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Hands are the first thing you put out when you fall. The instinct is hardwired — and in a motorcycle crash, it means your palms hit asphalt at speed before any other body part. Motorcycle gloves are the least glamorous piece of kit and the most frequently skipped. Riders who own full-face helmets and CE-rated jackets will routinely ride with unrated gloves or no gloves at all in warm weather.
The statistics from road accident research are consistent: hand and wrist injuries — fractures, degloving injuries, tendon damage — feature in a significant proportion of motorcycle crash injury patterns. Most are preventable with properly certified gloves. The protection gap between CE Level 1 and Level 2 gloves in a real slide at 40 km/h is measured in seconds of abrasion resistance and 15 kN of transmitted impact force. That difference determines whether you walk away with sore palms or face reconstructive surgery.
For vegan riders, gloves are the hardest category. Almost every “premium” motorcycle glove uses leather — for the palm zone specifically, because manufacturers have relied on full-grain cowhide or kangaroo skin as the abrasion-resistant material of choice since the sport began. But the 2020s have delivered a meaningful shift. High-tenacity microfiber, coated synthetic palm panels, and engineering-grade polymer armour systems have matured to the point where fully synthetic gloves now carry Level 2 certification under EN 13594:2015 — the current EU standard for protective motorcycle gloves. This guide covers the five best that do.
Quick answer: For all-weather versatility, the REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O is the top pick — Level 2 certified, waterproof, touring-length cuff, under €90. For maximum protection, the Knox Handroid Pod MK5 is in a different class with its exoskeleton armour system. On a tight budget, the REV’IT! Mosca 2 H2O delivers waterproofing and CE Level 1 at €59. For premium all-weather performance, the Alpinestars C-1 v2 Gore-Tex is the benchmark. For urban commuters, the Five WFX2 EVO WP bridges tech and protection at €79.
Ask most riders what they’d skip in a hurry and it’s rarely the helmet. Helmets have decades of visible safety marketing behind them. Gloves don’t. The result is that a meaningful portion of motorcycle riders — including experienced ones — routinely ride without CE-rated gloves or no gloves at all in warm weather.
Hand injuries in motorcycle crashes cluster into three categories. Abrasion injuries — road rash on the palm — range from superficial skin loss to deep tissue damage requiring grafting, depending on speed and slide distance. Impact fractures — particularly to the scaphoid bone in the wrist, which has notoriously poor blood supply and heals badly — occur when an outstretched hand takes body weight on landing. Degloving injuries — where the skin is literally stripped from the hand — are among the most severe non-fatal injuries in motorcycling and are almost entirely preventable with correctly worn, properly fitted Level 2 gloves.
The legal minimum in most EU jurisdictions does not require gloves. This is an anomaly: you cannot legally ride without a helmet, but you can ride in summer with bare hands. The CE certification system exists precisely because the EU recognised that unregulated “motorcycle gloves” — which could be anything from a gardening glove to a leather fashion piece — were not providing meaningful protection. EN 13594:2015 sets the performance floor. Level 2 raises that floor substantially.
One further consideration specific to vegan riders: traditional chamois inner linings in gloves are remarkably common and almost invisible to the buyer. A glove marketed on its synthetic outer can have a deerskin or sheepskin interior. We address this in the vegan verification section below.
A motorcycle glove has to do several things simultaneously: resist abrasion, absorb impact at the knuckles and palm heel, flex enough to operate controls, and stay warm and dry. The material challenges are more demanding than for jackets — gloves are thinner, in constant motion, and take direct contact with the road.
The critical zone. Synthetic microfiber at the grade used in CE Level 2 gloves — Clarino equivalents and high-density coated composites — achieves abrasion resistance comparable to 1.0–1.2mm split-grain cowhide in the EN 13594 palm abrasion test at 8 m/s. The key differentiator from cheap microfiber is fibre density, surface coating, and backing weave construction. REV’IT!, Five, and Alpinestars all use high-specification synthetic palm composites independently tested to Level 2 thresholds.
Hard-shell TPU or polypropylene knuckle armour provides impact protection that foam padding cannot match under EN 13594’s impact test. The test fires a guided mass at the glove at 2.5 m/s and measures transmitted force. Level 1 must transmit ≤50 kN; Level 2 must transmit ≤35 kN. That 15 kN difference determines whether the metacarpal bones absorb residual force. The Knox Handroid’s full exoskeleton represents the current ceiling of this protection category.
