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These are the best mountain gloves for every type of MTB rider. This selection includes gloves for both men and women and all seasons.
Based on my 6-hour market research and more than 50 models compared, I’ve selected the Giro DND Bike Gloves as the best mountain bike gloves. They are affordable, versatile, and combine the best price-value ratio.
In this article, you are also going to learn what are the benefits of wearing cycling gloves, how to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and hand numbness, how to choose mountain bike gloves, and much more.
I’ve included only one pair of winter cycling gloves in this selection. If you are looking for winter cycling gloves, visit my other article dedicated to Best Winter Cycling Gloves.
What Are the Best Mountain Bike Gloves?
Below, you will find mountain bike gloves selected to suit all types of MTB disciplines – from cross country through enduro to downhill.
Giro DND Bike Gloves (Best Mountain Bike Gloves Overall)
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Silicone print on the brake fingers and thumb
- Wipe thumb
- Thin padding
- Touchscreen compatible (thumb)
The Giro DND mountain bike gloves offer an excellent price-value ratio.
Their brake fingers have a silicone print that increases grip. Thanks to it, your fingers won’t slip off the brake levers, and you avoid a possible crash due to high speed.
The thumb is made of liquid-absorbent material, perfect for wiping off your face from sweat without irritating your skin.
They also feature thin padding, good for riders with hand numbness. It doesn’t make the gloves too bulky, so you will enjoy the increased comfort.
Their thumb is compatible with touchscreen devices. However, this feature is not very reliable and may not work every time.
Giro DND have no Velcro that usually catches on everything, yet they are very comfortable and fit on hands perfectly.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com and jensonusa.com
Troy Lee Designs Air
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Silicone print on the brake fingers
- Wipe thumb
- Velcro strap on the wrist
Troy Lee Designs Air are available in multiple attractive color options for both men and women.
They are thin, so your hands won’t overheat. This makes them ideal for the spring and summer months.
Their brake fingers have a silicone print to increase your grip. Thanks to it, you can safely control your brake levers even with sweaty hands.
Speaking of sweat, you can easily wipe it off using the wipe thumb made of pleasant material that won’t irritate your skin.
Troy Lee Designs Air’s downsides are that they are not touchscreen compatible, and some riders may also miss padding.
Due to their thinness, I would not recommend them for downhill but rather for trail riding and cross country.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com and performancebike.com
POC Resistance Gloves (Most Versatile Mountain Bike Gloves)
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Silicone print on the brake fingers
- Wipe thumb
- No padding
- Touchscreen compatible (thumb)
- Lightweight and breathable material
- Velcro strap on the wrist
If you don’t mind investing more money into high-quality gloves, POC Resistance Enduro gloves should get your attention.
Of course, they feature a silicone print on the brake fingers, so you won’t miss a single stop. It will give you enough grip so your fingers won’t slip off the brake levers.
The thumb is touchscreen compatible. So you to receive a call, for example, but don’t expect super-precise control of your touchscreen devices.
POC Resistances are durable and well-made. They are an excellent choice for enduro, CX, and other mountain bikers that need gloves they can rely on.
Their only minor disadvantage for some riders may be their lack of padding. On the other hand, they fit well and are not bulky.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com
Fox Racing Ranger Gloves
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Silicone print on the brake fingers and thumb
- Made from a liquid absorbent material
- Touchscreen compatible
These gloves will give you a very good grip thanks to a well-made silicone print on the brake fingers and the thumb.
I like their minimalistic design and the fact they perfectly fit narrow hands (they tend to run small, so keep that in mind when choosing the size).
Ranger gloves have no special ‘wipe thumb.’ But you can use their whole surface to wipe your face from sweat.
They are not too hot or too cold. They are just right. So, if you are looking for mountain bike gloves that are versatile and suitable for various weather conditions, these are the ones.
You can even leverage their touch-screen compatibility to answer calls, control your touch-screen head unit, etc.
The only main downside of Fox Racing Ranger gloves is their built quality. The stitching may come loose after extensive use.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com and wiggle.com
Dakine Covert Gloves (Best Mountain Bike Gloves for Hot Weather)
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Silicone print on the brake fingers
- Wipe thumb
- No padding
- Touchscreen compatible
- Very breathable
If you are looking for mountain bike gloves for hot weather, you should not miss Dakine Covert gloves.
They are made of breathable material, thanks to which your hands will not sweat too much, even during hot summer days.
They offer the most common features, such as a wipe thumb, precise touchscreen compatibility, and a silicone print on brake fingers to increase your grip.
