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This guide is for hire drivers who want their own pair and for anyone getting ready to race. It covers our four picks at different budgets and which tracks lend gloves. It also covers what the rules ask for, what the FIA standard means and how a glove should fit.
Our karting glove picks at every budget
The low and mid picks state no race approval. They are about grip, comfort and never wearing a stranger's sweat again, which is plenty for hire sessions and arrive-and-drive. The high and pro picks are approved to FIA 8877-2022, and spending more also buys padding in the palm and, on the pro pick, a surface that damps steering vibration.
Low · Top budget pick
Sparco K-Rookie
£25.20 to £30.24
Check the price at Demon TweeksPros
- Silicone-printed palm for grip
- Pre-curved to the shape of your hand
- Ten sizes, down to small child sizes
Cons
- No FIA approval
| Approval | None stated |
|---|---|
| Palm | Synthetic leather with silicone print |
| Fit | Pre-curved, soft stretch fabric |
| Sizes | XXXXXS to XXL |
The cheapest way to stop borrowing the track's gloves. The pre-curved shape follows your grip on the wheel, and the silicone print on the palm stops it slipping.
There's no approval, which doesn't matter for hire karting. If you race under rules that require FIA gloves, start at the K-Arrow+.
Mid · Top pick for hot hire sessions
Alpinestars Tech 1-K Race V2
£36.99 to £44.99
Check the price at Demon TweeksPros
- Mesh between the fingers for airflow
- Synthetic suede palm with silicone print
- Open cuff for easy entry
Cons
- No FIA approval
| Approval | None stated |
|---|---|
| Palm | Synthetic suede with silicone print |
| Back | Polyester mesh, half mesh and half lycra fingers |
| Sizes | Child and adult |
A step up in comfort for regular drivers. Mesh on the back and between the fingers keeps hands cooler in long sessions, and the suede palm grips well.
Like the K-Rookie, it has no approval. It's a hire-karting glove, not a racing one.
High · Top value FIA pick
Sparco K-Arrow+
£68.70 to £82.44
Check the price at Demon TweeksPros
- FIA 8877-2022 approved
- External seams, so no pressure points inside
- Impact-absorbing palm padding
Cons
- Twice the price of an unapproved glove
| Approval | FIA 8877-2022 |
|---|---|
| Construction | External seams, pre-curved fingers |
| Palm | Silicone print with impact padding |
| Sizes | XXXXXS to XL |
The cheapest FIA-approved glove on our list. External seams keep stitching off your skin, which you notice after a long race, and the palm has impact-absorbing padding.
It also comes in small child sizes, which makes it a good junior racing glove.
Pro · Top pick for vibration
Sparco K-Tide+
Pros
- 3D HTX palm damps steering vibration
- Grip on the palm and fingers
- FIA 8877-2022 approved
Cons
- Adult sizes only (XS to XXL)
- Expensive for a glove
| Approval | FIA 8877-2022 |
|---|---|
| Palm | 3D HTX shock-absorbing material |
| Sizes | XS to XXL |
Sparco's top kart glove uses a 3D HTX palm that isolates vibration from the wheel. Sparco says that cuts hand fatigue over a race, and on a bumpy track that's the difference you'd pay for.
For club racing the K-Arrow+ gives you the same approval for half the money.
Prices are from Demon Tweeks on 3 Nov 2026 and include VAT. A range means the price varies by size: child sizes are VAT-free. If you buy through these links we may earn a commission. It doesn't change the price you pay.
