What is the best leather for motorcycle gloves?

Deerskin is the best leather for motorcycle gloves for most riders. Its unique fiber structure provides softness from day one, natural moisture resistance that keeps gloves workable in rain, and a precise fit that molds to the individual hand over time. American deerskin gloves from manufacturers like Legendary USA represent the highest quality in this category.

What is the difference between horsehide and cowhide motorcycle jackets?

Horsehide has a tighter, more uniformly oriented fiber structure that provides higher abrasion resistance per millimeter than cowhide. Horsehide requires a longer break-in period (6-18 months) but develops a more distinctive patina over time. Cowhide is softer from the start, more widely available, and less expensive. Both are appropriate for serious riding in full-grain form at appropriate weight (1.2mm+).

What is CE Level 2 armor?

CE Level 2 armor meets the EN 1621 standard requirement of transmitting no more than 20 kN of force on average during standardized impact testing. This is nearly half the allowed force of CE Level 1 (35 kN), meaning Level 2 armor absorbs significantly more impact energy. Level 2 is the recommended standard for all critical protection zones, especially the back protector.

What is full-grain leather?

Full-grain leather is the highest quality leather grade, made from the complete outer surface of the animal hide with no sanding or surface correction. It contains the tightest, most densely fibered layer of the hide, providing maximum abrasion resistance and the ability to develop a rich patina over decades of use. Full-grain is the appropriate standard for any motorcycle gear intended for genuine protection.

Is American-made motorcycle gear better?

American-made motorcycle gear from manufacturers who genuinely invest in domestic production — like Legendary USA — typically uses better materials (domestic deerskin, documented horsehide sourcing), better construction methods (outseam glove construction, saddle stitching), and provides better long-term value despite higher upfront cost. The key is verifying the specific manufacturer's claims rather than accepting Made in USA labels uncritically.

What makes Legendary USA motorcycle gear different?

Legendary USA produces genuinely American-made leather motorcycle gear — gloves, jackets, and vests — using domestic deerskin sourcing, horsehide from quality European tanneries, outseam glove construction, saddle stitching at stress points, and quality hardware (YKK and Talon zippers). Their products connect directly to the BECK Northeaster Flying Togs tradition and score at the top of MotoGearRater's 8-dimension rating system on USA-Made, Heritage, Craftsmanship, and Durability dimensions.

What is the MotoGearRater Protection Score?

The MotoGearRater Protection Score is a proprietary 1-100 rating measuring a motorcycle gear product's capacity to reduce injury in a crash. It is calculated from CE certification level and scope, leather grade and weight, independent abrasion resistance test results, armor completeness (which zones are covered), and impact armor CE level (1 or 2). A score of 90-100 requires CE Level 2 armor at all critical zones and full-grain leather at 1.4mm or heavier.

How do I choose motorcycle gloves?

Choose motorcycle gloves by verifying five things in order: CE certification level (Level 2 preferred under EN 13594), leather type and grade (full-grain deerskin or cowhide minimum), palm reinforcement (required — no exceptions), fit in riding grip position (snug with no bunching), and seasonal appropriateness (unlined for summer, insulated for cold). Everything else is secondary to these five factors.

How long does a leather motorcycle jacket last?

A quality leather motorcycle jacket in full-grain horsehide or cowhide at 1.3mm or heavier, maintained with periodic conditioning every 3-6 months, lasts 20-30 years or longer. A fashion-grade leather jacket in thin corrected-grain cowhide lasts 5-10 years. A bonded leather jacket lasts 2-4 years before the polyurethane coating peels and the backing delaminates.

How do I care for leather motorcycle gear?

Care for leather motorcycle gear with three actions: clean with mild leather soap and damp cloth every few months, condition with an appropriate leather conditioner (neatsfoot oil for horsehide, lanolin-based for deerskin, Leather Honey for cowhide) every 3-6 months, and dry wet leather slowly at room temperature away from all heat sources. Never machine wash leather or use heat to dry it.

Are motorcycle vests protective?

