Keeping your hands protected is essential for mission accomplishment.
It does not matter if that mission is a day at the range or a day hiking with your friends and family.
Tactical gloves offer you a level of protection that standard gloves can not provide.
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What Features Should You Look For in Tactical Gloves?
Tactical gloves offer several advantages over standard gloves and are designed to be tough, durable, and offer additional protection against the elements and injury.
If you want to protect your hands while keeping them agile, tactical gloves are a must.
Quality
To ensure that you are getting the best quality, you must purchase gloves that have been tested and reviewed.
The brands on the following list are known for their high quality and performance.
Durability
Nothing is more frustrating than going to the range or other activity and having your gloves rip apart in front of you on their first wear.
Abrasions from normal functions such as pulling magazines out of their pouches and grabbing gear out of your pack will cause extra wear and tear on your gloves.
Some gloves, such as the ones from 5.11 Tactical, are imported from Europe, where they have standards for protective gloves.
The European Standard for Protective Gloves EN 388 from 2016 gives a rating on various traits such as puncture, cut, and abrasion resistance on a scale from 1 – 5.
Features
The primary function of tactical gloves is to keep your hands safe from injury and give you a firm grip on your firearm or tactical gear.
Some gloves feature extra impact resistance by having hard shell knuckle plates, while others offer flame or cut resistance.
Many older tactical glove models are not compatible with using touchscreen devices such as tablets or cellphones.
However, many new models of tactical gloves allow you to use your smart devices without needing to take off your gloves, which is very convenient.
The following list is the 10 best tactical gloves that are available.
#1. Hard Times 2 Glove
- Materials: Goatskin
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Kangaroo
- Price: $59.99
5.11 Tactical’s Hard Times 2 Glove provides excellent protection against the harshest of environments.
The gloves are ergonomically designed to provide additional impact protection with two molded hard knuckle plates.
The gloves have an EN388:2016 rating of 3011XP, which means the gloves have excellent protection against abrasion damage and offer tear and puncture resistance.
It also passed the new EN388:2016 guidelines for impact protection.
You do not need to worry about removing your gloves to use your phone since they have a goatskin palm that is touchscreen compatible.
The gloves come with a 4-way stretch breathable top and adjustable hook and loop wrist closures for additional comfort.
The gloves are also Trade Agreement Act compliant and constructed with materials from countries with fair and open trade.
They are available at 5.11 Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.511Tactical.com
#2. Men’s Pro Knuckle Glove
- Materials: Goatskin
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Coyote
- Price: $49.99
First Tactical’s Men’s Pro Knuckle Glove is designed to provide you maximum protection, durability, comfort, and function.
Each hard TPK knuckle in the gloves is isolated to provide extra mobility and flexibility in your hands for precise movement and impact protection.
The freedom of movement makes it seem like you do not have gloves on at all.
The knuckles also include neoprene padding for extra protection from bacteria by offering ventilation.
With TouchPoint technology, you can easily use your cellphone or other touchscreen devices without taking off your gloves.
The gloves are designed with midweight materials and are made with stretchable snag-proof materials to provide extra durability.
They are available at First Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.FirstTactical.com
#3. Ironsight Sensor Gloves
- Materials: Synthetic Leather, Polyester
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Coyote
- Price: $45.00
The Ironsight Sensor Gloves are designed to provide you a lightweight and breathable glove.
The gloves offer you a comfortable wear while giving you both flexibility and freedom for precise movement.
They are crafted with breathable, quick-drying material to keep your hands dry and comfortable.
With a synthetic leather palm, you get an excellent grip with anti-slip silicone pads.
The extra grip is perfect for providing extra stability while firing your sidearm or rifle.
Another great feature is that the gloves are touchscreen compatible to allow you to use your cellphone quickly.
To firmly secure the gloves on your wrists, the gloves feature hook and loop cuff closures with a contoured wrist.
If you are looking for a lightweight glove that dries quickly, the Ironsight Sensor Gloves are a great option.
They are available from Outdoor Research. Here’s where to buy them: www.OutdoorResearch.com
#4. Taclite 3 Glove
- Materials: Elastane, Sheepskin Leather
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black
- Price: $34.99
The Taclite 3 Glove offers a lightweight design that gives you the feeling of a second skin.
The gloves are flexible, breathable, and are constructed out of 4-way stretch material for extra mobility and comfort.
These gloves are TAA compliant, and the materials come from countries that offer fair and open trade.
With adjustable hook closures, you can firmly secure the gloves to your hands for a firm grip.
The gloves come with an EN388:2016 rating of 3011X, which means it has excellent abrasion resistance and is also tear and puncture resistant.
5.11’s Taclite 3 Glove offers similar protection to the hard times but without the impact protection provided by the hard shell knuckles.
They are available at 5.11 Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.511Tactical.com
#5. Firemark Sensor Gloves
- Materials: Nomex Flame Resistance, Leather
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Coyote
- Price: $85.00
The Firemark Sensor Gloves are constructed out of Nomex Flame Resistant material.
Each glove is designed to be durable and is made out of hybrid leather and fabric finger sidewalls.
Having a firm grip is essential to a good shooting position, and the Firemark Sensor Gloves have a precision grip to give you excellent control of your weapon.
The gloves come with touchscreen compatibility to allow you to use your cellphone on the move.
