It may be obvious to some, but for me and people I've known, the obvious is sometimes hidden in plain sight. That's why i'm writing this! So I won't forget what I found out, and so that you can know too the next time you purchase a glove from us!
Textile versus Leather
What's the better option, and why don't I just buy that instead? Well hold on, you should know why both options exist in the first place. Textile gloves have always been an interesting concept, and their main purpose is to actually keep you warm and breathable at the same time, so that when the cold rain comes pouring down you won't immediately be freezing, and it's a nightmare to keep hold of the throttle while shaking from the cold, still trying to creep at your fingers! Textile gloves help you avoid that.
However, leather gloves aren't immediately bad either. Their leather materials allow them to withstand abrasion much better than it's textile alternative, which is ideal if you're going for a tumble on a bike. As well, many leather gloves still provide holes for breath-ability when it becomes a hot day, which is ideal if you're the type of person to go riding in hot weather.
So if they're both equally good, why not just a cheap pair?
Cheap versus Expensive
We know why expensive products are expensive, because they usually have better features. But what features make the glove so much better than a cheap alternative? The main thing is the type of protection that is given, cheap products will offer foam padding and light rubber inserts. These still help protect you so that if you were to fall off your bike and hit the ground, it wouldn't be a huge deal.
While these are not bad by default, if you plan going on a fast or rigorous ride, you'd be better off with the protection level like Non-Newtonian D30 or injection-moulded carbon fibre plastics. Going for a slide is not fun, and you'd immediately see why if you bought a cheap pair of knock-off gloves.
To not forget, some gloves have better ergonomics when it comes to the stitching and where the padding is placed, so that you'll be protected extremely well, while still offering a good sensory feel with the throttle and levers.
We must not forget that some gloves may be considered off road or track use, while not solely being leather or textile, their main difference is offering even more breathability to either of it's counterparts. Especially when riding off road, you'll need to feel the throttle and grip exceptionally well to stay on the path, but don't worry! Many still offer knuckle protection and some adequate protection for your palm.
Finally, expensive gloves would typically offer palm sliders. If you were to fall off, you would instinctively hold out your hands to stop yourself from hitting the ground. Unfortunately, the ground is less forgiving and if your hand gripped the floor, it would snap. By allowing the palm to slide, it instead ensures that you can still protect yourself instinctively, but also stop your hand from breaking as well.
Conclusion
If it was up to me, I would love to get leather gloves, their practicality along with their natural capability of protecting your hand is almost second to none. However, sometimes I would prefer going on a track just for fun, can't beat riding on a bike and not needing to listen to any road laws. Again though, some days you just can't beat the rain, so it is truly finding the glove for your purpose, in any weather, at any time.