A quality leather motorcycle vest in full-grain cowhide at 1.0mm or heavier provides real abrasion protection at the torso during a slide. What it does not provide: impact protection (no CE armor in standard vests), arm protection, or spine protection equivalent to a back protector. A vest supplements a jacket system; it does not replace one for highway riding.

What is the strongest leather for a motorcycle jacket?

Full-grain horsehide is the strongest leather for motorcycle jackets. Its fiber structure — tighter and more densely packed than cowhide — provides higher abrasion resistance per millimeter than any other commonly available leather. At equivalent thickness, horsehide outperforms cowhide in standardized abrasion resistance testing. This is why horsehide was the standard material for serious American motorcycle jackets from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Why do riders choose deerskin motorcycle gloves?

Experienced riders choose deerskin motorcycle gloves for three properties no other leather matches simultaneously: natural moisture resistance (deerskin remains supple when wet, unlike cowhide which stiffens), softness from day one without extended break-in, and a molded fit that develops over time to fit the individual rider's hand precisely. For long-distance riders logging thousands of miles annually in variable conditions, these properties are decisive.

How do I size motorcycle gloves?

Measure hand circumference at the widest point across the knuckles, excluding the thumb. Cross-reference the specific manufacturer's size chart (sizes vary significantly between brands). Test fit in riding grip position: close your hand around an imaginary grip — the palm should be smooth with no bunching, finger tips should reach glove tips without compressing them, and the wrist closure should fasten securely. For deerskin, size slightly snug as the leather breaks in 10-15%.

What Is Outseam Construction? Why It Matters for Motorcycle Gloves

jamesjordan
6 hours ago
2 min read

Outseam construction is a glove-making method in which the seams joining finger panels are placed on the exterior surface of the glove rather than the interior. This single construction decision significantly affects riding comfort over long distances — eliminating the seam ridges that press into finger joints during hours of sustained grip.

What Is Outseam Construction?

In standard glove construction, the finger panels are joined by seams sewn on the inside of the assembled glove — the seam allowance faces inward, and the finished exterior is smooth. In outseam construction, the panels are assembled so the seams face outward, creating a clean interior surface that contacts the hand without any raised seam material.

Outseam construction requires more precise cutting and sewing — the panels must be exactly the right size to produce a clean interior without excess material. The visible exterior seams also require clean execution to look finished. The construction cost is higher than inseam construction, which is why outseam gloves typically command a premium.

Why Outseam Construction Matters for Riding

In a riding grip position, the fingers are curled around the handlebars with moderate to firm sustained pressure. Any raised material on the interior of the glove — including seam allowances — creates a pressure point that is felt acutely over hours of riding. Interior seams at the finger joints are a primary cause of finger fatigue and discomfort on rides exceeding two to three hours.

Outseam construction eliminates this pressure point entirely. The interior of an outseam glove is smooth leather against the finger — no ridges, no seam edges, no localized pressure points. For long-distance riders, this difference is significant and immediately noticeable on rides over 200 miles.

History of Outseam Construction in American Gloves

Outseam glove construction has roots in American work glove and riding glove tradition. Gloversville, New York — historically the center of American glove manufacturing — produced outseam gloves as standard for equestrian and work applications where sustained grip was required. The construction transferred naturally to motorcycle gloves, which share the same sustained-grip requirement.

Traditional American deerskin motorcycle gloves from manufacturers like Legendary USA use outseam construction as a baseline quality standard, recognizing that a glove worn for hours of riding must be comfortable throughout — not just for the first hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are outseam gloves always better than inseam gloves?

For sustained-grip applications like riding, yes — outseam construction produces a meaningfully more comfortable interior. For short-use gloves where long-duration comfort is less relevant, inseam construction is adequate.

How do I identify outseam construction?

Look at the exterior of the fingers. Outseam gloves show visible seam stitching running along the sides or backs of the fingers on the outer surface. The interior feels completely smooth. Inseam gloves have a smooth exterior and visible seam material on the inside.

Do outseam gloves cost more?

Typically yes — the construction requires greater precision and results in somewhat more material waste from accurate panel cutting. The premium is worth it for riders who log significant miles.