Cheap Gloves Are Worth What You Pay For Them

[Allison Wunderland]

I have some waterproof, gauntlet style, cold weather, Gor-Tex lined Harley-Davidson gloves. I think I paid about $90 for them. Worth every cent.

But riding in warm weather, I need lighter gloves. I won't ride bare handed. I need gloves, just because. (I ride bicycles with gloves, never bare handed.)

I stopped and picked up a cheap pair of "stockman's gloves" -- unfinished rawhide, unlined. Got these from NAPA Auto. They're intended as working gloves, not riding gloves. $5.00

They seemed fine -- first couple hundred miles.

But hundreds of miles riding, thousands of miles actually in the past two weeks, my hands started getting hangnails, sore, dry, chafed around the cuticles, split nails, skin generally red and irritated.

It's the cheap gloves.

Chemicals in processing rawhide can irritate the skin. Also, raw leather is abrasive, like wearing cheap shoes without socks. My hands were a mess. Literally three days of Corn Husker's Lotion every 15 min. and lots of working salves, lotions into the skin to get my hands to stop screaming at me.

We purchased some Harley Davidson gloves, stretch fitted, padded palms, nice. $35 . . . and worth every cent.

Gloves are essential to riding. Don't try to get away with junk. It's like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops.

[Adrenaline Crew]

We sell gloves for 20 on our site that are 50 in stores...

most gloves are just goat leather anyways!

[TURBO KING]

Good advice. Check out the CoreTech gloves. I have 2 sets I love.

[RezZ]

I have a pair of 20 dollar leather gloves that keep me warm all winter and on long trips. So I would have to strongly disagree. Although a pair of 90 dollar HD gloves probably cost 20-40 in some other brand.

[FNA]

Sorry, I use cheap, work gloves all summer. They don't bother my hands and I usually get a couple of years out of them.

All work gloves can't be as bad as described - after all, people who wear them usually wear them to work every day for much longer than we ride. In fact, I use my riding work gloves for work work gloves as necessary.

[mithuth]

I bought a pair of the all black vented Mechanix gloves from Autozone and wore them on a 9 hour ride yesterday with my mom without incident and have wore them on several short rides around town, again without issue.
I've used these gloves while doing yard work and working on my Jeeps for hours on end without issue.

I'd have to say the sensitivity issue is between that specific glove material and you. Cheaper gloves work just fine for me.

[javafugo]

a good set of gloves are worth their weight in gold. I've rode several 400+ mile days in a set of shorty leather gloves with no issues. I'd suggest getting something designed for street riding in case (which mine have) your palms hit the ground.

[goalie]

Generally, I have found that inexpensive gloves have not been good for me. I have found many summer weight gloves in the $40-$50 range that are great. Likewise, great winter weight gloves have usually been $90 or more.

I am certain there can be bargains found out there, but from my personal experience the above has held true.

[Roman Legion]

I'm going to be using stuff I have around from the Army.. I have some Hawk Armor Skin gloves and some Army work gloves that are made out of a leather like material.. The Hawk gloves seem to be made of some type of fabric, but conforms to the hand very nicely.

[Massey]

I have a nice pair of insulated gloves for cold weather and I paid about $25 for them, great gloves keeps my hands nice and warm, my pocket book thanks me too!

For warm weather I have a pair of Mechanic's Impact gloves, leather/suede palms, and a mesh top with rubberized "armor" on the tops of the fingers and knuckles to keep your fingers safe. $19 before my employee discount, again my wallet thanks me!

Massey

[Roman Legion]

lol.. Use NASA space suit gloves :P

[primalmu]

I try to get most of my gloves on discount from places like Newenough.com (Motorcyclegear.com). I've yet to find a pair of gloves as nice as my first pair, which were some US Army-branded from Power Trip that I paid $25 for. There aren't any good motorcycle stores near me with a decent selection of gloves to try on.

[Lyonsju22]

I bought a pair of cheap leather riding gloves for like 12 bucks they work great and they are comfortable. You might have a reaction to certain kinds of materal

[Gunner75]

Personally i love the feel of the gloves from Speed and Strength. Their gloves are down right comfortable as can be. Great protection in a lay down, nice air movement through the glove, and not once have my hands gotten hot on these hot days weve been having and i ride everyday. find em at www.ssgear.com

[blackbird68]

I just bought a pair from the seemingly off shoot brand "pro biker". A local shop sells them for $15 so I figured why not.

[jrswanson1]

I got Joe Rocket gloves, they're decent but no gauntlets on them, $35. I got some Tourmaster gloves which are great, with gauntlets, $35. And I got A-Star race gloves, which were $160. I need some winter gloves now.