In this buyer’s guide, we will discuss our findings after we’ve tested various tactical gloves available in the market today. We will discuss their key features, unique advantages and disadvantages, and key factors that might affect your purchase decision.
Here are our top 11 picks for the best tactical gloves in 2020.
Top 11 Best Tactical Gloves in 2020
Tactical 5.11 Men’s Hard Time Gloves
Key Features:
- TacticalTouch technology for precision fingertips
- Reinforced finger joints
- Thermoplastic knuckle plates with articulation
- Seamless goatskin material for the palm area for maximum comfort, durability, and flexibility
- Kevlar-knit fabric back panel
- Neoprene hook and loop closure with reinforced pull tab
- Available in 2 color options: black and coyote
Pros
- Kevlar fabric back, strong and durable
- Awesome-looking, great aesthetics overall
- Goatskin leather for the palm, durable and anti-slip
- Strong knuckle protection, thermoplastic material
- Reinforced finger joints
- Reinforced pull tab hook closure
Cons
- Not compatible for touchscreen devices
Dollar Rating $$$
Our Review:
Aesthetics-wise, the Tactical 5.11 Men’s Hard Time gloves are offered with a tactical, professional-looking design, and the design is arguably one of these gloves’ key highlights, making them one of the favorite choices for many people. Made from a combination of goatskin (for precision and comfort) and knitted kevlar (for extra protection), however, the aesthetic factor isn’t the only thing offered by the Tactical 5.11 Men’s Hard Time Gloves.
Many users have reported that these gloves might need some time to “fit” properly to your hands. When you wear it the first time, you might feel them too tight, but they will stretch after you wear them several times.
The downside of this pair, however, is that you can’t use them to operate your touchscreen devices.
Mechanix Wear MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves
Key Features:
- Armortex® palm reinforcement panel
- Impact Guard™ foam padding with EVA knuckle protection
- Form-fitting TrekDry® with MultiCam® camouflage for comfortable and cool hand protection
- Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) finger protection and knuckle guard
- Embossed and textured thumb and index finger areas for additional grip
- Dual-layer internal fingertip reinforcements for additional durability
Pros
- Breathable fabric for extra coolness and comfort
- Seamless palm area for extra comfort
- Flexible material to provide great dexterity
- Machine washable and won’t shrink after a machine wash
- Thermoplastic rubber closure material, flexible and durable
Cons
- Bulky rubber velcro on the wrist area
- Relatively thin material
Dollar Rating $$
Our Review:
One of the most professionally-made tactical gloves with their thermoplastic rubber closure material, making this pair one of the most durable and can protect your fingers and knuckles properly without sacrificing comfort. The Mechanix Wear MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves are also often used in military usages, including by the US Navy.
These gloves also feature ventilated fabrics to ensure breathability, so your hands won’t sweat too much and enhance the overall comfort. Also, these gloves also protect your hands from impact damage by providing injection-molded knuckle guards. They are also machine-washable so you wouldn’t need to worry about cleaning them properly.
However, the Mechanix Wear MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves are relatively thin, so they might not be a good fit for colder climates, and might also be vulnerable to cutting/slashing damages.
HIKEMAN
Key Features:
- Microfiber material combined with stretch nylon material: lightweight, anti-slip, durable and fast-drying
- Rubber, reinforced palm area to protect hands from impact and abrasion
- Improved touching functionality on three fingers (including the middle fingers), can use touchscreen devices with convenience
- Breathable material with adjustable wrist design for functionality and comfort
- Great for various outdoor activities, extreme sports, and heavy industrial activities
Pros
- Breathable fabric for extra coolness and comfort
- Great impact resistance with a one-piece, anatomically-shaped Thermal Rubber material
- The thermal rubber is not too hard but also not too soft with comfortable cushioning performance
- Relatively affordable price, but still offers a versatile design
- Can easily use it to operate touchscreen smartphone devices, including with the middle fingers
- Nicely stitched with adjustable wrist design
Cons
- The velcro can wear off quite easily
- Not fire resistant
Dollar Rating $
Our Review:
The HIKEMAN Touch Screen Full Finger Gloves are made from breathable stretch nylon to ensure maximum comfort when wearing them, which is combined with a microfiber material to make this glove an ultra-lightweight, anti-slip, and long-lasting pair.
