Besides a helmet, gloves and boots are two key ingredients in motorcycle safety. Of course no one plans to crash when they go for a ride, but most motorcycle riders will tell you that it’s almost inevitable to go down at some point. Even at low speeds a crash can seriously damage your hands if you aren’t wearing the right pair of gloves.
Mechanix gloves and other thin gloves that aren’t designed for motorcycle riding won’t protect your hands in the event of a bad crash. Motorcycle gloves have thicker padding and protection in key areas that mechanix and other mechanic gloves don’t.
Ultimately, it’s your decision how much protection you want while riding. If you want to know why Mechanix gloves aren’t as safe as motorcycle gloves, keep reading. I’ll also cover some key things to look for in a pair of riding gloves.
Can you wear mechanix gloves for motorcycle riding?
Of course, when you ride, you can wear whatever you want. There is no law stating that you must wear motorcycle gloves. However, if you are concerned about safety, it’s best to always dress in proper protective gear, just in case.
There are many different kinds of mechanix gloves, and some have much more padding than others. However, for the sake of this article I’m just talking about the standard nylon mechanix gloves with some padding on the palm and knuckles.
The biggest problem with wearing these gloves, or others like them, is that they are not cut or abrasion-resistant. If you do crash, your hands might be the first thing to hit the cement. If your gloves immediately tear on impact, your hands will be left in very bad condition.
Not only could you end up with a deep cut on your hand, but you could also find yourself with skin rubbed raw from your hands because your gloves weren’t thick or strong enough to brace for the impact.
Many people choose to wear thinner mechanix gloves because they feel like they have more control than with bulky motorcycle gloves. However, motorcycle gloves are actually designed to fit comfortably around the handlebars. They often have curved fingers and extra flexibility for movement, which the more highly padded mechanix gloves won’t.
Often when people say they don’t like motorcycle gloves, what they really mean is that they haven’t found a pair that fit well on their hands and with their grips. It is worth shopping around to find a pair of leather motorcycle gloves with the proper padding and impact resistance.
Mechanix gloves might seem like a cheaper alternative, but are you willing to risk the use of your hands? There are many affordable options of motorcycle gloves that are much more highly rated in terms of protecting your hands. If safety is a priority, nothing compares to a real motorcycle glove.
What makes a good motorcycle glove?
Even within the category of motorcycle gloves, not all are created equal. How do you determine the best pair of motorcycle gloves and how do you ensure a good fit? As much as possible, try on motorcycle gloves before purchasing.
Well-fitting motorcycle gloves will allow you some finger movement and ease of bending, but they should also feel tight and secure. You don’t want your hand to be able to slip around inside the glove.
Most motorcycle gloves have palm protection, and some have special padding with anti-vibration features. The other important place to look for padding is on your knuckles. There should be enough flexibility for you to bend your fingers, but also a thick material that won’t tear easily.
Another important factor in a good pair of gloves is ventilation. If you don’t have ventilated gloves, your hands will feel stuffy and uncomfortable. This might lead you to think you need to switch to thin gloves like mechanix, but it really just means you need ventilated gloves.
There are three things you want from good gloves: protection, comfort, and functionality. We all have different ideas of what those mean, so you should count on shopping around for the goldilocks pair of perfect gloves.
I want to point out, too, that many riders have different gloves for each season. The amount of ventilation versus warmth that you need will depend a lot on the temperature outside. If you live somewhere with changing seasons, you’ll almost certainly want thick gloves for winter and thinner, more ventilated gloves for summer.
If you do live somewhere cold, the thin mechanix gloves can be a perfect option for wearing underneath another pair of motorcycle gloves. This affords you two layers of protection and warmth. The mechanix gloves are ventilated enough that your hands will still be able to breathe without losing all the heat.
Do you need gloves to ride a motorcycle?
How important are gloves in the first place? There are riders who choose to ride gloveless. However, gloves are essential in protecting your hands. After all, hands are one of the most useful body parts, and you want them in good condition!
Crash protection
Gloves should protect against abrasion in the event of a crash. Good gloves are made of thick leather that can withstand being scraped against cement if you go down. They can also protect you from cuts.
In a crash, it’s often your hands that hit the ground first. If you’re involved in the motorcycle community, I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories of damaged palms, missing fingers, and deep gashes. While gloves can’t guarantee that this doesn’t happen to you, it can lower the odds.
Extra grip
Even without thinking about the possibility of crashing, there are plenty of reasons to wear gloves. While it is good practice to consider the possibility of going down, you don’t want to always ride in fear.
But, there are good reasons to wear gloves. One of the most significant is that good motorcycle gloves are also good for your grip. Gloves can give you a more secure grip on the handlebars, so that you can also have better control as you ride.
In addition, many motorcycle gloves come with anti-vibration padding. With good motorcycle gloves and padded motorcycle grips, you’ll have a smooth ride that’s easier on your hands and wrists.
Weather protection
The weather is another thing that gloves can protect you from. The obvious first point, of course, is that gloves make a world of difference when it’s cold. While you want motorcycle gloves that are well ventilated, they should also be thick enough to block some of the wind while you ride and keep your fingers warm.
Wearing gloves for warmth seems obvious, but what about when it’s hot? If you’ve ever gotten a sunburn on the back of your hands then you’ll understand that there is plenty of reason to wear gloves on a sunny day. If you plan on taking a long drive in the sun, you’ll want to have as much skin covered as possible to avoid a sunburn.
So, in short? Do you need to wear gloves to ride a motorcycle? If you want to be protected and comfortable while you ride, yes. Find a pair of motorcycle gloves that you like and wear them every time you get on the bike.
What kind of motorcycle glove do I need?
There are a lot of types of motorcycle gloves. Some are designed for road racing, some for motocross, some for offroading, some for frigid temperatures, some for the hottest summers.
The main questions you need to ask yourself before buying a new pair of gloves are:
- How much protection do I want?
- What temperature will I mostly be riding in?
- Will I be riding in the rain?
- What fabrics are most comfortable for me?
Once you’ve thought through these, it should be pretty easy to find a glove that is the right thickness and offers the amount of padding you want.
If you’re new to riding, it might be a good idea to start with more protection and see how that feels. If you can get used to thicker gloves you’ll be more comfortable switching back and forth. If you start out by wearing the thinnest gloves you can find, or gloves like mechanix that aren’t designed for motorcycles, you’ll have a hard time adjusting to more protective gloves later on.
No matter what style of glove you decide on, make sure to test the fit. It’s a good idea to do a quick practice run with the new gloves, even just an extra trip around the block before you head off, to see if handling the bike feels any different.
Remember, motorcycle gloves are designed to protect your hands. If you value the use of your fingers and palms, you should invest in a good pair of motorcycle gloves and get used to riding with them. Wearing nothing, or even thin gloves like mechanix gloves, just won’t protect you the same way if you happen to go down.
