Home
Gear
Best Racing Gloves

Best Racing Gloves

6 picksUpdated 19 October 2026

Most car track days do not require gloves. Racing groups do, and they usually name the label: SFI 3.3 or FIA 8856. This guide compares six rated gloves, explains what the label tests and how seams, palms and sizing differ.

We do not test gear. Every pick here is spec-checked: we read the maker's or a major retailer's page on 19 October 2026 and recorded the price and the label it claims. None of the gloves has enough verified owner reviews to be called owner-reported. The order weighs label, price and design information.

SFI says certification is made by the manufacturer and that products are not approved by SFI. A label describes the test the material passed, not how a glove will perform in a fire. For gloves made only for sim racing, see our best sim racing gloves guide.

Quick picks

Jump to any pick. Every price links to the shop we saw it at.

Pick	Product	Price	Evidence
Best overall: dual label under $120	OMP Sport my25 Driving Glove	$119	Spec-checked
Cheapest two-layer SFI 3.3/5 glove	RaceQuip 355 2-Layer Racing Gloves	$74.95	Spec-checked
Best budget silicone-grip glove	K1 RaceGear Track 1 Nomex Racing Gloves	$89.99	Spec-checked
Best dual-label glove from a major brand	Sparco Land Nomex Racing Gloves	$139	Spec-checked
Best SFI glove with external seams	G-Force G-Limit RS Racing Gloves	$89	Spec-checked
Best FIA 8856-2018 glove with external seams	Alpinestars Tech-1 Race v4 Glove	$184.95	Spec-checked

The 6 picks

1. Best overall: dual label under $120

OMP Sport my25 Driving Glove

Spec-checked

$119

Pegasus describes a plain fire-retardant glove with printed silicone grip instead of bulky leather. The seams are internal, which keeps the outside clean. It is the cheapest glove here with both an FIA 8856-2018 and an SFI 3.3 label on the page.

Best for: Drivers who want one glove that meets SFI and FIA rules without paying FIA-only prices.
Worth knowing: The page does not give the SFI grade, only 'SFI 3.3'. Check the tag in the cuff for /1 or /5 before an event.

Specs

Certification: FIA 8856-2018 and SFI 3.3
Construction: Stretch-knit Nomex
Grip: Printed silicone patches on the palm
Seams: Internal
Cuff: Mid-short gauntlet; SFI tag sewn inside the cuff

Price seen at pegasusautoracing.com, 19 Oct 2026.

Check price at pegasusautoracing.com

2. Cheapest two-layer SFI 3.3/5 glove

RaceQuip 355 2-Layer Racing Gloves

Spec-checked

$74.95

Pegasus lists it as the lowest-priced two-layer SFI 3.3/5 glove in this guide. It has a padded suede leather palm and a strap to adjust the wrist. Pegasus shows three verified-buyer reviews, all positive about fit and value, which is too few to label it owner-reported.

Best for: Drivers who want the lowest price on an SFI 3.3/5 glove.
Worth knowing: This listing covers sizes XS, S and M only. The padded leather palm is bulkier than the printed-silicone palms on the dearer gloves.

Specs

Certification: SFI 3.3/5
Construction: Two layers of knit Nomex
Palm: Padded suede leather
Cuff: Short gauntlet, elastic wrist, hook-and-loop strap

Price seen at pegasusautoracing.com, 19 Oct 2026 (price $74.95 to $79.95 by size).

Check price at pegasusautoracing.com

3. Best budget silicone-grip glove

K1 RaceGear Track 1 Nomex Racing Gloves

Spec-checked

$89.99

K1 says the pre-curved fingers and palm and the minimal external stitching reduce friction and pressure points. The silicone print gives grip and cuts weight. Sizes S to XL are listed in stock.

Best for: Drivers who want printed-silicone grip at the lowest price from a brand that lists all sizes.
Worth knowing: SFI label only. K1's page does not claim an FIA homologation.

Specs

Certification: SFI 3.3/5
Construction: Lightweight 2-layer bonded Nomex
Grip: Silicone printing on the palm
Seams: Minimal external stitching, pre-curved fingers
Cuff: Elastic opening

Price seen at k1racegear.com, 19 Oct 2026.