Their other advantage is that they don’t have a Velcro wrist strap. Their cuff is tapered, so the gloves will fit your hands perfectly.
The main disadvantage of these gloves is durability due to lower-quality stitching.
Boildeg Mountain Bike Gloves
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Wipe thumb
- Good padding
- Touchscreen compatible (thumb and index finger)
- Velcro strap on the wrist
Boildeg gloves are a great choice for both men and women who like to casually ride their mountain or hybrid bike.
These gloves will improve your riding comfort and protect your palms, thanks to padding. It does not make them bulky, and they fit well.
The touch-screen compatibility is great. So, you can conveniently control your touch-screen devices without taking the gloves off.
They also feature the wipe thumb to wipe off your face without irritating your skin.
Their only downside is that they don’t have silicone print on brake fingers, so they may slip off your brake levers. Due to this, I don’t recommend them for serious mountain biking.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com
Pearl iZUMi Ride Pro AMFIB Lobster Gloves (Best Mountain Bike Gloves for Winter)
Main Features
- Silicone print on the brake fingers
- Wipe thumb
- Reflective strips
- Velcro strap on the wrist
- Very warm
You will need warm gloves if you want to ride your mountain bike in winter. These mitts are perfect for 14°F to 41°F (-10°C to 5°C) temperatures.
Your hands will stay warm, and you will be able to change gears and brake easily because the index and middle fingers have silicone prints.
Thanks to the wipe thumb, you can easily wipe your face from you know what.
And, if you lose track of time, you don’t have to worry as much because these gloves feature a reflective strip. It will increase your visibility which is very important in dark conditions (learn more).
These gloves also fit well, and it’s only a matter of minutes before you get used to them if you are switching from full finger gloves.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com
You may also be interested in my selection of the Best Winter Cycling gloves.
Seibertron Dirtpaw Gloves
Main Features
- Available in multiple colors
- Silicone print on the brake fingers
- Wipe thumb
- No padding
- Touchscreen compatible (index finger)
- Protective armor on the upper side
- Velcro strap on the wrist
If you are looking for cheap mountain bike gloves that provide you with a lot of protection, these may be the ones for you.
They have protective armor on the upper side. It will protect your hands against branches or other obstacles that you may come across during your ride.
The silicone print is present on all fingers except the thumb. Speaking of thumb, it lacks a large wipe area to wipe off your face.
Probably the biggest downside of these gloves is low-quality stitching, so they are not as durable as you would expect from mountain bike gloves. But considering the price, Seibertron gloves are a good entry-level point.
| MTB Gloves | Type | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Giro DND Bike Gloves | Full finger | Check Price Check Price (competitivecyclist.com) |
| Troy Lee Designs Air | Full finger | Check Price |
| POC Resistance Gloves | Full finger | Check Price Check Price (competitivecyclist.com) |
| Fox Racing Ranger Gloves | Full finger | Check Price Check Price (competitivecyclist.com) |
| Dakine Covert Gloves | Full finger | Check Price |
| Boildeg Mountain Bike Gloves | Full finger | Check Price |
| Pearl iZUMi Ride Pro AMFIB | Lobster gloves | Check Price Check Price (competitivecyclist.com) |
| Seibertron Dirtpaw Gloves | Full finger | Check Price |
My Verdict
The best mountain bike gloves are the Giro DND Bike Gloves. These gloves are suitable for men and women thanks to various colors and sizes.
They are also versatile, so you can use them for casual and serious mountain bike riding.
They are perfect for riding in spring, summer, and autumn. They will improve your comfort and protect your hands.
Overall, they combine the best price-value ratio among all mountain bike gloves above.
Why Should You Wear Mountain Bike Gloves?
If you start wearing mountain bike gloves, you will take advantage of 3 main benefits.
1. Increased Hand Protection
The first and the most obvious reason you should wear mountain bike gloves is increased hand protection. If you crash, you will probably put your hands in front of you to reduce the impact.
You can imagine the consequences of a crash without gloves. Abraded palms are not pleasant a pleasant experience. The mountain bike gloves can save you from it.
However, you do not have to crash on a mountain bike to injure your hands. For example, you may be surprised by branches or other sticking obstacles in the forest that can injure your fingers.
For these reasons, I recommend you buy at least one pair of good mountain bike gloves. Feel free to choose from my selection above.
2. Improved Grip and Comfort
When my friend, an avid mountain biker and instructor, took me to local trails, he first told me how and when to brake. Brakes are very important if you ride MTB. However, if your hands sweat a lot, your fingers can easily slip off the brake levers.
