Tactical gear should deliver on two fundamental functions: keep you protected, while maintaining your ability to remain mobile. Tactical gloves are no different. From combat gloves to shooting gloves, the best tactical gloves create a protective barrier for your hands and are designed to keep your digits dexterous. If you take your gear seriously, then the type of gloves you use to protect your hands should seriously be considered. We’ve gone through the glove options, and assembled our expert picks for a variety of tactical scenarios.
How to Choose Tactical Gloves
When selecting a pair of tactical gloves, the primary features to consider are glove material, knuckle armor, padding and insulation. Most tactical gloves are made from microfiber, Velcro or leather. Material like microfiber enable a glove to be more breathable, while leather creates a bit more durability. Padding should also be considered because, depending on the amount or placement, it can create the added protection you’re looking for but limit your ability to complete certain tasks with your gloves on. If you are expected to handle a weapon, the type of padding used to construct the palm and the amount of padding used throughout your trigger finger are extremely important features to consider. If you need a pair of cold weather tactical gloves, the insulation can be both helpful and hindering. On one hand, you want a pair that has enough insulation to keep your hands warm, but not too much that you cannot execute tasks that require you to be nimble. They certainly aren’t doing you any good if you can’t keep them on in the field.
Oakley Tactical Gloves
Oakley’s Factory Pilot 2.0 Gloves were the result of the Department of Defense asking the company to develop an upgraded version of its previous glove. And if that isn’t enough of a selling point, these TAA-compliant gloves now come with a full-grain leather palm and ventilation system.
Starting with the fingers, the gloves feature a Unobtainium surface on the fingertips as well as the palm for a superior grip. The gloves consist of a four-way stretch panel to create the perfect fit, while the mid cuffs ensure a full range of motion. The knuckles are protected using a carbon fiber knuckle plate and the entire hand is enmeshed in a goatskin leather blend. The gloves were obviously designed with the most extreme missions in mind.
Shooting Gloves by Mechanix Wear
The Mechanix Wear TAA M-Pact 3 Gloves are also TAA-compliant and are perfect for military and law enforcement duty. The best part about these tactical shooting gloves is the thermoplastic rubber that keeps a snug fit around your hand and the Armortex fingertip grip. This combination allows you to keep your hands secure while you are completing detailed tasks, like manipulating your firearms.
What’s more, the M-Pact gloves feature additional padding and knuckle protection that runs from the knuckle down to the tips of your fingers. You benefit from an extra layer of protection, while still being able to fit your finger inside the trigger guard.
Hard Knuckle Gloves by HWI
The HWI Hard Knuckle Touch Screen Tactical Gloves leave nothing to the imagination with its name. The gloves are part of HWI’s Touch Extreme series of gloves, which combine the rugged and protective features of a hard knuckle glove with the textured and touchscreen-enabled leather for maximum tactility. As the description implies, you won’t have to remove your gloves to use your device. If the knuckle protection isn’t enough, the highly abrasion-resistant Clarino grip material creates an incredibly tough exterior.
Cold Weather Gloves by Oakley
Ever since Oakley started their “Standard Issue” line, we’ve found ourselves adding their products to more and more of our “Best-Of” lists. The Oakley Polartec Midweight Gloves are yet another product that continues to impress. The glove is crafted with a 53% polyester, 35% nylon and 12% spandex material, which makes this a midweight glove that can handle some needle-dropping temperatures. The no-slip silicon palm feature gives you an added layer for grip in hand-numbing environments. And with Oakley’s patented stretch chassis, you’ll keep your mobility while your hands remain cozy.
Need more than just gloves? We just published our Best Tactical Gear of 2020 Guide. This guide is full of the best tactical gear that recently hit the market. Check it out and we’re sure you’ll find something new to field test.
