Whether your child is riding a balance bike or a pedal bike, safety is paramount. Having the proper equipment can help minimize or even prevent injuries if accidents happen. When thinking about safety equipment, many parents make the mistake of only ensuring that their child has a helmet. While helmets are indeed a crucial aspect of safety gear, do not overlook bike gloves. With kid’s bike gloves, many people think they serve no practical purpose.
We’ll be looking at a few of the reasons kids’ bike gloves are essential, as well as highlighting a few of the best kids’ bike gloves currently available. If you don’t have time to read through each product review, we’ve selected the winners for each category below!
ZippyRooz Toddler & Little Kids Bike Gloves
These half-finger gloves are perfect for junior riders. Not only are they comfortable to wear, but durable too.
Best Overall
Available in 8 fun prints, the ZippyRooz Toddler & Little Kids Bike Gloves is the perfect choice for kids aged 1-8 years. Providing everything you need in a bike glove for kids, they win our pick for the best overall kid’s bike glove.
Best for Toddlers
Sized for even the smallest of hands and available in 8 different fun designs, the ZippyRooz Toddler & Little Kids Bike Gloves wins the best bike gloves for toddlers.
Best for Older Kids
For kids older than eight years, we suggest the LuxoBike Cycling Gloves. They’re available in 6 color options, making them a firm favorite for both boys and girls.
Best Mountain Bike Gloves
If you’re looking for the best mountain bike gloves for kids, look no further than the Giro DND Jr II Youth Mountain Cycling Gloves! They’re unisex, available in 4 different color options, and provide an excellent fit.
Best Glove Set (Elbows and Knee Pads Incl.)
Are you looking for a complete kit without having to purchase each item separately? You’ll want to check out the Innovative Soft Kids Knee and Elbow Pads with Bike Gloves from Simply Kids. They’re available in a wide variety of print options, as well as sizes for kids aged from 2 years right up to 11.
Why Buy Kids Bike Gloves?
Why are bike gloves necessary, you ask? We’ve highlighted a few reasons below on why having gloves is an important, if not essential, piece of gear for children riding a bike.
Protection
The number one reason to invest in bike gloves for your kids is safety. While balance bikes are much safer and easier to operate than other bikes, accidents can still happen. The many joys of learning to ride a bike, unfortunately, go hand-in-hand with as many falls.
Even older children, who are slightly more experienced riders, will experience a fall at one point or another, even more so when riding on off-road terrain. As you’d know, the first thing one does when falling is to instinctively use your hands to break the fall. If your child is not wearing gloves, this could cause some nasty gravel grazes and painful wrist injuries.
Comfort
Depending on the terrain you’re planning to allow your child to ride on, some gloves come with extra cushioning, which provides that extra comfort and protection from friction while riding on bumpy terrain.
Bike gloves come in a fingerless design which allows your hands to breathe on those hot days while still protecting your palms and wrists. It is also easier to handle small or finicky objects with your fingers free; thus, it will be easier for your child to grab onto their brakes quickly.
Grip
Bike gloves are not only for protection; they help children improve their grip while riding. On hot and humid days, in particular, their hands can become sweaty, which can cause them to slip. Sweaty palms can cause extra friction, which could lead to blisters or calluses. So if your child is an avid rider, consider purchasing them a pair of kid’s bike gloves.
On the flip side, when it is cold and your child wants to ride their bike, gloves can help to keep their hands warm. Cold hands can go numb, which weakens your child’s grip, preventing them from controlling their bike properly.
Staying Visible
Some gloves design include reflective strips. If your young one is riding around in the road in front of your house, the reflective strips will increase their visibility to passing cars, ensuring their protection. The necessity of these reflective strips depends on the area where you live. If you live in an area where visibility is low due to dust, or any kind of air pollution, consider looking for reflective gloves.
Note the times of day that your child will be riding their bike. If they ride to school in the early morning and late afternoons or during high traffic periods, consider reflective gloves.
Fun and Stylish
Besides being functional, kids’ bike gloves can be fun and make the riding experience more exciting for your children. Looking the part and wearing their favorite color gloves could help build confidence for the young ones that are nervous about their first bike.
Our 10 Best Kids Bike Gloves
1. ZippyRooz Toddler & Kids Bike Gloves
First on our list is the ZippyRooz Kids Bike Gloves designed for kids aged 1 – 8 years. These half-finger gloves are perfect for junior riders. Not only are they comfortable to wear, but durable too.
Looking at the padding, the ZippyRooz Kids Bike Gloves features generous padding without interfering with grip. There is soft material on the thumb for wiping sweat or a runny nose. Made of 55% polyester and 45% Nylon blend fabric. Moms will be happy to hear that they are, in fact, machine-washable.
Getting bike gloves onto little hands can be a challenge. The good news is that the ZippyRooz gloves feature a wide-opening, making them very easy to put on. ZippyRooz has thought ahead and included pull loops at the fingers’ ends to creating an effortless motion of removing the gloves. Depending on their age, your kids may even take them off themselves. Be mindful of these pull loops when your child is riding. There is a slim possibility they could get hooked onto the brake handle.