Another key highlight of this pair is that you can quite comfortably operate touchscreen devices with the HIKEMAN Touch Screen Full Finger GlovesDollar Rating. So, if you’d like to use your smartphones often while wearing your tactical gloves, this pair might be a great choice for you.
Also, this pair of gloves offer a pretty decent level of protection on the knuckle areas—for abrasion protection—, providing these gloves with heavy-duty capabilities to function properly in rough activities. A minor downside, however, is that these gloves aren’t fire-resistant.
Condor
Key Features:
- Premium-quality goatskin leather material
- Dual-layered reinforced leather on knuckle and palm areas
- Interwoven spandex for a closer fit and improved dexterity
- Padded palms, finger backs, and knuckle areas
- Motion-contoured padding
- More secure fit with adjustable neoprene cuffs
Pros
- A lot of different colors options, with minimalist and cool design
- Contoured padding for extra comfort and dexterity
- Goatskin leather and spandex for improved durability
- Can quite easily use the Condor Tactician with touchscreen devices (especially with the index finger)
- Adjustable neoprene cuffs
Cons
- Knuckle protection kind of lacking compared to others
Dollar Rating $$
Our Review:
Made from the best goatskin material and is designed with cool and attractive aesthetics, making the Condor Tactician Tactile Glove one of the most favorite choices for many people. The goatskin material is combined with interwoven spandex to improve dexterity, for example, to assist your shooting activities. This is combined with double-layer reinforced leather on the palm and knuckle areas for additional protection.
Another additional benefit of the Condor Tactician Tactile Glove is that it can properly operate touchscreen devices. These gloves are available in various color choices, that when combined with their contoured padding, offer a professional-looking aesthetics.
A minor downside from this pair of gloves is the relatively lackluster knuckle protection compared to other alternatives in this list, so it might not be an appropriate choice for heavy-duty activities—but it does mean an additional dexterity—-.
Hatch NS430 Specialist
Key Features:
- Extreme-grip patches, tidily sewn into the fingertips and palm
- Hook and loop closure system for a comfortably snug fit
- Synsi-feel synthetic leather material to provide a more precise feel and accuracy
- Neoprene material for comfort, dexterity, and breathability
- Thin and low-profile for heavy-duty and shooting use.
Pros
- Available in a wide range of sizes
- Hook and loop closure system for an easy and secure fit
- Ideal for low-temperature conditions
- Very flexible to allow excellent dexterity while maintaining softness
- Excellent snug fit for performance and comfort
Cons
- Not ideal for warmer weather (bad breathability factor)
Dollar Rating $$
Our Review:
One of the available pairs of gloves that excel in all kinds of weather, as the name Hatch NS430 Specialist All-Weather Shooting/Duty Gloves suggests. This pair of glove, for example, can effectively prevent hand cramps when you use them in extremely cold climates.
Made mainly from neoprene materials (with excellent insulation), ensuring this pair of gloves to keep our hands warm at all times. Also, it offers really comfortable textures to assist your flexibility and dexterity.
Another key advantage of these gloves is its very strong, anti-slip grip, which can be a very important factor if you wear these tactical gloves for shooting and driving, among other activities.
However, the thick insulation of these gloves also means a lack of breathability, so it might not be comfortable to wear these gloves in warmer conditions, which can allow your palms to sweat a lot during the activity.
