Top 5 Best Racing Gloves of 2021

Your hands are one of the the most crucial points of contact to the bike. After all the tasks you have to do with your hands include throttlecontrol, steering, braking, clutch.. What makes gloves tricky is that they need to be nimble enough for you to operate all the instruments efficiently, but also need to be rigid enough so you will have some fingers left in a event of a crash.

Therefore you might end up paying a quite hefty sum for a good pair, as they have to be made with using the best materials available and also with care and thought to achieve aforementioned capabilities. That being the main reason why we collected the best of the best racing gloves money can buy you in 2021, so you know which are the contenders. Let’s jump right in!

5. Knox Handroid MK IV

The fifth forerunner is the Knox Handroid Mark IV. Knox has set out to reinvent the way gloves are perceived. These reinventions include exoskeletal flexible finger spines which cover the knuckles, fingers and thumb but still give full unrestricted movement. The spines link to a comfortable gel-lined metapod that covers the back of the hand. On the palm, the patented Scaphoid Protection System (SPS) is enhanced by additional sliding systems on all sides which ensure that in the event of an accident the majority of contact with the ground is with the SPS and not leather. An additional inner cuff slider works to support and enhance the SPS sliding effect. Super strong and tear resistant Kangaroo leather covers the inside palm and fingers.

Where this glove glove really stands out is the technical Knox BOA lacing system which Knox has pioneered on racing gloves. It allows precision adjustment around the whole cuff. The wrist system tightens equally from all sides, just dial in the right torque. To release, simply pull the dial. This revolutionary lacing system is definitely something new and time (and couple brave ones dropping their bike going +200 kmh) will tell should other manufacturers adopt the same system in the future.

Features:

• CE Certified
• BOA® Fit System with Lifetime guarantee.
• Knox Micro-Lock Knuckles
• Kangaroo Palm
• Lightweight 0.8mm drum dyed leather
• Patented Knox SPS technology
• Unique Exoskeleton
• Sizes – S – 3XL
• Colours – 4
  • Black/White
  • All Black
  • Red
  • Blue

4. Held Phantom 2

The Held Phantom Glove has been a favorite in the Held range for years, and has been been improved in the new Phantom II. Highly abrasion-resistant kangaroo leather and rayskin trim, real titanium knuckle shell and impact-absorbing special foam provide top notch protection.

Protection

• DuPont™ KEVLAR® fibre protection on back of hand
• SUPROTECT® shock-absorbing special foam on back of hand & ball of thumb
• Titanium knuckle protectors
• Ring- and little finger additionally protected with DuPont™ KEVLAR® fibre
• GFK protectors on edge of hand, covered with SuperFabric®
• Highly abrasion-resistant stingray leather, underlaid with shock-absorbing foam on ball of thumb
• SuperFabric® reinforcement on fingers
• certified under norm EN 13594:2015

Fit/features

• Visor wiper
• Tunnel strap
• Special step seam avoids pressure points on inner hand & enhances feel
• Perforated finger side walls
• Velcro adjustment at cuffs
• Pre-formed, crease-free palm

Outer shell

• Highly abrasion-resistant kangaroo leather
• Colourfast & sweat-proof

3. Spidi Carbo Kangaroo

The Carbo Kangaroo gloves represent the best and most performing racing gloves in SPIDI collection. Based on Carbo Track EVO project, well known from racers from all over the world, the Kangaroo version improves comfort and lightness thanks to Kangaroo leather, thinner and more resistant compare to cow leather.

Comfort has also been upgraded through a redefined construction with external seams, reducing direct contact points of the hand with stitches. The leather sections of the glove are perforated to keep the hands cool and dry, and the thick gauntlet wrist closure keeps the gloves firmly fastened without pinching or bunching. High-tenacity Keramide reinforcements, Superfabric® details on the fingers, abrasion resistant suede microfiber, carbon fiber knuckles and fingers shields and Warrior protectors on the external sides make these gloves a new reference in their category. The gloves include the EN 13594:2015 KP Lev.1 CE certification.