The ZippyRooz Kids Bike Gloves are suitable for both boys and girls and are available in eight fun print options. These include; Dinosaurs, Geometric, Kapow, Monsters, Peace, Stars, Unicorn, and Skulls. The ZippyRooz are not only suitable for bike riding but a wide variety of other sport, including skateboarding, scootering, and roller-skating.
Reasons to Buy the ZippyRooz Toddler & Kids Bike Gloves
2. LuxoBike Kids Bike Gloves
The LuxoBike Cycling Gloves are ideal for older cyclists aged eight years and above. While they share many of the same features as the previous pair, the LuxoBike gloves are slightly more durable and hard-wearing.
Looking at the material and design, the LuxoBike Cycling Gloves features four shock-absorbing gel pads placed strategically across the palm. The palm side of the glove has a microsuede material layer that is double stitched for added durability. The microsuede is not only long-lasting and durable but also supports a full range of motion, making it cycling-safe.
The LuxoBike Cycling Gloves feature a Velcro wrist strap for a custom fit without compromising mobility. Finger pulls ensure easy removal and a quick-drying Lycra between the fingers prevents sweat buildup without adding unnecessary bulk between each finger. There is also an absorbent thumb towel for removing any excess sweat.
Available in 6 color choices, the LuxoBike Cycling Gloves are suitable for both boys and girls. Best of all. An added bonus for the parents, they’re machine washable!
Reasons to Buy the LuxoBike Kids Bike Gloves
3. Giro DND Jr II Kids Bike Gloves
Next on our list is the Giro DND Jr II Youth Mountain Cycling Gloves. This pair of gloves is designed based on their trendy adult DND mountain bike gloves. The DND Jnr II bike gloves are our top choice for your young mountain bikers.
The Giro DND Jr II features a moisture-wicking, four-way stretch mesh fabric that is breathable on the upper side of the glove. The palm-side features a 3-panel design lined with AX suede microfiber for a tailored fit. The Velcro wrist strap allows the glove to open wide for easy application while also ensuring a snug and comfortable fit.
Giro has ensured a superior fit by reducing bunching and tailoring the palm, finger, and padding areas to match the natural shape of the hand. Kids with mobile phones or other capacitive-touch screens will be able to operate them while wearing the gloves, thanks to the conductive fiber used in the fingertips.
Finally, the Giro DND Jr II South Mountain Cycling Gloves are available in four different design options and suitable for boys and girls.
Reasons to Buy the Giro DND Jr II Kids Bike Gloves
4. Giro Bravo Jr Kids Bike Gloves
The Bravo Jr Youth Road Cycling Gloves feature a moisture-wicking, four-way stretch mesh fabric that is breathable on the upper side of the glove. The palm-side features a Clarino leather padding, reducing impact and providing durability without compromising grip. The Bravo Jr gloves feature a 3-panel palm design with a Velcro wrist strap. The panels ensure a tailored fit, while the Velcro strap allows for an easy application and ensures a snug fit.
While they designed the Giro Bravo Jr kids’ bike gloves for road cycling, they are great for trail rides. Half-finger gloves provide more mobility than full-fingered options while still providing adequate protection against falls.
The Giro Bravo Jr Youth Road Cycling Gloves are available in seven different design options and suitable for boys and girls.
Reasons to Buy the Giro Bravo Jr Kids Bike Gloves
5. Freehawk Kids Bike Gloves
The Freehawk Kids Cycling Gloves are an excellent lightweight glove with a non-slip palm. The Freehawk kids’ bike gloves provide extra grip while still providing the protection and abrasion resistance needed.
Breathable and moisture-wicking, they made the Freehawk gloves with Spandex and Microfiber. The fabric provides decent stretch, ensuring excellent mobility and freedom of moment while wearing them. The hook & loop closures on the wrists are easy enough for your child to navigate themselves but still durable enough to provide good wrist support. The gloves are suitable for various sports besides cycling, such as airsoft shooting or other tactical activities.
The Freehawk Kids Cycling Gloves are available in seven different design options, with designs both girls and boys will love.
Reasons to Buy the Freehawk Kids Bike Gloves
6. Strider Adventure Kids Bike Gloves
With kids’ bikes, Strider is a well-known name in the industry. Available in either half-finger or full-finger gloves, the Strider Adventure Riding Gloves are perfect for your little thrill-seeker.
These leather palmed Strider kids’ bike gloves are durable and offer excellent protection to little hands. The backing fabric is breathable, allowing sufficient airflow and moisture-wicking. The gloves are machine-washable, a feature all parents will love!
Thanks to the design, the glove openings of the Strider Adventure Riding Gloves open significantly wider than many other kids’ bike gloves. Any parent who has struggled to get a pair of gloves onto tiny hands will undoubtedly appreciate this design feature. The hook and loop closure is easy to use but still provides a decent amount of stability to the wrist.