Sweating is a natural process, so on hot days, we tend to sweat more. Although grips are made of non-slip materials, the brake levers are usually made of slippery metal.
Full finger mountain bike gloves feature silicone prints on palms, or finger ends to increase your grip and prevent your fingers from slipping off the brake levers. This means you can brake when needed.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have cycling gloves or forget them, rub dry clay in your hands to increase your grip.
Speaking of comfort, I guess you have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome. It can lead to unpleasant hand numbness. It is caused by many factors, including compressed or overstretched nerves.
This happens if your bike fit is not set properly. Mountain bike gloves can reduce hand numbness if they are padded, but they may not be the final solution. I recommend you consult your bike fit with your local bike fitter to prevent further issues in the future.
TIP: Stretch your hands during long rides to prevent hand numbness.
3. Warm Hands
And the last main benefit of using mountain bike gloves is the warmth. If you want to ride in colder weather, you will appreciate that you wear gloves.
They will keep your hands warm so you avoid a situation that has happened to me several times. I underestimated the weather, and I had to return home after a few miles because of frozen fingers.
Why do hands get cold when riding a bike?
- In cold weather, your body provides enough blood circulation to vital organs to keep them warm. This process changes the amount of blood circulating in your hands (and feet) and makes them cold (source).
- The hands are one of the first parts of your body that break through the air. At higher speeds (especially in winter), they can easily freeze.
- The brake levers are often made of metal. This means that they feel colder because they are good thermal conductors, and they further contribute to freezing fingers.
You may also be interested in my selection of the Best Winter Cycling Gloves.
How to Choose the Best Mountain Bike Gloves?
Before buying your next mountain bike gloves, consider the following features.
Durability and Build Quality
Mountain bike gloves should be durable and well-built. You don’t want to buy gloves and throw them away after the first ride because they fell apart.
Unfortunately, all gloves have their “breaking point.” Cheaper gloves are made of lower-quality materials and usually last less.
On the other hand, if you often crash, investing in expensive gloves may not always pay off. If you crash, you will probably damage them anyway.
Most mountain bike gloves provide enough protection to protect your palms from abrasions. If you want to ride downhill or enduro, choose gloves with reinforced upper to protect your upper hand.
Full Finger vs. Half Finger Gloves
Full finger gloves are more popular among mountain bikers. They provide you with extra protection. They also protect your hands from little scratches that branches or a crash can cause and are warmer than half finger gloves.
Half finger gloves are mostly worn by road or casual cyclists. They are lighter and better ventilated. And because the fabric does not cover the tips of your fingers, you can control your touch-screen devices or open snacks and gels more easily.
Check my selection of the best half and full finger cycling gloves.
Comfort and Grip
Another thing you should consider is the comfort and grip that cycling gloves provide. If you can’t try them in person, you must rely on other users’ reviews or my selection above.
Quality cycling gloves are usually comfortable and provide a good grip that allows easy shifting and braking. I chose all cycling gloves for this selection with these things in mind.
Speaking of comfort, you will appreciate it during longer rides. For example, when I ride without gloves, my hands are sore after 2-3 hours on the bike. It doesn’t happen to me with gloves.
Fit
How tight should MTB gloves be?
As with any piece of clothing, mountain bike gloves must fit well, too large gloves will be bulky and uncomfortable. Too small gloves will push you between your fingers, or you won’t be able to put them on at all.
How do I measure my hand for gloves?
The size of the gloves is based on your palm width. Each manufacturer has slightly different sizing, so always check the enclosed size chart so you buy the right size.
Other Mountain Bike Gloves Features
Mountain bike gloves often have a few useful features.
The first and probably the most important feature is the silicone print on the brake fingers to improve grip so your fingers won’t slip off the braking levers. This may help you prevent crashing due to high speed.
The so-called ‘wipe thumb,’ a softened material on the thumb, is also very useful for wiping the sweat off your face without irritating your skin.
To control your touch-screen devices, look for ‘touchscreen compatible‘ gloves. They have fingers made of conductive materials that will allow you to control your devices.
If you are one of the riders who lose track of time occasionally, I recommend buying gloves with reflective elements. They will increase your visibility at night and thus your safety.
A study showed that drivers were able to recognize more cyclists wearing the reflective vest plus reflectors (90%) than the reflective vest alone (50%) or black clothing (2%).
Mountain Bike Gloves FAQ
This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please, contact me.