Check price at k1racegear.com

4. Best dual-label glove from a major brand

Sparco Land Nomex Racing Gloves

Spec-checked

$139

Competition Motorsport calls it Sparco's entry-level competition glove. The suede palm and fingertips are meant to give steering feel without much bulk, and the fingertip suede supports use of paddles and switches. It carries both labels in plain text.

Best for: Drivers who want a suede-palm glove with FIA 8856-2018 and SFI 3.3/5 on the label.
Worth knowing: Costs $20 more than the OMP Sport, which also has both labels. The page does not say whether the seams are inside or outside.

Specs

Certification: FIA 8856-2018 and SFI 3.3/5
Palm: Suede anti-slip palm and fingertips
Cuff: Elastic wrist
Stitching: Reinforced in high-contact areas

Price seen at competitionmotorsport.com, 19 Oct 2026.

Check price at competitionmotorsport.com

5. Best SFI glove with external seams

G-Force G-Limit RS Racing Gloves

Spec-checked

$89

Pegasus says the RS drops the leather palm and knuckle patch for a lighter glove with a better feel of the wheel. It says the external seams reduce bulk and pressure points between the fingers. The listing shows sizes S, M, XL and 2XL.

Best for: Drivers whose fingers find inside seams uncomfortable and who want an SFI glove at a modest price.
Worth knowing: SFI label only, and the listing's size run skips large.

Specs

Certification: SFI 3.3/5
Construction: Double-layer knit Nomex palm
Grip: Printed silicone, no leather palm
Seams: External, between the fingers
Cuff: Short gauntlet, elastic wrist

Price seen at pegasusautoracing.com, 19 Oct 2026.

Check price at pegasusautoracing.com

6. Best FIA 8856-2018 glove with external seams

Alpinestars Tech-1 Race v4 Glove

Spec-checked

$184.95

Pegasus says the v4 has an extended gauntlet to meet the latest FIA requirements. Pre-curved fingers and the one-piece back aim to cut bunching and seams. Even the FIA tag is printed.

Best for: Drivers entering FIA-rules events who want a pre-curved, printed-grip glove.
Worth knowing: FIA label only on this page, and the dearest glove here.

Specs

Certification: FIA 8856-2018
Construction: Outer aramid layer bonded to inner flame-retardant liner
Grip: Printed grip areas on palm and fingers
Seams: External seams on the palm side of the fingers; one-piece back
Cuff: Extended straight-cut gauntlet with elastic

Price seen at pegasusautoracing.com, 19 Oct 2026.

Check price at pegasusautoracing.com

How to choose

SFI 3.3 and FIA 8856-2018 on gloves

Gloves are covered by SFI Spec 3.3, Driver Accessories. The glove grade is set by the top (back) material: /1 needs a TPP of at least 6 cal/cm2, and /5 needs at least 19. SFI's table also sets minimums for the palm side and the finger sides (forchettes) at /5 of 7.6 and 6.0 cal/cm2. Higher grades are /10 (38), /15 (60), /20 (80), /25 (100) and /30 (120) on the top.

SFI says the palm side of a glove may not be made entirely of leather. It must have a layer that the manufacturer represents as fire-resistant between any leather and your hand. Each finger and thumb must be a separate section sewn together. Seams on the fingers are flammability tested, with an average afterflame time of 2.0 seconds or less and no melting, dripping or splitting. Thread must pass a heat test at 260 degrees C (500 degrees F).

Certification is made by the manufacturer. The SFI Foundation says products are not certified, endorsed or approved by SFI under this program. A rating describes the test the material passed. It is not a promise of performance in a fire.

FIA 8856-2018 is the FIA's standard. The FIA's June 2022 update added 1.5 seconds of heat transmission protection on the palm and 2 seconds elsewhere on the glove, and added touchscreen designs. Demon Tweeks says FIA 8856-2018 gloves are longer than before, and that FIA labels carry a date. Some gloves carry both an SFI and an FIA label.

Do you need racing gloves for a track day?

Most car track days do not require them. The pages we read from NASA Mid-Atlantic, Track Night in America and Hooked on Driving list a helmet, long pants or long sleeves, and closed shoes, with no gloves requirement. Chin Track Days lists gloves only among general things you may want to bring. Organisers differ, so check yours.

Racing is different. SCCA's Race Experience rules ask for gloves made of leather or accepted fire-resistant material with no holes. We could not open NASA's national Club Codes and Regulations to check its time trial or wheel-to-wheel rules.

