Best Overall
Best Motorcycle Gloves Under $100: 5 Picks That Actually Hold Up
Evan Rally
Published: March 26, 2026
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On my motorcycle ride across the USA in 2022, I was hunting for the cheapest name-brand gloves I could find. I settled on the Alpinestars SMX Air v2. They were light, they were cheap, and they flowed a ton of air. What they also did was leak black ink all over my hands after the first rainstorm and start falling apart by Kansas.
The stitching unraveled. The Velcro stopped gripping. The touchscreen fingertip worked about as well as using your elbow on an iPad. I spent 10,000 miles wishing I’d spent 20 more dollars on something built to last.
That trip taught me something about budget gear. Cheap and budget are not the same thing. Cheap means corners were cut. Budget means you got your money’s worth without overpaying. The gloves on this list are budget. They come from brands that know how to build riding gear, they carry real CE-rated protection, and they won’t turn into rags halfway through your first road trip.
If you’re building out your first kit as a new rider, gloves are the one place you absolutely should not skip. Your hands hit the ground first. Every time. It’s instinct. So let’s find you a pair that can handle it.
Quick Picks
Best Overall
Lightweight, breathable street gloves with a knit chassis and solid knuckle protection, offering all-day comfort without sacrificing essential impact and abrasion coverage.
- Excellent airflow for hot-weather riding
- Flexible knit build improves hand mobility
- Good impact protection for daily use
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips work reliably
- Limited protection for aggressive riding
- Short cuff leaves wrist partially exposed
Best for Hot Weather
Lightweight urban gloves that balance airflow and everyday protection, keeping hands cool while maintaining solid grip and control for commuting rides.
- Lightweight design reduces hand fatigue on rides
- Breathable build keeps hands cool in traffic
- Good grip and control for daily commuting
- Flexible fit allows easy, natural movement
- Limited protection vs full gauntlet gloves
- Stitching durability may wear with heavy use
Best for Adventure
Lightweight, highly breathable adventure gloves with solid knuckle protection and all-day comfort. Built for hot-weather riding without sacrificing flexibility or feel.
- Excellent airflow keeps hands cool in heat
- Flexible fit with great bar feel and control
- Solid knuckle and palm protection for class
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips work reliably
- Runs small, sizing up is often needed
- Limited protection for aggressive street riding
Best for Urban/Commuting
Lightweight mesh gloves with TPU knuckle armor, finger protection, and a double-layer leather palm - keeping summer city rides cool, comfortable, and properly protected.
- Mesh construction keeps airflow strong in summer
- TPU knuckles and TPR fingers improve impact protection
- Double-layer leather palm boosts abrasion resistance
- Smart-touch index finger adds daily convenience
- Not made for wet or cold riding
- Short cuff gives limited wrist coverage
Best Budget
Lightweight adventure gloves built for wet conditions, delivering excellent grip and bar feel while maintaining comfort and control through flexible, low-bulk protection.
- Outstanding grip and feedback in wet riding
- Lightweight design reduces hand fatigue
- Flexible build improves comfort and control
- Good palm protection for everyday use
- Not fully waterproof in heavy rain
- Minimal coverage compared to touring gloves
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REV’IT! Kinetic 2
If you’re going to spend close to $100 on a pair of gloves, these are the ones to beat. The Kinetic 2 is REV’IT!’s updated take on their wildly popular Kinetic, and the upgrade is immediately obvious the moment you pull them on.
The Rundown
The standout here is the PWR|Knit panel on the back of the hand. It’s a stretchy, knitted material that flexes with your fingers instead of fighting them. Most gloves in this price range use stiff mesh or rigid textile panels that bunch up when you grip the bars. The Kinetic 2 just moves.
Protection is taken seriously too. REV’IT! fitted a divided TPR injected knuckle protector that covers the back of your hand without creating pressure points. The divided design means the armor bends with your knuckles instead of sitting on top like a rigid cap. Palm reinforcement gives you abrasion resistance where you need it most.
The short cuff makes them easy to get on and off, and they work well under or over a jacket sleeve. Touchscreen fingertips come standard, and REV’IT!’s tend to actually work, which is more than I can say for some competitors.
What Stands Out
The PWR|Knit construction is the real differentiator. No other glove at this price uses anything like it. The result is a glove that feels broken in right out of the box while still offering a secure, locked-in fit. It’s the kind of detail you’d expect on a $150 glove.
