TacticalGear4Life is supported by its wonderful audience. When you make a purchase through our links below, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Every piece of tactical gear in a warriors arsenal is an essential piece of gear, it has to be. On mission, in theatre, out in the field, you don’t have any time to be lugging around what you don’t need. From your boots, to your clothes, to your knives, to your gloves, everything has a purpose and everything fulfills a task. Tactical gloves are no different, you need and deserve the best tactical gloves on the market in order for them to fulfill their task of being a shield for your hands, while being like a second skin in order to not reduce your dexterity.

Thankfully the gear that service men and women use has undergone many changes over the years, making the gear stronger, lighter, more functional and in every conceivable way better and more efficient. Taking our already strong and proud warriors and frontline individuals and making them stronger.

I can’t tell you how many times since I have been in the military my gloves have saved my hands! Whether its banging around on an armored vehicle, operating a weapons system and sending rounds down range, or spending countless sleepless days and nights in the field, I always, always make sure to have my gloves with me and easily accessible, cause I know I’m going to need them.

Tactical gloves are by no means your ordinary gloves, the kind your mom would be using to pull weeds or tend to the garden (although she could). They’re meant to specifically protect your hands from all the degrees of dangers one might experience on the field of battle.

Thanks to the evolution, of tactical gloves, they now meet every need you can think of and have extended far beyond the field of battle and frontline servicemen thanks to people seeing the true quality and functionality of these gloves. Tactical gloves are now in areas such as extreme sports, paintball, air soft, hiking, camping, hunting, recreational shooters, and anyone that simply loves tactical gear.

TOP 3 GLOVES

PIG (FDT) DELTA GLOVES

The PIG (FDT) DELTA gloves are my top pick for light tactical gloves. They are constantly the choice for shooting glove among the special forces community and among competition shooters. The narrow fingers and tight fit provide outstanding dexterity and feel!

MECHANIX WEAR M-PACT TACTICAL GLOVES

The MECHANIX WEAR M-PACT gloves are one of the most, if not the most popular glove among military members and tactical enthusiasts. The price point his hard to match, they provide complete protection for the back of the hand and they feel great on your hand. I personally own a few pairs of these.

OAKLEY FACTORY PILOT 2.0 GLOVES

The OAKLEY FACTORY PILOT 2.0 gloves are my third top pick for top glove. They have excellent reinforcement’s on the palm, very comfortable well molded carbon fiber knuckles, and strong nylon allowing great dexterity for a medium level glove.

Over the span of my career in the forces I’ve used many different gloves! I’ve looked at, tried on, and rejected even more! So let me share my knowledge with you, and hopefully help you pick out a pair of tactical gloves perfect for you!

I’ve curated this list of the best tactical gloves on the market because I know having the best gear helps you to be your best whether working or playing!

LIGHT GLOVES

MAGPUL TECHNICAL GLOVE 2.0

The Magpul Technical Glove 2.0 is Magpul’s most lightweight and tactile glove in their entire lineup. They offer abrasion protection and maximum dexterity. The Technical 2.0 is has corded nylon construction for back-of-hand stretch and enhanced durability, Suede-backed thumb area to quickly remove fogging on hunting optics and glasses, a compression-molded neoprene cuff to provide a second-skin fit, and a reinforced suede pull tab.

To help you keep your grip when things are slick, they have a tough high-abrasion synthetic suede palm. The narrow forefinger maintains your range of motion and provides minimum impact on fine motor skills which allows for better control of your firearm’s trigger and selector. 

The thumb, index, and middle fingers on both hands are also touchscreen compatible. Magpul’s Technical Glove 2.0 is versatile enough to perform in almost any environment while keeping your hands from taking a beating.

When Under Armour chooses to dive into a new genre of clothing, unlike a lot of companies they really hit it out of the park. This popular sports brand made their first light tactical style glove and it competes with the absolute best of them!

They went with a synthetic leather palm and narrow fingers for a streamlined fit and maximum dexterity. The synthetic leather also provides great abrasion resistance on the palms. Laser perforations on the palm and back of the hand will aid in breathability.