5.11 Tactical Gloves
Key Features:
- Webbing pull tab for fanger storage
- Heat-embossed, padded and perforated neoprene knuckle protection
- High dexterity fit
- 3 Ironclad-rolled fingertips for touchscreen use
- Conductive microfibre materials on thumb, index and middle fingers to use with touchscreen
- Synthetic suede and nylon spandex
Pros
- High-quality material for durability, comfort, and functionality
- Nice grip especially for handling guns
- Very durable
- Very effective in preventing palm from sweating
- Palm and fingertips reinforcement
Cons
- Relatively thick compared to its competitors
- The cuff sometimes won’t work properly after several uses
Dollar Rating $
Our Review:
The 5.11 Competition Shooting Glv Men’s Gloves are made from velcro to ensure stronger grip and handling, while at the same time also offer reinforced palm and finger for protection and added dexterity for shooters. There is also the TacticalTouch fingertip feature to allow shooters to properly feel the trigger.
Also, pretty good durability with relatively tight and thick design, but it won’t disrupt your grip performance. The pair also offers pretty good breathability to keep out dampness, so it will your hands from sweating. You can also wear the 5.11 Competition Shooting Glv Men’s Gloves to operate touchscreen devices with three different fingers (thumb, index, and middle fingers).
A minor downside is its thickness and the relatively lackluster cuff design, but the 5.11 Competition is still a pretty decent choice especially for shooting purposes.
Under Armour
Key Features:
- AX Suede™ synthetic leather material for the palms, comfortable and durable
- Custom-fitted, fitting your skin comfortably without squeezing
- Strategically-placed silicone in palm for extra grip
- Neoprene cuffs
- Touchscreen compatible
- Neoprene/Polyester
Pros
- Very comfortable and effective to use with touchscreen devices
- Durable, with great impact protection
- Great-looking as expected from Under Armour, minimalist design that doesn’t look too military looking
Cons
- Stitching not very strong
- Might wear out after a machine wash
Dollar Rating $$
Our Review:
Under Armour is obviously a pretty well-known brand in the world of sports equipment and fashion, and here Under Armour offers its version of tactical operation or hunting gloves. Made of synthetic leather for the palm areas, allowing the “second-skin” feel and comfort while also maintaining durability. There is also the addition of pretty thick padding and strategically-placed silicone to improve your grip.
You can wear the Under Armour gloves to operate touchscreen devices rather comfortably, but a minor downside is that you’d need to be careful in washing these gloves since the stitching can come loose rather easily.
PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Alpha Gloves
Key Features:
- Specifically designed so only one layer of material contacts your grip, single-layer multi-piece palm design
- The thinnest available Clarino™ material available, only on the trigger finger for ultimate sensitivity.
- Conductive thumb and trigger finger for touchscreen use without losing dexterity
- Interior material is ventilated for maximum breathability. The outer material is Clarino™ for durability.
- Low profile hook closure system, reducing abrasion
- Enhanced flexibility and ventilation on each finger joints, dual flex joint for the trigger finger for maximum dexterity while shooting
- Bar-tacked par-cord pull loop system
- Lightweight short cuff for comfort and convenience
- Micro-suede nose wipe for cold-weather drip
- Ventilation holes in palms and fingers for increased breathability
- Isolated edge padding for extra protection without compromising grip and dexterity
- Wrap-over fingertips for additional comfort and protection
- Stretch ballistic nylon reduces pressure on the seams, thin padding takes the edge off of impacts.
- US Special Ops Approved
Pros
- Maximum reliability for touch screen use without losing tactile dexterity.
- Available in various colors, great aesthetics with cool design
- Compact knuckle padding for maximum protection and flexibility
- Extra dexterity on the shooter finger
- Optimized for shooter grip
Cons
- No half-finger option
- Not very durable for rough usage
- Not a great option for extremely cold conditions (not very effective in keeping the hands warm)
Dollar Rating $
Our Review:
The PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Alpha Gloves are built with pretty high standards to meet the requirements of United States Special Operations, this is why the PIG Full Dexterity Tactical gloves are preferred by many. Made of pretty unique material choices with good breathability while still maintaining dexterity and protection.
