For beginner mountain bikers comfort is one of the most important factors in gaining confidence on the bike early to improve your skills and get you out there riding as often as possible.

Wearing cycling gloves can improve your grip onto the handlebars, greatly reducing the chance of slipping and can also increase your comfort on the bike, especially on longer riding days.

The best gloves are the ones that can keep you comfortable in multiple riding conditions. In warmer climates you’ll want gloves with sweat wicking properties to not drench hands uncomfortably. On colder days, thermal properties are king for retaining as much heat as possible to stop numbness to keep maximum feel for safety.

Gloves will also protect the delicate skin on your hands if you come off of the bike, which will inevitable happen if pushing your limits and testing your skills on the trails.

 

 

How to Remain Comfortable on the Trails

Comfort will largely depend on the conditions your riding in and individual needs, whether requiring larger size gloves for improved hand range of motion and flexibility or fingerless gloves for hotter days.

Waterproof MTB gloves are standard across all glove types, protecting against water drenching of the soft material , keeping your hands dry and warm in case of flash showers.

Choosing the right gloves for you will depend on where and how you ride.  So what type of cycling gloves what should you be looking for?

 

 

Improved Safety

To stay safe on the trails, safety gear is always recommended by experienced riders. Helmet, elbow, pads, knee pads and the appropriate shoes. Gloves can sometimes be omitted here as safety clothing, however coming off the bike and damaging your hands by skidding on the ground is a real possibility.

This is worse on the road with concrete or tarmac but can also be just as damaging and painful on dirt, especially on rocky terrain.

A bad crash can literally deskin your palms. A good set of comfortable gloves provide an extra layer of protection to the hands, which are worth protecting as they are the main point of contact and control on the bike outside of your feet.

In addition they protect your hands  on narrow trails against scrapes and scratches. These will usually be caused by bushes such as cactus and poison oak. Other narrow trail hazards include branches and tree trunks.

Some riders argue that riding without gloves may improve ride feel slightly, but is the small improvement to ride feel worth mangling your hands in the event of a crash?

Waterproof mtb gloves also help keep you clean if you happen to fall into puddles or muddy spots.

Other benefits include protecting your hands against blisters and keeps dirt out of fingernails.

 

Keep Grips and Bar Tapes Clean

 

Working hard on the bike will make you sweat in all areas. Sweaty hands on the bike will of course get sweat onto your grips and bar tape. This will wear down the material on the grips at a faster rate.

Wearing gloves can help keep your handlebar grips and tape in fresher condition for much longer by protecting it from grease and sweat that accumulates on your hands over time.

It also gives you the opportunity to wipe sweat and snot away from your face to stop it getting on your bike frame or grips.

 

 

 

Recommended Waterproof MTB Gloves

Fingerless Gloves

Perfect for warmer days, fingerless gloves give you more freedom to move around while still providing additional comfort for hands against the handlebars.

Great deals for fingerless bike gloves.

 

Thermal Layer Gloves

For cold days thermal gloves keep your hands warm by retaining as much heat as possible. No more  uncomfortable numb hands in the colder months.

Great deals for thermal layer gloves.

 

 

Large Size Gloves

A great fitting glove will immediately improve comfort over a poor fitting glove. For those with larger hands it may be difficult to find a glove that fits well. Do yourself a favour and buy a set of XXLs.

Below are great deals for XXL sized gloves.

 

 

Great in High Temperatures – Cooling, Breathable and Light Gloves

For those riding in very hot conditions, breathable gloves with light materials and sweat wicking properties are a must. Free your hands from the sticky and stuffy feeling while still being protected.

Great deals for warm weather breathable gloves.

 

Best Gloves for TouchScreen Use

For convenient use of the smartphone without having to take your gloves off, touchscreen gloves with conductive material give the perfect solution. These are a gamechanger if you find yourself on your phone often on the bike.

Great deals for touch screen gloves