When skateboarding, having your gloves on is a must. Generally, it is a misguided behavior to underestimate the significance of wearing not only gloves but overall safety gear when participating in any form of sport. If you fail to do so, you may end up with regrets that may even force you to quit the sport in totality.
Research shows that over 60 percent of the impacts that result from skateboarding accidents occur on the player’s hands and legs. Therefore, it is not right to assume that skateboard gloves are a luxury and unnecessary gear – in fact; gloves are a basic requirement for every rider.
Skateboard gloves offer you confidence and better control of your ride alongside complete protection for your hands. If you intend to buy a new pair of skateboard gloves and are curious about the options available, keep reading this article. It discusses some of the best skateboard gloves available in the market.
Why Do You Need Skateboard Gloves?
Whether you are skateboarding for fun, for fitness, or participating in some competition, safety should be your number one item of concern. Riding with your skateboard gloves assures you that no harm will be inflicted on your body if you get into an accident.
Besides, skateboard gloves will give you the much-needed confidence to boost your overall performance and try new slides and tricks that you would otherwise keep off due to the potential injury risks involved.
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Skateboard gloves act as a shield when skateboarding; therefore, you should choose based on your intended purpose. If you are a novice skateboarder, a basic pair of skateboard gloves will work for you. If you are a pro rider who partakes in complex moves, you should consider investing in a more advanced and reliable pair of skateboard gloves.
The 6 Best Skateboard Gloves
There are numerous skateboard brands and models available in the market, and for this reason, selecting the best skateboard gloves may prove to be a daunting exercise. This article comes to your aid. Below is a list of the top skateboard gloves to help you narrow down your options and choose a pair of skateboard gloves that will meet your needs.
- Triple Eight Hired Hands Skateboarding Wrist Guard Gloves
- DIBEAR Skateboard Gloves
- Hillbilly Wrist Guard Gloves – Half Finger
- MIFULGOO Skateboard Gloves
- Andux Land Skateboard Gloves
- Giro Youth Bravo Junior Skateboard Gloves
1. Triple Eight Hired Hands Skateboarding Wrist Guard Gloves
The Triple Eight brand has been popular and competitive for a long time. Without a doubt, this brand will hook you up with high-quality gear for a reasonable price.
The Hired Hand skateboard gloves (Amazon link) are a clear representation of what Triple Eight is up to. These gloves are very reliable when you need protection. They are well-padded and are made of top-quality foam layers. The materials from which these gloves are made focus on safety gloves’ main purpose – shock and impact absorptions.
These gloves have double-stitched seams that are wear and tear-resistant. They offer optimum warmth to your hands, and they fit nicely, thanks to the top-quality leather materials.
The ABS splints on these gloves are replaceable, and the extra thick neoprene strap offers enhanced fit. The tightness of these gloves can be adjusted using the pull-on loop.
Pros:
- High-quality gloves
- Durable
- Great comfort
- Removable and replaceable ABS splints
- Superb shock absorber
- Impact-resistant
Cons:
- Not suitable for extreme impacts – only basic to moderate
- Do not protect your fingers well.
2. DIBEAR Skateboard Gloves
The Dibear skateboard gloves (link to Amazon) are a perfect choice for individuals shopping for kid’s gloves. They are multi-functional and make an excellent choice for both boys and girls.
These gloves were designed with the notion that getting protective gloves for your kids when they are engaging in outdoor activities. Kids’ hands are more delicate than those of adults, and thus, gloves will ensure that they do not encounter serious hand-damaging injuries from skateboarding accidents. With thick padding, the Dibear gloves will provide just that – your kid’s hands will be well protected from impacts.
These gloves are available in two styles, the half-finger and full-finger styles. The half-finger is more comfortable but less protective, while the full-finger is the direct opposite.
Pros:
- Superb for kids
- Top levels of protection
- Two styles available
- Has a non-slip support pad
- Multi-functional
- Breathable
- Unisex
- User-friendly design
- Cheap
Cons:
- Not true to size
3. Hillbilly Wrist Guard Gloves – Half Finger
Hillbilly is another great choice for skateboarding gloves, available on Amazon. It is a two in one product that has both the wrist guard as well as protective gloves. These gloves are made from top-quality goatskin material, and they feature a double-stitching design and heavy-duty nylon thread.
The half-finger design allows you to operate gadgets such as your phone without necessarily taking the gloves off. The impact-resistant ABS splints on these gloves are designed to deal with all types of abrasions and impacts. These gloves are lightweight, and they are very reliable.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Protects both wrists and palms
- Heavy-duty double stitching
- Tough goatskin material
- Impact-resistant ABS splints
Cons:
- Your fingers are not fully covered.
- Limited styles and colors
4. MIFULGOO Skateboard Gloves
These gloves made by Milfugoo (Amazon link) are a great choice for your kids. They make the top of any list of best gloves thanks to their quality and comfort.
The materials used in making these gloves are soft to your kid’s hands and will not leave glove marks on your kid’s skin. A great thing about these gloves is that they are available in varying colors giving your kid the flexibility to select their most preferred color.
These gloves have thick foam padding, and they are well stitched to ensure that all shock or impacts are completely dealt with. These gloves are made with a half-finger design, which provides more comfort to your kids; their hand movements will not be limited. They will, for sure, love this product.
