no1mad 

I wore gloves when I used to bike commute and now I've started wearing them on my walks. I do it for a couple of reasons:

-As my vision goes, I've noticed that the frequency of tripping over rocks, uneven pavement, tree limbs, and other things has increased. I haven't taken a tumble yet, but it is just a matter of time and the last thing I want to do is to get road rash, have goat heads embed themselves, or cover my hands with mud (or some other brown organic material...eww) when attempting to break a fall.

-They come in handy when encountering low hanging tree limbs or overgrown brush.

Anyone else?

Artkansas 

In winter I wear gloves when I'm sleeping to keep my hands warmer. And I've been known to forget to take my cycling gloves off when shopping or running errands.

wipekitty

I'm not big on gloves - unless it's to protect my hands against cold or rain.

Cycling gloves never made any sense to me until I lived in the South. I mean - what's wrong with some gnarly calluses on your hands? These days, I try to avoid longer rides in particularly hot weather - sweaty palms are just not right.

I-Like-To-Bike

Have you considered wearing a helmet also due to your increased frequency of tripping over rocks, uneven pavement, tree limbs, and other things?

Artkansas 

Nothing. For me, after a few decades of riding, I needed some padding to protect my hands from road shock.

no1mad 

Frankly, I don't see the need. I'm walking and if I do take a tumble, it will most likely be towards the front and I've got two good arms that will act as shock absorbers if I can't regain my balance.

no1mad 

Ever 'skin a knee'? Now imagine that happening to the palm of your hand- been there, done that as a child. That is why I tried to ride with gloves as much as possible.

Besides, I'm in OK- my palms would be sweating after 10 minutes anyway, and some gloves have a terry cloth/microfiber insert on the back of the glove that can be used to wipe sweat away from the forehead/eyes.

Roody

Oh...I thought that was to wipe your nose.

wahoonc

I have worn cycling gloves for a long time, after I tore up the palms on both hands. We strongly recommend that our guys wear gloves at work, so I have to set an example I have gotten in the habit of carrying lightweight abrasion gloves in my back pocket and put them on anytime I need to handle anything that has rough edges or surfaces. Seldom wear them while walking unless it is cold.
@no1mad... I don't think a helmet while walking is a bad thing, especially if you are unsteady on your feet. There are some really nice helmets out there that don't look like helmets. I have had a couple of friends end up in the hospital with concussions after taking a tumble while walking, one had a known balance issue the other tripped over something in the dark. I consider walking to be a low risk sport as I do cycling. I also believe in both cases wearing a helmet is a personal choice. Now about all them people dying in car accidents from head injuries?....



Aaron

Machka 

When cycling, I use gloves (short finger in summer, long finger in winter) ... and I use a helmet.

When I'm not cycling, I don't like wearing gloves unless I absolutely have to ... like when it is freezing cold. I also don't like wearing hats. I'm not even all that keen on much in the way of clothing in general. In an ideal world, we'd live in a place warm enough and remote enough I could go about in next to nothing most of the time.

Roody

One year we had a bad spell of cool rainy weather. My good riding gloves never had a chance to dry out and I didn't want to spend the money for another pair. So I bought a bunch of cheap cotton work gloves at the hardware store--I think it was 6 pairs for five bucks. I stuffed them all in a jacket pocket. When one pair soaked through after a few miles of riding, I would swap them for a dry pair. The six pairs were good for three or four hours of riding. When I got home I would throw them in the dryer and be ready to ride out again.

When the weather is colder, I sometimes wear work gloves over my riding gloves to keep them drier and cleaner. I also keep a pair in my backpack in case I have to mess with the greasy parts on my way to work or a meeting.

To answer the OP's question, I do not wear gloves when I'm not ridding unless it's cold.

I-Like-To-Bike

And frankly I haven't found a need to wear gloves when I ride a bicycle or walk, unless it is to keep warm. I am probably older than you and have been riding for 61 years and walking for even a longer period.

I do see one middle aged fellow in town who does wear a helmet while he walks outside. He is disabled and uses a cane to help his shaky mobility; since he seems susceptible to falls at walking speed (or is worried about them,) a helmet makes sense. Maybe he should consider gloves too.