Best Mountain Bike Gloves of 2026
MTB Gloves Tested For Comfort, Protection, Durability, And Breathability
August 5th, 2026, updated with a year's worth of testing notes, a new winner for best MTB glove for summer, and new winner for best lightweight MTB glove
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Mountain bike gloves are easy to overlook until you crash without them and spend the rest of the ride with shredded palms, or until sweaty hands slip on the bars mid-descent and you realize grip matters more than you thought. The right pair does two things well: keeps your hands secure on the handlebars and protects them when things go sideways on the trail.
I'm a mountain biker based in Breckenridge, Colorado, who has been riding since I was a kid on the trails of northern Utah and now logs as many pedal days as possible every summer. To find the best MTB gloves, I was joined by multiple testers of different riding styles and hand sizes, and we put every pair through everything from uphill dirt road slogs in desert heat to technical descents on cool mountain mornings, downhill hot laps, and long cross country rides.
What separates a genuinely good MTB glove from one that ends up forgotten in a jersey pocket comes down to how well the palm material grips the bars without sacrificing feel, how the padding placement protects the knuckles and outside of the hand without adding bulk that kills dexterity, how well the upper breathes during a sweaty climb, and how the construction holds up after a season of regular riding and the occasional crash.
Top Pick: The Dakine Cross-X 2.0 (men's and women's) earns our Best Overall award. No glove in our test balanced comfort, protection, breathability, and durability as consistently, with synthetic suede palms and silicone grippers that held up through months of riding, TPU and neoprene knuckle protection that does its job without adding bulk, and a price that makes them easy to replace when they eventually wear out.
Related: Best Mountain Bike Helmets
Read More: Best Mountain Bike Hydration Packs
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Mountain Bike Gloves Comparison Table
Men’s MTB Gloves Comparison Table
| MEN'S MTB GLOVES | TREELINE AWARD | SIZING | PADDING | TOUCH SCREEN | MSRP* | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakine Cross-X 2.0 | Best Overall Read why |
XS-XL | Knuckles | Yes | $44 | Padding on knucles and upper hand; silicone finger grips; mesh and neoprene upper; synthetic suede palm; odor control; velcro wrist closure |
| 100% Cognito D30 | Best Padded MTB Gloves Read why |
S-XXL | Knuckles | No | $33 | Breathable mesh upper and palm; silicone finger grips, velcro wrist closure |
| Handup Most Days | Best Lightweight Read why |
XXS-XXXL | None | Yes | $29 | Clarino leather palm, stretch cuff, seamless touchscreen across the entire palm, sweat cloth on thumb |
| Giro DND | Best Budget Gloves Read why |
S-XXL | Minimal | Yes | $30 | Stretch mesh upper, synthetic suede palm; silicone on brake fingers |
| Sealskinz Sutton All Weather | Best Winter MTB Gloves Read why |
S-XXL | Foam | No | $75 | Waterproof, light insulation, nose wipe, foam padding |
Women’s MTB Gloves Comparison Table
| WOMEN'S MTB GLOVES | TREELINE AWARD | SIZING | PADDING | TOUCH SCREEN | MSRP* | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakine Cross-X 2.0 | Best MTB Gloves Read why |
XS-XL | Knuckles | Yes | $44 | Silicone finger grips; mesh and neoprene upper; synthetic suede palm; odor control; velcro wrist closure |
| 100% Cognito D30 (Unisex) | Best Padded MTB Gloves Read why |
S-XXL | Knuckles | No | $45 | Breathable mesh upper and palm; silicone finger grips, velcro wrist closure |
| Handup Most Days (Unisex) | Best Lightweight Read why |
XXS-XXXL | None | Yes | $29 | Clarino leather palm, stretch cuff, seamless touchscreen across the entire palm, sweat cloth |
| Giro La DND | Best Budget Gloves Read why |
S-XL | Minimal | Yes | $30 | stretch mesh upper, synthetic suede palm; silicone on brake fingers |
| Sealskinz All Weather (Unisex) | Best Winter MTB Gloves Read why |
S-XXL | Foam | No | $75 | Waterproof, light insulation, nose wipe, foam padding |
* Prices reflect MSRP and are subject to change. We note any discounts we see on our Deals page, which is updated daily.
