The Best Off-Road (Dirtbike) Gloves For 2024
We’d Know: We’ve Hands-On Tested 2500+ Pieces Of Riding Gear Since 2000
Our picks are based on gloves that offer the best blend of safety/performance, function/features, and price.
Last updated October 2023 by Zach Poole.
About Our Glove Recommendations
Founded in 2000, our team at wBW has collectively tested more than 2,500 helmets, jackets, boots, gloves, accessories, and more. We do not fluff reviews. A riders safety is heavily dictated by how they ride and what they wear while doing so. Our goal is to help riders make informed decisions about the gear they invest in to protect themselves.
wBW is funded by our audience. Our recommendations and reviews may contain affiliate links that earn us a small comission if you make a purchase after clicking them. This is the primary way we fund our website and pay our review team (and comes at no additional cost to you). We disclose our relationship with brands or manufacturers for transparency. For more information about our extensive review process, see our review policies.
Best Entry Level Off-Road/Dirtbike Gloves
Priced under $50.
Alpinestars Full Bore Gloves
Why?
The Alpinestars Full Bore Gloves represent an area of the glove market that we all wish was just a little bigger - budget friendly gloves from a premium manufacturer like Alpinestars.
The Full Bore gloves are basic, theres no doubt about it, but at a mere $30 price tag we think they cover all of the basics, and then some - what else would you expect from the folks at A-Stars?
Key Specs
Ergonomic padded palm for optimal comfort
Neoprene and TPR knuckle area offer enhanced protection against impacts
Wrist adjustment provides a secure customized fit
Upper construction from a breathable stretch fabric for high levels of rider comfort
Synthetic suede palm for high levels of durability and grip
Reinforced thumb patches
Stretch cuff for optimized fit
Protection & Safety
TPR patches provide anti-penetration defense against branches and rocks
Palm heel features Synthetic suede and ergonomic padding for high levels of comfort, durability, and grip
Best Mid-Range Off-Road/Dirtbike Gloves
Priced $50- $75.
Fox Racing Bomber Gloves
Why?
When your intention is to just “send it”, the Fox Bomber gloves are just what you need. The molded plastic knuckle and finger armor offer enhanced top-of-hand protection, while the padded double-layer palm adds another level of strength without sacrificing comfort.
Key Specs
Compression molded neoprene cuff with hook and loop closure
Double layer conductive Clarino palm and finger pads
Touchscreen compatible fingertip and thumb
Perforated goatskin leather back of hand
Molded TPU knuckle protector and finger sliders
Stretch airflow nylon finger gussets
Silicone print at finger tips for lever grip
Protection & Safety
A double layer and padded Carino palm
Perforated goatskin leather top of hand for enhanced comfort with molded plastic knuckle coverage
Finger pads with touchscreen compatibility
Thor Range Gloves
Price: $55
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
Thor is a leading dirtbike gear manufacturer, and for good reason. Safety, function, and style are all key aspects of Thor products, as is the case with the Range Gloves.
Available in two colours, Army green, or black, the Range gloves come with some great features for the price, including waterproofing, fleece lining, inset plastic knuckle protection, and touchscreen compatibility. Thor says these gloves are built for year-round use, and should be useable no matter what conditions you decide to ride in.
Key Specs
Rainproof and waterproof under pressure (waterproof rating 20,000mm)
Constructed with DWR coating and waterproof, breathable, seamless membrane
Fleece lined for insulation and warmth
Conductive and touchscreen compatible palm material
Hook and Loop closure
Easy entry notched wrist opening
Goggle and shield squeegee
Two available colour options
Protection & Safety
Inset plastic knuckle cover with matte finish
Leatt Moto 4.5 Lite Gloves
Why?
Seeking the best grip and feel you can possibly find? Leatt Moto 4.5 Lite gloves have Nanogrip palm material using woven fibers that are 7,500 times thinner than human hair, along with the new FormFit finger stitching that gives unreal grip no matter the conditions.
There is plenty of airflow in these gloves. They also feature 3D molded AirFlex impact gel protection for your fingers and knuckles.
Key Specs
3D molded AirFlex impact gel protection on knuckles, third and fourth finger
FormFit finger stitching to give the best grip and feel
SlideLock wrist strap that gives secure fastening
New improved upper mesh for improved ventilation
NanoGrip palm is ultra-thin for superior bike feel
Ultimate dry and wet grip
Nano fiber technology 7.500 times thinner than hair
Very stretchy and flexible
Pre-curved, snug fit, and seamless palm reinforced with synthetic suede
Multi-row, technical thread stitching for durability
Touchscreen function
Protection & Safety
CE tested and certified as:
Personal Protective Equipment 89/686/EEC
Knuckle Impact protection EN 13594:2015
Best High-End Off-Road/Dirtbike Gloves
Priced over $75.
Knox Orsa OR3 Textile MK3
Price: $130
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
Knox makes some of the wildest-looking gloves on the market, but don't let the outlandish style, or the high price tag deter you from giving these a try.
Featuring a textile construction the Knox Orsa OR 3 Gloves make for a very comfortable pair of mitts, with ample protection thanks to features like the Scaphoid Protection System (SPS), which helps to allow the gloves to slide during a fall instead of biting into the ground. Plenty of other features help to set these gloves apart and justify their high-end price tag.
Key Specs
Pinnacle of the Knox Off Road collection
Unique BOA wrist closure system for a “Dialed in” micro adjustable fit
Seamless finger construction for superior comfort
Single layer Clarino breathable performance palm for maximum feel
Terry cloth thumb panel to use as a wipe
Silicone finger prints for improved grip
Touch screen enabled
Protection & Safety
Honeycomb Gel over the knuckles, encapsulated in a strong outer shell
Perforated Leather and Air Mesh upper with abrasion resistance finger guards
Patented low profile Knox Scaphoid Protection System (SPS) on the palm (Patent No EP1594378)
Alpinestars Techdura
Price: $100
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
Alpinestars’ top offering in the off-road glove game is currently the Techdura - a glove that is absolutely jam packed with features that are borrowed from Alpinestar’s extensive history in racing.