The Trade-Offs
The Kinetic 2 leans heavily toward warm-weather street riding. If you need waterproofing or cold-weather capability, look elsewhere.
- Silver lining: That single-season focus means REV’IT! could optimize entirely for feel, comfort, and airflow. It does all three better than any glove in this lineup.
- Alternative option: The REV’IT! Continent handles wet weather for about $40 less if rain riding is your reality.
REV'IT! Kinetic 2 Gloves
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Lightweight, breathable street gloves with a knit chassis and solid knuckle protection, offering all-day comfort without sacrificing essential impact and abrasion coverage.
Pros:
- Excellent airflow for hot-weather riding
- Flexible knit build improves hand mobility
- Good impact protection for daily use
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips work reliably
Cons:
- Limited protection for aggressive riding
- Short cuff leaves wrist partially exposed
Alpinestars Copper
The Copper is one of those gloves that just keeps showing up on recommendation lists, and for good reason. With 144 reviews on Revzilla and a solid 4.5-star average, this is a proven performer that thousands of riders trust with their hands every day.
The Rundown
Construction mixes stretch spandex on the backhand with a synthetic suede palm. The stretch panels keep your hands cool and comfortable in warm weather, while the suede palm gives you decent grip and abrasion resistance. Alpinestars fitted a PVC hard knuckle protector under the spandex that’s CE Level 1 certified, so you’re getting legitimate tested protection at this price.
Accordion paneling on the back of the hand lets your fingers flex naturally. The hook-and-loop wrist closure keeps things secure without being fussy. And the touchscreen-compatible fingertip rounds out a feature set that punches well above the $80 price tag.
If you’re the kind of rider who throws on gloves, grabs the bars, and doesn’t think about gear again until you park, the Copper is your glove. It’s fuss-free, comfortable, and protective. Six colorway options mean you can match whatever bike or jacket you’re running.
What Stands Out
The sheer amount of rider validation behind this glove is hard to ignore. Alpinestars has been iterating on the Copper for years, and it shows. The fit is dialed, the protection is real, and the price hasn’t crept past $80. In a market where everything keeps getting more expensive, that’s worth noting.
The Trade-Offs
The Copper is a textile glove, not a leather one. In a high-speed slide, a full-grain leather palm will always outlast synthetic suede. For street and urban riding, the protection is solid. For aggressive sport riding, you’d want something heavier.
- Silver lining: The textile construction is exactly why it breathes so well and stays comfortable all day. Leather gloves at this price tend to be stiff and hot.
- Alternative option: If you want a lighter mesh glove with stronger palm protection for summer commuting, the RST Moto Urban Air 3 Mesh brings a double-layer leather palm and CE-rated protection at $64.99.
Alpinestars Copper Gloves
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Lightweight urban gloves that balance airflow and everyday protection, keeping hands cool while maintaining solid grip and control for commuting rides.
Pros:
- Lightweight design reduces hand fatigue on rides
- Breathable build keeps hands cool in traffic
- Good grip and control for daily commuting
- Flexible fit allows easy, natural movement
Cons:
- Limited protection vs full gauntlet gloves
- Stitching durability may wear with heavy use
REV’IT! Mangrove 2
This one’s brand new and it’s already turning heads. The Mangrove 2 is REV’IT!’s updated lightweight adventure glove, built for riders who split their time between pavement and dirt in warm conditions. If you’re planning a summer trip that involves any mix of road and trail riding, put these on your shortlist.
The Rundown
The original Mangrove was one of the best budget adventure gloves you could buy. The Mangrove 2 improves on the formula with updated materials and a refined fit. The chassis is built from technical mesh fabric and microfiber, keeping weight low while allowing plenty of airflow. You get TPR injected knuckle armor that’s visible on the outside of the glove, giving it that distinct adventure-glove look.
REV’IT! also fitted a palm slider, which is a feature you almost never see at this price point. If your hand hits pavement, the slider lets it skid instead of catching, reducing the chance of a wrist injury. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference. Combined with touchscreen-compatible fingertips and a pre-curved, ergonomic fit, the Mangrove 2 is adventure-ready right out of the box.
For riders heading off the beaten path, pair these with our picks for the best adventure motorcycle gloves at higher budgets, or keep them as your warm-weather go-to.
What Stands Out
The palm slider at this price is the headline. Most budget gloves protect the knuckles and call it a day. REV’IT! put real thought into what happens when you hit the ground at speed, and the palm slider is evidence of that. You’d normally need to spend $120 or more to get this feature.