For more of our favorite mountain biking recommendations, see our most popular Biking stories:
The Best Mountain Bike Gloves
The Best Overall Mountain Bike Gloves: Dakine Cross-X 2.0
Price: $44
Sizing: XS-XXL
Padding: Yes, gel pad on knuckles, palm padding
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: gel padding on knuckles and upper hand; silicone finger grips; mesh and neoprene upper; synthetic suede palm; odor control; velcro wrist closure
What we liked: balance of comfort, protection, durability, breathability, and price; versatility
What we didn’t like: could be more breathable
The Dakine Cross-X gloves stood out in our test for their impressive balancing act of comfort, protection, durability, and breathability all at a reasonable price point. A combination of synthetic suede palms and silicone grippers on the thumb and index finger make these gloves grippy and comfortable, while TPU and neoprene on the knuckles and outside of the palm add protection against a crash. The fabric on the top of the hand is stretchy and made of a fairly breathable material. It does a good job of wicking moisture as well. These features together make the Cross-X a great cycling glove for all sorts of trails and a good value for the price, too.
Compare prices of the Dakine Cross-X 2.0 Bike Gloves
Men's
Women's
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We found the Cross-X gloves to run true to size with a fit that hugs the hand without being constricting. The velcro strap holds tight and helps to dial in fit around the wrist. The gloves are comfortable for both long cross-country rides and all-day hot laps. They are one of the only models we considered available in men’s gloves and women’s gloves.
We also appreciate some of the extra features in these gloves, like the microfleece material on the thumb that acts as a nose wipe, and touch screen compatible fingers.
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While the Cross-X gloves aren’t the most breathable in our test, you get protection and durability in return. And, they balance a good amount of moisture-wicking capabilities considering the added bulk of padding to protect your hands. We wore these gloves on everything from cool, early season morning rides in the mountains to hot, sun-soaked days in the desert and rarely found our hands to be excessively hot.
The durability of the Cross-X gloves is trustworthy and they should last an average mountain bike rider a full season or more of regular riding. After testing these gloves on a season’s worth of mid-length rides, they show no significant signs of wear.
The synthetic leather palm on this glove is not perforated like other, more breathable gloves in our test, but we found that this makes the Cross-X a more durable option, especially for riders on the aggressive side.
Both customer and media reviews confirm our love for the Dakine Cross-X gloves. They come recommended as a top glove by Gear Junkie and have dozens of 5-star customer reviews from REI, Amazon, and Dakine’s website.
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If you’re looking for a do-it-all glove that will keep your hands comfortable and protected wherever the trail takes you, the Cross-X is an excellent option. On days riding through mixed terrain-long climbs, technical trails, fast and flowy descents-we found these gloves to be up for any of it.
Riders looking for a glove with breathability and comfort as their top priority should consider our Upgrade Winner, the POC Resistance Enduro ADJ. However, they come with a higher price tag and lack the additional padding or protection of the Dakine Cross-X.
Riders who need protection above everything else will find more padding in our winner for Best Padded MTB Gloves, the 100% Cognito D30. However, those other gloves are not as versatile as the Cross X, given that they might be a bit bulky or excessive for mellower trails or styles of riding.
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Both customer and media reviews confirm our love for the Dakine Cross-X gloves. They come recommended as a top glove by Gear Junkie and have dozens of 5-star customer reviews from REI, Amazon, and Dakine’s website.
Overall, the Dakine Cross-X gloves offer the best combination of comfort, padding, and breathability, with a reasonable price, good durability, and great color options to boot.