Gloves face a harder waterproofing problem than jackets: they flex constantly, seams are under repeated stress, and the hand generates localised heat. Membrane-based waterproofing — Gore-Tex, eVent, or proprietary equivalents bonded between outer shell and lining — is the only solution that maintains both waterproofing and breathability over time. Coating-based waterproofing loses performance within one season of regular use. All five waterproof gloves in this guide use membrane construction, not coating.
A note on palm reinforcement geometry: the most vulnerable zones in a palms-down slide are the hypothenar eminence (the heel below the little finger) and the thenar eminence (the pad below the thumb). Both must be covered by synthetic material — not seams. Seams in these zones are a structural weakness. Level 2 requires seam burst strength of ≥100 N/cm² and seam tensile strength of ≥150 N/cm. Confirm any glove you shortlist has no seams running across the palm heel zone.
Cuff length also matters more than most buyers realise. A short gauntlet cuff ending at the wrist provides no protection to the radius and ulna. A touring-length cuff extending 60–80mm above the wrist covers the zone where jacket sleeves may ride up in a crash. Four of the five gloves in this guide have touring-length or extended cuffs.
Motorcycle gloves certified under EN 13594:2015 — “Protective gloves for motorcycle riders: requirements and test methods” — are tested across four performance areas. Unlike the EN 17092 jacket system (which uses A/AA/AAA letter grades) or the EN 1621 armour system (Level 1/Level 2 for separate inserts), EN 13594 assigns the glove itself an overall Level 1 or Level 2 classification based on passing all required tests at the relevant threshold.
Here is what each test measures and what the numbers mean:
| Test | What It Measures | Level 1 Threshold | Level 2 Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Abrasion | How long the palm material resists abrasion at 8 m/s on a rotating drum | ≥4 seconds | ≥8 seconds |
| Cut Resistance (Coup) | Resistance to a rotating blade — index relative to reference cotton | Not required | Index ≥2.5 |
| Seam Burst Strength | Force to burst a seam under multi-directional pressure (N/cm²) | ≥75 N/cm² | ≥100 N/cm² |
| Seam Tensile Strength | Force to pull a seam apart linearly (N/cm) | ≥75 N/cm | ≥150 N/cm |
Knuckle impact protectors are tested separately under the same standard. They must be physically attached to the glove to contribute to the CE rating. Level 1 knuckle protection requires transmitted force ≤50 kN averaged over 3 impacts; Level 2 requires ≤35 kN. A glove can carry Level 2 body certification with Level 1 knuckle protection, or vice versa — always check both values on the hang tag or brand spec sheet.
L1: ≥4 sec at 8 m/s
L2: ≥8 sec at 8 m/s
Double the slide time
L1: 75 N/cm² burst / 75 N/cm tensile
L2: 100 N/cm² burst / 150 N/cm tensile
L1: ≤50 kN force
L2: ≤35 kN force
Must be fixed to glove to count
One practical point: EN 13594 certification is based on a batch test at the time of approval. Manufacturers occasionally change palm materials between production runs without re-certifying. The certification mark confirms the design was tested — not necessarily that the specific pair you receive was manufactured identically. For this reason, every product in this guide carries the per-product disclaimer below.
⚠️ Verify current certification at point of purchase — ratings may vary between production runs. Confirm EN 13594 compliance on the physical glove hang tag before purchasing.
Gloves are the hardest category to verify vegan status. Jackets are visible. Boots, you can inspect the lining. Gloves are small, heavily layered, and bought online from photos where the palm material is often not clearly visible. Animal products in motorcycle gloves fall into four categories:
The five gloves in this guide have been selected based on published brand specifications and explicit confirmation that no animal-derived materials are used in any component — outer shell, inner lining, palm reinforcement, and adhesives. Always verify before purchase: specs can change between model years.
The REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O is the standard-setter for vegan touring gloves in Europe. REV’IT! is a Dutch brand with a strong reputation for engineering-driven design, and the Sand line — now in its fourth generation — has been refined based on extensive field testing with adventure riders. The H2O designation indicates the integrated waterproof membrane bonded between the outer shell and the inner lining throughout the glove.
The outer shell uses REV’IT!’s PWR|Shield material at the palm — a high-tenacity synthetic composite independently tested to Level 2 abrasion resistance under EN 13594. There is no leather anywhere in the construction: no palm patch, no chamois lining, no leather at the thumb junction or the gear-change pad. The inner lining is a polyester mesh with the waterproof membrane behind it, providing breathable moisture management even in extended wear.
