The best motorcycle gloves under $120 depend on the season: Legendary USA's Bad Billy goatskin for toughness, the Ventilated Short Wrist deerskin for warm weather, the Fingerless deerskin for maximum airflow, and the Fleece-Lined deerskin for cold mornings. All are made in the USA, and all sit under $120 at the time of writing. This roundup compares them by leather, season and fit so you can pick the pair that matches how you ride, not just the price.
What Under $120 Buys in an American-Made Glove
Under $120 buys a real American-made leather glove, cut and stitched in the USA. Legendary USA stitches with American & Efird industrial-grade thread made in the USA, and the deerskin gloves use American Whitetail deerskin. What the price line leaves out is the ILL DOZER's outseam construction and LeathSorb palm paneling, which cost more. We cover that gap at the end.
Prices below are from the live product pages and can change. Fingerless is $67.50. Bad Billy is $75. Ventilated Short Wrist and Fleece-Lined are each $110. Classic Longer Cuff is $100. Check the page before you order.
The Four Pairs Compared
| Glove | Leather | Season | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerless | Deerskin palm, perforated back | Hot weather | Fingers uncovered |
| Bad Billy | Goatskin | Warm to mild | Runs hotter, stiffer at first |
| Ventilated Short Wrist | Deerskin, ventilated back | Warm weather | Not for cold rides |
| Fleece-Lined | Deerskin, Thinsulate 40g lining | About 30 to 50 degrees F | Snugger fit, not a winter gauntlet |
Fingerless Deerskin: maximum airflow
The Fingerless Deerskin Gloves are the lowest-priced pair here at $67.50. They have a solid deerskin palm, a fully perforated back panel and elastic removal tabs between the fingers. They breathe well, but they leave your fingers uncovered, so they do not protect fingers the way a full-finger glove does. They are a hot-weather and short-ride choice.
Bad Billy Goatskin: the tough one
The Bad Billy Black Goatskin Gloves are Legendary USA's goatskin short-wrist glove at $75. Goatskin's tighter fiber structure is described on the product page as more cut resistant and durable than deerskin. The trade is feel and temperature, since it runs hotter and has less of the broken-in softness deerskin gives you. It also comes in a saddle tan version. Our Bad Billy black versus tan comparison goes through the differences.
Ventilated Short Wrist: the warm-weather deerskin
The Ventilated Short Wrist Touchscreen Deerskin Gloves add a ventilated back for warmer weather and an elasticized cuff at the wrist bone. At $110 they are the pair to pick if you want a full-finger deerskin glove for summer. They are not a cold-weather glove.
Fleece-Lined Deerskin: the cold-morning pair
The Fleece-Lined Deerskin Gloves use a 3M Thinsulate 40-gram lining and are listed for roughly 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They are the warmest option under $120. Lined gloves feel snugger than unlined ones, so test the fit in the riding position, as we describe in our guide to sizing gloves for liners.
Deerskin Versus Goatskin on a Budget
Deerskin is the better choice for comfort and goatskin is the better choice for toughness. Legendary USA describes American Whitetail deerskin as roughly half the weight of cowhide at equivalent protection, and as staying pliable after getting wet without conditioning. Goatskin is described as more cut resistant and durable, but warmer and stiffer at first.
For most riders who put in daily miles, deerskin is the more comfortable glove for the money. For riders who value rugged wear over feel, goatskin is the clear alternative. Our full deerskin versus goatskin comparison covers it in more depth. Neither is hard armor, and none of these gloves carry a CE rating.
Which Pair to Buy by Season
In summer, buy the Ventilated Short Wrist or the Fingerless. In spring and fall, the Bad Billy or the Classic Longer Cuff will cover most days. For cold mornings, the Fleece-Lined pair is the one. If you ride year-round, one pair is rarely enough, and two inexpensive pairs often serve better than one expensive one. Our glove rotation guide shows how to combine them.
When to Spend More
Spend more if you ride long distances and hand fatigue is your problem. The ILL DOZER starts at $135 and uses outseam construction, which puts the stitching on the outside so the interior of the palm and fingers is smooth against your skin. It also has a perforated top panel and LeathSorb palm paneling to absorb road vibration. Under $120 you give up those features, but not the American-made construction.
The pairs above are made in the USA like the rest of the line. Browse the full range in our Made in USA motorcycle gloves collection, and pick the pair that fits your riding season first and your budget second.
For the wind chill math behind cold-weather glove choices, the National Weather Service publishes a cold wind chill chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best motorcycle gloves under $120?
- It depends on the season and how you ride. From Legendary USA, the Bad Billy goatskin glove suits riders who want toughness on a budget, the Ventilated Short Wrist glove suits hot weather, the Fingerless glove suits maximum airflow, and the Fleece-Lined glove suits cold mornings. All are made in the USA. Prices are on each product page and can change.
- Is deerskin or goatskin better for motorcycle gloves?
- Neither is better in every case. Deerskin is soft, light and quick to break in. Goatskin has a tighter fiber structure, which Legendary USA describes as more cut resistant and durable, though it runs hotter and feels stiffer at first. Pick deerskin for comfort and feel, goatskin for toughness. Neither is armor, and neither carries a CE rating.
- Are fingerless motorcycle gloves safe?
- Fingerless gloves protect the palm and the back of the hand but leave your fingers uncovered, so they offer much less protection than a full-finger glove. They are a hot-weather and short-ride choice. Legendary USA's Fingerless Deerskin Gloves have a solid deerskin palm and a perforated back panel. If you want full finger coverage, choose a full-finger glove instead.
- Are Made in USA motorcycle gloves worth the price?
- For many riders, yes. Made in USA means the gloves are cut and stitched domestically, and Legendary USA hand-cuts and stitches its gloves in the USA. You pay more than for an imported pair, but you also get American-made construction and thread. Whether that is worth it depends on how often you ride. For daily riders the cost per ride is low.
- Can I get fleece-lined motorcycle gloves under $120?
- Yes. The Legendary USA Fleece-Lined Deerskin Gloves use a 3M Thinsulate 40-gram lining and are listed for roughly 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They are priced under $120 on the product page at the time of writing. They are a three-season glove, not a winter gauntlet, so below that range you will want something heavier or a liner.
- Do deerskin gloves for under $120 come in tan?
- Yes, in some models. The Bad Billy goatskin glove comes in black and saddle tan, and Legendary USA lists tan and gold deerskin short-wrist gloves in its range. Tan leather shows wear and develops a visible patina where your hand grips. Black hides wear more subtly. Check each product page for current colors and sizes.