Best Padded MTB Gloves: 100% Cognito D30
Price: $33
Sizing: S-XL
Padding: Yes, knuckles
Touch Screen Compatible: No
Additional Features: breathable mesh upper and palm; silicone fingertip, velcro wrist closure
What we liked: top notch padding and protection on knuckles and throughout the hand, comfort, form-fitting, vents surprisingly well for such protection, durability, best wrist-closure of any of the gloves we tested
What we didn’t like: not as versatile, price
If you find yourself riding more technical and steep trails, or venture into the bike park, look to the 100% Cognito D3O gloves to give your hands the protection they need. The stretchy construction on the top of the hand upper makes these gloves especially comfortable and form-fitting. The thick, synthetic palm material helps maintain grip on the handlebars, protects your hands, and vents sweat through the perforations. Each glove has a touch screen compatible thumb and index finger as well.
View The 100% Cognito D3O
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The best padded gloves strategically place padding where you need protection without adding bulk or extra padding where you don’t need it. As a result, the 100% Cognito D30 padded gloves provide protection without impacting grip, dexterity, or breathability, giving them our top award for protection.
The most notable feature about these padded gloves is the D3O material in the knuckles that offers top-notch impact protection. The material is flexible when riding for comfort and mobility, but it hardens upon impact to protect your hands.
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The synthetic leather material in the palm of the Cognito gloves is the thickest of any we tested and proved to be some of the most durable. Thankfully, we didn’t endure any nasty falls when testing these gloves. But after months of riding in the gloves, they held up, looking nearly good as new. Because of this, we think the Cognitos have excellent durability to stand up to aggressive trail and downhill riders.
We did find ourselves pleasantly surprised with the gloves’ breathability and comfort, despite the extra armor. The gloves fit true-to-size and have a burly velcro wrist closure that proved to be the most secure of any in our test.
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Everyday customers agree that these gloves stand out, with several 5-star reviews on Amazon and other outdoor sites. Outdoor Gear Lab gave the Cognito D3O a Top Pick award for best protection.
Overall, if you need a durable, protective glove that will stand up to almost anything the trail throws your way, slip the Cognito D3O over your paws to keep them comfortable and protected.
If you’re not a particularly aggressive rider or don’t often venture onto steep and fast trails, consider a more versatile glove for cross country and trail riding, like our Overall winner—the Dakine Cross-X or our Upgrade Winner—the POC Resistance Enduro.
Best Lightweight MTB Gloves: Handup Most Days
Price: $29
Sizing: XXS-XXL
Padding: None
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: silicone palm grip, UPF 50+
What we liked: comfortable, great daily drivers, lots of fun colors and patterns
What we didn’t like: not as protective or cushioned as others in our test
We think the Handup Most Days gloves are the best lightweight MTB gloves. They are a great choice for riders looking for a daily driver glove that offers loads of style and fun in a simple, affordable package.
Multiple testers rode in these gloves around the mountains of Colorado and loved them for everyday trail rides.
If you’re looking for an all-around MTB glove and don’t need added protection or padding, consider these—especially if you’re looking to add some fun prints and colors to your kit. They aren't quite as breathable and lightweight as our winner for best MTB gloves for summer, but are a great lightweight MTB glove for all-season use.
View the Handup Most Days
Best Budget MTB Gloves: Giro DND and Giro LA DND
Price: $30
Sizing: S-XXXL
Padding: Yes, minimal
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: stretch mesh upper, synthetic suede palm; silicone grip on brake fingers
What we liked: value for the price, has many features we like in more expensive gloves
What we didn’t like: no added padding or protection, could be more breathable
For a pair of comfortable, durable, no-frills gloves at a great price, we recommend the men’s Giro DND and women’s Giro LA DND. A stretchy, breathable mesh upper helps to vent heat and wick sweat, while a perforated, synthetic suede palm with reinforced, silicone-tipped fingers give extra grip on handlebars. Plus, a reinforced crash pad on the outer palm gives a little extra comfort and protection (for more on how MTB gloves protect cyclists from a crash, see our section on protection below). The DND includes handy features such as touch screen compatible fingertips and a microfiber nose wipe on the thumb.
Compare Prices Of The Giro DND And Giro La DND
Men's
Women's
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We tested these gloves on warm spring rides along desert singletrack and flowy forest trails and enjoyed their simplicity and comfort. They’re breathable enough for sun-soaked afternoons and protective enough to save the skin on your palms, though there’s no added padding or protection on the knuckles.
