Downhill longboarding is both daunting and thrilling. Many beginners fail to prepare for downhill longboarding, and they forget to protect their hands. While it’s important to wear a helmet and pads, it’s important to wear gloves so that you can brake with your hands as needed.
As a beginner it’s challenging to find the gloves you should be wearing when longboarding, that’s why I created a beginner-friendly list!
What To Look For When Buying Longboarding Gloves
The Material
The most important factor to consider when you choose longboarding gloves for beginners is the material they are made of. Materials like leather, neoprene, and polyester are ideal for most longboarding gloves.
Breathability
Breathability is another important factor to consider as your hands are likely to sweat. Some materials, like leather, aren’t too breathable, but many gloves feature small holes to improve the airflow.
Durability
Look for longboarding gloves that feature durable pucks. You must be able to trust that the pucks on your longboarding gloves can withstand road friction when hand-braking.
Some longboarding gloves only feature palm pucks, but many feature pucks that go along the fingers. I recommend getting gloves with as many pucks as possible so you can place your hand on the ground at any angle without the road ripping your hands up.
10 Best Longboarding Gloves for Beginners
1. IMPORX Longboard Slide Gloves
Downhill longboarders should consider IMPORX Longboard Slide Gloves. These durable gloves can easily protect your hands while quickly riding downhill. Made of polyester, the gloves are comfortable and have protective Velcro straps.
IMPORX longboarding gloves are just as good for performing tricks and protecting your hands from the grip tape as they are for riding downhill. You don’t have to worry about your hands overheating as these gloves have holes that help your hands breathe.
2. Triple Eight Downhill Glove
Triple Eight makes some of the best longboarding protective gear on the market. The Triple Eight Downhill Glove is no exception and its neoprene construction makes them quite durable. While neoprene isn’t as breathable as polyester, it offers superior protection.
The palm puck provides extra durability which is essential when riding downhill at high speeds. These gloves also feature Kevlar in the fingers which can protect your fingertips when you reach the ground while riding fast.
3. Loaded Boards Leather Advanced Slide Glove
Not all longboarding gloves are fashionable, but the Loaded Boards Leather Advanced Slide Gloves certainly are. The inclusion of both foam and leather makes these gloves breathable without sacrificing durability. Several layers of material ensure that you will protect your hands even if one of the layers tears.
The puck protects your palm and helps to ventilate your hands. They are somewhat bulky but don’t restrict your hand movement.
4. LINGHANGST Skateboard Gloves
LINGHANGST Skateboard Gloves are among the best longboarding gloves for beginners. Primarily made of rubber, these gloves are highly water resistant. This comes in handy when longboarding on a hot day.
The top of the glove, knuckles, and palm are comfortably padded and won’t hinder your movement. LINGHANGST included yarn and glass fiber in these gloves which helps account for their dexterity and durability.
4. LOSENKA Skateboard Gloves with Sliders
Longboarding beginners should check out LOSENKA Skateboard Gloves with Sliders. Lightweight and durable, these gloves are made of leather and silicone. These materials may sound heavy, but the inclusion of elastic material in the palms lets your hands cool off.
The knuckles are also breathable without sacrificing safety. LOSENKA Skateboard Gloves have padded knuckles, but they don’t trap air like some longboarding gloves. Downhill longboarders will be glad to know that the pucks that come with these gloves are durable and unlikely to break when sliding.
5. Nordik Navy Blue Longboard Freeride Slide Gloves
Nordik Navy Blue Longboard Freeride Slide Gloves are among the most athletic longboarding gloves. These gloves can comfortably fit many hand sizes as they slide on but are adjustable. Some longboarding gloves have restrictive pucks, but that’s not a problem with Nordik Freeride Slide Gloves.
You can easily remove the pucks if you don’t plan to slide downhill. They will still come in handy when you perform tricks, such as a boneless.
6. Hillbilly Wrist Guard Gloves
Not all longboarding gloves are meant for sliding. Hillbilly Wrist Guard Gloves are great longboarding gloves for beginners that are trying to learn board grab tricks. They don’t offer quite enough protection for sliding downhill at high speeds, but they are well-padded.
Made of leather, these gloves are just as useful for longboarding as they are for electric longboards, off-road longboarding, and related sports. They come in a wide variety of sizes, so they can accommodate longboarding beginners of any age.
7. Andux Skateboard Slider Slide Glove
The Andux Skateboard Slider Slide Glove is a perfect example of durable longboarding gloves. With well-padded knuckles and a sturdy palm puck, these gloves offer plenty of protection when sliding. You can easily adjust the size via the convenient wrist strap.
The slider pucks are removable, but I recommend keeping them on if you ride downhill. They are primarily made of nylon which makes them quite breathable, and that’s just as important as durability.
8. Glield Skateboard Gloves
Few longboarding gloves break the mold and stray from the standard design. Glield Skateboard Gloves are an exception to this rule. Made of leather, Glield Skateboard gloves are mostly standard until you flip them over and look at the palm and finger protection.
These gloves are unique in that the pucks will spark when you touch the ground if you are longboarding fast enough. This makes them visually appealing and perfect if you want to record some fun longboarding footage.
9. YOGOGO Skateboard Protective Gloves
YOGOGO Skateboard Protective Gloves equally protect your fingers and palms with dense pucks. The mixture of polyester and faux leather makes these gloves quite breathable. With palm, thumb, and finger pucks, you can put your hand down in nearly any position without injuring yourself when longboarding.
Each glove weighs just under a half pound, so they aren’t too heavy, so they won’t restrict your movement.
10. Sector 9 Driver II Jungle Longboard Slide Gloves
It should come as no surprise that one of the best longboard brands, Sector 9, also makes some of the best longboarding gloves for beginners. Sector 9 Driver II Jungle Longboard Slide Gloves are among the most stylish longboarding gloves on the market. More important than their appearance, however, is that these gloves are made of durable leather.
The unique glove puck is larger than what you will find in most longboarding gloves. This is a great feature and offers superior palm protection. The fingers aren’t quite as protected as the palms, however, so you will need to rely on using your palms when sliding.
Final Thoughts
Longboarding gloves are a crucial piece of gear for any beginner looking to ride downhill or perform tricks. When shopping for longboarding gloves, be sure to consider the material, breathability, and durability of the gloves, as well as the type of protection they provide.
You may want to get some knee pads too, don’t worry, we have a guide on the 10 best longboarding knee pads here.
The ten gloves listed above are great options for beginners, each with their own unique features and benefits. Remember to always prioritize your safety when longboarding and invest in the proper gear to protect yourself.
Happy longboarding!
Check out our related longboarding gear articles:
- 10 Best Wheels For Downhill Longboarding
- 5 Best Longboarding Backpacks
- 10 Best Longboarding Shoes
- 10 Best Longboard Bearings
Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focused on action sports. Skateboarding and Longboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about action sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.