Pros:
- Superb protection
- Great comfort
- Sleek look and style
- Great flexibility
- Easy to use
- Good ventilation
Cons:
- May be problematic when unfitted.
5. Andux Land Skateboard Gloves
This product from the Andux Store is an economical choice for sliding gloves (Available on Amazon), especially for novice skateboarders. These gloves are designed to deal with minor to moderate abrasion and impacts. The nylon on these gloves will offer you optimum palm protection, and the Velcro wrist strap ensures that the fit is fantastic.
The slider pucks replaceable, and the package comes with a spare set of sliders for replacement. These gloves are available at reasonable pricing.
Pros:
- Protects both wrist and palm
- Affordable
- Heavy-duty Velcro straps
- Replaceable slider pucks
- Adjustable size
- Thick joint protection
Cons:
- Not suitable for pro skateboarders
6. Giro Youth Bravo Junior Skateboard Gloves
The Giro Youth Bravo Junior Skateboard Gloves (Amazon link) are a great pick for young skateboarders. These gloves can fit a variety of kid’s hands without age limitations.
They are made from top-quality synthetic leather and nylon; hence they are capable of dealing with shock. These materials are also good when it comes to ventilation. These gloves can be stretched to fit your hands well, and thus, there is no worry about gloves fitting too hard or hard to move. The thick padding on these gloves absorbs impacts very well. They are colorful, lightweight, and easy to put on and off.
Pros:
- Easy to put on and off
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Colorful
- Flexible
Cons:
- Half-finger design implies no full protection
- Not suitable for complex tricks
A Guide to Choosing the Best Skateboard Gloves
Perhaps you are interested in joining the skateboarding world for the first time, and you need to equip yourself with the necessary skateboarding gloves. Or maybe you are a seasoned skateboarder with interest in replacing your old skateboard gloves. The following are the key things to look out for when buying a pair of skateboard gloves.
Size and fit
The size of your skateboard gloves should be the first thing that comes to your mind, as this is one of the essential things to look out for. You want gloves that fit well into your hands without compromising comfort. Ensure that the palm area is well reinforced because you will most likely use your hand to prevent injuries when you fall.
If you pick a pair of skateboard gloves with the wrong sizing and fit, the gloves will not attach to your hands for proper protection. Also, you will experience a weird feeling on your hands that will not disappear. Check to ascertain if the glove fits your hands well or if there is any discomfort.
Before buying your new pair of skateboard gloves, you should also check for any tears or malfunctions – small things such as loose straps can cause major inconveniences. Ensure all the small things are in order, not just a proper sizing and fit.
Material
There are several materials from which skateboard gloves can be made from. The most common are synthetic fabric and leather.
Synthetic fabric skateboard gloves are cheaper because the manufacturing costs involved are low; they are usually the low-end models. However, it would be wrong to say that they are completely bogus – in fact, these materials are sturdy, lightweight, and durable. The only downside is that they feel cheap and bulky.
Leather gloves are more expensive. The high price is, however, compensated by the quality of these gloves. Leather is a more durable material and has a better texture than synthetic fabric – and so are leather gloves. Besides, leather gets better over the years, and leather gloves will give you a better fit as they get older. These gloves are common with pro skaters.
Puck
For individuals who like to slide, pucks are essential. They usually serve the braking purpose in skateboarding. They ensure that you have full control over your speed and direction. There are three types of the puck; the palm puck, the thumb puck, and the finger puck. The puck style that you need will depend on your riding style.
Padding
In most glove brands and models, the padding material is usually the EVA foam. Having properly made gloves with thick padding will ensure better shock and impact absorption capabilities, and thus, you will not hurt your hands badly in case of an accident.
Budget
This is one of the key aspects to consider when buying any item. The amount you intend to invest in your new skateboard gloves will play a major role in your selection. Obviously, high-quality gloves such as leather gloves will cost more than the other basic gloves.
You should, however, not become too cheap when it comes to safety. Keep off cheap protective safety gear. After all, you will spend more on treating the injuries when the cheap gear fails to protect you in case of an accident.
Purpose
As you set out to buy a new pair of gloves, make sure you buy gloves that match the right purpose. The style and tricks that you intend to partake in should dictate your gloves selection. There are varying gloves designed for different purposes, such as sliding, downhill racing, shredding, basic flips, etc. Make sure you buy the proper gloves for the right occasion.
Brand
It would be best if you bought skateboard gloves from reputable brands – the brands that have dominated the skateboarding industry for many years. Usually, these brands involve professional skateboarders in building and designing their products, making their products reliable to use.
In case you still have doubts about the brand itself, the best way to conclude is by reading the opinions shared by other users. Read through product reviews for better insights on the products.
The Bottom Line
Skateboard gloves are essential equipment for all skateboarders. They provide the necessary protection to ensure that you are carefree when skateboarding. The skateboard gloves listed above are the best that you can find out there.
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They are made of soft, breathable material to ensure that your hands’ perspiration during hot days is well taken care of. Also, these skateboard gloves are made of quality, durable material, and sufficient padding for proper comfort and protection. These skateboard gloves are available at affordable prices and are suitable for both novices and skilled skateboarders. They, however, have varying designs and styles. The choice is all yours; select one based on your preference, likes, and dislikes and gear up for the next skateboarding fun activity.