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After several rides and a minor crash or two, these gloves proved that they’re able to hold their own in terms of durability. We didn’t notice any loose stitching or significant wear, and we think these gloves will last average riders a good full season of biking. Overall, the DNDs are almost as good as the Cross-X in terms of durability, but they lack the protection on the knuckles and the adjustable wrist strap that help the Cross-X stand out as our favorite.
We found these gloves to fit true-to-size with a snug wrap around the hand. Though there’s no velcro closure, the gloves slip easily over your hands and stay snug around the wrist during rides.
Related: How to Train for a Century Ride
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Customer and media reviews confirm that these gloves are a popular option among everyday riders. 5-star reviews abound on Amazon, Backcountry, and Evo, while the gloves stand out as a long-time tester favorite from the reviewers at Outdoor Gear Lab.
If you’re looking for a good, reasonably-priced glove to keep your hands comfortable on cross-country and trail rides in a wide range of conditions, the Giro DNDs are our top pick. Overall, these gloves will do a great job for most riders cruising singletrack trails. (If you’re headed for some tricky, fast downhills, we’d steer you toward the Dakine Cross-X or 100% Cognito for the added protection.)
Best Winter Mtb Gloves: Sealskinz Sutton All Weather MTB Glove
Price: $75
Sizing: S-XXL
Padding: Foam Pressure Point Padding
Touch Screen Compatible: No
Additional Features: Waterproof, light insulation, nose wipe, foam padding
What we liked: Warm, durable, comfortable fit
What we didn’t like: Price
If you bring out the fat tire bike in mid-winter conditions, you’ll need some thick, warm gloves to help keep frostbite at bay. The Sealskinz All Weather gloves are toasty, durable, and will stand up to cold weather rides.
Compare Prices Of The Sealskinz All Weather MTB Glove
Men's
Women's
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These gloves feature a wind and waterproof outer layer with a mid-layer of insulation and an inner polyester lining for protection from the elements. When testing these gloves, we appreciated that dexterity wasn’t hampered too much despite the extra insulation, which is notable for a winter cycling glove. This is largely thanks to the liner design that is meant to stay put and not bunch up or move around inside the glove.
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These waterproof gloves fit comfortably snug without being constricting, offer good dexterity, and are fairly lightweight for an insulated winter glove.
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Extra mountain bike-specific features like silicone finger grips and foam padding across the knuckles make these gloves a great choice for trail riding in cool temps. Since these are a burlier, insulated winter glove, there isn’t touch screen compatibility on the fingers.
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With several 5-star customer reviews and a nod from both Gear Junkie and The Adventure Junkies, these gloves prove to be a great choice for winter riders. These gloves are a good option if you’re tackling winter rides, like our writer Dean Krakel did in his attempt to Bikepack the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park in every month of the year, including the winter months. If you’re looking for gloves to keep you on your bike through the coldest parts of the year, we recommend the Sealskins All Weather MTB.
Best Hot Weather Mountain Bike Gloves - Women's: Shredly MTB gloves
Price: $29
Sizing: XXS-XL
Padding: None
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Other Features: breathable mesh upper, perforated palm material
What we liked: Light, comfortable, and supremely breathable for hot rides
What we didn’t: Not as protective as other gloves
When the temperature creeps up on your mountain bike rides it can be tempting to want to go without the extra layer of gloves. And while that choice often boils down to personal preference, wearing gloves can be more comfortable, offer more grip, and even some protection in case of a crash. Our go-to pair of gloves for riding in hot summer conditions are the Shredly Gloves. These minimalist gloves offer just enough comfort and protection while remaining supremely light and breathable.
View the Shredly MTB gloves
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The gloves have a lightweight mesh fabric across the back of the hand that wicks and breathes even on the hottest days. The palms are made with a layer of synthetic suede that has small perforations throughout to increase breathability. Both the index fingers and thumbs are touch screen compatible and while they aren’t perfect, they work well almost all of the time.
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We tested the gloves on rides around Colorado, from hot and grueling forest road climbs to downhill trails at Arapahoe Basin, and even long rides over 5 hours in hot sun and cool cloud cover. The gloves were comfortable and breathable through it all.
