The Best ATV Gloves (Review) in 2020

Things to Consider When Buying ATV Gloves

• Material

The material of your gloves can make the difference between poor quad gloves that leave your hands blistered, sore and at risk of further injury from falls, and having a comfortable ride that won’t leave your hands with callouses. They will also help to keep out the cold air that is inevitable when riding at speed, not to mention that they can protect your hands from scrapes and breaks, should you come off your bike.

The best materials are usually the tougher leather and various fabrics, such as neoprene, which will be reinforced with silicones and hardened plastics. In particular you will want reinforcements around the knuckle areas and along the wrists, where possible.

• Density/Thickness

This can be adjusted according to your own, personal taste. If you prefer to truly feel the bumps and jumps of your bike, you’ll need a slightly slimmer thickness for your gloves. This can help with riders who feel more confident when they can get a better feel for the ground below them and assist with the level of control during riding. However, if you favor a little extra safety around your hands or prefer to not feel the terrain changes as much, you might decide on ATV gloves with a little extra density. Just be aware that these usually come with limited movement in the hands, which can be tricky to work with.

Of course, the best of both worlds is to grab yourself a pair of all-terrain gloves that are made from a material that is less dense, yet padded over the palms, knuckles and wrist to have a good mix of flexibility and durability. Our top picks have a good selection of these, so go check them out.

• Porosity

Cold weather ATV gloves are usually made to be thicker and can come with the added benefit of a heating element. However, due to their nature, they are much less porous which can cause your hands to become sweaty and uncomfortable on long rides.

Having gloves with a decent porosity can allow your skin to breath, which is ideal for long rides and those summer months when things can get a little sticky. Of course, these naturally leave your hands more vulnerable to cold winds which can pick up during your ride. Not only that but, if it rains, you’ll find your hands getting wet as these breathable options have a tendency to let the water in, as well as your own sweat out.

A good way of getting around this is to have ATV gloves that are made from a decent material which can wick away moisture, without leaving your hands exposed to cold weather. It can also work to get gloves for your quad or motorbike that use multiple materials to protect your hands where it’s needed but allow your palms to breathe.

• Safety

This is one of the biggest factors when choosing ATV gloves and, again, this mostly links back to the material. Of course, material isn’t the only factor in getting the appropriate protective gear. You’ll need to ensure that your new gloves are durable and comfortable too, as these will affect how your hands move inside them.

In addition, you might want to check out some of the added features that some gloves come with, to try and get the most out of your gloves and protect yourself from every eventuality. All terrain riding is fun- until it’s not. Keep yourself safe by investing in good quality gloves to ensure your own safety. We discuss this in more detail, below.

• Fit

This can be tough to get right when ordering online, so be sure to check out reviews to see how true-to-size your new purchase is. Amazon has a handy feature which gives you a general overview as to how well the sizing is marked out on each purchase, which can be a big help.

Similarly, once you’ve got your gloves, you should try them on straight away and ensure that they feel comfortable when you flex your hands. Some gloves might feel stiff at first, so the best way to tell if they are of a good fit is to try balling your hands up. If you feel the fabric straining against your knuckles, they are probably too small. Similarly, your fingertips should comfortably reach the ends without placing too much pressure on your digits.

• Quality

This can be another tough one to discover without holding the gloves in your hand. However, there are a few giveaways when it comes to checking the quality of your ATV gloves. For starters, manufacturers can place extra security through double-stitching on the seams, which lowers the risk of splits and tears during your ride.

The next big clue is from the design- the best ATV gloves are created with flexibility and security in mind, so you might notice that some options will have individual plating over the knuckles, wrist and palm. This isn’t a necessity but it’s certainly nice to have and can make the difference between a standard glove and a high-quality glove that allows for easy movement, while still providing protection from the elements.

• Features

As always, these aren’t a necessity but they’re certainly a benefit to a decent set of ATV gloves. Some of the most common features you’ll come across when buying your four-wheeler gloves will include those that improve the grip, such as a padded palm or rubber materials which improve the traction on your handles.

Meanwhile, other features which can be a benefit improve your safety, including padded knuckle areas which can save your fingers from flying debris as you travel. Or you might find that your new gloves come with heating elements, which are perfect for winter riders. They can even be as simple as have a longer, gauntlet-style design which lands higher up your forearm and provides protection over a greater area.