The Strider Adventure Riding Gloves are available in either a size small or a large. The small is designed for tots aged between 1 and 3 years, while the large is suited for kids aged between 4-6 years. They, unfortunately, limited your color options to just the black and white design, as featured above.
Reasons to Buy the Strider Adventure Kids Bike Gloves
7. Bassdash UPF 50+ Kids Bike Gloves
These Bassdash kids’ bike gloves bring something different to the table with fun and adorable prints featuring UPF 50+ factor sun protection. Aside from just cycling, they’re also suitable for various other outdoor activities, making them a great multi-use product.
The Bassdash UPF 50+ Kids Bike Glove features stretchy, ultra-breathable spandex on the uppers. The palms feature microfiber leather with silica gel pads for comfort, grip, and protection. As accidents do happen, there’s a convenient terry cloth lining on the thumb for drying tears or wiping away a sniffle.
A hook and loop wrist strap allows for easy application, as well as a snug fit. Bassdash has also included pull loops to make getting them off a breeze.
The Bassdash UPF 50+ Kids Bike Glove is available in various five entertaining print designs that will appeal to both boys and girls alike. Sizing available includes small, medium, large, and extra-large options.
Reasons to Buy the Bassdash UPF 50+ Kids Bike Gloves
8. Finger Ten Kids Bike Gloves
Next up on the list, we have the Finger Ten Kids Junior Cycling Gloves. These kids’ bike gloves feature a foam-padded Amara palm with perforations to allow for airflow. An arrow-print design on the palms also provides additional grip and shock absorption.
Something we haven’t quite seen on any of the other kids’ bike gloves featured is the silicone tabs on the fingers. Like the elastic pull loops that some of the other gloves feature, these silicone tabs allow for easy removal of the bike gloves.
The upper fabric, made of a stretchy Lycra, is lightweight and moisture-wicking. The hook and loop closures allow the glove openings to widen for easy application but provide limited wrist stability and support compared to some other kid’s bike gloves we’ve featured.
Finger Ten acknowledge kids will probably experience a few falls while learning to ride a bike. While their gloves will keep your little ones’ palms protected, Finger Ten have also included a microfiber patch in the design for tears and runny noses.
Moving on to the design and sizing options, the Finger Ten Kids Junior Cycling Gloves are available in either a blue, green, or pink geometric print design. Sizes available include small (2-4 years), medium (5-6 years), large (7-8 years), or extra-large (9-10 years).
Reasons to Buy the Finger Ten Kids Bike Gloves
9. Accmor Kids Bike Gloves
Another full-finger kid’s bike glove option is the Accmor Kids Cycling Gloves. Aside from just cycling, the Accmor kids’ gloves are also suitable for fishing, hiking, and other outdoor sports.
Ergonomically designed, the Accmor Kids Cycling Gloves feature natural curve fingers that ensure a tailored and snug fit while still allowing flexibility and comfort. The glove’s spandex and microfiber material ensure that the gloves have a good stretch while also being breathable and quick-drying.
Unlike the other gloves on this list, the entire palm and finger area is lined with a premium non-slip grip and padding. The stretchiness of the spandex material doesn’t hamper mobility at all. A small adjustable wrist strap allows for a more custom fit and provides additional wrist support too.
The Accmor Kids Cycling Gloves are available in 3 different color options: black, blue, or red. All three feature black inners, with the color on the uppers only. They also all feature a wolf totem with a flame decal on the fingertips.
Reasons to Buy the Accmor Kids Bike Gloves
Picking The Best Fit
When shopping for kid’s bike gloves, choosing a good fit for your child is essential. Pay attention to the age rating of the gloves; this will tell you if your child is too young or too old to wear them. It is also vital that the gloves are snug and not too loose or too restrictive.
Remember, blood is pumped around the body faster when riding a bicycle, which can cause the hands to swell. Gloves that are too tight can cause discomfort for the child, while loose gloves can cause chafing or blistering as your child’s hand slips around inside.
How to measure your child’s hand for bike gloves
Glove sizes are based on the hand size and not the age of the child. For example, if they listed the glove as a “Small – 5”, it means you should measure the widest part of the child’s hand, not including the thumb, in inches. Remember to measure the dominant hand of the child. Do not size up when purchasing bike gloves for your child.
How to Wash Bike Gloves
You can wash bike gloves either by hand or in the washing machine on a delicate cycle. Hand washing is best to prolong the life of the bike gloves. However, we know being a parent is a busy job, and finding the time to hand wash your kids’ bike gloves will not be at the top of your to-do list!
When using a machine, turn the gloves inside out and place them in a delicates laundry bag. Ensure that the velcro straps are secured to avoid snagging. Wash using cold water only and do not use the dryer, instead hang up to air dry.
For hand washing, use a mild detergent with warm (not hot) water. If the water is too hot for your hands, it’s too hot for the gloves. Gently rub the gloves together to remove any dried mud or stubborn stains. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze without wringing the gloves. Leave to air dry.
ZippyRooz Toddler & Little Kids Bike Gloves
These half-finger gloves are perfect for junior riders. Not only are they comfortable to wear, but durable too.