With hook and loop cuff closures, you can quickly secure your gloves.
The pull loops allow you to put on your gloves in an emergency quickly.
These are the most expensive gloves on the list, but they offer excellent durability and resistance against flames, abrasions, tears, punctures, and impact damage.
They are available from Outdoor Research. Here’s where to buy them: www.OutdoorResearch.com
#6. Rope K9 Glove
- Materials: Synthetic Suede, Neoprene
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black
- Price: $44.99
5.11 Tactical’s Rope K9 Glove is specifically designed to offer superior protection for operations involving rappelling and fast roping.
Ropes can easily tear your hands apart if you are not careful.
Proper protection for your hands is a must.
If you do not have gloves up to the task, ropes can burn right through your gloves and seriously injure your hands.
To ensure maximum protection to keep your hands safe, the gloves feature a Vibram anti-friction molded palm patch and raised rails.
The gloves also include padded knuckles for impact protection.
With reinforced wrist cuffs and adjustable hook and loop closures, you can easily secure your gloves.
With a breathable top and a neoprene wrist, you get extra comfort while keeping your hands dry and free of debris.
If you only need one braking glove, you can easily pair it with a High Abrasion TAC glove.
They are available at 5.11 Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.511Tactical.com
#7. Men’s Extravert Gloves
- Materials: Goat Leather, Nylon, Wool, Polyester
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colors: Black/ Charcoal, Charcoal/ Natural
- Price: $79.00
Outdoor Research’s Men’s Extravert Gloves is designed for the harshest environments to keep your hands protected and warm.
If you are in the harsh environment of snowy mountain peaks, the Extravert Gloves offer several features to keep you warm, such as water resistance, wind resistance, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and a wool lining.
The gloves are breathable, lightweight, pre-curved construction, and have an anatomically contoured design for natural movement for extra comfort.
The gloves even feature goat leather fingertips and palms for better durability and grip.
This is the only pair of gloves on this list that would be a great pair of gloves while skiing because of their additional warming layers and wind resistance.
The elasticized wrists are designed to keep snow, moisture, and debris out.
They are available from Outdoor Research. Here’s where to buy them: www.OutdoorResearch.com
#8. 5.11 Tactical Competition Shooting Glove
- Materials: Synthetic Suede
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Ranger Green, Kangaroo
- Price: $29.99
5.11 Tactical Competition Shooting Gloves are designed to take your gun game to the next level with excellent flexibility, breathability, and dexterity.
The synthetic suede palm offers ventilation for better breathability, and the top of the glove is made with breathable 4-way stretchable material.
The gloves feature an EN388:2016 rating of 2021X, which means it has excellent abrasion and tear resistance and it offers decent puncture resistance.
The padded knuckles also offer additional impact resistance.
Much like many of the other gloves on this list, they come with touchscreen compatibility, so you do not need to take off your glove to use your phone.
The Competition Shooting Glove will provide you with a firm grip to give you an advantage over the competition.
Once you are done shooting, you can easily remove your gloves with the equipped webbing pull tab.
For $29.99, you are getting an excellent value for the level of protection and function that you are getting.
They are available at 5.11 Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.511Tactical.com
#9. Slash & Flash Protective Knuckle Glove
- Materials: Goatskin, Kevlar, Nomex
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Coyote
- Price: $59.99
Compared to the other gloves on this list, the Slash & Flash Protective Knuckle Glove by First Tactical is the only one that offers Kevlar lining.
The Kevlar lined palm offers level II cut resistance that will keep you safe while handling blades and other sharp materials.
The fingertips are not Kevlar protected, but they are still constructed with high-quality goatskin and are touchscreen friendly.
Another cool feature of the Slash and Flash Gloves is that they feature Nomex silicon overprints that offer extra flame resistance.
The gloves even offer impact resistance by offering reinforced knuckle protection.
These gloves offer superior protection in several areas and are an excellent choice for anyone looking for comfort and protection.
They are available at First Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.FirstTactical.com
#10. High Abrasion Tac Glove
- Materials: Synthetic Suede
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colors: Black, Kangaroo
- Price: $24.99
These are the cheapest gloves on the list, but that does not mean they are cheaply made.
The High Abrasion Tac Glove by 5.11 Tactical is crafted with high abrasion synthetic suede to provide extra durability and protection.
The gloves have gone through extensive testing to ensure they are durable by going through over 4000 cycles of the ASTM D3884 abrasion testing standard.
The gloves included padded knuckles to keep your hand safe from impact damage.
With this level of protection, you are ready for a day in the field, yard work, or the range.
The High Abrasion Tac Glove has a breathable top constructed out of 4-way stretch material for extra comfort.
If you need to get your gloves on fast, they are equipped with easy access hanger loops.
A downside to these gloves is that they are not compatible with touchscreens.
If touchscreen compatibility is important to you and you want to stay in this price range, go with the Competition Shooting Glove by 5.11 tactical.
They are available at 5.11 Tactical. Here’s where to buy them: www.511Tactical.com
See Also
11 Best Military Grade Tactical Flashlights
References / Resources
How To Measure The Correct Glove Size
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and has served over 18 years as a communications maintenance technician with three deployments to the Middle East.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor’s degree in Information System Security with a concentration in Digital Forensics from American Military University.
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