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One feature these gloves don’t have is any extra padding or protection anywhere. They’re simple and breathable but they are not as protective as others in our test. So, if you ride a lot of rough downhill trails and want the added protection, consider a different pair. But if you’re looking for a pair of comfortable gloves for hot rides, these are our go-to summer riding gloves.
Best Hot Weather Mountain Bike Gloves - Men's: Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB Gloves
Price: $40
Sizing: XS-L (women’s); XS-XL (men’s)
Fabric: Synthetic suede palm, nylon and spandex mesh upper
Padding: None
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: Stretch wicking mesh upper; thumb wipe; silicone grip on index and thumb
What we liked: Comfortable, breathable, light and minimal
What we didn’t like: No padding
The Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB gloves are the best men's mountain bike gloves for summer. This is a great option for MTBers who want a light, breathable, and minimalist glove.
The upper mesh material is stretchy and airy, and the synthetic suede palm is supple and offers ample grip.
These are a great daily driver for warm and hot summer rides, and a glove we often find ourselves reaching for in warmer temperatures.
Ultimately, we think the women's Shredly Glove is more comfortable than the women's OR Freewheel Gloves for bikers with smaller hands.
But for the men's summer MTB glove that is slightly more durable than the Shredly, the Freewheel is a great choice.
View Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB Gloves
Other MTB Gloves We Tested
POC Resistance Enduro
Sizing: XS-XL
Padding: No
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: stretch wicking mesh upper; thumb wipe; silicone grip on brake fingers; velcro wrist adjustment
What we liked: comfort, breathability, ventilation, sweat wicking
What we didn’t like: sizing runs small, no women’s specific model
The Resistance Enduro gloves are a comfortable, functional, and breathable all-around pair of bike gloves that fared well in our initial test and were previously an award winner. We like the overall performance of the materials, but ultimately think these gloves leave something to be desired in the way of features and durability, mostly for the price.
After multiple seasons of testing these gloves in a wide range of conditions, they showed more wear than we’d hope for a premium priced glove. But, they are comfortable and offer a nice clean aesthetic, so if that’s worth the splurge to you, then we still think these are a good, albeit expensive, option.
View the POC Resistance Enduro
Price: $49
Sizing: XS-L
Padding: yes, outside of the palm
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: stretch wicking mesh upper; thumb wipe; silicone grip on brake fingers and palm
What we liked: comfortable, good grip, added cushion
What we didn’t like: sizing runs small
These women’s specific gloves are a great choice for everyday rides. We tested them on trails around the mountains of Colorado in the hot sun and cool rain and they gripped well and kept our hands happy. Ultimately, they didn’t stand out enough in one particular performance aspect to earn their keep as an award winner—the Dakine Cross X boasts more features overall while the Shredly gloves are more breathable. But we still think these are a solid pair of gloves that offer loads of comfort for long days on the trail. Just consider sizing up!
View the Wild Rye Galena Gel Glove
Price: $55
Sizing: 6-11
Padding: Yes
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: stretchy lycra upper, silicone grips on fingers
What we liked: comfortable, made with quality materials
What we didn’t like: lacks breathability, Hestra sizing is unique
Hestra is a well-known and respected glove maker in the snowsports world—they’re a winner in our Best Ski Gloves review—and they make solid bike gloves, too.
We tested the Apex Long gloves on dozens of rides in Colorado and found them to perform well overall. While Hestra markets these gloves as a lightweight summer option, we found others in our test to be more breathable.
But, from experience testing other Hestra products, we know that the brand makes very durable products. We don’t have enough trail miles on these gloves to say for sure yet, but based on materials and reputation, we suspect they’ll outlast others in our test. We’ll report back.
View the Hestra Apex Long
Dakine Covert
Price: $35
Sizing: XS-XXL
Padding: Yes, gel pad on knuckles and palm padding but very minimal
Touch Screen Compatible: Yes
Additional Features: Mesh upper; synthetic suede palms; silicone finger and thumb grips; thumb wipe;
We loved riding in the Dakine Covert gloves for their comfort on the trail and good breathability. The mesh upper is breathable while the seamless synthetic suede palm is comfortable on the bars. We also appreciate that their sizing includes men’s and women’s gloves.
