Gloves

BMX race gloves: cut, palm and sizing

Gloves are the most used protective item in BMX racing: they go on every single ride, in training as in a moto. UCI and national federation rules require gloves covering all of every finger, which rules out road mitts. Beyond the rule book, a good glove protects the palm in a slide and, above all, holds the grip on the bars when your hands sweat coming out of the gate.

The types of race glove

• Slip-on cut: no hook-and-loop wrist strap, the elastic cuff pulls straight on — the BMX race standard.
• Wrist-closure cut: adjustable hold, popular with young riders who have slim wrists.
• Single-layer palm in Clarino-type synthetic leather: direct feel on the bars and on the levers.
• Doubled or reinforced palm at the heel of the hand: more durable, slightly less precise.
• Perforated mesh back, flat seams, towelling thumb for wiping the face.

Choosing your glove size

Measure the palm circumference at its widest point, thumb excluded: that measurement, not finger length, sets the size. Junior ranges usually run Y-XS to Y-L and adult ranges S to XXL, with equivalences that shift from brand to brand. A race glove is worn tight: it should follow the hand with no folds across the palm, otherwise friction raises blisters by the third moto.

Grip, levers and compatibility

Silicone dots or strips on the index and middle fingers improve purchase on the brake lever, a useful detail on a steep run-in. Check fingertip compatibility with touchscreens too if you time yourself on a phone. On bars with slim grips, a thick-palmed glove costs you feel: match the glove to your grips and to the rest of your BMX protective gear.

Summer, winter and training

A heavily vented model suits summer motos but leaves the fingers cold on winter sessions at the side of the track. Plenty of riders keep two pairs: a race pair, kept fresh, and a thicker training pair. The palm is the first area to go, usually at the base of the thumb; as soon as the seam opens or the leather goes smooth, the glove no longer protects in a slide.

The brands available

Answer offers classic cuts and a full junior range. Chase focuses on a thin palm and colourways matched to their frames. Stay Strong puts the work into graphics and youth sizing. Pride keeps to a pared-back approach that Elite riders rate. Supercross and Meybo round out the offer with gloves matched to their jerseys. Shot, Kenny and Fly Racing bring their motocross know-how to reinforced palms and junior ranges.

The BMX RACING advice

Because we are multi-brand, we can compare real-world sizing from one maker to the next: a medium at one brand is sometimes a large at another. Give us the palm measurement and the rider's age and we will name the right reference. Complete the kit with our BMX helmets and our BMX jerseys. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours, you can spread the cost over 2 or 3 payments.