Every rider should have a good pair of mountain bike gloves. Something not too chunky but not too skimpy. Here are the pairs of gloves worth considering.
Here’s our pick of the latest and greatest mountain bike gloves. There’s something for all budgets and tastes here.
Read more: Best mountain bike grips – fat, medium and tapered grips
All the gloves featured in this guide have scored at least 9/10, so all come highly recommended.
The best mountain bike gloves
- 100% Brisker – Best buy for winter
- Altura One 80 G2 – Best buy
- Endura Humvee Lite – Best buy
- Leatt DBX Lite 4.0
- Dainese Driftec
- Sealskinz Dragon Eye MTB Ultralite
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100% Brisker Cold Weather gloves
Nothing comes close to this classic glove
Price: £26.99 | Colours: Black, fluo orange, fluo yellow, white, camo, grey, neon pink | Sizes: S-XXL
Pro: Amazing glove at a great price
Con: Not fully waterproof
As winter spreads its icy tentacles across the trails, it is now time to wrap your hands up all nice and cosy inside a pair of superlative 100% Brisker gloves. There’s just enough insulation to ward off the cold without leaving your fingers numb of feel. So you still get maximum feel through your palm and fingers to tell you what’s going on beneath your wheels. A winter must-have at a bargain price.
Read review of 100% Brisker Cold Weather gloves
Altura One 80 G2
Two thumbs up from us
Price: £24.99 | Colours: Black/white, red/white | Sizes: S-XL
Pro: Less is more
Con: A bit on the expensive side
When it comes to gloves, less is definitely more, and Altura’s One 80 G2 is about as minimal as they come. What it doesn’t skimp on, however, is comfort. The perforated palm is thin and doesn’t bunch up in use. It’s sewn to a lightweight, breathable back and durability is impressive considering it’s a pull-on design. Hands down, the One 80 G2 is one of the best gloves on the market.
Read review of Altura One 80 G2
Sealskinz Dragon Eye MTB Ultralite
Lightweight trail glove from the waterproof experts
Price: £30.00
Pro: Almost invisible fit
Con: Wrist cuff could be a little longer
A super light trail glove that’s almost as good as not wearing any when it comes to comfort and bar feel – with a little bit of protection and a durable palm. A mesh back adds to breathability and these are touchscreen compatible.
Read review of Sealskinz Dragon Eye MTB Ultralite
Endura Humvee Lite Icon gloves
Danny MacAskill’s glove of choice
Price: £19.99
Pro: Loads of feel
Con: Not a lot at this price
Apparently the Humvee is Danny MacAskill’s favorite, and in his hands they are more magician’s gloves than cycling gloves. We didn’t develop any superhuman riding skills when we pulled them on, but we were charmed by their simplicity and outright comfort. Danny Mac requires maximum feel and dexterity when he rides, and these gloves deliver on both counts. Lightweight, breathable and durable, at under £20 they’re an absolute bargain.
Read review of Endura Humvee Lite glove
Specialized Deflect gloves
Super slim and totally waterproof
Price: £60.00
Pro: Minimal impact to dexterity
Con: Still a bit sweaty
When compared to other waterproof gloves, the Deflect didn’t fill us with the usual nervous trepidation when about to stick our hands into cold wet gloves after a rest stop on a ride. The Specialized Deflect 2.0 is one of the most versatile waterproof/winter gloves to date. Not as bulky as most, it performs exceptionally well against rain, wind and cold temperatures. These should be right at the top of the list for the current riding conditions.
Read review of Specialized Deflect H2O Waterproof gloves
Leatt DBX Lite 4.0
Garish but great glove
Price: £40.00
Pro: Simply the best
Con: Not for the shy and reitirng
Ignore the back of this glove; we won’t even go there. Simply try on the DBX 4.0 Lite and you’ll be wearing one of the best gloves ever made. The NanoGrip palm is super thin and tracks the contours of your hand so closely that it almost feels like you don’t have a glove on. Even the Stretch-fit comfort cuff is the perfect tightness. There’s a sweat panel on the thumb, but we’d be careful with that as those Armourgel pads could have your eye out. Expensive and over the top but the fit is superb — making the DBX 4.0 Lite this group test winner.
Dainese Driftec
Great fit and material choice
Price: £29.95
Pro: The perfect minimalist glove
Con: One for warmer climes
The Driftec is a Lycra-backed glove with a wafer-thin palm. The material is shaped so that it follows the contours of the hand without bunching. The neoprene cuff is soft and comfortable in the riding position and it’s a good length, so doesn’t leave any part of your hand exposed. The Driftec is also easy to pull on and fits well with bags of feel. A broad range of sizes ensures the perfect fit.