Best Karting Gloves for Drivers & Racers: Top 10 Reviews
Kart drivers or racers pool most of their concentration on vital body regions like the lower ribs, heads, or chests, assuming extensive coverage of these body parts will help lower accident risks. Still, have you ever considered the possibility that loose finger grips are the true culprit here? Your fingers might lose control over the handlebars due to a severe lack of proper support!!
That’s why purchasing a couple of the best karting gloves is a must. Our insightful guide will review some of the most promising products on the market!
Best go-karting gloves on Amazon
#1 – Best Different Hand Sizes – Seibertron Dirtpaw Unisex
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 10.7 x 4.8 x 1.6 inches
- Weight: 0.24 pound
- Color: Black, white, red
- Size: XS Adult – 2XL Adult; XS Youth – XL Youth
- Material: Silicone, Spandex
- Suggested Users: Boys
- Orientation: Ambidextrous
Seibertron demonstrates their attentiveness to individual differences by including various different hand sizes, ranging from XS (smallest) to XL (largest) for youth, and XS to 2XL for adults. Such a wide spectrum ensures any racer can find solace in these kart gloves no matter what sizes their fingers fall into.
Each size is accompanied by clear measurement descriptions (for instance, XS ranges from 6.89 to 7.48 inches), considerably facilitating your online shopping. There’s no need to travel miles to a physical store; simply measure your own fingers at home, find an option that they fall within, and place your order!
We are also impressed with their sturdy design, backed by substantial padding quantities across the inner palms to guarantee appropriate security for all finger parts. Hence, both hands will enjoy closer and more solid contact with the handlebars, refraining from slipping off. Even better, this layer is not just restricted to your palms – but also slides down to both wrists. There is indeed almost nothing left out of consideration!
One minor concern is the finger length for normal sizes (size M), which, according to some customers, are a tad too long.
#2 – Best Lever Grip – Fox Racing Mens
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Product Dimensions : 12 x 6 x 3 inches
- Weight: 0.2 oz
- Department : Men’s
- Material: Polyester
- Size: 2XS – 4XL
- Age Range: Adult
- Color: Blue, Black, Red, Orange, Teal, Yellow, White
Seibertron’s padding is not half bad – but trust us, it’s nothing against Fox Racing, which has enjoyed a decade-long population due to their high-grade lever grips!
Aside from the fundamental and basic coverage for the palms, Fox also applies potent silicone buffers for every fingertip (yes, you heard it right. EVERY fingertip!). Chances of your fingers sliding off the bars will drop to almost zero. You can strike on the bumpiest ride with confidence, suffering from no accident risks!
Security and ventilation do not always mash well, but Fox Racing proves otherwise. Underneath these silicone prints are several gussets of stretch mesh – a textile known for exceptional airflow sustainment. Your skin will enjoy great dexterity without compromising safety, rendering every trip both safe and comfortable.
If there is any criticism to note, it’s probably the neoprene on the wrist. Its moisture-wicking capabilities are below standards, so be prepared to sweat a lot on hot summer days.
#3 – Best for Entry-Level – Fox Racing Dirtpaw
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Pros
Cons
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 1 inches
- Weight: 0.2 pound
- Department: Men
- Material: Polyester
- Size: S – 4XL
- Age Range: Adult
- Color: Black, black+white, red
Though experienced motorists can familiarize themselves with close-knitted glove designs fairly quickly, novices still call for certain levels of versatility for better joint flexing and grip adjustments. That is why these Dirtpaw gloves are produced!
They provide sufficient shields and armors for your palms and knuckles to keep slips at bay, while still delivering flex-point stretch fabrics to ensure you can still wiggle your fingers if desired. Beginners who are often terrified of those first-day riding lessons will feel more at ease with these streamlined designs!
On another note, paranoid users are still afraid that so much flexibility might lead to unfortunate mishaps. No fuss; these gloves come with a tightly-molded neoprene cuff, pressing your wrists firmly into place through compression.
That way, your fingers and wrist posture are always maintained properly. With these well-built cuffs, it’s hard to fail any riding lesson – unless you do so on purpose!
However, we do have to inform you that their wristbands tend to stretch wide after sometime. To strengthen them, remember to handle these parts with greater care.
#4 – Best for Moisture Wicking – 100% Brisker
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.73 x 4.76 x 2.28 inches
- Weight: 0.2 pound
- Color: Black/Gray; Camo/Black; Fluo Orange/Black; Fluo Yellow; Heather Gray
- Material: Polyester
- Suggested Users: Unisex Adults
- Size: S – XL
- Orientation: Ambidextrous
Detest the annoying perspiration oozing inside your gloves on hot days? 100% Brisker is here for the rescue!
Most of their rivals feature dry and dense textiles that cause excessive suffocation, while 100% Brisker offers layers of microfiber substances instead. They are known both for low temperatures and great moisture-absorbing attributes. As a result, your insulation level will always be kept in perfect balance, cooling your flesh even amidst the hottest summer!
With those odors and dampness gone, you can enjoy every ride to the greatest extent. Not to mention, great absorbance means quicker and more straightforward washing processes!