Many HPDE drivers still wear gloves for grip. If you only want grip, a thin leather glove may do; for sim racing, see our sim racing gloves guide. If your rulebook names SFI or FIA gloves, buy a rated pair.

Outer seams versus inner seams

Seams are where fingers meet fabric. Inside seams leave the outside smooth and the inside bumpy against your skin. Outside seams put the ridge on the outside, so the inside is smooth against your fingers. Makers say external seams reduce bulk and pressure points: Pegasus says this of the G-Force G-Limit RS, the OMP FIRST and the Alpinestars Tech-1 Race v4 (palm-side finger seams), and K1 says its Track 1 has minimal external stitching.

Internal seams are the other design. Pegasus says the OMP Sport my25 and the Alpinestars Tech-1 Start v4 have internal seams for a neat look. Neither is a safety grade. SFI Spec 3.3 includes a flammability test of the finger seams on gloves, whichever side the seam is on. Choose by how it feels on your hand and the wheel.

Grip, palm material and feel

Palms come in three types. Printed silicone, used on the OMP Sport my25, K1 Track 1 and G-Force RS, adds grip with little bulk. Suede or suede leather, used on the Sparco Land and RaceQuip 355, feels more traditional. Fabric palms with small suede patches, like the Sabelt TG-2.1, split the difference. Pegasus notes that Nomex is used as a generic name, and that most makers now use proprietary fire-retardant fibre blends that may or may not include Nomex.

Thinner gloves give more steering feel and less insulation. Check the wheel material you drive with: a thick leather or suede wheel grips differently from a smooth rim.

Sizing

Pegasus gives a chart for all brands: measure around the widest part of your hand over the knuckles while making a fist, leaving the thumb out. 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches is a Small, 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 a Medium, 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 a Large and 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 an X-Large.

Makers differ, so check the brand's own size chart too. Fingers that are too long bunch on the rim, and fingers that are too short pull the seams. Wear the glove with your suit sleeve in place and check that the cuff overlaps it.

Care and replacement

Follow the care label. Pro-Racing.nl says gloves generally should be washed by hand unless the label allows a machine. SFI's spec list shows no recertification period for 3.3 gloves. Replace gloves with holes, worn palms or split seams; SCCA's rule asks for gloves 'containing no holes', for example.

A glove is only one part of the kit. See the racing suits and racing shoes guides for the rest.

Questions buyers ask

Do I need racing gloves for HPDE?

Usually not. The NASA Mid-Atlantic, Track Night in America and Hooked on Driving pages we read do not require gloves, and Chin Track Days lists them only as something you may want to bring. Racing groups do, so read your organiser's current rules.

What does SFI 3.3/5 mean on a glove?

It is a grade in SFI Spec 3.3 for driver accessories. A /5 glove's top material must reach a TPP of at least 19 cal/cm2 in SFI's test, and the palm side and finger sides must meet lower minimums. The maker certifies it.

What is the difference between SFI 3.3/1 and 3.3/5 gloves?

SFI 3.3/1 requires a TPP of at least 6 cal/cm2 on the top covering. /5 requires at least 19, plus minimums on the palm side and finger sides. RaceQuip sells a single-layer glove at /1 and a two-layer glove at /5.

Are outer seams better than inner seams?

Neither is a safety grade. SFI Spec 3.3 includes a flammability test of finger seams on gloves. Outer seams are said to reduce pressure on fingers, and inner seams look cleaner. Pick the one that feels better on your hand.

How do I size racing gloves?

Measure around your hand over the knuckles in a fist, leaving out the thumb. Pegasus's chart maps 7.5 to 8.5 inches to Small, 8.5 to 9.5 to Medium, 9.5 to 10.5 to Large and 10.5 to 11.5 to X-Large. Check the maker's chart as well.

Can I use sim racing gloves on track?

Gloves sold only for sim racing generally carry no SFI 3.3 or FIA 8856 label. For a fire-rated glove, check for an SFI 3.3 or FIA 8856 label. For sim-only gloves, see our best sim racing gloves guide.

How often should I replace racing gloves?

SFI lists no recertification period for 3.3 gloves. FIA 8856-2018 gloves carry a dated label. Replace gloves with holes, thin palms or split seams.