The Trade-Offs
As a warm-weather glove with lots of mesh, it won’t keep the cold out. And the textile construction, while great for breathability, won’t match leather for outright abrasion resistance on pavement.
- Silver lining: The light weight and high airflow make it one of the most comfortable gloves to wear for hours on end in hot conditions. If you ride in the summer, comfort matters more than you think.
- Alternative option: The REV’IT! Caliber 2 ($99.99) steps up to a leather and mesh hybrid if you want more abrasion resistance for your ADV rides.
REV'IT! Mangrove 2 Gloves
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Lightweight, highly breathable adventure gloves with solid knuckle protection and all-day comfort. Built for hot-weather riding without sacrificing flexibility or feel.
Pros:
- Excellent airflow keeps hands cool in heat
- Flexible fit with great bar feel and control
- Solid knuckle and palm protection for class
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips work reliably
Cons:
- Runs small, sizing up is often needed
- Limited protection for aggressive street riding
RST Moto Urban Air 3 Mesh
For city riders and commuters, the RST Moto Urban Air 3 Mesh hits a sweet spot that makes a lot of sense under $100. It’s light, breathable, easy to live with, and protective enough for daily street use without feeling like a bulky sport glove.
The Rundown
The main chassis uses high-flow mesh with full-grain leather reinforcement, which gives you the airflow you want in traffic without making the glove feel flimsy. RST also adds TPU knuckle protection, TPR finger guards, and memory foam at the thumb, so this isn’t just a thin summer glove with a logo stitched on.
The palm is the real value play here. You get a double-layer leather palm for abrasion resistance, which is exactly where cheap gloves usually cut corners. Add in pre-curved fingers, a finger motion panel, a hook-and-loop wrist closure, and a smart-touch index finger, and the Urban Air 3 Mesh becomes the kind of glove you can wear every day without thinking too hard about it.
This is the glove for riders who commute in warm weather, run errands around town, or want a lightweight summer glove that still brings real CE-rated protection. It blends in, breathes well, and gives you more palm protection than you usually see at this price.
What Stands Out
The double-layer leather palm is the headline. Plenty of budget mesh gloves focus on airflow first and protection second, but the Urban Air 3 Mesh gives you both. It stays light and breathable while still adding proper abrasion resistance where your hand is most likely to hit the ground.
The Trade-Offs
This is still a short-cuff summer glove, so it is not the right pick for cold weather, rain, or aggressive high-speed riding.
- Silver lining: That lightweight mesh build is exactly why it works so well for daily commuting. It breathes, flexes, and stays easy to wear when you’re putting gloves on and taking them off multiple times a day.
- Alternative option: The Alpinestars Copper adds a more established name-brand option with a hard knuckle and a proven rider following at $79.95.
RST Moto Urban Air 3 Mesh Gloves
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Lightweight mesh gloves with TPU knuckle armor, finger protection, and a double-layer leather palm - keeping summer city rides cool, comfortable, and properly protected.
Pros:
- Mesh construction keeps airflow strong in summer
- TPU knuckles and TPR fingers improve impact protection
- Double-layer leather palm boosts abrasion resistance
- Smart-touch index finger adds daily convenience
Cons:
- Not made for wet or cold riding
- Short cuff gives limited wrist coverage
REV’IT! Continent
At $59.99, the Continent is the most affordable glove on this list, and it pulls off a trick that none of the others can: it handles wet weather. For riders who commute rain or shine, or live somewhere where afternoon storms are a daily thing, that alone makes it worth a look.
The Rundown
The Continent is part of REV’IT!’s Dirt Series, originally designed for off-road riding in wet conditions. It uses a microfiber e-touch outer shell with a water-repellent and windproof back of hand. This isn’t a fully waterproof membrane glove, but it’s designed to work with water rather than just surrender to it. Your hands might get damp in a sustained downpour, but you won’t lose all grip and feel like you would in a standard textile glove.
REV’IT! fitted a soft TPR knuckle protector, PWR|Shield material on the palm for abrasion resistance, and a memory foam pad around the thumb for impact protection. The neoprene cuff is comfortable and easy to cinch down. All five fingertips are touchscreen compatible, not just the index finger and thumb like on most gloves.
