Best Motorcycle Gloves for California Riders
- jamesjordan
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
California is not one riding climate — it's six. The Bay Area has cool, damp morning fog and mild afternoons. Southern California around Los Angeles runs warm and dry most of the year. The Central Valley bakes in summer. The Sierra Nevada has genuine high-altitude cold. The Mojave Desert hits extremes in both directions. And the coastline from Big Sur to Malibu runs in a perpetual marine layer that can mean 55°F on a July morning. Your glove choice in California depends almost entirely on where you ride.
Southern California: Warm, Dry, and Long on Miles
If you're riding the Angeles Crest Highway, Malibu Canyon, or the backroads of San Diego County, Southern California's Mediterranean climate means warm, dry conditions for most of the year. Short wrist ventilated gloves are the SoCal standard. You want airflow on your hands during afternoon canyon runs when temperatures push into the 80s and 90s, but also enough wrist coverage to stay comfortable at speed.
The Legendary USA Short Wrist Ventilated Touchscreen Gloves fit this region almost perfectly. Perforated deerskin moves air across the top of the hand, the fit is snug without being restrictive, and touchscreen compatibility is genuinely useful when navigating Caltrans road closures on your phone mount.
Northern California and the Bay Area
Bay Area riders deal with Karl the Fog — and riding in 55°F marine layer conditions while wearing summer gloves is genuinely uncomfortable. If you're doing morning rides on Skyline Boulevard or heading up Mount Tamalpais, you'll want a glove with at least a light liner. The Churchill Short Wrist Deerskin Gloves give you a bit more coverage without adding bulk. Many Bay Area riders keep a pair of light fleece-lined gloves for morning commutes and switch to ventilated gloves for afternoon rides.
Highway 1 and Coastal Riding
The Pacific Coast Highway from Malibu to Carmel is one of the great motorcycle roads in the world. It's also reliably cool, windy, and occasionally damp from ocean spray and coastal fog. A pure summer ventilated glove will leave your hands cold on this route. Deerskin leather provides some natural wind resistance — a good middle ground for coastal California riding.
Desert and Mountain Riding
Riders heading into the Mojave or Death Valley in summer need maximum ventilation — fingerless deerskin is the honest answer here. For the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite backcountry, where morning temperatures can drop below 40°F even in July, you want the Legendary USA Gauntlets. They provide forearm coverage and genuine wind protection at altitude.
A Note on Year-Round California Riding
If you ride exclusively in the Inland Empire, the Central Valley, or the deserts, one ventilated glove pair gets you through most of the year. If you ride all over the state — coastal, mountain, and desert — plan on at least two pairs: a ventilated short-wrist for warm conditions and a lined or gauntlet option for cold mornings and mountain passes.
FAQ: Motorcycle Gloves for California Riders
Q: What gloves work best for year-round California riding? A: It depends on where you ride. Southern California riders can use ventilated short wrist gloves nearly year-round. Bay Area and mountain riders need a second pair with warmth for cooler conditions.
Q: Are touchscreen gloves worth it for California riding? A: Yes, especially for city riding in LA or the Bay Area where navigation changes frequently. Being able to tap your phone mount without removing your gloves is a genuine convenience and safety benefit.
Q: What should I wear for riding Highway 1? A: Dress for cool coastal conditions even on warm days. Avoid pure summer mesh gloves on the PCH — the wind coming off the Pacific is colder than it looks.
Q: Do I need different gloves for mountain riding in California? A: Yes. Above 6,000 feet, temperatures drop significantly even in summer. Gauntlet-style gloves with forearm coverage are strongly recommended for Tioga Pass, Lake Tahoe, or any Sierra Nevada riding.
Q: Why choose deerskin over synthetic motorcycle gloves? A: Deerskin molds to your hand, breathes naturally, and maintains grip better in varied temperatures. Synthetic gloves are often cheaper but less comfortable on long rides and less durable under real use.
