How Gloves Should Fit, Stretch, and Break In

Gloves should feel snug when new. Your fingertips should reach the ends, the palm leather should lie flat, and you should be able to close your hand without pinching. Leather gives a little with wear, but sources disagree on how much, so don't count on stretch to fix the wrong size.

This hub covers fit after you have a size. To get the size first, measure your hands.

What a good fit feels like

A good glove fits close everywhere, with no dead space:

• Fingers: the seams between the glove fingers meet the base of your fingers. There is no spare leather at the tips.
• Palm: the leather lies flat and does not bunch when you close your hand.
• Knuckles: bend your fingers back a little. A small crease should form across the knuckles. If none forms, the glove is likely a size too big.
• Too small: the glove is hard to pull on or limits how you move your hand.

The full at-home check, glove type by glove type, is in how leather gloves should fit.

Riding gloves: check the fit on the bars

A riding glove has to fit with your hand on the grip, not just held flat. Hold a bar in riding position for a few minutes. Numbness or pressure points mean the size is wrong. A snug fit gives better feel for grips and levers, and the right size keeps the armor where it should be. The wrist closure should hold the glove on without cutting in.

Textile gloves should fit right the first time, because fabric gives very little. For tightness by glove type, closures and armor, see how motorcycle gloves should fit.

Do leather gloves stretch?

A little, but sources disagree on how much. One glove maker says leather riding gloves stretch about 5%. The store's racing-glove guide says leather breaks in slightly but does not reshape, so a loose glove stays loose. The same store's glove FAQ says to take the larger size when you're between two. Its jacket guide says not to buy small in the hope that the leather will stretch.

Read the full comparison, including which leathers give most, in do leather gloves stretch?.

Breaking in and stretching

Break-in time depends on the hide. One maker lists none for deerskin, one short ride for elkskin and a few rides for full-grain cowhide. Shortcuts carry risk. A glove maker's leather experts warn that hot-water soaking can leave most leathers stiffer and more brittle (deerskin excepted). The store advises against soaking and direct heat unless the care label allows them.

Step-by-step guides are coming. How to break in motorcycle gloves covers riding them in. How to stretch leather gloves safely covers a pair that pinches in one spot.

Glove length and cuffs

"Glove length" means two things: the length of the glove's fingers and palm, which is part of your size, and how far the cuff reaches up the arm. Riding gloves range from short cuffs that stop at the wrist to gauntlets that cover half the forearm. To pick one, see how to choose the right glove length.

Gloves to try on

[PRODUCT BLOCK: 3-4 leather riding gloves in different leathers and cuff lengths, size range shown]

The cowhide in Leather Collection motorcycle gloves is 0.8–0.9 mm (about 0.03 in) thick. It slowly molds to the hand and softens with wear. Run the checks above when your pair arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Should you size up or down for gloves?

Sources split. The store says take the larger size. Dents says round down because leather stretches slightly. Hestra says sport gloves stretch very little, so take the larger size. Work through the tie-break in between two glove sizes.

What size gloves for a 7 inch hand?

On the Leather Collection chart, a 7 in (17.78 cm) hand is a women's M. The men's column starts at XS, 7.5 in. Under EN ISO 21420 numbering, a hand about 7 in around is a size 7, or S.