Knuckle protection is provided by REV’IT!’s SeeSoft HD knuckle insert — a viscoelastic foam-composite rated Level 1 under EN 13594. For Level 2 knuckle protection, the Knox Handroid is the answer. The palm protection is where crashes are decided, and the Sand 4 H2O delivers Level 2 there. Cuff closure uses a stretch panel and Velcro strap with a zip along the inner wrist for donning and doffing with jacket sleeves in place. Cuff length extends approximately 65mm above the wrist — adequate touring coverage.
Available from FC-Moto with EU warehouse dispatch. Sizing follows REV’IT!’s standard hand circumference chart (measure at the widest point of your palm, not the wrist).
⚠️ Verify current certification at point of purchase — ratings may vary between production runs.
Alpinestars needs no introduction in the motorcycle world. The Italian brand supplies race gloves to MotoGP, WorldSBK, and Moto2 teams, and their road-focused product line benefits from this motorsport trickle-down. The C-1 v2 Gore-Tex is their flagship all-weather commuter-to-tourer glove in fully synthetic construction — and the best-performing waterproof vegan motorcycle glove available in Europe by specification.
The outer shell uses Alpinestars’ synthetic palm composite at the palm and thumb zones, carrying CE Level 2 EN 13594 certification. The upper hand is constructed from stretch synthetic textile panels with TPU knuckle armour bonded in place — this knuckle protector carries Level 2 classification, making the C-1 v2 one of the few gloves in this guide with Level 2 protection at both palm and knuckle. The inner lining is a polyester mesh with no chamois or leather at any point.
The Gore-Tex membrane is the premium differentiator. Unlike the proprietary membranes used in gloves at this price point, Gore-Tex carries its own brand guarantee (“permanently waterproof”) and has a longer proven track record than most house-brand equivalents. In three-season European riding conditions — spring rain, autumn commuting, brief winter use — the C-1 v2’s waterproofing will outlast most competitors.
Additional features: a pre-curved anatomical finger shape that reduces hand fatigue over long rides; touchscreen-compatible fingertip material on the thumb and index finger; and an extended wrist strap with Velcro fastening that secures over jacket sleeves without bunching. Sizing runs true to Alpinestars’ standard S/M/L/XL/2XL chart — use the brand’s hand circumference guide on the retailer product page.
⚠️ Verify current certification at point of purchase — ratings may vary between production runs.
Five Gloves is a French brand that has built a strong reputation in the European commuter and urban riding market. The WFX2 EVO WP is their current flagship year-round commuter glove — compact enough for urban use, protective enough for weekend rides. At €79, it slots between the REV’IT! Mosca 2 H2O (budget) and the Sand 4 H2O (all-rounder), offering Level 2 certification at an accessible price.
The palm construction uses Five’s Clarino-equivalent synthetic microfiber at the palm and the hypothenar eminence — both zones rated to Level 2 in EN 13594 testing. No leather patches, no suede overlays, no chamois lining. The inner lining is a polyester stretch mesh bonded to a proprietary waterproof membrane, with Primaloft insulation in the back-of-hand zone for three-season comfort.
The knuckle armour is a hard-shell TPU insert rated Level 1 under EN 13594. The palm heel zone includes an additional gel impact pad over the synthetic shell for secondary attenuation — not part of the EN 13594 certification but adds real-world protection in low-speed drops where the palm heel contacts first. Cuff closure uses a simple wrist strap with Velcro, keeping the profile slim — important for commuters who repeatedly put on and remove gloves throughout the day.
The cuff length is shorter than the Sand 4 H2O (approximately 45mm above the wrist) — adequate for normal jacket fit, but riders with gap issues between jacket and glove cuff in an aggressive position may prefer the longer cuff of the REV’IT! or Alpinestars options.
⚠️ Verify current certification at point of purchase — ratings may vary between production runs.
The REV’IT! Mosca 2 H2O is the honest budget pick in this guide. It doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t: at €59, it is CE Level 1 (not Level 2), it has a shorter cuff, and it prioritises low bulk and low price over maximum protection. What it does offer — fully synthetic construction, a waterproof membrane, and genuine CE certification — puts it ahead of the many non-certified “rain gloves” that retail at similar or higher prices.
The construction uses PWR|Shell synthetic at the palm zone, rated to Level 1 abrasion (≥4 seconds at 8 m/s) — meaningful protection for low-speed incidents, adequate for urban riding and commuting at speeds where slides are short. The inner lining is polyester mesh with a bonded waterproof membrane — the same architecture as the Sand 4 H2O but at a lower material grade. There is no leather anywhere in the construction.
