The Best Short Motorcycle 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 Motorcycle Short Gloves
Priced under $75.
Cortech Hyper-Flo Air
Why?
Before you scoff at the price of just $40, take a good look at the glove to the left of this description. It looks like it should, realistically, be up in the $60+ range, and with the features it has, it would sell at that price. The Hyper-Flo Air is for those riders looking for a warm and hot weather glove that gives them maximum protection at a bargain basement price. Full TPU knuckles and second finger joint sliders? Check. Thumb armor and slider? Check. Reinforced goatskin palm? Check. Abrasion resistance to CE level 1 standards? Check.
While we wouldn’t take these gloves to the track, as that’s what full gauntlets are for, we would take this glove pretty much everywhere else, because it is one of the value kings of 2021, and we expect it to stay so heading into 2022.
Key Specs
• Genuine goat leather palm and back of hand
• Air mesh along fingers and backhand
• Clarino overlays on palm
• Goat leather overlay on fourth finger
• Accordion stretch across fingers
• Stretch Lycra fourchettes
• Light impact padding on outside of hand
• TPU knuckle protector
• Vented TPR finger sliders
• Tricot polyester lining
• Neoprene cuff with hook and loop closure
• Touchscreen compatible index finger and thumb
Protection & Safety
• Full TPU over knuckles and second joints of the fingers
• Thumb slider and TPU armor
• Goatskin palm, abrasion-resistant mesh back for warm weather riding
Icon Hypersport Short Gloves
Price: $65
Where to Buy: RevZilla | J&P Cycles
Why?
The Icon Hypersport Short glove packs an affordable punch in overall construction and safety. At only $65, the Icon Hypersport Short is a reasonable price for the amount of included features.
Key Specs
• Durable, multi-panel main shell construction incorporating a supple full-grain goat leather
• Leather palm construction incorporates PU padding reinforcements on landing zone
• Patented 3rd/4th finger bridge prevents finger roll and separation during impacts
• Perforated leather on the back of the hand
• Short cuff design with hook-and-loop grip closure
• Open knuckle gusset
• Ergonomic stretch insert between thumb and palm
• Stretch accordions on fingers and thumb
• Touchscreen compatibility on index and thumb tips for use with smartphones and GPS systems
• This garment is CE certified Level 1
Protection & Safety
• Floating knuckle with a D30 underlay provides armor protection for the knuckles
• TPU and polycarbonate knuckle plates
• TPU finger plates and the wrap-around TPU wrist plate protection for the rest of the hand and wrist
Scorpion EXO-Talon
Price: $75
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
Scorpion is a brand that is making waves in the gear market, as they are bringing superb protection down to affordable prices for the common rider. The EXO-Talon, thus, is bringing what could easily be a top tier sport glove to a reasonable price for everyone.
The Talon may not look like much at first glance, but it definitely deserves a second one. Top grain goatskin covers the palm and fingers, with synthetic leather on the outer palm and between the thumb and index finger for both grip and structural support. Breathable, water resistant mesh covers the back of the hand and between the fingers. A comfort liner inside that keeps your hands warm and dry. Hard, ventilated TPU knuckles provide surprisingly high airflow with impressive protection.
Yet, what really shows that Scorpion is paying attention to the small details is that the EXO-Talon also features ulnar protection with a patch of leather extending up the outside of the arm to cover the tip of the ulnar bone. At $75, this glove is among the best sub-$100 options on the market.
Read our in-depth review: Scorpion EXO Talon Glove Review.
Key Specs
• Top grain goatskin leather palm and fingers
• Synthetic leather reinforcement on palms for extra grip and protection.
• Durable breathable mesh on back of hand and between fingers
• Hard TPU knuckle protector on hinged panel for extra mobility
• TPR finger protectors and padded areas on palm and wrist for additional protection
• Pre-curved ergonomic fit
• TPU and hook and loop fastener wrist closure system
• Kwik Touch touch screen capable
Protection & Safety
• Hard TPU over the knuckles on a floating plate to keep the TPU always there.
• Thumb and blade edge extra stitching, and ulnar protection flap, ensure the structural chassis of the glove will not tear during a slide
• Goatskin and synthetic leather combined for a flexible, comfortable, yet protective glove.
Best Mid-Range Motorcycle Short Gloves
Priced $75 - $125.
REAX Tasker Gloves
Price: $190
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
The REAX Tasker glove is quite a fairly standard leather short cuff glove, but don’t let that sway your opinion on this product. REAX is well known for its level of safety and comfort packed into a pair of gloves that don’t break the bank - that exact formula was followed in the design of the Tasker Perforated leather gloves.
A premium cowhide leather short cuff glove with ample perforation at less than $100? There really isn’t much to complain about here!
