Souke Sports Half-Finger Padded Cycling Gloves

Bike gloves serve several purposes and are a must for serious and amateur cyclists. First, they provide traction between the hands and handlebars; without them, sweat buildup can loosen your grip when riding. The gloves soak up that moisture, keeping the hands dry and reducing the possibility of your hands slipping. Gloves can also protect your hands if you end up falling off your bike.

Styles with padding in the palms and/or fingers offer extra cushioning from road vibrations that can cause pain and protect the hand’s ulnar nerve. This padding is usually made from foam or gel and can be thin or thick.

Half-finger gloves protect your hands but leave fingers free so you can still maneuver your bike. These are often worn in warmer temperatures, so many styles also have ventilation holes for more breathability. Full-fingered gloves are better for the fall and winter, as they cover the whole hand and can also be insulated. Like the half-finger gloves, not all will have padding.

Features to look for on bike gloves include adjustable hook-and-loop closure (such as Velcro) wrist tabs that keep them on securely as you ride, and loops to help pull the gloves off when you’re done. When your hands sweat, the gloves will get damp and can shrink up a bit and stick to the skin; this makes them harder to take off and they may invert as you do so, so the loops help with this.

Some gloves are made specifically for men and some for women, but there are plenty of unisex styles. You can also find gloves made for road biking and other ones tailored more for mountain biking. The latter are generally heavier and may offer more wrist coverage.

• Measure your palm and finger lengths and check the product size chart before ordering your bike gloves.
• Look for returnable or exchangeable gloves in case you need another size.
• The best bicycling gloves have rubber or another non-slip material on the outsides of the palms.
• Wash your bike gloves after every use, but only in cold water. Never put them in the dryer; most are air dry only.
• Padded bike gloves are also great for weight lifting.
• Riders also use bike gloves to wipe off sweat and their noses if needed; many have soft sections (usually across the thumb) specifically designed for this.