The Benefits of External Seams in Racing Gloves
Racing glove guide
A customer came into the showroom having been told by a friend who races to look for gloves with external seams. It is good advice, and it is one of the details that separates a glove you forget you are wearing from one you notice all session.
Here is what external seams are, why they help, and which of the gloves we stock have them.
- External seams put the stitching on the outside of the glove
- The inside stays smooth, so nothing presses into the fingers
- A closer fit gives more feel through the wheel
- Usually found from mid-range gloves upwards
- Seam position has nothing to do with the FIA approval
What is on this page
What an external seam is
Every glove is made from panels stitched together. On most gloves, the stitching sits on the inside, so the outside looks clean. On an external seam glove, the panels are joined so the seam sits on the outside, usually along the fingers and the palm side.
That leaves the inside of the glove smooth against the skin. It is a small change in how the glove is made, but it changes how the glove feels once your hand is gripping a wheel for a long time.
Why it makes a difference
Fewer pressure points. An internal seam is a ridge of thread pressing into your fingers. It is barely noticeable for ten minutes and very noticeable after an hour. With the seams outside, that ridge is gone.
A closer fit. Without a seam allowance inside, the glove can be cut to sit closer to the hand, which gives more feel for what the wheel is doing and more control over small inputs.
Less fatigue. A glove that does not rub or bunch is one you stop thinking about, and over a long session that adds up.
External seams are not the only way to a comfortable glove. Some gloves avoid the problem with a single panel of material and very little stitching, and pre-curved fingers help too by stopping the material bunching when you grip.
The seam position also has nothing to do with the approval. A glove with internal seams and one with external seams can carry the same FIA 8856-2018 homologation. The difference is comfort and feel, not protection.
The external seam gloves we stock
Alpinestars Tech 1 Race V4. A mid-range glove with external seams on the palm side, pre-curved palms and fingers and an extended cuff, approved to FIA 8856-2018.
Alpinestars Tech 1-ZX V4. The top of the Alpinestars range, with external seams, a pre-curved shape, 3D silicone grip and touch screen fingertips, approved to FIA 8856-2018.
Sparco Arrow+ and Tide+. Both have external seams for a snug fit with less irritation. The Tide+ is approved to FIA 8856-2018.
OMP One S and One Evo X. The One S has external seams and pre-curved fingers and is approved to FIA 8856-2018. The One Evo X puts external seams where the hand meets the wheel.
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Garreth’s advice is to try an internal and an external seam glove back to back if you can. Most people feel the difference straight away. Our guide to choosing FIA racing gloves covers sizing and approvals, and our Sparco Land comparison shows a single panel glove with internal stitching.
What are external seams on a racing glove?
The stitching that joins the panels sits on the outside of the glove, so the inside stays smooth against your hand.
Are external seam gloves safer?
No. Seam position does not change the approval. A glove with internal or external seams can carry the same FIA 8856-2018 homologation.
Why are external seams more comfortable?
There is no ridge of stitching pressing into your fingers, so there are fewer pressure points and the glove can fit closer.
Which gloves have external seams?
Among the gloves we stock, the Alpinestars Tech 1 Race V4 and Tech 1-ZX V4, the Sparco Arrow+ and Tide+, and the OMP One S and One Evo X.
A smoother inside means less rubbing, a closer fit and more feel at the wheel.
Come in and try an internal and an external seam glove back to back, or send us your hand measurement and we will suggest a size.
