Many motorcycle gloves use leather as one component, among other durable synthetic fabrics.
With this list, we decided to narrow the focus. We’ve only included gloves that use leather as their primary material. This is still a fairly broad category. And we’ve listed options inspired by rigger gloves, retro-styled, short gloves, touring gloves, and fully-armoured urban gloves.
Spada Rigger WP Glove
Old School Toughness
The Spada Rigger Gloves look classic but are 3M-lined, waterproof, and CE certified - easy to recommend.
Oxford Holbeach Leather Gloves
Feel Good, Look Good
The Holbeach Leather Gloves from Oxford’s Heritage series look and feel seriously cool with clean lines, perforated leather, and subtle knuckle and finger joint protection.
Best Leather Motorcycle Gloves Reviewed
Spada Rigger CE WP Leather Motorcycle Gloves
Inspired by old-fashioned workwear, these gloves from Spada are seriously tough.
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They use naturally pigmented cowhide for durability and a Hipora membrane for breathable waterproofing.
These are toasty, too, with a 3M Thinsulate lining.
And, as you’d expect from rigger gloves, hand protection is top-notch.
The CE certified rubber armour covers the knuckles and any part of the finger likely to come into contact with the ground.
A layer of aramid fibre wraps the palm to provide protection but isn’t overly thick.
The throttle, switches, and brake levers feel pretty natural and easy to use despite the initial bulky impression these gloves give.
These are a great-looking pair of warm, waterproof, and CE certified gloves – what’s not to like?
Pros:
- Great protection
- Waterproof, breathable, Hipora membrane
Cons:
- Nope
Oxford Holbeach Short Leather Motorcycle Gloves
A simple-looking set of short summer gloves from Oxford.
Oxford has opted for a classic, perforated style reminiscent of our old pal, Steve McQueen, as part of their Heritage range.
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And though they look like something from 40 years ago, they pack CE certified knuckle protection and protective finger joint inserts. The palm is also wrapped with an extra layer for safety in a fall.
A simple hook and loop system fastens the glove, and accordion stretch panels help with comfort when closed.
These are recommended wear for cool cats in summer.
Pros:
- CE certified armour
- Perforated for ultra breeziness
Cons:
- Single season only
Spada Freeride WP Glove
For a fairly old-school-looking set of gloves, these perform remarkably well.
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These use aniline leather, meaning the dyeing process doesn’t eliminate surface blemishes and marks from the original hide. Only high-grade cuts of leather are chosen for this dyeing process.
And the quality is immediately apparent in the feel.
These will undoubtedly soften up and mould to the hand with time. But they feel pretty good right out of the box.
The membrane layer is 100% waterproof with a decent level of breathability.
A double-layered, padded palm offers protection in a fall but doesn’t negatively affect feedback or control. The first thing you’ll probably notice is the tactile feel.
For a waterproof glove with decent heat insulation, these are barely noticeable.
Our only gripe is the lack of armour.
But these are a great set of gloves for cruising.
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Warm
Cons:
- No knuckle armour
Richa Brooklyn Waterproof Gloves
With an effortless, utilitarian look, these gloves from Richa will appeal to minimalist riders.
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They use high-end goatskin that’s both supple and durable. And the feel of these immediately differs from cheaper, stiffer gloves you may have tried in the past.
A Hipora membrane makes them waterproof with a decent level of breathability.
The palm has an extra layer of leather and double stitching, creating a safer glove in a fall without sacrificing too much sensitivity.
Snap closures on their elasticated wrists make for a comfortable fit.
These gloves are probably too warm for a full summer’s day but perfect for cooler days or early spring/autumn.
With a clean look, free from branding or unnecessary flash, these are great, ultra simple-looking gloves at the price.
Pros:
- Look and feel great
- Waterproof
Cons:
- No armour
Richa Rock Gloves
Listed as ‘urban leather gloves,’ this pair has more armour than many other gloves on our list.
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Given all this protection and their futuristic styling, we guess these are meant to appeal to the growing stunt rider population.
And they’re certainly fit for purpose.
Made using cowhide leather (a double layer in the palm), TPU knuckle protection, and rubber inserts at impact areas, these are designed to keep you safe while stunting about.
And they’re comfortable, too, with stretch panels and vents in the fingers.
These would suit anyone looking for something between their waterproof winter gloves and their breezy, mesh summer gloves.
Pros:
- Good protection
- Comfortable
Cons:
- No waterproofing
Weise Victory Leather Gloves
These gloves from Weisse look classic but hide some modern touches.
Their goatskin leather makes for exceptionally flexible gloves without sacrificing safety.
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And these safety features are integrated subtly. The plastic knuckle and finger reinforcement is overlaid with leather, making it all but invisible.
Under the knuckle section, memory foam padding prevents any rubbing or discomfort.
A grippy palm is achieved using a chamude (synthetic leather) overlay.
For some riders, the plastic inserts for finger and knuckle protection feel uncomfortable at first, sitting in the wrong place. As the glove breaks in, this will settle down.
These great-looking, leather summer/spring gloves will suit riders of classic machines.
Pros:
- Classic styling
- Memory foam padding in the knuckles
- Finger protection
Cons:
- Only suitable for mild, dry weather
Buyer’s Guide
There are two things we are most concerned about when looking for a quality pair of leather motorcycle gloves.
- The quality of material
- The protection the gloves offer.
Material
Cowhide leather
It remains the most common leather used in gloves and motorcycle clothing. This is because it’s relatively cheap, abundant as a byproduct of the meat industry, and has good abrasion resistance.
Goatskin leather
More supple than cowhide but retains excellent abrasion resistance. It makes for suitable motorcycle clothing and is often used on the palm section of gloves.
This area might come in contact with the road in an accident and must be tough. But it also needs to be thin enough for handling and feedback from the throttle. Goatskin helps with this.
Deerskin
Premium material for gloves. It is perhaps the most supple of all leathers, has the best insulation properties, and is durable.
Deerskin stretches and softens over time even more than other leathers. For this reason, many people buy a smaller size than usual in deerskin gloves, knowing they will stretch to fit.
Kangaroo Leather
The highest-end material in the business. Moto GP riders often use it, and is pretty uncommon for consumer-grade gloves.
We didn’t include any kangaroo leather gloves on this list. But some gloves use kangaroo for their palms in our Best Waterproof Motorcycle Gloves article.
Armour
A reinforced palm area is a must for motorcycle gloves. This is typically achieved using extra layers of leather, bartack stitching, and composite ‘sliders’ (the polyurethane raised bits designed to bear the brunt of abrasion in a slide)
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is often used for hard protection over the knuckles and sometimes extends onto the finger joints. This stuff is also used in phone cases because of its impact resistance. It’s not as rigid as traditional PU but less flexible than silicone. This means it’s protective and relatively comfortable.
Final Thoughts
The Spada riggers are my favourite option as they tick all the boxes; protective, waterproof, and tactile. Look at the Oxford Holbeach gloves if you want something with cleaner lines.