Gloves in summer. It does seem like an oxymoron, but have you ever come off your bike with bare hands? It can take off a bit of skin, and it can certainly take you out of riding for a bit. Instead, you can wear lightweight, breathable gloves that are specifically made for summer! We have rounded up the best summer MTB Gloves to make that search just a little easier.
Ideally, a summer mountain bike glove is one you barely notice is there. It should be made of lightweight materials that allow a bit of breeze to pass through. A sweat wipe, which is an absorbent pad on the top of the glove, is generally pretty handy too.
We don’t really recommend half finger gloves, purely because it leaves your fingers exposed if you crash. But also, gloves dampen vibrations, so your fingers will feel the full force of the bumps if they are left bare. However, for some, full-finger gloves are just too hot to handle, so we have included a few fingerless gloves in this list.
The Best Summer MTB Gloves
These gloves are the best gloves for riding when it is hot, and the thought of gloves is just unbearable.
A piece of advice: we recommend not buying a black pair if you can find an alternative color. Black gloves do attract the sun and tend to heat up quickly.
1. Fox Ranger Glove Review
The Fox ranger is a classic full-finger glove. I have had a pair for a while now and cannot complain. I did go against my own advice and grab a black pair, but even so, I haven’t found them too hot.
They are touch screen compatible and have silicone grips on the index finger and thumb to help with grip. There is a Velcro, loop, and hook closure system on the underneath side of your wrist. I have never had this come undone and find it much more preferable to having it on the top side of your wrist.
The material is stretchy and breathable. They are a super comfortable pair of gloves that I’ll likely wear from Spring through summer and into fall.
2. Six Six One Raji Glove Review
The Six Six One Raji is a super comfortable, nice, lightweight glove. The material is thin and breathable, which is exactly what you want on a sweaty summer’s day.
The downside is that many people have noted the stitching between the fingers doesn’t last as long as a more durable glove. It is a bit of a trade-off as they are one of the thinnest and most breathable gloves out there. But for the same reason, they do tend to fall apart at the seams. This generally happens after a year of use, so have about half/quarter the life span as other gloves.
There is no Velcro loop and hook system, so the gloves just slide onto your hand, which I love. And they are touch screen compatible which is super handy!
3. POC Resistance Enduro Adjustable Glove Review
Another classic, reliable glove made for summer riding! The material on the top of the hand is thin and breathable, and the material on the palm is a bit thicker and hence more durable.
It is touch screen compatible which saves you a bit of time in taking gloves on and off to check the trails or send a message. The POC Resistance Enduro has silicon grips on the fingers for excellent grip on the breaks.
The glove closure system does use Velcro, which helps in sliding the glove over your hand without stretching the glove. However, the loop and hook system on the top of the wrist does have a tendency to come undone every now and again. This is generally an issue as the Velcro tends to become a bit less sticky. I find it distracting when you are riding downhill while a piece of your glove is flapping around. It won’t mean your glove will come off, but it is quite distracting!
4. POC Essential Mesh Glove Review
The POC Essential Mesh Gloves is a minimalist glove made with a stretchy and highly breathable mesh on the tops of the hands. The mesh is supported by grips between the thumb and index finger for additional comfort and support.
The palms are also very breathable but have a bit more sustenance for greater durability and comfort over rough terrain. There are silicon grips on the middle and index finger for touchscreen usability and greater grip. And the thumb is covered with a softer material to wipe away any sweat.
Personally, I think these gloves are some of the best-looking summer MTB gloves on the market.
5. Troy Lee Designs Ace Glove Review
Having worn a slightly older model of these gloves for around four years, I can attest to their durability. Apart from a little fading and a small hole between the thumb and index finger, these gloves are still in use the majority of the time!
They run a little warmer than some of the gloves on this list. But I was willing to give up a little comfort for greater durability. The updated model shown here has a lighter material on the tops of the hands which will likely help with this!
The Ace is a slide-on glove, so no messing around with Velcro closure systems. The glove is touch screen compatible, which also helps! It is a great summer glove for the all-mountain or trail rider.
6. Tasco Recon Ultralight Glove Review
The Tasco Recon Ultralight glove has certainly earned its position on the best summer MTB glove list! As the name suggests, it is a super lightweight glove with all the features you need.
The thumb has a microfibre material for wiping away the sweat. The fingers are touch screen compatible for the quick phone check. The palm is constructed of a single-layer ventilated material which provides comfort and reduces heat build-up.
There are silicon grips on the fingers to ensure you don’t lose control of the breaks or bars at any point. There is no velcro wrist closure. You simply slide the gloves over your hand, and the fitted cuff holds it in place.
For extra ventilation, the material between the fingers is a lightweight mesh material for extra breathability. The Tasco Recon is an excellent all-around cycling glove. One we would certainly reach for on hot summer days.
7. Giro DND Glove Review
The Giro DND is an all-time favorite for many mountain bikers. It is a durable yet inexpensive minimalist glove. The top of the hand has super breathable fabric, while the palm is super durable.
The index and middle fingers have silicone grips for improved control on the break and bars. They are also touch screen compatible, which saves you a bit of time when checking out where to head next or flicking off a text. The thumb has a microfibre material for wiping away the sweat.
My only niggle with the Giro DND is the super thin fitting fingers. The glove is very much designed for those with long slender fingers, as my short stubby fingers unfortunately mean a very snug fit for my didgits!
We can see why this is a favorite and definitely deserves to be in the best summer MTB glove category.
8. Giro Strade Dure Half Finger Glove Review
While the fingerless glove does not protect the fingers quite so much from abrasions and vibrations, I can see why people don’t want full-finger gloves in the heat. A few of my mates will wear fingerless gloves while out trail riding. For downhill chairlifts or shuttle laps, you won’t find them quite as popular!
The Giro Strade Dure has padding on the palms to help with shock absorption and hand fatigue. Giro claims that the gel padding in the palm actually distributes the shock energy 300 times better than standard gel pads. The extra padding helps with shock absorption, making mountain bike riding a fair bit more comfortable.
Final Thoughts
When you are looking for one of the best summer MTB gloves, you want to keep an eye out for thin, breathable material. The difficult part is making sure the thin material is also durable. The biking gloves listed above are all high-quality gloves that are going to last you a good few seasons and a number of crashes.
Personally, I think the POC Resistance Enduro Glove is a great combination of breathability, looks, protection, and durability for a mountain bike rider. They also fit very well, feel comfortable on the bars, and have a sweat wipe on the thumb for those warm climbs!
The Fox Ranger, Giro DND, and the Troy Lee Ace are always going to be popular gloves too. They are durable, reasonably breathable, and lightweight summer cycling gloves, and they come for a very good price.
In all, the gloves listed above are great gloves. It depends on your preference in glove style, what kind of trails you ride and what you prioritize in a pair of gloves!
If you enjoyed the best summer MTB gloves, but are looking for a waterproof glove, see here. And if you are wanting to get a winter glove at the same time, see here for the best winter mountain bike gloves.