View The Dakine Covert Glove
Men's
Women's
We also like these gloves for their overall style, which stood out from other gloves in our test. We put these gloves through the paces on miles of both mountain and desert trails, and they kept our hands comfortable and held up well.
Dakine says the Dakine Covert has gel padding on knuckles and palm padding. However, in an earlier edition of this article, we said it didn’t have padding. The reason is because the padding is that minimal. Customer reviews at REI also voice surprise that it lists these MTB gloves as padded in the specs given how minimal the padding is in real life.
Ultimately, the Giro DND won our award for best budget gloves thanks to a heap of 5-star customer reviews across the board, though we still think the Covert gloves are a great option for riders looking for a simple, no-frills glove.
We love gloves with silicone palm grips, including the Wild Rye Galena. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
Why Wear Bike Gloves
You may be asking “Do I need bike gloves?” or “Are bike gloves necessary?”
There are two primary reasons to wear gloves when mountain biking: grip and protection. Without gloves, sweaty hands can compromise your grip on the handlebars, making it harder to stay in control as you ride. In addition, the grip from cycling gloves helps reduce hand fatigue.
If you crash on the trail, your hands are likely to brace the fall and without gloves, you’ll be left with scraped up palms or knuckles. The right gloves add comfort, grip, and protection for your hands when you’re out riding.
You may also want to check out our Best MTB Grips guide.
What to look for in a pair of mountain bike gloves
We tested these mountain biking gloves on everything from uphill dirt road slogs in the heat to techy descents on cool mountain mornings.
Here are the essential features that every good pair of mountain bike gloves should have:
Comfort and Fit
Without comfortable gloves, other features won't matter. Quality MTB gloves should feel snug without being restrictive and shouldn't create pressure points or hot spots during rides. Look for gloves that conform to your hand shape without excess material bunching in the palms. We focused on models that tested well for all-day comfort and proper finger length proportions.
Padding and Protection
The right amount of padding depends on your riding style. Cross-country riders can get away with minimal palm padding, while aggressive trail and downhill riders need substantial knuckle protection and crash-resistant materials. Look for strategic padding placement that protects pressure points without adding unnecessary bulk. Advanced materials like D3O offer superior impact protection that stays flexible during normal riding but hardens on impact.
Grip and Control
Your connection to the handlebars is crucial for bike control. Quality gloves feature synthetic suede or leather palms that provide excellent tactile feedback and durability. Silicone grippers on brake fingers and shifter contact points enhance control, especially in wet conditions. The palm material should offer secure grip without compromising your bar feel or dexterity. Mountain bike gloves should also give you the grip and protection needed to safely adjust your MTB glasses mid-ride when they fog up or get splattered with mud.
Breathability
Hot, sweaty hands impact your grip and comfort. Good MTB gloves incorporate breathable materials and ventilation features like mesh panels on the back of the hand and perforated palm materials. Moisture-wicking fabrics help keep hands dry during long climbs. However, breathability and protection often trade off—heavily padded gloves typically offer less airflow.
Durability
Quality construction shows in the details. Look for reinforced stitching at stress points, particularly where fingers meet the palm, and double-stitched seams in high-wear areas. Durable palm materials resist wear from regular grip contact, while quality thread and consistent stitch spacing prevent premature failure. A good pair of MTB gloves should last at least a full season of regular riding.
Closure System
A secure wrist closure prevents gloves from slipping during rides and allows fine-tuning of fit. Quality velcro closures should hold firmly throughout your ride without requiring readjustment. Wide straps distribute pressure more evenly than narrow closures, while the closure should accommodate different wrist sizes without creating pressure points.
Weather Considerations
Your glove needs change with conditions. Summer riding demands maximum breathability and minimal insulation, while cold weather requires wind resistance and warmth. Some gloves offer water-resistant treatments for wet conditions, though this typically reduces breathability. Consider building a small collection for different seasons rather than seeking one compromise solution.