Key Specs
• Ergonomic pre-curved fit
• Touchscreen capable finger and thumb
• Cowhide backhand 0.8mm – 0.9mm thick
• Durable goat leather palm
• Digital leather palm and outseam reinforcement
• Flex ribbing on knuckles and back of hand
• TPR protective finger inserts
• Vibration-dampening palm pad insert
• Adjustable hook and loop closure
• Available in two leather colour offerings - Black & Brown
• Two (2) year warranty on materials and workmanship
Protection & Safety
• These gloves do a great job providing riders with needed protection through the use of reinforced palms.
• Built-in vibration damping helps reduce hand & arm fatigue during longer rides, which may seem like a minor issue, however, keep in mind that fatigue can result in slower reaction times when it matters most.
Dainese Blackjack Gloves
Price: $100
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
Throwback styling is a huge part of the appeal of these stunning Dianese gloves. With the open area on the back of the hand near the velcro closure, these gloves are perfect for 2 season riding on cruiser, cafe, naked, and scrambler style bikes.
Key Specs
• Goatskin leather
• Leather palm reinforcement
• Hook and loop wrist closure
• Elastic inserts
• Precurved fingers
• Soft inserts on knuckles and back
Protection & Safety
• Soft Knuckle Armor
• Double layer of leather over and across the fingers.
Alpinestars Celer V2 Gloves
Price: $100
Where to Buy: RevZilla | Amazon | J&P Cycles
Why?
The Alpinestars Celer V2 is made of a great combination of comfort and protective features packed into a short glove. Alpinestars is known for their leading hand protection, and these short gloves take their successful gauntlet recipe and package it into an easily removable short glove.
Key Specs
• Durable, multi-panel main shell construction incorporating a supple full-grain goat leather
• Leather palm construction incorporates PU padding reinforcements on landing zone
• Patented 3rd/4th finger bridge prevents finger roll and separation during impacts
• Perforated leather on the back of the hand
• Short cuff design with hook-and-loop grip closure
• Open knuckle gusset
• Ergonomic stretch insert between thumb and palm
• Stretch accordions on fingers and thumb
• Touchscreen compatibility on index and thumb tips for use with smartphones and GPS systems
• This garment is CE certified Level 1
Protection & Safety
The protection offered by the Bryce Gore-Tex is exactly what riders have come to expect from Alpinestars in safe yet comfortable armor.
• Palm has a PU pad to aid on impact while the multilayer leather provides protection from abrasion burns.
• Alpinestars patented finger bridge prevents finger roll and separation injuries to the third and fourth fingers in the event of an impact.
• Celer V2 has been CE certified Level 1.
REV’IT! Sand 4 Gloves
Price: $120 ($160 for H2O version)
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
The REV’IT Sand 4 is a great short glove for warmer conditions but still offers the safety that you want every time you are on your bike. They are perfect for riders who are in a hot environment but also prefer to ride with gloves. The comfort and protection are well balanced with functionality in these short gloves.
You can find a thorough review of the Sand 4 gloves here.
Key Specs
Fit:
• Runs slightly small, order the larger size if you are between sizes
Protection Features:
• Outer Shell: 3D air mesh | stretch | connect fingertip leather | goatskin | PWR|shell 500D stretch
• Lining: tricot lining
• Composition: 68% Leather, 20% Polyester, 11% polyamide, 1% polyurethane
• Protection: injected ventilated flex knuckle | Temperfoam ® knuckle | PWR|shield at Palm | TPR injected finger knuckle protectors | TPR palm slider
• Visibility: reflective stretch inserts
Ergonomic Features:
• Adjustability: adjustment tab at cuff
• Ventilation: ventilation panels, ventilated TPR injected knuckles
• Features: short cuff, elastic at wrist and back hand, outside stitching, grip patch at palm, connect finger tip
Protection & Safety
• TPR flexible ventilated knuckle, TPR palm slider, PWR yarn, and TPR finger knuckles
• Temperfoam is added for additional impact protection at the fingers, thumb, knuckles, back of the hand, at the palm slider and at the cuff
• Additional ventilation panels help to reduce sweating with can cause a loss of gripping ability and fatigue
• New triangular open TPR allows much more airflow to the hand, without losing armor integrity
Best High-End Motorcycle Short Gloves
Priced over $125.
REV'IT! Cayenne 2 Gloves
Price: $160
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
The REV'IT! Cayenne 2 gloves are a great-looking short-cut gauntlet designed for on and off-road adventure riding in hot weather. They are highly ventilated with perforated panels in the the fingers, thumb, palm, and cuff. A special grip patch at palm and thumb offers extra grasp on the handlebars when the riding gets more technical. The hard shell knuckle, palm sliders, and thumb protector offer extra abrasion resistance and armor in case of a slide or impact.
Key Specs
• Drum Dyed Goatskin Leather
• Ventilation panels at fingers, thumb palm and cuff
• Harmonica Construction
• Connect Fingertip
• Short cuff
Protection & Safety
• TPU hard-shell knuckle
• TPU hard-shell palm slider
• TPU hard-shell thumb protector
• PU injected finger knuckles
• PU injected little finger
Klim Adventure GTX Short Gloves
Price: $180
Where to Buy: RevZilla
Why?
