Leatt Glove MTB 2.0 X-Flow review

Almost as good as riding without gloves, the minimalist and lightweight design makes these a standout glove for summer riding

Leatt Glove MTB 2.0 X-Flow review
(Image: © David Arthur)

Bike Perfect Verdict

The Leatt 2.0 X-Flow gloves provide a comfortable fit with lightweight construction and a thin grippy palm that makes them great for riding in warmer conditions

Pros

  • +

    Comfortable fit

  • +

    Lightweight

  • +

    Soft grippy palm

Cons

  • -

    No palm padding

  • -

    Loud design

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We\'ll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

The Leatt 2.0 X-Flow is a lightweight glove that offers maximum comfort and breathability for milder weather with minimal protection around the smaller fingers that makes them ideal for cross-country and gravel riding. The construction is solid, the palm is thin and grippy, maximizing feel. The sizing is spot on too making these a worth consideration when trying to pick from the best mountain bike gloves

Leatt Glove MTB 2.0 X-Flow review

Leatt's graphics are bold in looks (Image credit: David Arthur)

Design and aesthetics

The motocross vibe is strong with these gloves. Leatt’s 2.0 X-Flow gloves come with a bolder design than other gloves on the market, with the choice of four colors to match your outfit and more subdued hues. All are emblazoned with a large logo across the top of the hand. The gloves are designed to be as lightweight and minimally padded as possible, both across the palm and also across the fingers and knuckles. That's ideal for cross-country but less so for enduro riding where more protection will be desirable.

Leatt Glove MTB 2.0 X-Flow review

X-Flow upper offers breathability while the NanoGrip palm helps handlebar grip (Image credit: David Arthur)

Specifications

Leatt has combined some nice materials to create a lightweight glove. The seamless and pre-curved NanoGrip palm sticks like glue to grips in all conditions. An X-Flow upper material provides maximum cooling for hot weather riding, and the FormFit finger stitching delivers an extremely good fit, ensuring the gloves feel like a second skin when riding. There are microinjected 3D Brush Guard reinforcements on the smaller two fingers and knuckles to offer a hint of protection. The fingers are compatible with smartphone screens, and the thumb has a generous panel of towel material for wiping sweat and snot.

Performance

The extremely good fit with the seamless second-skin feel offered by the lightweight materials and careful panel shaping and stitching delivers fantastic performance. You pretty much forget you're wearing them. The palm is super grippy in all conditions, and the lack of padding won’t suit all people, but it does maximize feel through the handlebars for feeling really in touch with what the bike is doing underneath your hands. They cope well in hot weather, avoiding any overheating, and the larger thumb towel panel is ample for wiping a sweaty brow. 

Leatt Glove MTB 2.0 X-Flow review

The gloves have an excellent close fit although the stretchier cuff is makes putting the on a little trickier than velcro closures (Image credit: David Arthur)

Verdict

Get past their brash looks, and the fit, construction and comfort of these gloves will easily win you over. For all-day riding in all weathers and conditions where the maximum feel is preferred over a padded palm, they are ideally suited. The stretchy cuff makes them trickier to pull on, but the reward is boosted comfort and no irritation, and the sizing came up perfectly for this tester. They’re well made and durable and the small amount of reinforcement is a useful addition when riding through overgrown trails and unintended dismounts.

Tech Specs: Leatt Glove MTB 2.0 X-Flow

  • Price: $32.99 / £30.99
  • Colors: Mojito, Onyx, Steel, Black
  • Sizes: S-XL
  • Features: Microinjected 3D Brush Guard reinforced pinky and knuckles, FormFit finger stitching, NanoGrip palm, touch screen compatible, silicone grip print, X-Flow mesh upper-hand material,lens/sweat wiper
David Arthur
Freelance writer

David has been reporting and reviewing the latest bike tech for most of the biggest cycling publications for more than 15 years. These days you’ll mostly find him in the Cotswolds on a gravel, mountain or road bike, still exploring and having fun on two wheels. David has written for CyclingTips, Cyclingnews, Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, MBR and Pinkbike.