Compare them side by side
The table shows the approval and price of our four picks and two more pairs worth a look.
| Product | Approval | Price | Our pick for / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparco K-Rookie | None stated | £25.20 to £30.24 | Top budget pick |
| Alpinestars Tech 1-K Race V2 | None stated | £36.99 to £44.99 | Top pick for hot hire sessions |
| Sparco K-Arrow+ | FIA 8877-2022 | £68.70 to £82.44 | Top value FIA pick |
| Sparco K-Tide+ | FIA 8877-2022 | £134.60 | Top pick for vibration |
| OMP KS-3 | None stated | £44.35 to £53.22 | Silicone grip palm and external seams, in child sizes. |
| Alpinestars Tech 1-K V3 | FIA 8877-2022 | £85.49 | Two-layer four-way stretch fabric, adult sizes S to XXL. |
Prices are from Demon Tweeks on 3 Nov 2026 and include VAT. A range means the price varies by size: child sizes are VAT-free. If you buy through these links we may earn a commission. It doesn't change the price you pay.
How we chose
We have not lab-tested or track-tested these gloves, and we don't give scores. We picked by approval first, because that decides what you can actually race in. Then we looked at fit and size range (including child sizes), then ventilation and weight where the maker states them, and then price. We read every spec from the product page at Demon Tweeks on 3 November 2026. Prices move, so check before you buy.
How to choose the right gloves
What do karting gloves do?
Gloves protect your hands from abrasion in a fall and from blisters and rubbing on the wheel. They also sit between you and the steering wheel for every lap, which is why grip and fit matter more than the colour. FIA Standard 8877-2022, the karting clothing standard, defines a karting glove as a one-piece item that covers the hand entirely and extends part way up the arm. The standard sets design and performance requirements for abrasion, contact heat and tearing.
Do hire tracks provide gloves?
Our data has kit information for 86 of 127 venues, and 56 of those list gloves as supplied. Counting both the kit and dress code fields, 64 venues mention gloves at all. At some of them gloves are something you must bring or buy on site, and a couple of venues sell gloves and a balaclava together as a hygiene pack.
So gloves are shared hire kit at some tracks and a personal purchase at others. Read the venue's own terms before you turn up empty-handed. Venue details are on each track page.
What do the rules say about gloves?
Motorsport UK's National Competition Rules 2026 (Chapter 18 Appendix 7) require complete gloves to be worn at all times. Mitts and gloves with open backs do not meet the rule, so the fingerless driving gloves can stay in the car. Its beginner guidance lists gloves meeting its regulations among the kit for outdoor karting.
The CIK-FIA Technical Regulations 2026 say gloves must completely cover the hands and wrists or comply with FIA Standard 8877-2022. At FIA Karting Championships, Cups and Trophies and events on the FIA international calendar, gloves must comply with 8877-2022.
Motorsport UK did not set out a glove homologation requirement for national club racing in the pages we checked, beyond the complete-gloves rule. Ask your club if you want it confirmed for a given series.
Which label should you look for?
The name to look for is FIA 8877-2022, which also covers suits and shoes. Homologated items are listed by the FIA (Technical List 101). Under the standard, karting gloves carry an FIA homologation label. An approved pair is what FIA events require, and it covers you if your club or series asks for a standard.
When should you buy your own gloves?
Gloves are cheap and personal, so many drivers buy them first. If you are racing, make sure the pair is a complete glove with a closed back and check your series' stance on standards. Our getting started guide covers the first steps to a club licence.
How should karting gloves fit?
Gloves should fit snugly without bunching across the palm, because you feel the wheel through them. Check that you can close your fingers fully and that the cuff stays in place at the wrist when your arms are extended. The standard describes a cuff that extends up the arm, which helps cover the join with the suit sleeve.
Follow the care label, and replace gloves when the palms thin or the seams open up.
Sources
- Motorsport UK, National Competition Rules 2026 (Edition 5), Chapter 18 Appendix 7, Article 4.1.
- Motorsport UK, Get Started: Karting (getstarted.motorsportuk.org/karting/).
- CIK-FIA Technical Regulations 2026 (v1.2), Article 7.3 (fiakarting.com).
- FIA Standard 8877-2022, Protective Clothing for Karting Competitors (fiakarting.com).
- kart365 venue data (
kit_provided,dress_code), read 2026-11-03.