First party
Between Two Glove Sizes? How to Choose
Stuck between two glove sizes? Sources disagree on sizing up or down. Four checks settle it: re-measure, right column, glove material, hand length.
There is no single rule, and the store does not agree with itself. Its size chart says to take the larger size, while its racing-glove guide warns that leather does not reshape, so a glove that is loose at first stays loose. Whether to size up or size down when you land between two sizes comes down to four checks: re-measure, read the right column, then let the glove's material and your hand length decide.
This answer is part of our glove measurement guide.
Why the advice disagrees
Glove makers and sellers give opposite answers:
The go-down advice rests on leather stretching a little, while the go-up advice for thick leather and racing gloves is about room to close your fist. For the store's chart compared with Hestra's advice by glove type, see how to find your glove size.
| Advice | Who says it |
|---|---|
| Go up | Leather Collection size chart and motorcycle gloves page, so gloves do not pinch on long rides |
| Go up | Sara Glove: use the larger measurement and round up; a racing-glove chart page: one size larger to stop binding in a closed fist |
| Go up for thick leather | Fox Creek, for elkskin, to avoid pinch points |
| Go down | Dents: round down, because leather stretches a little; Glove Story: choose the smaller |
| It depends | Backroad Syndicate: leather often smaller, textile or insulated larger |
Four checks that break the tie
1. Re-measure both hands
Measure your dominant hand. If your two hands differ, size for the larger one. Our guide shows how to re-measure step by step.
2. Read the right column
On unisex styles, the size selector lists XS to 3XL but does not say whether the men's or women's column applies. Check your number in both columns before you call it "between sizes."
3. Let the material decide
Riding gloves are meant to be a snug fit for feel at the grips and levers. The store's cowhide, about 0.03 in (0.8–0.9 mm) thick, softens and molds to the hand, but break-in has limits: a painfully tight glove will not stretch a full size. Textile and synthetic gloves keep their shape, which is why one retailer says to go up for those.
4. Use hand length
The store chart sizes by hand circumference only. Some makers tell you to take the larger of circumference and length, and a standard size may not suit a wide hand with short fingers. See hand length as a tiebreaker.
Still stuck? Custom size and the fit test
If your hand is unusually narrow or wide for its length, the store suggests a custom size. It costs $75 extra, and you send your measurements after ordering.
When the gloves arrive, check that the palm lies flat and your fingertips reach the ends without cramping. Then hold a bar in riding position for a few minutes: numbness or pressure points mean the size is wrong. Ask the store about exchanges before you order, because its pages disagree on whether a fit exchange is possible.
Browse Leather Collection motorcycle gloves with your number in hand. Buying a glove labeled in EU or UK sizes? Read our glove size conversion across EU, US and UK labels first.
The Motorcycle Gloves Editorial Team
The Motorcycle Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.