer motorcycle gloves were made specifically with the hardcore dual sport rider in mind, and they’ve got all the features an off-road warrior could ask for.
At their core, the 100% Derestricted are essentially dirtbike gloves: They’re stretchy and form-fitting, made with tons of mesh, and add a touch of silicone at each of the forefingers for extra grip at the controls. They differ, however, by adding in a few street-inspired touches that make them ideal for street-legal trail bikes.
The 100% Derestricted is a massive improvement in safety over a regular MX glove, but their main fault is that they’re still not really meant for street use.
Granted, hard sliders, leather, and a double-layer clarino palm will all fare better against pavement than the typical mesh/single-layer palm of an off-road only design, but there’s nowhere near enough protection here for highway speeds.
You’ll also have to cough up a few extra bucks for the Derestricted compared to other dirt-only summer motorcycle gloves, but we think they’re a good compromise if you keep your pavement time to a minimum.
100% Derestricted Motorcycle Gloves
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Choosing the right pair of summer motorcycle gloves can make all the difference between an enjoyable ride or having your riding buds laugh at you as you struggle to put on your gloves. Yes, even we were newbs at one point.
Stay cool, ride safe, and see you out there!
Got a favorite pair we didn't mention? Drop your recommendations in the comments! And if you're itching for more than just a gear upgrade, check out our latest tours and join us on the ride of a lifetime.
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