Pretty strong knuckle padding to provide enough impact protection without sacrificing comfort and dexterity, and the index finger part is made with just one single layer so it can provide more tactile feedback for your shooting grip. Also, a decent touchscreen capability.
Some downsides fort he PIG Tactical Gloves are that it’s not that durable and they might not provide enough insulation for colder conditions
BLACKHAWK
Key Features:
- Secure fit with backhand and wrist adjustments
- Elastic wrist for dexterity and secure fit
- Easy to put in with nylon loop on the wrist, easy to attach carabiners
- Molded, hard-shell knuckle and finger protection, leather-covered material
- Kevlar material for flash/flame protection
- Dual-layer cowhide leather palm and fingertip reinforcements
Pros
- Solid construction and very good overall quality
- Ergonomic design for maximum dexterity
- Leather-covered, hard molded hard-shell knuckles
- A heavy-duty design ideal for tactical operations
- Combination of lightweight Kevlar and leather
- Dual-layer cowhide leather palm and leather reinforced fingertips
- Fits snugly like a second skin
- Adjustable Velcro for wrist adjustments and a secure fit
- Nylon loop on gauntlet for attachment to a carabiner
Cons
- Not machine-washable
- Not warm enough for very cold weather
- Available only in two different sizes
- Not touchscreen compatible
- Stitching can come loose easily
Dollar Rating $$
Our Review:
Multi-purpose tactical gloves that are specially designed for maximum comfort for their wearers. The BLACKHAWK Men’s S.O.L.A.G. Heavy Duty gloves offer a superior grip to handle weapons and heavy-duty tools while maintaining tactile feel. A mixture of kevlar and leather materials also offer a pretty decent level of protection.
The palm area is covered with dual-layer cowhide and hard-shell knuckle padding to provide extra protection against impact and slashing damage. They also offer a pretty well-designed velcro strip to ensure snug fit and comfort.
These gloves, however, don’t offer waterproof capabilities and also don’t include any insulation, so they aren’t appropriate enough to wear during colder climates. Also, you can’t use a washing machine with these gloves.
Glove Station
Key Features:
- Molded knuckle protection, to protect your knuckles from harsher environments
- Well-built with double-stitched seams throughout to be tough and durable
- Added textured fabric in the inner palm areas to enhance grips
- Leather material for index and middle fingertips for added dexterity and precision
- Full-length padded mesh throughout the back of the glove to let moisture out
- Rubberized air ventilation to improve airflow for faster heat dissipation
Pros
- Very durable with double-stitched seams throughout the gloves
- Great impact protection with its molded knuckle
- Provides extra grip with added textured fabric
- Improved dexterity
- Great breathability and enhanced air circulation
Cons
- Stitching can come loose with harsh usage
- Not touch-screen compatible
Dollar Rating $
Our Review:
The Glove station tactical gloves are made using sturdy material and are specially built to last longer than other gloves in this list. They also offer pretty decent protection while maintaining a great amount of flexibility and dexterity, making them a great choice for tactical operations. There is the hard knuckle plates that can properly cushion your knuckles from extreme impact, and are made using double-stitched seams throughout the gloves, not only to ensure sturdiness but also longevity.
There is also the rough inner palm clothing grip to improve the tactile feeling of your grip, so you can be confident with the gloves’ comfort level and dexterity while out in the field.
Reebow Tactical
Key Features:
- Microfiber material for extra durability
- Gloves come with reinforced palm and molded knuckle protection
- Lightweight with anti-tear
- Capable of fash drying
- Adjustable wrists to ensure snug fit and comfort
Pros
- Well-stitched, great overall quality
- Versatile and can be used for various uses,
- Tan design similar to camouflage
- Comes in different sizes according to your needs
- Great dexterity for shooting purposes
- Great grip with reinforced palm and leather materials
- Machine washable
Cons
- A little bulky so can be uncomfortable with trigger guards
- Not compatible with touchscreen devices
Dollar Rating $
Our Review:
Made of microfiber materials for durability combined with stretch nylon materials for comfort and breathability, making this Reebow Tactical one of the best military-grade gloves choices that are both durable and flexible at the same time. Also, the Reebow Tacitacl offers an anti-slip surface and an adjustable wrist wrap.
