The best gloves for PEV riders
Hands hit the ground first in almost every fall, and here is the gap nobody prices in: bicycle gloves have no impact standard at all, while a Class 3 e-bike holds 28 mph, which is motorcycle speed. EN 13594 is the motorcycle glove standard, with Level 1 and 2 plus a KP mark when the knuckle armour is impact tested. Certified summer gloves now cost the same as premium bicycle gloves that certify nothing, so most of these picks carry the sticker.
Our Top Picks
The short answer. Every pick is written up in full below.
Compare the Picks
| Product | Certification | Best for | Palm sliders | Touchscreen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KnoxUrbane ProTop pick | EN 13594 Level 1 | Fast e-bikes, scooters, EUC, spring to fall | Knox SPS, two per palm | Not stated |
| REV'IT!Sand 5Upgrade pick | EN 13594 Level 1 KP | Fast e-bikes and EUC in warm weather | No | Index and thumb |
| AlpinestarsSMX-1 Air V2 | EN 13594 Level 1 | Fast e-bikes and scooters on a budget | No | Yes |
| RacerVerano | EN 13594 Level 1 | Hot-weather commuting at e-bike speeds | No | No |
| SealskinzHowe Waterproof All Weather GloveWinter pick | None, weather protection only | Winter and wet commuting | No | Not stated for this model |
| Fox RacingRanger Gloves | None, no standard exists for MTB gloves | Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, trail riding | No | Yes |
| GiroDND GlovesBudget pick | None, no standard exists for MTB gloves | Casual e-bike riding, first glove | No | Yes |
The Picks in Full
Urbane Pro
A certified motorcycle glove that looks and vents like an MTB glove, from the company that invented palm sliders. The patented Scaphoid Protection System lets the palm skid instead of grabbing the road, which is what breaks wrists, and the whole glove is CE approved to EN 13594.
- Certified to the motorcycle standard, not the nothing standard
- SPS palm sliders protect the scaphoid
- Breathable 3D spacer fabric back, perforated leather palm
- Flexible thermoplastic knuckle guard
- No published Level 2 or KP marking
- Import brand, so US sizing stock varies
- Certification
- EN 13594 Level 1
- Best for
- Fast e-bikes, scooters, EUC, spring to fall
- Palm sliders
- Knox SPS, two per palm
- Touchscreen
- Not stated
Sand 5
The adventure-riding summer standard, Level 1 KP certified, which means the knuckle armour is impact tested and not just present. Mesh construction keeps it wearable in real heat and both the index finger and thumb work a touchscreen.
- KP mark: the knuckle protection is impact tested
- Vented 3D air mesh for summer
- TPR knuckle protector plus palm padding
- Touchscreen index finger and thumb
- Around $130, the most expensive pick here
- Adventure-moto styling reads as gear, not streetwear
- Certification
- EN 13594 Level 1 KP
- Best for
- Fast e-bikes and EUC in warm weather
- Palm sliders
- No
- Touchscreen
- Index and thumb
SMX-1 Air V2
The cheapest way onto a certified glove from a major protection brand, usually under $80. Perforated leather and mesh keep it summer-wearable, and the fingertip works a phone.
- CE certified Level 1 for less than many MTB gloves
- Leather palm with reinforced landing zone
- Perforated for summer
- Touchscreen fingertip
- No palm sliders
- Short cuff leaves the wrist bare
- Certification
- EN 13594 Level 1
- Best for
- Fast e-bikes and scooters on a budget
- Palm sliders
- No
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Verano
A fully vented cowhide short-cuff from the Austrian glove specialist, with hard knuckle protection and a doubled leather palm at $70. The airiest certified option here for genuinely hot commutes.
- Fully vented, built for heat
- Hard knuckle plus doubled palm leather
- Certified at a bicycle-glove price
- No touchscreen capability
- Runs about half a size large, check the chart
- Certification
- EN 13594 Level 1
- Best for
- Hot-weather commuting at e-bike speeds
- Palm sliders
- No
- Touchscreen
- No
Howe Waterproof All Weather Glove
Three-layer bonded construction that is actually waterproof, not water resistant, with a merino lining for cold. PEV riders make their own windchill without pedaling to warm up, which is why summer gloves fail by November.
- Genuinely waterproof three-layer Aquasealz construction
- Merino wool lining for cold
- Grippy polyurethane palm
- No impact protection or certification
- Too warm for anything but winter
- Certification
- None, weather protection only
- Best for
- Winter and wet commuting
- Palm sliders
- No
- Touchscreen
- Not stated for this model
Ranger Gloves
The MTB standard, and the honest budget row: no glove this side of EN 13594 carries any impact certification, so what you are buying is abrasion cover, grip and knuckle padding. For Class 1 and 2 speeds that is a reasonable call.
- MTB-grade grip and coverage
- Touchscreen compatible
- Cheap enough to replace yearly
- Zero impact certification
- Warmer than vented commuter gloves
- Certification
- None, no standard exists for MTB gloves
- Best for
- Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, trail riding
- Palm sliders
- No
- Touchscreen
- Yes
DND Gloves
The do-everything bicycle glove: durable palm, working touchscreen fingertips, and cheap enough to own two pairs. Fine at Class 1 and 2 speeds, and the pick to outgrow the day your PEV holds 28 mph.
- Full-finger coverage at the lowest price here
- Touchscreen fingertips that work
- Cheap enough to own two pairs
- Minimal padding by design
- Zero impact certification
- Certification
- None, no standard exists for MTB gloves
- Best for
- Casual e-bike riding, first glove
- Palm sliders
- No
- Touchscreen
- Yes
How We Pick
We do not lab-test this gear. These picks come from published manufacturer specifications, the certifications that carry real weight in each category, and what long-term owners report. Where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it blank rather than estimate it, which is why some cells in the table read as a dash.
Badges are ours and reflect the trade-off each product wins on, not what any brand paid for. Placement is never sold. When we start testing gear hands-on, this section will say so and will name what changed.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Picks are chosen editorially; placement is never sold.