The Techdura gloves are engineered with a harmonious balance of performance, protection, and airflow in mind, and from what we can tell they do a great job of it.
Key Specs
Upper constructed from breathable stretch fabric for rider comfort and optimal fit
Stretch insert on fingers offers an improved range of hand movement and greater sensitivity while operating the bike controls, as well as optimal levels of comfort and flexibility
Ergonomic reinforced, padded palm for optimal comfort on the handlebar/grips for long riding sessions
Guard is reinforced on the interior side with foam for improved levels of fit, comfort and shock absorption
Silicon print on index fingers for optimized grip
Hook and loop on cuff for an optimized fit and a secure closure
Full conductive palm construction for use with smartphones
Protection & Safety
TPR insert offers enhanced protection for impact and possible branches/rocks hits commonly experienced in trail riding, while also being supremely flexible
Soft viscoelastic knuckle protector for effective protection against repeated impacts and abrasion
Reinforced thumb patches for enhanced durability and abrasion resistance
Synthetic suede palm for high levels of durability and grip
Frequently Asked Questions About Off-Road Motorcycle Gloves
How do off-road & dirt bike gloves differ from motocross gloves?
Off-road and dirtbike gloves often feature significant knuckle and finger armoring, to prevent branches and trail debris from impacting your hands. Motocross gloves are meant to be used on motocross bikes and motocross courses, where packed dirt with little to no debris is expected. As such, you will often find that off-road gloves also feature some light weatherproofing as well, but as with motocross gloves, they are designed more for ventilation.
Are off-road & dirtbike gloves suitable for street riding?
Most of the time, no. The main reason behind that is that speeds off-road are much less than what can be achieved on street bikes, and these gloves do not have high abrasion resistance materials incorporated. The main focus of these gloves is protecting the hands from tree branches, tall grasses, pebbles kicked up by the bike in front, and the like.
Are dirtbike & off-road gloves safe?
For their intended use, these gloves are quite safe. The key words there are intended use, meaning trail riding, pathfinding, and general dirtbiking and off-roading. They can also work in a pinch as motocross gloves if you have nothing else.
What materials are off-road & dirt bike gloves mainly made from?
It varies across the entire segment, but the most common materials are synthetic fibers like microfiber, combined with either full leather or synthetic leather/suede for the palms. Armor is most often flexible TPU, but non-Newtonian impact foam is making inroads into the segment to offer very flexible, well ventilated protection.
Can these gloves be used for adventure/ADV riding?
Yes, as they do feature some armor and protection features. They are not as robust or technical as many adventure gloves, however, so many ADV riders will keep a pair in their saddlebags or jacket to use for extreme hot weather situations, as these gloves breathe very well.
Are off-road & dirt bike gloves waterproof?
Generally no, but you will find many with some light form of water resistance, either through the materials they’re made from or having some form of liner. There are some select gloves that if you want to have waterproofing do feature a membrane in the glove, but they are few and far between. If you’re wanting waterproofing for off road use, you’re better off using short-cuff ADV gloves.
What To Look For In Off-Road Motorcycle Gloves
The very first thing to make clear is that off-road/dirt bike gloves are not motocross gloves. These are gloves intended for use while trail riding, pathfinding, or for enduro-style riding. The primary function of off-road gloves is to provide impact protection not so much from the ground, but from tree branches, trail debris, gravel and pebbles, and the like. They will still protect you in a fall or crash, for sure, as that is what hand protection is for, but for these gloves only, that is a secondary function.
When looking for an off-road/dirt biking glove, you will want to pay attention to materials, armor, and comfort/fit.
Materials: Most off-road and dirt bike gloves are made with a durable textile upper, connected to a leather or synthetic leather palm. This is mostly due to the fact that textiles are very good at naturally allowing ventilation and air flow without needing specific ventilation features. The leather of the palm is there for durability and resilience in the rough and tumble world of off-road riding.
Armor: For the most part, you will want armor on the knuckles and the first finger bone after them. This is because those are the most common areas to get whacked with debris or a tree branch (All of the gloves recommended above have that level of armoring). These gloves are also one of the few types that can come without a palm slider, instead having the palm material double layered to provide more abrasion resistance as off-road, you land on “soft” material that can be very abrasive.
Comfort/Fit: With these gloves in specific, having a proper fit is vital. You want the best feel of your handlebars while also keeping the knuckle and finger armor in place at all times. A loose fitting glove can have your hand slip and slide around inside of it, so with these gloves, it is one of the few times that if you’re between sizes, you are recommended to go down to the smaller size. Since most of these gloves are elastic in some way, they will stretch to fit your hand.
At WBW, “Best” Actually Means Something
Remember when you could open up a review of something, and when the publication—magazine, car show, whatever—said “best” they stood behind it? Yea, we remember, and we’re bringing it back.
Here’s how we do things:
We disclose our affiliate relationships—We make money via advertising and affiliate relationships on our website. It’s how we pay our team and invest in things like sending Jim to Italy. And Japan. And France… wait… why do we always send Jim places?
We obsessively hands-on test—We wear and ride with gear before reviewing it, and we update reviews down the line if our opinions change. We look at real-world situations because that’s the world we live in.
We’re objective—Good gear is good gear, regardless of who made it.
We’re value-focused—Why pay $500 if something for $250 is just as good? Our review scores and recommendations reflect best value. Brand only goes so far—the gear has to stand on its own.
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