Best Summer Motorcycle Gloves for Hot Weather
Updated: Sep 28
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Quick answer: The best summer motorcycle gloves are perforated deerskin gloves like the Legendary USA ILL DOZER at $129 and the Deerskin Short Wrist Ventilated glove at $94. Both are on backorder as we publish, and the closest Legendary USA pair in stock today is the Holy Blanco Ventilated Gloves at $114 (49 reviews, 4.84). They flow air through real leather, so you stay cool without trading away the abrasion protection that mesh gloves give up. Neither is CE rated or armored; a mesh glove such as the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air moves more air and adds certified knuckle armor, but it puts fabric where you would rather have leather in a slide.
Hot-weather riding creates a trap: the gloves that feel coolest in a parking lot, thin mesh and fingerless fashion gloves, are often the ones that protect least in a slide. The right summer glove solves the heat problem without removing the leather. Perforation is how you do that.
Perforated leather vs mesh, why it matters
A perforated leather glove punches ventilation holes through a panel of genuine deerskin. You still have a continuous leather surface against the road; you just have airflow through it. A mesh glove replaces leather with fabric, which breathes but shreds on contact with pavement. Legendary USA's ventilated gloves, such as the in-stock Holy Blanco Ventilated Gloves at $114, sit on the perforated leather side of that trade.
Type | Cooling | Abrasion protection | Verdict |
Perforated deerskin | High | High | Best balance |
Mesh/textile | Very high | Low | Cool but weak |
Fingerless | High | Very low | Style only |
Solid leather | Low | High | Too hot for summer |
Best summer gloves to buy
ILL DOZER, best overall summer glove
The ILL DOZER at $129 (99 reviews, 4.90 stars) perforates the top panel and uses outseam stitching so seams sit away from your fingertips. It runs cool on a 95F day and still rides like a premium deerskin glove. It is on backorder as we publish.
Explore the best motorcycle gloves from Legendary USA, American-made deerskin and cowhide riding gloves built for serious riders.
Deerskin Short Wrist Ventilated, best value
The Short Wrist Ventilated Touchscreen glove at $94 (117 reviews, 4.95 stars) adds a perforated back to the classic deerskin short-wrist, with touchscreen fingertips. It is on backorder as we publish.
Ventilated Driving Gloves, best open-back feel
The Deerskin Ventilated Driving Gloves at $100 (83 reviews, 4.89 stars) use a classic open-back driving profile with full perforation for maximum airflow. This pair is on backorder as we publish.
Deerskin Fingerless, for short slow rides
The Deerskin Fingerless gloves at $91 (126 reviews, 4.92 stars) max out airflow. Understand the trade-off: no finger coverage means less protection.
White Glove Series, for the hottest days
White leather reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it, so a white glove sits cooler on your hand than the same glove in black on a bright day. The Holy Blanco Ventilated Gloves at $114 (49 reviews, 4.84 stars) and the ILLEST DOZER White Outseam Gloves at $143 (48 reviews, 4.79 stars) are the ventilated versions, and the Cadbury White Touchscreen Gloves at $109 (77 reviews, 4.87 stars) trade some airflow for touchscreen fingertips. All three are unarmored deerskin and none is CE rated. A rider who wants certified knuckle armor with the ventilation should look at a summer sport glove such as the Alpinestars SMX-1 Air instead.
How to pick
Want one summer glove that protects and breathes? ILL DOZER, or the Legendary USA Holy Blanco if you need it in stock now.
Want the best cooling per dollar? Short Wrist Ventilated.
Love the driving-glove look? Ventilated Driving Gloves.
Riding in full sun all day? White Glove Series, Holy Blanco or Cadbury.
Only slow cruises? Fingerless, with eyes open on protection.
Beat the heat
Browse perforated and ventilated deerskin options in the Legendary USA gloves collection.
Frequently asked questions
Are perforated gloves good for summer riding?
Yes. Perforated leather gloves flow air through a panel of real leather, cooling your hands while keeping abrasion protection.
Are mesh gloves safe for motorcycle riding?
Mesh gloves are cool but offer far less abrasion resistance than leather. For highway speeds, perforated leather is a safer summer option.
Should summer gloves be touchscreen-capable?
It helps, you can use your phone or GPS without removing a sweaty glove. The Short Wrist Ventilated glove has conductive fingertips but is on backorder as we publish, so the in-stock touchscreen option today is the Cadbury White Touchscreen Gloves at $109.
Are fingerless gloves good for motorcycles?
Fingerless gloves maximize airflow but leave your fingers exposed in a crash. They suit slow cruising, not high-speed riding.
Shop the full selection of best motorcycle gloves at Legendary USA, handcrafted in the USA with premium leather for every riding style.