As heavy-duty gloves, the Reebow Tactical offers hard-shell protection for the knuckle areas and reinforced palms for extra protection. These gloves are also weather-resistant, lightweight, easy to dry, a versatile choice for various activities from driving, outdoor activities, and shooting.
Great design and durable while maintaining softness and dexterity.
FAQ Section
What Gloves do the Navy SEALs use?
First of all, the US Navy doesn’t regulate a certain brand/type of tactical gloves as a part of their uniform, so different Navy SEALs might use different brands, and in fact, they might wear a wide range of different gloves depending on the mission.
In general, however, they are looking for gloves that can keep their hands warmer while providing extra protection for impact damages especially to the back of the hand.
With that being said, the Mechanix Wear MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves are among the popular choices for Navy SEALs.
What Gloves do The Military Use?
Similar to the above question, most modern soldiers in most countries aren’t regulated to wear a specific type of gloves (and might not be required to wear one during missions).
The traditional option for military use is leather gloves for extra protection, although they tend to be uncomfortable with bad breathability, and so modern soldiers are often looking for more comfortable and versatile options without sacrificing too much protection and dexterity.
The Mechanix Wear MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves are again a popular choice, but the Tactical 5.11 Men’s Hard Time Gloves are also popular for its comfort, durability and extra protection.
Are Tactical Gloves Warm?
In general, there are three different types of tactical gloves:
- Gloves designed for warmth, with added insulation materials
- Goves designed for comfort/breathability, mainly by adding ventilation throughout the gloves
- A hybrid between the two.
When we reviewed the different products above, we especially discussed in the pros and cons sections which gloves are suitable for warmer climates (improved breathability), which are suitable for colder conditions (with insulation), and which are versatile enough for both conditions.
What are Tactical Gloves Used For?
Tactical gloves are, in a nutshell, any gloves that are designed to meet the operational needs of military operatives and police officers, so in general, there are three main qualities to look for:
- Protection, ensuring the gloves provide enough level of impact resistance, mainly involving thick leather on palms and Kevlar on the back of the hand. These materials are sufficient to protect against impact and cutting/slashing threats
- Dexterity and flexibility, the gloves shouldn’t hinder the operative’s ability to aim and shoot weapons, as well as performing close-quarter combat (including using knives).
- Comfort, including providing enough warmth or ventilation depending on climates and mission conditions
Are hard knuckle gloves legal?
This answer will depend on your location, but hard knuckle gloves (that can be categorized as tactical gloves) are legal in the U.S., unlike brass knuckle that is illegal by regulations.
What are tactical gloves made of?
Tactical gloves can be made of velcro, synthetic leather, and microfiber materials, among others. You might check the buyer’s guide section further below about these different materials and their unique benefits compared to the other types.
Buyer’s Guide: What To Look For When Purchasing Tactical Gloves
With all the different pair of tactical gloves available in the market, including the ones reviewed in this list, making your purchase decision can be a very overwhelming process.
With that being said, here we will discuss the four most important factors you should consider when choosing between different tactical gloves so you can make an informed decision.
Let us begin.
Defining Your Budget
Knowing your budget—and sticking to it—- is very important not only in choosing a pair of tactical gloves but also when purchasing any products.
Tactical gloves are available in various price tags with various sets of features and different levels of quality. On the one hand, you’d want to spend enough to get a pair that can cater to your needs and are durable enough. On the other hand, however, you don’t want to spend more than you need to.
