Quick answer: deerskin gloves are soft from the first wear, breathable and made from the hardest-wearing leather we use, which makes them the best choice for a glove you will wear every day or drive in. Choose unlined deerskin for driving and mild weather, and deerskin lined with cashmere or rabbit fur for winter.
Last updated: 5 November 2026
Deerskin gloves are the pair most people should own first. This guide comes from NM Gloves, a leather-glove workshop in Târgu Mureș, Romania, where gloves have been made since 1925 and where Finnish deerskin is the leather we work most often for driving and everyday gloves.
What makes deerskin gloves so good?
Most glove leathers trade softness for strength. Deerskin has both. It is supple from the first day, it lets the hand breathe, and it stands up to the daily rub of a steering wheel, keys and bag handles better than any other leather we work with.
It has a visible natural grain and a little more body than lambskin. Over the first weeks of wear it moulds to your fingers and then holds that shape, rather than stretching out of it. That is why a deerskin glove that has been worn for a season feels as if it had been made for your hand.
Deerskin, lambskin or peccary: how do they compare?
| Leather | Our source | Softness | Durability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deerskin | Finland | High | Very high | Driving and everyday wear |
| Lambskin / nappa | Italy | Very high | Moderate | Formal wear and a slim line |
| Peccary | Peru | Highest | High | The finest glove you can own |
Lambskin is thinner and smoother and sits closer under a tailored sleeve, but it is less forgiving of daily knocks. Peccary is softer still, and rarer. Deerskin is the practical middle: soft enough to forget you are wearing it, tough enough to wear every day. We compare the first two in detail in lambskin vs deerskin gloves for winter.
Are deerskin gloves warm enough for winter?
Yes, with the right lining. In winter the leather's job is to stop the wind; the warmth comes from what is inside.
- Unlined — the most feel at the wheel. Right for driving and mild days.
- Cashmere — warm without bulk, and still thin enough to hold a steering wheel or a phone.
- Rabbit fur — the warmest lining we sew in, best for real cold on foot.
Our men's deerskin winter gloves with cashmere lining come in eight colours: camel, red, navy blue, yellow, grey, orange, black and taupe.
Which deerskin gloves should you choose?
- For driving — unlined, close-cut deerskin driving gloves: full-finger, crochet-backed or fingerless.
- For everyday winter wear — deerskin with a cashmere lining.
- For real cold — deerskin with rabbit fur.
We work deerskin in around fifteen colours. You will find every style, for men and for women, in our deerskin gloves collection.
How should deerskin gloves fit?
Close, not tight. The glove should sit snugly across the knuckles, and your fingertips should reach the ends of the fingers without pressing against them. Because deerskin moulds to the hand with wear, a new pair should feel close from the start rather than roomy.
Measure around the knuckles, excluding the thumb, and compare with our sizing chart. Men's sizes run from 7.5 to 10 and women's from 6.5 to 8.5; lined and unlined gloves are cut to the same size. If you fall between two sizes, write to us before ordering. If no standard size fits, we make to measure: the workshop needs up to five days, and delivery within the EU takes 8–12 days in total. Bespoke driving gloves start from €110.
How do you care for deerskin gloves?
Very little, and never with heat. If they get wet, blot them, put them on for a moment to reshape them, then let them dry flat at room temperature — never on a radiator or with a hairdryer. Clean marks with a soft cloth wrung out in lukewarm water, and never put them in a washing machine. Conditioning is rarely needed; if an unlined pair feels dry after several winters, a very small amount of colourless balm is enough. Store them flat in a dry drawer, not in plastic. The full routine is in our guide to caring for leather gloves.
Frequently asked questions
Are deerskin gloves waterproof?
No, but rain and snow will not harm them. Let them dry slowly at room temperature, flat and away from any heat source.
Do deerskin gloves stretch?
They mould to your hand with wear and then keep that shape, rather than stretching out of it. Choose a pair that feels close from the start.
Can I return deerskin gloves?
Standard sizes can be returned within 30 days. Pairs made to measure cannot be returned.
Free shipping across the European Union, delivered in 3–7 days with tracking included.