Features:

• Wristband adjustment and wrist closure accordion
• Keramide reinforcements with high abrasion resistance
• Keprotec schoeller reinforcements with high abrasion resistance
• 0.7/0.8 mm Kangaroo leather
• High safety performance elasticized fabric
• Carbon parts
• Superfabric textile cut and intrusion top resistant
• Vented leather
• 0.8/0.9 mm cowhide for high fitting performance
• Palm padding
• Ergonomic silicone based highly shock absorbent material
• Keramide reinforced back
• Back of hand padding
• Side of hand padding
• Knuckle dynamic kinematic protection
• Warrior shields on external hand side

2. Dainese Full Metal 6

Dainese Full Metal 6 will bring you utmost comfort and outstanding protection from a top performer, packed with innovations and advanced technologies. Quad elastication for increased mobility between the knuckles and the back of the hand. Preformed and precurved cuffs with a new inner closure for outstanding fit, wrist mobility and comfort. Tactically positioned carbon fiber and titanium inserts with Aramid fiber panels for superlight strength and protection.

CHARACTERISTICS

Cover on the tightening strap

Elasticated cuff inserts

Soft inserts

ERGONOMICS

Adjustable cuff strap

Elasticated inserts

Micro-injection reinforcement on the palm

Microelastic elasticated inserts

Palm Super Touch in goatskin

Pre-curved fingers

Precurved wrist

Tightening strap

MAIN MATERIALS

Aramid fiber stitching

Drum-dyed goatskin leather super soft palm

Goatskin Leather

Internal reinforcements with Aramid fiber jersey

1. Alpinestars Supertech

The second and first additions in this list are neck-to-neck on the finish line (just like usually in MotoGP).. However, we have to give slight edge to Alpinestars Supertech purely because it has been the choice of so many pro riders.

Features

• Developed Directly From Motogp
• Constructed From Supple And Strong Full-Grain Kangaroo And Cow Leather For Superior Performance
• Pre-Shaped Leather On Fingers And Thumbs For Superior Feel
• Localized Perforations On Back Of Hands And Forchettes Keep The Hands Cool
• Ergonomically-Engineered Keprotech®Reinforcements On Palms And Outer Hand Landing Zones Provide Maximum Abrasion Resistance In Key Impact Zones
• Ergonomic Stretch Insert On Palms
• Pre-Curved Finger Construction Reduces Rider Fatigue
• Alpinestars Dynamic Friction Shield (Dfs) Knuckle Protection System Features Dual-Density Molded Construction For Superior Resistance To Repeated Impacts
• Molded Knuckle Protection Air Intakes And Exhaust Ports For Improved Hand Ventilation
• Injected Tpu Finger Sliders For Superior Impact And Abrasion Resistance
• Ergonomically Shaped Tpu-Injected, Adjustable Cuff Panel For Superior Impact- And Abrasion-Resistance With High Grip Hook-And-Loop Closure
• Stretch-Leather Accordion Inserts On Extended Thumb Zones And Fingers For Superior Fit And Flexibility
• Lateral-Leather Accordion Inserts Gives Greater Range Of Movement To Backhand Area
• Internal Top Surface Hand And Thumb Lining Made With Aramid Fiber
• Internal Little Finger Lining Made With Aramid Fiber
• Alpinestars Patented Third And Fourth Finger Bridges Prevent Finger Roll Separation In The Event Of A Slide
• Printed Logos

Conclusion

You really can not go wrong with any of these state-of-the-art gloves and for the extraordinary people doing ordinary canyon ripping/track day shenanigans all of them will protect your precious hands extremely well. However if you want the best of the best, we would recommend going with the Dainese or Alpinestars, because they have been in the game for so long. They have also perfected their craft of their gloves to the ultimate standard in the lab and in the MotoGP circuits. There is a great saying I heard in the dealership one time: “If it is good enough for Rossi and Marquez, it will be good enough for me”

And as always, ride safe