When You Should Use ATV Gloves

ATV stands for All-Terrain Vehicles, which should give you a good idea of what ATV gloves are truly designed for. Naturally, when using your quadbike, motorbike or even a snowmobile, you’re likely to come across uneven surfaces, cold hands and a lot of flying debris. ATV riding gloves are ideal to use in these areas, because they are reinforced to provide protection from the elements- whether that’s rocks and mud being thrown up, or simple wet and windy weather which can make your hands dangerously numb.

In particular, they are designed to handle the stronger vibrations that come with all-terrain vehicles, which can cause numbness, blisters and, over time, callouses. The best ATV gloves are designed to negate this, so you can ride in comfort. They should also protect you from the falls and skids that are most likely to happen during tight turns, as your hands are usually used to break a fall, purely by reflex.

In short, ATV gloves are best used when you’re looking to ride off-road, as these off-road gloves are designed to protect you from accidental falls and the elements- as opposed to standard riding gloves, which are designed mostly for impact with other drivers and extended skidding across tarmac.

Best ATV Gloves FAQ:

Q: How do I wash ATV gloves?

A: Being designed for off-roading, your ATV gloves are very likely to get extremely dirty. Not to mention that the added adrenaline-induced sweating can create a particularly unpleasant odor! As such, it’s likely you’ll need to clean you gloves fairly regularly to maintain their materials.

The most important thing, with any pair of riding gloves, is to closely follow the manufacturers guidelines. You may find some pairs of gloves are absolutely fine when it comes to popping them in the washing machine, but this is pretty rare thanks to the reinforced palms and knuckles, which come with different materials. If you can do this, pop them on the right cycle, which will likely be a cold wash and gentle rinse. Otherwise, give them a simple hand-wash.

Drying is usually the more painful part, as they can take a while to become dry enough to comfortably use again. Never put your ATV gloves in the dryer, as the materials are not often suited to this and your gloves can become damaged or lose their shape. Instead, simply hang them out the dry or pop them on your radiator- keeping them as flat as possible, so you don’t bunch up any of the fabrics or synthetics.

Q: How do I choose the correct size?

A: There are a few differences between what each company would consider a hand measurement, with some preferring a straight hand-span from your outermost knuckle to your innermost knuckle and others preferring you measure the entire way around your hand.

The best way to measure for your new ATV gloves is to take both of these measurements. So, using a tailor’s tape measure, wrap your tape around the widest part of your palm, which is usually across your knuckles, above the thumb. Now, do this again, but stop when you reach one, full side of your hand.

Next, check out the sizing guide for the brand of gloves you’re looking at purchasing- these can change, depending the manufacturer. If you notice the measurements are based around the smaller side, it’s likely because they want the half-hand measurement (it’s very unlikely that a company will sell gloves to half-handed measurements of 11” and above). For larger numbers, they’ll have used the entire hand circumference.

Once your gloves have arrived, check they fit well over your palms and knuckles. You should be able to ball up your hands into fists, without feeling too much pressure on your knuckles. Similarly, your fingertips should comfortable reach the end without feeling as though there is pressure on your fingertips.

Q: Are all of these gloves waterproof?

A: Unfortunately, not all of the gloves mentioned above are waterproof. This is because we’ve tried to balance the water-resistance with breathability, which is a tough middle ground to meet. Where possible, we’ve marked whether or not our options are waterproof in the descriptions, to give you a more conclusive idea as to which ATV gloves favor which side of the spectrum.

The main issue with waterproof options is that they are more likely to sweat and cause the rider to become uncomfortable during use, since locking moisture out also tends to lock moisture in. Those most likely to be waterproof will be our leather options- although, again, we have worked hard to ensure that your hands are still protected from the elements in all of our options, including the rider’s own comfort.

Our Top Pick

The Seibertron Dirtpaw gloves took our coveted number one top spot thanks to the sheer dedication to quality and affordability. These are the best ATV gloves for both new riders and veterans, as they provide added protection in all the right places, with additional grip for security and some great little features that make this a solid buy.

We particularly love the versatility and durability of this product, which is designed to work for both mountain bikers and quad bikers alike. The only real downside to these gloves is that they don’t come with a padded palm area- but we feel that the added reinforcement and high-quality materials of these ATV gloves still make this a great purchase. Besides, if you’re not happy for any reason, there’s always the 30-day money back guarantee and year-long warranty to make returns as easy as they come- although we don’t think you’ll be needing it!

Source:

1. ATV Safety Blog - ATV Course
2. Keeping safe: essential tips for quad and ATV riders - Bike Sure