Additional Features
Modern MTB gloves often include convenient extras like touchscreen-compatible fingertips for phone and GPS use, microfleece nose wipes on the thumb, and pull-on tabs for easy removal. While not essential, these features enhance usability. However, focus on core performance features first—comfort, protection, and grip—before considering convenience additions.
Full Finger and Half Finger Gloves
Cycling and mountain bike gloves come in both half- and full-finger options.
Generally, half finger gloves are best for road cycling and mellow cross country mountain biking, while full finger gloves are better for trail and downhill mountain biking, primarily because of the added grip in the fingers and overall hand protection. Our review focuses on full finger gloves specific for mountain biking.
A good pair of mountain biking gloves has full finger for grip, comfort, protection, and breathability. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
How to Choose Mountain Biking Gloves
The best way to find the right pair of gloves is to consider the type of riding you do most.
Are you a cross country or trail rider who sticks to trails without especially steep or technical downhills? A basic pair of gloves like the Giro DND will suit you well since comfort and breathability are the primary features of gloves like these.
If you venture into the bike park from time to time or prefer fast trails with technical downhills, consider a more protective glove such as the 100% Cognito D30. In short, aggressive riders more prone to falling will benefit from a glove with extra protection for any trail, while bikers on the conservative side will find a more minimal glove to be sufficient.
Gloves with added protection will often be less breathable but will do a much better job of saving your skin in a crash.
If you dabble in all ends of the mountain biking spectrum, consider a versatile glove such as our Overall Winner, the Dakine Cross-X, which has a great combination of padding, comfort, and breathability.
How to Fit Mountain Bike Gloves
The Wild Rye Galena gloves performed well overall and are wonderfully comfortable, though they do run a little on the small side. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
Your mountain bike gloves should fit snugly without being uncomfortably constricting. A loose glove compromises grip on the handlebars and can bunch in the palm in a way that gets annoying fast on longer rides. Too tight and your fingers will feel cramped, especially on hot days when your hands swell a bit.
Start by measuring the circumference of your palm at its widest point with a closed fist, and the length from the base of your palm to the tip of your longest finger. Use those measurements against the brand's specific size chart since sizing varies between manufacturers. The Wild Rye Galena runs small, for example, and we recommend sizing up in those.
When trying gloves on, check a few things: fingers should reach the end of each finger without excess fabric bunching at the tips; the palm should lay flat without wrinkling between your hand and the grip; and the velcro closure should wrap your wrist comfortably without gaps or pressure points. If you can, try gripping something similar to handlebars to check for bunching in the palm before committing. And if you're buying online, order from a retailer with easy returns and try two sizes.
One last thing worth noting: hands aren't always the same size. If yours differ significantly, fit to whichever hand feels more critical for grip and control.
Protection in Mountain Bike Gloves
The Shredly Glove is minimal, comfortable, and supremely breathable. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
We refer to the protection offered with each glove in our review.
What we mean by this is what sort of protection the glove offers in the event of a crash or other incidents on the trail, like swiping the side of a tree with your hand or handlebars.
This protection offers some shock absorption and is most often found in the form of extra material-like neoprene, TPU, or D3O-on the knuckles and outside of the palm.
Mellow riders often do not need the extra protection that comes with some mountain bike gloves, since they are less likely to take hard falls.
Still, even a glove without added protection will help save a rider's palms from accumulating nasty cuts during a crash.
If you’re a fast and aggressive trail or downhill rider, you’ll benefit from gloves with added protection.
Care and maintenance
Because gloves are made with technical materials, tossing them in with your regular laundry isn't ideal. Handwashing is always gentler than machine washing, though some gloves can handle a machine wash on a gentle cycle. Check the manufacturer's instructions first. Either way, rinse thoroughly since soap residue breaks down synthetic fabrics over time. Air dry flat or hanging, out of direct sunlight and away from heat, which can shrink and damage the materials.
For stains, try gentle soap, water, and a soft brush. If that doesn't get it out, remember these are bike gloves and a stain doesn't affect how they perform. Keep the velcro clean by rinsing out mud and debris and using a toothbrush to get into the pile. Dirty velcro loses its grip faster than worn-out velcro does.