Klim specializes in the ADV and touring markets, and this glove is a perfect illustration of the company’s design expertise. A GoreTex lining keeps the hands dry, while goat leather and synthetic stretch woven material makes the glove lightweight.
The knuckle is protected by carbon fiber, while ceramic superfabric covers the palm heel and finger sliders to maximize abrasion resistance. The palm is made of Poron XRD anti-penetration material to prevent impacts on rocks and gravel from piercing the glove.
Key Specs
• Gore-Tex + Gore Grip technology
• Guaranteed to keep you dry
• Goat leather and stretch woven construction
• Short cuff design for under-the-cuff use
• Ceramic print in slide areas
• 3D silicone finger pads
• Carbon fiber knuckle protector
• Poron XRD palm
• Moisture-wicking liner material
• Klim-engineered rider grip articulation
• Mult-E-Touch smart device functionality
• Visor wiper
• Entry assist loop
• VELCRO® brand wrist closure
Protection & Safety
• Carbon fiber knuckle protector
• Poron XRD palm
Frequently Asked Questions About Short Motorcycle Gloves
What defines a short-cuff motorcycle glove compared to other gloves?
By the textbook definition, a short-cuff motorcycle glove is any motorcycle glove where the primary closure is around the wrist. The better definition in terms of common sense is that a short-cuff motorcycle glove is any form of glove that has adequate abrasion resistance and armoring to withstand street riding use.
Are short-cuff motorcycle gloves safe?
Very much so. Many short-cuff gloves are very well armored for their price and size, and almost every single one has some form of palm slider. These gloves also feature high grip palms and fingers, sometimes supplemented by silicon patterns for extra grip, meaning it is very difficult for your hands to slip off the controls.
Do short-cuff motorcycle gloves have touchscreen capability?
More and more in the 2020’s, gloves are coming with index finger and thumb areas that are bio-capacitive, allowing for touchscreen use. It used to be the exception, but with the rise of smartphones as GPS, music, and communication devices while riding, it’s more a rule now.
Can I use short-cuff motorcycle gloves for off-road riding?
Yes, as there are many short cuff motorcycle gloves that are dedicated to ADV riding, such as Rev’It!’s Sand 4 gloves we recommend above. Many manufacturers such as Klim, Scorpion, First Gear, and the like also make ADV specific off-roading gloves. The biggest features with these gloves are excellent TPU coverage for armor, and many of them are weather resistant, with some even being waterproof.
What materials are short-cuff motorcycle gloves commonly made from?
The most common materials that short-cuff motorcycle gloves are made from are cowhide leather, polyester, and microfiber (synthetic leather). Palm areas are almost always goathide leather due to its abrasion resistance qualities despite being thinner than cowhide. Armor is now either TPU or non-Newtonian impact foam, and often both combined to give additional protection.
How do I size my hand correctly so I know which short-cuff glove to buy?
To measure your hand for glove sizing, take a tailor’s measure or, in a pinch, a tape measure, and wrap it around your hand just below the knuckle joints. The key here is do it just below the knuckle joins, not on the knuckle joints. That is the most common error in sizing, and can lead to gloves that fit slightly loose. Most common sizes are between 8 to 11 inches for men, and 6 to 9 inches for women.
What To Look For When Shopping Short Cuff Motorcycle Gloves
The importance of having high-quality gloves for your specific type of riding cannot be overstated and. Gloves protect your hands constantly while riding, not just during a slide or accident.
The main considerations when looking for short cuff gloves are threefold: materials, armor, and ventilation.
Materials: The primary chassis of the glove, also known as the “upper,” should be made of abrasion resistant materials and have any armor firmly mounted within. Common materials here can include any of a variety of leather, synthetic leather, or even textiles such as polyester or Cordura. The more important material is what the palm is made out of, as that needs to be some type of leather such as goatskin or kangaroo hide, or a strong synthetic leather like microfiber. This is so that if you do have to put your palms down, you have good abrasion protection for as long as possible.
Armor: You want your gloves to have either a hard-shell reinforced TPU, “exposed” TPU, or non-Newtonian impact foam. You will want armor over the knuckles, over the primary phalanges, and at the palm heel in what is called a “palm slider.”
Ventilation: The last major thing to look for is ventilation. Waterproof gloves often do not have the best ventilation in exchange for being waterproof. Most other gloves will either have small vents to intake or exhaust heat, or might have hundreds of micro-perforations to let air circulate around your hands.
It does need to be stated, however, that there is no absolute guarantee that a glove will completely protect your hands during an accident. They are there to mitigate as much damage as possible, and your hands will come out far better than wearing no gloves at all. However, if you crash fast enough and/or violently enough, gloves can only do so much and you might still have some road rash.
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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