For those who assume high vapor-wicking capabilities equate to greater vulnerability in winters – well, that could not be more wrong. The top cover of these Brisker gloves is coated in soft-shell insulation, which easily retains heat within the fabric’s interior and keeps your skin warm all day. Freezing temps can stand no chance against you!
Despite these notable perks, sizing remains one of the biggest issues. Some users complain about their small measures, so we suggest one size up!
#5 – Best for Airflow – O’Neal Element
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Pros
Cons
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 9.57 x 5.55 x 1.46 inches
- Weight: 0.17 pound
- Material: Polyester
- Size: 7.5 -15
- Glove Type: Cycling, ATV, MX, Dirt Bike
- Color: Black, Neon Yellow/Black; Red/Black
- Orientation: Ambidextrous
- Department: Unisex-adult
O’Neal Element is truly unrivaled when it comes to airflow. Such a feat is achieved thanks to its mesh top, whose breathable and flexible textiles give off more room for convenient ventilation.
Hence, your comfort will always be guaranteed, even on the hottest days; there is no need to stop midway just to scratch your itchy fingertips! This small (but no doubt vital) blessing will bring about tons of differences in your daily rides.
Even better, O’Neal customer service allows enrollment for pre-curve measurements, which means the gloves can either be loosened or tightened to lend the best fit. Of course, that demands some extra costs, but they are totally worth it – especially for those who hate struggling with ill-fitted garments.
With a snug pair of gloves around your palms, slipping or sliding will always be kept at bay, elevating your experience to new heights!
It’s a bit unfortunate that their touchscreen compatibility is not that robust. Some users recount difficulties using their smartphones with these gloves on.
#6 – Best Secure Fit – Fox Racing YTH
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 1 inches
- Weight: 0.15 pound
- Material: Polyester
- Size: X-small, Youth
- Color: White/Black; Fluo Orange; Flou Red; Fluo Yellow
- Orientation: Ambidextrous
- Department: Unisex-child
Well, that’s not to say all the options introduced thus far provide loose fits or something. Still, we cannot deny that Fox Racing YTH really brings the definition of “snug” to another level!
These products come with tight yet versatile neoprene cuffs that cling to your wrists and fingers, ensuring no flesh is exposed. In fact, their adhesiveness is so exceptional that once you have gotten the hang of how they work and feel, you will totally forget that you are wearing gloves. That’s how fitting they are – as if they were a second skin layer on your body!
To top it off, these items also feature silicone print (though not for every single fingertip like the Fox Racing Mens) to foster their tight connection to the handlebar – enough to sidestep accidents, but not too stubborn that it’s difficult to slide them off! This nice balance is long needed for terrains that call for more flexibility, allowing you to be both safe and comfy.
Similar to the 100% Brisker products, sizing also appears to be an unresolved issue. Even with the biggest measurements, certain riders still find them a tad too small.
#7 – Best for Thumb Reinforcement – Fly Racing F-16
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.5 x 6.25 inches
- Weight: 0.2 pound
- Material: Neoprene
- Size: XS – 3XL
- Color: 13 options
Not all fingers are equal in strength; the three in the middle provide the strongest grips, while others, like thumbs, are considerably weaker. Fortunately, Fly Racing F-16 has paid more attention to this dilemma!
These gloves facilitate padded palms that spread all over the hand’s inside parts, with a slightly more added buffer to the thumb areas. Hence, your thumbs will have proper support to grip the handlebars with equal force as the rest of their counterparts, strengthening all five of them in general.
Not to mention, a strongly-backed thumb also proves convenient in winters. The other fingers are often placed atop the bar, exposing them further to cold temps and reducing their grip degrees. Meanwhile, the thumbs slide underneath, saving them from freezing weather. And accompanied by the newly-added padding already discussed above, they will be your trusted assistant even in below-zero conditions!
Furthermore, the neoprene cuff embracing your wrists can stretch in all four directions, permitting more flexible postures. There’s no need to keep your fingers rigidly in one particular pose anymore; feel free to stretch them around for a bit (as long as that’s within the safety range!). In the cases of unforeseen accidents, it’s also much easier to tweak your hand orientation and minimize possible injuries.
Still, its flexibility seems to far outweigh its protection capabilities; aside from the palm and thumbs, paddings in other places are quite subpar. Customers’ common consensus is that these products are best suited to light or regular rides.
#8 – Best Adjustment – Motocross Motorcycle BMX
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.3 x 6.22 x 1.42 inches
- Weight: 0.2 pound
- Size: XS – XXL
- Color: Black, blue, green, orange, pink, red
- Orientation: Ambidextrous
Though tight adhesiveness should by no means be underestimated, our experience might be much more improved if we are allowed to adjust some compressed parts. No worry; Motocross BMX already has this issue covered! The wrist coverage comprises stretchy mesh textiles with elastic straps, enabling riders to shorten or extend them to their hearts’ content.
These precise straps not only give you the right estimation of how much fabric should be adjusted, but also eliminates the need for constant fabric pulling (which would have worn them down much faster). From now on, length customization will be a snap!
To balance such wide-range adjustments with more stability, the Motocross offers neoprene layers and silicone buffers for all finger and knuckle areas – the two most crucial parts during riding.