What Stands Out
Full five-finger touchscreen capability at $60 from a brand like REV’IT! is genuinely impressive. The PWR|Shield palm material is also a cut above what you’d expect at this price. It’s a knitted fabric engineered for cut, tear, and abrasion resistance, which is the kind of detail that separates a real motorcycle glove from a pair of glorified gardening gloves.
The Trade-Offs
The protection level is more modest than the pricier options on this list. The TPR knuckle is soft and flexible rather than a rigid hard shell, so impact protection won’t match the Kinetic 2 or Mangrove 2.
- Silver lining: That soft knuckle is part of why the Continent feels so natural and unrestricted on the bars. For daily riding where comfort and dexterity matter more than race-level impact protection, it’s a fair trade.
- Alternative option: Step up to the REV’IT! Mangrove 2 at $82.99 if you want a hard knuckle and palm slider while keeping the adventure-ready ethos.
REV'IT! Continent Gloves
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Lightweight adventure gloves built for wet conditions, delivering excellent grip and bar feel while maintaining comfort and control through flexible, low-bulk protection.
Pros:
- Outstanding grip and feedback in wet riding
- Lightweight design reduces hand fatigue
- Flexible build improves comfort and control
- Good palm protection for everyday use
Cons:
- Not fully waterproof in heavy rain
- Minimal coverage compared to touring gloves
Comparison Table
| Feature | REV’IT! Kinetic 2 | RST Moto Urban Air 3 Mesh | REV’IT! Mangrove 2 | Alpinestars Chrome V2 | REV’IT! Continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $64.99 | $82.99 | $74.95 | $59.99 |
| Best For | Street / All-Around | Urban / Commuting | Adventure / ADV | Urban / Commuting | Budget / Wet Weather |
| Primary Material | PWR|Knit / Textile | Mesh / Full-Grain Leather | Technical Mesh / Microfiber | Multi-Material Stretch | Microfiber E-Touch / Neoprene |
| Knuckle Armor | TPR Divided Injected | TPU Knuckle | TPR Injected | 3D TPU Ergonomic | Soft TPR |
| Palm Slider | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Waterproof | No | No | No | No | Water Repellent |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (All 5 Fingers) |
| Cuff Style | Short | Short | Short | Short | Short (Neoprene) |
Buying Guide: What to Look for in Sub-$100 Gloves
If you’ve read through the reviews and you’re still torn, here are the three questions that should drive your decision.
What weather will you ride in most? This is the great divider. If you ride primarily in warm, dry conditions, the Kinetic 2, Copper, or Mangrove 2 will all serve you well with their mesh and ventilated constructions. If rain is part of your regular riding life, the Continent’s water-repellent build makes it the obvious pick. None of these gloves are winter-rated, so if you’re riding in freezing temps, you’ll need to look at insulated options in a higher price bracket.
How much protection do you actually need? Be honest about how and where you ride. A hard knuckle protector is always nice to have, and the Copper and Mangrove 2 deliver the most robust impact protection in this lineup. But if you’re doing low-speed city riding and your biggest concern is comfort and daily wearability, the Chrome V2’s lighter approach to protection is perfectly reasonable. Match your gloves to your riding, not to some theoretical worst-case scenario.
Will you actually wear them? This is the question nobody asks but everyone should. The best glove is the one that goes on your hands every single ride. If a glove is stiff, hot, uncomfortable, or annoying to put on, you’ll skip it. That’s worse than wearing a less-protective glove consistently. Every option on this list prioritizes comfort and ease of use alongside protection, because a glove that lives in your saddlebag isn’t protecting anything.
Final Thoughts
At $100 or less, you’re not choosing between good and bad anymore. REV’IT! and Alpinestars have pushed real protection, real materials, and real engineering into this price range. The choice comes down to how you ride.
If you want the best all-around performer and don’t mind spending the full $100, the REV’IT! Kinetic 2 is the one. If airflow in hot weather is your top priority, the Alpinestars Copper has thousands of happy riders backing it up. And if you need your gloves to handle whatever the sky throws at you for under $60, the REV’IT! Continent is a no-brainer.
Just don’t do what I did in 2022. Don’t grab the cheapest thing with a name brand on it and assume it’ll hold up. Spend a few extra minutes (and maybe a few extra dollars) picking the right glove for your riding, and your hands will thank you somewhere around mile 5,000.
For more help building out the rest of your kit without breaking the bank, check out our guide to the best beginner motorcycle gloves for even more options at every price point.
