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Driving gloves can still be useful ... even if just to look like Ryan Gosling in Drive. Convertible Finger Gloves
We'll be the first to admit that driving gloves are an anachronism. They stem from a bygone era of motoring — scarcely imaginable to someone driving a modern Lexus — when virtually all vehicular travel was an adventure and you needed specialized clothing and gear for the task.
If you were operating a vehicle back then, you were completely exposed to the elements. There was a high probability of having to perform some serious roadside maintenance to get yourself home. And driving over rutted roads for extended periods could leave your hands feeling exhausted. Driving gloves made a lot of sense.
Modern luxury cars are a revelation by comparison. Vehicles are climate-controlled and comparatively robust. Driving a Volvo XC90 to work can feel like spending time in a Scandinavian minimalist spa. Few people will really need driving gloves. But a pair of the best driving gloves can still be useful — even if much of that use case is trying to look like Ryan Gosling in Drive.
Dents, established in 1777, is one of the oldest fashion manufacturers in England. They hold a Royal Warrant and made driving gloves for James Bond. These gloves — a collaboration with The Suited Racer — have a classic look but with modern touches like elasticized trims and touchscreen-friendly fingertips.
Hestra's "Steve" glove is — you guessed it — inspired by the inimitable Steve McQueen. Designed for warmer weather, it is made from 100 percent Hairsheep leather and unlined so you can feel that leather against your skin.
These affordable driving gloves from Harssidanzar are made from durable deerskin leather and feature a pre-rotated finger design that curves naturally with your hand for a more comfortable grip on the wheel.
These handcut and sewn Hungarian-made gloves use fine Italian lamb Nappa leather and are unlined and perforated for extra breathability in warm weather.
These great value driving gloves from Riparo are handmade from real leather and provide the look for less with reverse stitching for added comfort. They are perforated for breathability and the finger tips are touchscreen compatible.
These Autodromo driving gloves have a leather palm for a firm grip and a crocheted cotton back for ventilation. A split cuff gives you better visibility of that awesome watch you bought to go with them. Crotcheted cotton on the back adds ventilation.
These Porsche Design gloves are a more modern take on the driving glove made from a mix of Nappa leather and neoprene. Oily tec leather enhances steering wheel grip and Touch Tec on the thumbs and index fingers allow the driver to use the car's infotainment screen. The style is more technical racing glove than vintage British motoring glove.
These Italian-made half-finger driving gloves are made from supple brown leather and a cotton mesh with great ventilation for warm weather driving. They also come with a two-year warranty. Your fingers are exposed so you can use a touchscreen with them.
These driving gloves are table-cut and hand-sewn from supple and ethically-sourced deerskin leather and left unlined and perforated for optimal ventilation and lightness in warm weather driving.
These Ice Breaker driving gloves are more for function than fashion. They are made from a merino terry fabric that is soft, stretchy and order resistant. The fingers are designed for use with touchscreens. They are also machine washable.
These hand-cut and sewn Nappa leather gloves are lined with a cashmere and wool blend for cold weather and transition seamlessly to non-driving activities.
Finger Cut Off Gloves British brand Barbour is known for their waxed jackets. But they also make cozy fleece-lined gloves, optimal when you're trotting that vintage Land Rover Defender out on a cold morning.