Hence, all those assumptions that wrist adjustments equate to more loosened gloves are just plain wrong – since the strong support offered by these paddings is more than competent enough. Who says you cannot enjoy both sturdiness and convenience at the same time?
One minor drawback, though: excessive pressure on the thumbs and palms will leave behind some scratches.
#9 – Best Coverage – Fox Racing Pawtectors
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Pros
Cons
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 7.87 x 1.97 x 3.94 inches
- Weight: 0.2 oz
- Material: Polyester
- Size: S – XXL
- Age Range: Adult
- Color: Black, Gold, Orange, Red, Yellow, Gray, Blue
Even the most extensive options above can reach down the wrist’s rears at best. Fox Racing Pawtectors prove to excel in this regard by allowing users to stretch the fabric a bit further than that, ensuring all the most vulnerable parts enjoy close-knitted covers and receive more warmth during winters!
We cannot deny that you might feel a little smothered on some hotter days. But trust us, that much coverage is very needed in harsher conditions or tough terrains.
We are also pretty pleased to discover quite a few buffers made of polyester, whose threads are potent enough to lend some support for weaker fingers while still allowing certain modification degrees.
Such designs are particularly crucial for mountain paths – where both too tight and too loose grips can lead to accidents. A middle area between these two benchmarks will keep your vehicle balanced for the rest of the ride!
But again, we believe these brands need to do something with their sizings (this is the third option on our list that has encountered such problems!) Some riders have ordered XXL sizes and still struggle to squeeze their hands into them.
#10 – Best for Easy Cleaning – Racequip Race 351 Series
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Pros
Con
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Specifications
- Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 1 inches
- Weight: 0.26 pound
- Material: Leather
- Size: S -XL
- Color: Black, Blue, Red
Cleansing might not be your utmost priority. But you know, a clean and fresh pair of gloves contributes quite a lot to the ride’s comfort! Thankfully, these items from Racequip Race are made of supple leather that’s both soft and stain-resistant, which means scrubbing them off any dirt (if there’s even any) will be a breeze.
Even better, since hardly any grime can cling onto these leathers, they do not require that much washing in the first place – only two or three times a week is enough! Imagine the amount of time and effort you could save.
Though these gloves barely call for maintenance, their buffings are by no means subpar. Comparable to other expensive options discussed above, they still come with suede layers of high-grip technology, reinforcing your palms’ tight hold on the bar rims. Be confident that they will still stand strong against the rockiest path!
Still, we wish their stitching seams were laced outside rather than inside. Customers report that these seams poke into their flesh, causing significant discomfort.
What to Consider When Buying Karting Gloves?
Grip
It’s arguably the utmost important criterion on the list. Sharp turns and heavy vibrations on race tracks easily slide your fingers off the handlebars, keeping you from seizing complete control over the go-kart. Crashes and collisions will be unavoidable!
Hence, ensure the gloves have coated surfaces on palm areas (usually supported by suede or silicone prints). They foster snugger hold on the rims without slippage.
Comfort
At the end of the day, racing is all about fun. That’s why, safety aside, comfort also plays a crucial role!
Uncomfortable and suffocating items will defeat the entire purpose; not to mention, excessive shaking often gives way to hand strains, which wear down the grip and slow your speed (a deathly drawback for professional racers!).
As a result, we suggest you never forget to check the material and correct size before any purchase.
Durability
Assess carefully how well-built they are. The sturdiest options comprise high-quality substances such as leather and Nomex, which enjoy both a long lifespan and great heat tolerance. Also, two-layer models fare much better compared to single-layer ones since they last longer and offer more protection.
Single layers are quite flimsy and tend to wear out fast. Still, they will be sufficient if you do not go on rides often and wish to look for cheaper models.
Design
This factor, though important, all boils down to personal preferences. Not everyone is the same when it comes to appearance and color interests. It would be terrific to pick on gloves that look “cool” and reflect your personality!
But again, never compromise them with qualities. If the item looks great but lacks performance, do not hesitate to bypass it.
FAQs
Should Karting Gloves Be Tight?
No. They should fold into your hands conveniently as if they were your second skin. Excessive bulkiness or pressure only diverts your attention from the road.
What Are Some Good Racing Gloves to Buy?
The answer depends on lots of factors. Refer back to our buying guides above for more pointers!
Do Racing Gloves Make Any Difference?
If you have been reading this far, we are pretty sure you could have guessed the answer at this point. They lend better control and convenience, reducing accident risks.
What Clothings Should You Wear for Karting?
Aside from high-quality glove, we suggest you bring along:
- Closed-toe shoes or sneakers
- Shorts/jeans
- Snug T-shirts
How Can You Protect Your Hands from Go Kart Blisters?
Make sure you have dried your hands 100% before wearing any glove. Applying some baby powder might also help, which increases friction (grip) to a great extent.
Conclusion
This article has introduced promising contenders for the best Karting gloves. Picking an overall winner is no way an easy feat. Still, we believe the Fox Racing Men deserve the crown; its seamless integration of both lever grip and airflow allows you to enjoy every ride without compromising safety.
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