Custom Driving Gloves: Leather Choices, Lining and Fit

A custom driving glove is worth ordering when stock sizes leave the fingers too long, the palm too loose or the lining wrong for the car and the climate. The three decisions that matter are the leather, the lining (or the choice to have none) and the fit, and they affect each other: a thin skin with no lining gives the most feel at the wheel, while a thicker skin or a warm lining trades some of that feel for comfort in cold weather.

This guide explains how each choice changes the way a glove behaves, what to measure before ordering, and what to ask a maker. It covers road driving gloves; gloves for motorcycles and for motorsport have different requirements and are mentioned only where the difference helps.

What makes a driving glove different from a standard glove

According to Wikipedia's entry on driving gloves, a driving glove is typically a covering of very thin, soft leather meant to improve grip on the steering wheel and gear lever. The same source notes that driving gloves first appeared in the 1890s, when wheels were bare wood or metal, and that classic designs are unlined with external seams, short cuffs and a stud fastener at the wrist. Some versions have open knuckles or ventilation holes in the fingers and palm.

Each of those details is a choice that a custom order can change. Seams on the outside keep bulk off the fingertips. A short cuff stays clear of the sleeve and the wrist when turning the wheel. A closure at the wrist lets the glove be tightened without a bulky strap. When these features are fixed in a ready-made glove, the only variable left is size; with made-to-measure orders, check with the maker which details can be changed.

Leather choices for driving gloves

Wikipedia's overview of glove materials and linings lists lambskin, cowhide, deerskin, goatskin and sheepskin among the skins used for leather gloves. For driving, the practical difference is thickness and surface feel rather than a ranking.

Lambskin

Lambskin is usually thin and soft, which is why it is a common choice when feel at the wheel matters most. A pair such as these lambskin driving gloves for men shows a men's unlined driving style with vent holes; check the page for the exact leather. In general, a thinner skin is less forgiving of rough handling.

Cowhide

Cowhide is generally thicker and firmer than lamb. In a driving glove it tends to feel sturdier and may need a short break-in period before it moulds to the hand. It is worth considering for drivers who prefer a more substantial glove or who also wear them for other tasks.

Goatskin and other skins

Wikipedia describes goatskin as hard-wearing but coarser than other glove leathers. Deerskin and sheepskin are also used. Because thickness varies by tannery and finish, the practical step is to ask the maker for the leather's thickness and finish, and to request a swatch or description rather than rely on the animal name alone.

Lining: unlined, silk, wool or cashmere

Unlined is the classic driving construction and gives the thinnest feel. Linings are added for warmth. Wikipedia's glove overview describes cashmere as warm, light and comfortable, silk as warm in winter and cool in summer, and wool as naturally warm and elastic, with wool blends and acrylics also used.

Choosing a lining changes the fit. A lining takes up space inside the finger, so a glove that fits snugly when unlined may feel tight once lined, and the reverse can be true if the lining packs down with wear. When ordering a lined pair, say which lining is wanted and ask whether the size chart already allows for it. Drivers in mild climates often keep a thin unlined pair; those in cold winters may order a lined pair for the cold months.

Getting the fit right

Wikipedia's driving glove entry says a driving glove should be worn snugly and should not interfere with hand movement. Racing versions are described as tight at the wrist or cuff. For road use that means no loose leather at the fingertips, no pulling across the knuckles and a wrist closure that can be fastened without force.

1. Measure around the widest part of the hand (excluding the thumb), as the maker's size guide describes.
2. Measure the length of the longest finger from the tip to the base where it meets the palm.
3. Measure both hands and note any difference between them.
4. Compare these figures with the maker's own chart, because size systems vary between makers.
5. Note any special request, such as shorter fingers, a longer cuff or a different closure, in the order notes.

A custom order is most useful when the hands fall between standard sizes or when the fingers are unusually long or short. If a size looks borderline, follow the maker's size guide (the shop suggests considering the bigger size between two sizes) and ask before ordering.

Men's and women's styles

Driving gloves are sold in both men's and women's cuts, and the difference is mostly in the pattern: finger length, palm width and cuff shape. Shoppers can browse the men's leather collection for the men's range or the women's leather collection for the women's range. Hands do not always follow the labels, so measurements should drive the choice rather than the department.

Care and what to ask before ordering

Care depends on the leather and its finish, so the garment's care label and the maker's instructions are the reference. Gloves that get wet or sweaty are usually left to dry naturally away from direct heat, but check the instructions that come with the pair. Before ordering, ask the maker:

• Which leather is used, and how thick it is.
• Whether a lining is available and how it affects sizing.
• Where the seams sit, and whether the closure can be changed.
• How measurements are taken and whether a remake is possible if the fit is off.

Written by the Leather Collection Editorial Team.