Best Karting Gloves For Track Days And Racing
We covered glove approval standards properly in our FIA racing gloves guide, so this one is not going over FIA 8856-2018 versus FIA 8877-2022 again. If you have not read that yet and you need to know whether your club or series requires an approved glove, start there.
This guide is about the karting gloves themselves: what is actually on the shelf at each price point, and which model suits indoor arrive-and-drive sessions, club outdoor karting, or a competition where the regs demand FIA 8877-2022 approval.
Karting gloves take more punishment than a car race glove. Your hands are closer to the wheel, the vibration through the chassis is constant, and a wet track day means the glove needs to still grip when it is soaked. That is the difference we have tried to draw out below, not just price.
- Indoor karting centre gloves (OMP KS-4 Art, Sparco K-Attack) carry no FIA or CIK homologation, they are for leisure and practice only
- FIA 8877-2022 is the current approved standard for competition karting gloves, look for it by name on the product page if your series requires it
- Wet weather kart gloves (Alpinestars Tempest V3, OMP Rain-K) use a different construction to dry-weather gloves, they are not interchangeable
- Prices correct on 6 September 2026
Entry level and indoor karting gloves
If you are karting indoors at a leisure centre or doing arrive-and-drive sessions, you do not need an FIA or CIK approved glove, and most indoor venues do not ask for one. The OMP KS-4 Art at 27.50 pounds and the Sparco K-Attack at 32 pounds are both built for exactly this: grip on the wheel, a snug fit, and a price that does not sting if you only kart a few times a year. Neither carries FIA or CIK homologation, so if your club or series does require an approved glove, these are not the ones to buy.
The Alpinestars Tech 1-K Race V2 at 36 pounds sits in the same bracket price-wise but is aimed more at someone who karts regularly rather than the occasional indoor session, with a closer fit through the fingers.
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Club and outdoor karting, non-approved
Between about 50 and 55 pounds you get gloves built for outdoor kart tracks rather than an indoor centre, still without FIA or CIK approval. The OMP KS-2R at 54 pounds uses external seams and a silicone rubber palm, the stitching sits outside the glove instead of across the palm, which matters over a full day of outdoor sessions where an internal seam starts to rub. The OMP KS-2 Art at 51 pounds is the same tier with printed graphics instead of plain colourways, same fit and construction underneath.
These are a step up from the entry-level gloves in fit and durability, but they will not satisfy a series that specifies an approved glove. Check your regs before buying at this tier if you are racing competitively.
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FIA 8877-2022 approved gloves
If your championship or club requires an approved karting glove, this is the tier to shop in. The Sparco K-Arrow + at 66 pounds is the entry point into FIA 8877-2022 approval, with external seams and a pre-curved fit. The Alpinestars Tech 1-K V3 at 77 pounds is built to the same standard with Alpinestars’ own palm construction.
Further up, the Alpinestars Tech 1-KX V4 at 93 pounds and the OMP KS-X at 97 pounds are both aimed at drivers who kart seriously and want the best feel through the wheel that is still within an approved glove, the OMP uses the same raised silicone dimple pattern as its One Evo X FIA race gloves, which holds grip better than a flat-printed silicone once your hands are damp. At the top, the Sparco K-Tide + at 110 pounds uses Sparco’s 3D HTX palm and is the most expensive approved glove we stock.
| Model | Price | Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Sparco K-Arrow + | 66.00 | FIA 8877-2022 |
| Alpinestars Tech 1-K V3 | 77.00 | FIA 8877-2022 |
| Alpinestars Tech 1-KX V4 | 93.00 | FIA 8877-2022 |
| OMP KS-X | 97.00 | FIA 8877-2022 |
| Sparco K-Tide + | 110.00 | FIA 8877-2022 |
Prices correct on 6 September 2026
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Wet weather kart gloves
A dry-weather kart glove loses most of its grip the moment the track goes wet, the palm materials that work well dry tend to go slick when soaked. Wet weather kart gloves use a different construction entirely, usually a waterproof membrane with a warmer lining, because a wet session is often a cold one too.
The Alpinestars Tempest V3 at 86 pounds is FIA 8877-2022 approved and uses a three-layer waterproof build with a windproof shell and fleece lining, so it doubles as cold-weather kit as well as wet. The OMP Rain-K at 38 pounds is not approved but is a straightforward, cheaper option built around neoprene for grip and warmth in the wet, fine for club and practice use where approval is not required.
Buy one of these alongside your main glove instead of instead of it. A wet-weather glove sacrifices some dry-track feel to get the waterproofing, so it is not the glove you want on a dry, warm afternoon.
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Common questions
Do I need FIA approved gloves for indoor karting?
No. Indoor leisure centres do not generally require FIA or CIK approved gloves, an entry-level glove like the OMP KS-4 Art or Sparco K-Attack is fine for arrive-and-drive sessions.
What does FIA 8877-2022 mean on a kart glove?
It is the current FIA approval standard for karting gloves used in competition. If your series regulations require an approved glove, it needs to carry this specific approval, not the older car-glove standard, FIA 8856-2018, which covers a different category of item.
Can I use a wet weather kart glove on a dry track?
You can, but you will lose some of the feel and grip a dry-weather glove gives you, wet weather gloves are built around waterproofing and warmth instead of outright grip in the dry. Keep both if you race regularly in the UK.
What is the difference between OMP KS-2R and KS-2 Art?
Construction and fit are the same, the KS-2 Art has printed graphic colourways where the KS-2R comes in plain colours. Neither carries FIA or CIK approval.
Do karting gloves come in kids' sizes?
Some of the ranges we stock go down to XXS, which covers smaller hands, but always check the specific size chart on the product page instead of assuming across brands, sizing is not consistent between OMP, Sparco and Alpinestars.
Why are FIA approved kart gloves more expensive?
Homologation to FIA 8877-2022 requires specific materials, seam construction and independent testing, which adds cost over a non-approved glove built purely for comfort and grip.
What we would buy
For most people karting as a hobby, indoors or at club level without an approval requirement, the Sparco K-Attack at 32 pounds or the OMP KS-2R at 54 pounds cover it without overspending. If your series specifies FIA 8877-2022, the Alpinestars Tech 1-K V3 at 77 pounds is the one we would point most people to, it is approved, well built, and not the most expensive option on the shelf.
If you are karting seriously and racing wet as well as dry, buy an approved main glove from the middle tier and add the Alpinestars Tempest V3 for the wet days instead of trying to make one glove do both jobs.
Final thoughts
If you are not sure which approval your club or championship requires, give us a call on 0115 9893488 and Cameron will talk you through it before you order.
