I always wear gloves and a helmet. The gloves I wash regularly because they get stinky. I wear half finger gloves in the summer and when it gets colder I have fully finger gloves. Padding doesn't seem to make much of a difference for me. Gloves absorb sweat, have snot wipe areas in addition to preventing road rash. Road rash can be quite debilitating. Hands are an integral part of daily life and important to protect.