Are Gloves Necessary for Mountain Biking?
If you’ve just started out mountain biking as a hobby, you might be conscious of the amount of equipment people recommend you purchase. Mountain bikes are expensive, add in the cost of armor, a good quality helmet, GPS navigation, first aid kit and more items of equipment, and it can all begin to get very expensive. In this article, we take a look if mountain biking gloves are necessary or if you can ride just as well without them.
If you ask most experienced riders that have been in accidents where they’ve been injured, they will most likely recommend the maximum level of protection for all areas of your body; this includes mountain bike riding gloves. Other riders might see them as unnecessary, depending on their experience with using mountain biking gloves. Here are some of the arguments for wearing gloves.
Weather conditions
Mountain biking gloves can be very helpful in various weather conditions. In the heat, your hands are likely to get sweaty and hot. This could result in them slipping and falling off your bike during a ride. Mountain biking gloves provide additional grip for your hands so you can keep pushing harder down the trail. In cold weather or wind, your hands are at the front of your bike and often feel exposed to the elements. It can be challenging to grip the handlebars of your bike if your hands become too cold and stiff. Mountain biking gloves will not only add grip, but they can protect your hands from the cold, windy and wet weather.
Hand protection
When you’re riding on a muddy, rocky and rough mountain bike trail, you will come close to brambles, trees, rocks and other sharp objects. If you come off your bike, one of the most natural things to do is to put your hands down to protect your body from hitting the ground. Gloves can help protect your hands from cuts, scrapes and bruising if you come off your bike in these conditions. Although cuts, scrapes, and bruising aren’t serious to most riders, it can be frustrating, and it's much better if you can avoid this type of injury altogether.
Bone and joint protection
If these reasons haven’t answered why do you need gloves for mountain biking, then perhaps you’ll be convinced by the following reason. Many mountain bike gloves have protection for knuckles and fingers. Wearing them could prevent broken finger bones and minimize the injury sustained to your finger joints. You will likely come off your bike during mountain biking at some point. A broken finger could prevent you from riding your bike for several weeks; simply wearing a pair of motorcycle gloves can prevent this injury.
Cost of gloves
Gloves could be the difference between keeping you on your bike or losing grip, and sustaining severe injuries. You can pick up a pair of mountain bike gloves for under $15 online, a relatively small cost compared to the price you’d pay for your bike and helmet. The small price you pay for a pair of motorcycle gloves is worth it for their protection and grip.
Choice and preference
You still have a choice regarding the protective equipment you wear on your mountain bike. Despite recommendations, many riders still choose not to wear body armor and mountain bike gloves, and they’re doing so at their own risk. In addition, you might need to try out a few different mountain bike gloves before you find the perfect pair for your hands. Always shop around and go to places where you can try the gloves. A pair of baggy mountain bike gloves can be a hazard on your ride. Gloves that are too tight will also be uncomfortable to wear and distracting to your ride.
When choosing mountain bike gloves, consider if you want to opt for fingerless or full-finger gloves. For summer riding, fingerless gloves may offer more airflow and comfort but less protection. Full-fingered gloves will keep your hands warmer in the colder months whilst protecting them from injury. Each rider has their own preferences, and it can take time to figure out your preferences regarding mountain bike gloves and other protective gear; don’t give up on gloves until you’ve tried a few different pairs.