The Mosca 2 H2O is an honest secondary glove rather than a primary touring glove. Its natural use case is urban and suburban riding in wet conditions. It is also an excellent backup pair when touring: when primary gloves are saturated and need to dry overnight, the Mosca 2 H2O keeps you covered without a second investment of €90+. One note: the Mosca 2 H2O uses moulded EVA foam at the knuckle rather than a hard-shell TPU protector. This rates Level 1 but at the lower end of the range. Riders whose primary concern is knuckle protection should step up to the Five WFX2 EVO WP or REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O.
⚠️ Verify current certification at point of purchase — ratings may vary between production runs.
The Knox Handroid Pod MK5 is in a different category from the other four gloves in this guide. It is not primarily a touring glove that happens to have good protection — it is an exoskeleton armour system that you wear on your hands. Knox is a British brand with a focused engineering brief (armour systems for motorcycle riding) and the Handroid is the most recognisable result of that brief. The MK5 is the fifth generation, refined based on real-world crash data and feedback from sport and adventure riders who prioritise protection above all else.
The exoskeleton system covers the dorsal surface of the hand with a full-length polymer pod — extending from the finger knuckles to the wrist — that distributes impact force across the entire back of the hand rather than concentrating it at the knuckle. This is a fundamentally different protection architecture from standard TPU knuckle armour, and it shows in the impact test results: the Handroid carries Level 2 CE certification under EN 13594, with transmitted force at the knuckle zone well within the ≤35 kN Level 2 requirement. The palm zone uses Knox’s Schoeller Dynatec synthetic fabric — a high-abrasion-resistance textile that is fully leather-free and rated to Level 2 in the EN 13594 abrasion test.
The inner lining is a polyester knit — no chamois, no suede. The Handroid is not waterproof (there is no membrane version in the MK5 line). This is a genuine tradeoff: adding a waterproof membrane to the exoskeleton architecture would compromise the fit precision that makes the protection system work correctly. Riders who need waterproofing over the Handroid use thin synthetic over-gloves. The Handroid has a vocal following in the adventure riding community precisely because of its protection-first philosophy.
Available from Louis — Germany’s largest motorcycle retailer — with both online and in-store availability across Germany and Austria. Fit requires careful sizing: the exoskeleton is rigid and the MK5 must be tried on or sized precisely from the Knox size chart.
⚠️ Verify current certification at point of purchase — ratings may vary between production runs.
| Glove | Price | CE Level | Knuckle | Waterproof | Vegan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O | €89 | Level 2 | Level 1 | Yes (membrane) | ✓ Verified | All-weather touring |
| Alpinestars C-1 v2 Gore-Tex | €119 | Level 2 | Level 2 | Yes (Gore-Tex) | ✓ Verified | Premium all-weather |
| Five WFX2 EVO WP | €79 | Level 2 | Level 1 | Yes (membrane) | ✓ Verified | Urban commuting |
| REV’IT! Mosca 2 H2O | €59 | Level 1 | Level 1 | Yes (membrane) | ✓ Verified | Budget / backup glove |
| Knox Handroid Pod MK5 | €189 | Level 2 | Level 2 | No (over-glove needed) | ✓ Verified | Maximum protection |
HideFree curates — we research published specifications, cross-reference CE certification documentation, verify affiliate links to ensure products are actively available from EU-shipping retailers, and apply a strict vegan verification process. No product in this guide was included based on brand relationships, commission rates, or manufacturer claims alone.
The shortlisting process eliminated several well-regarded gloves on vegan grounds. The Alpinestars GP Pro R3 (kangaroo leather palm), the Held Sambia 2in1 (leather outer panels), the Dainese Tempest 2 D-Dry (chamois lining), and the Furygan Land D3O EVO (leather palm reinforcement) all perform well on protection metrics but failed the vegan construction requirement. Their exclusion reflects materials, not protection credentials.
Price data is correct as of March 2026 — check retailer pages for current pricing. For more vegan motorcycle gear, see the gloves category for individual product pages, the boots buying guide for EN 13634 certification analysis, and the jackets buying guide for CE jacket certification (EN 17092) and material science for upper-body protection.
Affiliate disclosure: HideFree uses affiliate links to retailers including FC-Moto, XLmoto, Louis, and Andromeda Moto. When you click through and buy, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how we fund independent research. Rankings are based on protection specs, vegan verification, and value — never on commission rates.