Are kart gloves essential? Yes, for two reasons: to protect your hands from abrasion if you go off, and to keep a constant grip on a wheel that gets slippery with sweat. In FIA/CIK competition, gloves homologated to FIA 8877-2022 are now mandatory. Here is how to choose them well.
Gloves are often the last piece of gear you think about: 'I'll wear anything, or nothing'. That is a mistake, for safety as much as for performance.
What gloves really bring
Protection against abrasion
If you go off track, the hands instinctively try to break the fall. Bare hands on the tarmac mean serious wounds; with kart gloves, just grazes. That is their first job.
Grip on the wheel
Often overlooked: kart wheels, in rubber or leather, get slippery with sweat. A reinforced, non-slip palm keeps constant contact, even at the end of an intense session.
The feel
A good glove, thin on the back, transmits the kart's vibrations: the state of the surface, the chassis behaviour. That is useful information. Bare-handed, you get those sensations but you wear yourself out holding the wheel.
Do you need homologated gloves?
In competition, yes. Since 1 January 2025, the events of the FIA Karting Championships, Cups and Trophies, as well as the international CIK-FIA calendar, require gloves homologated to FIA 8877-2022: the same abrasion standard as suits, extended to gloves and shoes after an analysis of karting injuries. In leisure, any serious kart glove will do; refer to the year's FFSA technical appendix for your exact category.
Avoid motorcycle gloves: too thick and stiff, they put too much material between your hand and the wheel. Kart gloves are thin on the back and reinforced in the palm.
| Use | Expected gloves |
|---|---|
| Leisure (public track) | Serious kart glove, non-homologated accepted |
| FIA / CIK competition | Homologated FIA 8877-2022 (mandatory since 2025) |
Cuts and materials
Two main cuts: short gloves (at the wrist), the most common, light and comfortable, perfect for leisure and hot weather; long gloves (to mid-forearm), which protect more and are sometimes required in competition. For materials, leather (or synthetic leather) on the palm for grip and durability, breathable textile (lycra, mesh) on the back. Here too, forget the 'fireproof Nomex' reflex: in karting, a glove protects against abrasion and ensures grip, not fire.
What budget?
From the simplest to the most advanced:
- Entry level: enough for leisure, decent basic grip and protection, but limited thickness and durability.
- Mid-range: the right choice for driving regularly, quality leather, careful finish, often homologated.
- Competition: specific reinforcements, precise fit, designed for intensive use and compliance with the standards.
Care and lifespan
Gloves wear mainly on the palm (wheel friction) and the knuckles. As soon as you see holes or very thin areas, replace them: a holed glove no longer protects. Wash them by hand, in cold water with a neutral soap (the machine deforms them and damages leather), and dry them flat, away from any heat source.
Helmet, suit, gloves: the full kit is the basics (our helmet and suit guides). All that is left is to try it all on track: find a track near you on Kart-Map.