In general, the more expensive a product is, the more features and quality it would offer (but not always). It’s more important to choose based on the actual value rather than simply looking for the most affordable product available. Nowadays, we can rather easily check the online reviews for the gloves you are interested in, and you can check whether the seller offers free return policy or exchange policy if the gloves aren’t what you expected (or if they don’t fit properly).
Understand Your Needs
It’s really important to first define your needs, and what you will be doing often with the tactical gloves. Really understanding this will significantly help in deciding which pair is the best for you.
There are many different potential uses with tactical gloves from shooting activities (and other military usages) to driving to performing heavy lifting and other rough activities. In general, tactical gloves can be used to perform any activities where you’d need additional protection to your hands and improved grip.
With that being said, understanding your needs is arguably the most important factor to consider so you can properly determine which type of tactical gloves you’d need. For example, if you are going to use the gloves to drive your motorcycle or ATV, then you’d need a pair of gloves that offer more grip and also hard knuckles protection to protect your hands during impact. On the other hand, if you are going to use the gloves for winter hunting, then you’d need a pair with good insulation to keep your hands warm and prevent cramps.
Choosing The Right Size
The size of your gloves will be very important to ensure they can protect your hands properly and assist your activities without sacrificing accuracy and dexterity. It’s important to know that a lot of gloves will be a little tight when you first wear them, but they will stretch after several uses and become more comfortable to wear. Instead, gloves that fit perfectly at first wear might be a little too loose after you wear them for several weeks or months.
Tactical gloves that are too tight or too loose might affect their functionality, and obviously, comfort. Nowadays, however, most brands will provide a comprehensive size chart online, so potential buyers can have an easier time to check which size will be their perfect fit.
We can also measure our hand size using a soft tape measure. Simply place the end of a soft tape measure around the middle of the palm, and wrap it all the way around. This is your hand size. It’s important to note that your dominant hand might be slightly bigger than the other, so you might want to measure both of them.
If the gloves’ seller offers a return policy, you can order two different sizes and return the pair that doesn’t fit properly. Also, keep in mind that the gloves might be available in men’s, women’s and unisex sizes that might differ significantly from each other.
Consider The Different Materials
Tactical gloves can be made of these different materials, each with their own qualities and unique advantages:
- Microfiber: Microfiber is actually an umbrella term used to describe various combination materials (that can vary with different manufacturers). The main quality of microfiber materials is their breathability. You can wear microfibers in warmer conditions and still be comfortable. Also, microfiber materials are machine-washable and will dry up pretty quickly. Also, they are fairly resistant to tear with anti-static properties, so they are quite durable. Most microfiber gloves are equipped with extra padding on the palm, fingers, and knuckles.
- Velcro: Another popular material choice for tactical gloves, velcro is known for its durability. You can wear it for longer, and so velcro tactical gloves are a great choice if you are looking to wear them in rougher conditions and to carry heavy loads. However, they tend to be thicker than other materials, and this might limit your hands’ movements. The thickness of velcro gloves might limit your dexterity and so they are not very well suited for activities that require precision with small objects, including shooting activities.
- Synthetic Leather: Many manufacturers use synthetic leather in combination with other materials (especially microfiber). For example, only the palm area is made of synthetic leather, and other parts are made of microfiber. The main quality of synthetic material is its thinness and how it closely fits with the skin to produce a “second skin” experience. So, they are very comfortable to wear and can provide very tactile feedback, and you can use it to control touchscreen devices while also providing a good amount of grip.
Conclusion
The top 11 best tactical gloves for small spaces we have shared above are our top picks after we’ve tested various other products available today.
Our overall number one pick here goes to the Mechanix Wear MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves, while the Hatch NS430 Specialist All-Weather Shooting/Duty Gloves is our recommendation if you are looking for a pair you can wear in all weather conditions. However, all models presented are great tactical gloves with their own advantages and disadvantages.
We hope you’ve gathered enough information from this buying guide, and can make a better purchase decision with what we’ve shared.