For minor damage, small holes can be patched with gear tape. Splitting seams can be stitched, though be careful not to create new pressure points with the added thread. If the padding has worn out, it's a sign that the rest of the glove has too, and replacing the pair makes more sense than trying to repair them.
FAQ
Two of our women’s testers use the Shredly Glove as their daily drivers for summer riding. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
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Gel padding, in our testing, offers superior shock absorption but may wear out faster. Foam padding is durable and affordable but provides less comfort, and silicone padding on fingertips enhances your glove's grip and durability. For downhill or enduro riding, choose thicker padding for protection, while cross-country riders often prefer minimal padding for better bar feel and control.
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Quality mountain bike gloves should last one full season or more with regular riding. Durability depends on riding style, frequency, and glove construction. Aggressive riders who crash frequently or ride technical terrain may need replacement sooner, while casual trail riders can expect longer lifespan from well-made gloves with reinforced palms. More expensive gloves may last multiple seasons.
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Full-finger gloves are better for mountain biking as they provide complete hand protection from branches, rocks, and crashes while offering better grip on brake levers. Fingerless gloves are mainly suitable for road cycling or very hot conditions, but most mountain bikers prefer full-finger gloves year-round for the added protection and control.
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Yes, expensive gloves typically offer better materials, construction, and durability than budget options. Premium gloves feature improved breathability, more comfortable padding placement, superior grip materials, and reinforced stitching. However, budget options like the Giro DND can still provide good performance for casual riders who prioritize value over premium features.
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Mountain bike gloves can help reduce hand numbness for some people through strategic padding that relieves pressure on nerves. Gloves also improve grip that reduces "death-grip" on handlebars. However, numbness often results from poor bike fit, incorrect hand position, or medical conditions, so gloves alone may not solve the problem - consider professional bike fitting if numbness persists.
We researched dozens of mountain biking gloves and then tested the most promising on everything from uphill dirt road slogs in heat to techy descents on cool mountain mornings. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
How We Researched and Tested
We started with hours of research-looking at dozens of different gloves on the market and reading media and customer reviews to get a good idea of the most loved styles from everyday riders to pros. In total, we considered 14 pairs of mountain biking gloves.
From there, we selected the most promising models and tested for ourselves on everything from uphill dirt road slogs in the heat to techy descents on cool mountain mornings. We rode with these gloves on downhill hot laps and 25-mile cross country rides, frosty morning missions, and scorching summer afternoon sessions. Thankfully, only a few falls were taken among our testers and all the gloves (and testers!) made it out intact. In the end, we think we’ve landed on the best models of mountain biking gloves available.
- Hot uphill dirt-road climbs
- Technical mountain descents
- Downhill laps and long XC rides
- Cool, frosty, and summer conditions
- Tested across different hand sizes
- Grip and bar control
- Comfort and fit
- Padding and hand protection
- Breathability and sweat management
- Durability and dexterity
About the Author / Why You Should Trust Us
We love gloves with silicone palm grips, including the Wild Rye Galena. Photo by Tom Callaghan.
A true mountain dweller, Stasia Stockwell feels far more at home on a high alpine ridge than a busy city street. She writes primarily in the outdoor and adventure travel realm, focusing on destination content and gear reviews that are intriguing and informative for newcomers and experts alike.
Stasia has worked as a backpacking guide in southeast Alaska and written for Backpacker, REI Co-op Journal, and The Dyrt, along with her work for Treeline. She’s an avid mountain biker and has been riding on two wheels since she was a kid on the trails of northern Utah. She now spends her summers logging as much pedal time as possible around her home in Breckenridge, Colorado, and beyond.
More of her work and adventures can be found on her website.
To see all Stasia’s Treeline articles, see her author profile.
As a freelance writer and gear tester, Stasia and Treeline Review are not sponsored, an ambassador, or an employee of any companies mentioned here. This review is unbiased, and we do this to help you find the best product for the best price. Treeline Review doesn’t accept sponsored content, native advertising, or paid reviews.