The Blackout comes with a neoprene cuff and a regular Velcro strap for a secure and comfortable hold around the wrist. Under Armour’s Tech Touch print on the thumbs & fingers allows you to use touch screen devices without ever having to take your gloves off

 

OUTDOOR RESEARCH IRONSIGHT GLOVES

Legendary within the tactical community for their amazing tactility and grip. The Ironsight glove comes with a synthetic leather palm, narrow fingers, and precurved form for out of this world dexterity.

They contain Outdoor Research’s seamless Precision Grip construction, that provides their superior tactility.The palms and fingers also have anti-slip silicone pads to give superb grip whether operating in rain or shine. These gloves are quick drying and highly breathable.

They contain a pull loop to allow for an easier time putting them on and to allow you to hang them for easier storage on your tactical belt or vest. The cuff is a regular style Velcro strap providing a firm and secure fit.

5.11 TACLITE 3 GLOVES

5.11 creates products for professionals and consumers that embody their mission to create trusted gear for the most demanding missions. When precision and dexterity are paramount, the TACLITE 3 Glove provides excellent responsiveness in a lightweight, second-skin design.

The unique sheep skin leather palms and finger provide unbelievable dexterity, whether operating your firearm or giving some one a pat down you’ll be able to feel everything. It also provides good resistance to regular on the job abrasions. The Taclite 3’s come with 5.11’s special 4 way form fitting stretch fit so give a completely snug fit. Put them on and very soon, you’ll forget you’re even wearing a glove.

The synthetic nylon back provides solid breathability, keeping your hands comfortably cool in the hottest of environments.

The Taclite 3’s come with a neoprene cuff boasting a solid regular style Velcro strap for an extremely comfortable and very secure hold on your wrist. The cuff also doubles as a sweat wipe.

PIG (FDT) DELTA GLOVES

The PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Delta glove is the NUMBER 1 glove used by professional lead-slingers everywhere. They have been field tested by Special Operations Soldiers & Units time and time again. The gloves reputation speaks more than any write up ever could! 

SKD Tactical worked hard to create a thin finger tip that gives perfect touch screen capability, while still providing protection while shooting.

The entire glove is single layered for maximum dexterity. They have fold-over finger tips and tailored fourchettes for maximum comfort, as well as a sensitized trigger finger blowing for zero loss in feel when putting bullets down range.

They have a bar-tacked webbing wrist pull to aid in putting your gloves on as well as providing a manner to hang them from your tactical belt or plate carrier. The PIG FDT Deltas also come with an elastic band style cuffs to secure the gloves firmly to your wrists.

MEDIUM GLOVES

MECHANIX WEAR M-PACT TACTICAL GLOVES

Mechanix Wear M-Pact gloves are backed by a 4.7/5 rating on Amazon with almost 20K reviews. With over a decade in the military, almost every single combat arms soldier I’ve worked with has used these gloves and enjoyed them!

Thermoplastic Rubber impact protection protects the back of your hand from impact and abrasion injuries in the field. The patented Impact Guard on the first knuckle allows for easy trigger guard entry without sacrificing protection. As well the thermoplastic rubber pinch-point provides great fingertip protection.

The D3O Armortex palm padding absorbs impact through your palm and reduces hand fatigue in the field. Seamless 0.8mm synthetic leather provides the perfect blend of dexterity and durability and allows for touch screen capabilities.

Breathable TrekDry conforms to the back of your hand to help keep you cool and comfortable in the field.

The thermoplastic rubber, regular Velcro wrist strap provides light protection and a seamless fit to your wrist.

OAKLEY FACTORY PILOT 2.0 GLOVES

Oakley had already been producing tactical gloves for the American military, when the DoD approached them and asked them if they could take their current gloves…and make them BETTER!!! Oakley accepted the challenge and came out with the Factory Pilot 2.0 gloves.

The Factory Pilot 2.0 was meant to be an aggressively designed glove with a full-grain goatskin leather palm. The leather offers great abrasion resistance while in the field and the reinforced knuckles greatly protect the hand. The reinforced knuckles are made from a light weight but extremely strong carbon fiber plate molded perfectly to the wearers knuckles.

Across the entire palm and hand there is what’s called micro ventilation for added breathability. Airprene fabric also aids in keeping your hands dry as it keeps moisture away, allowing you to use your tech as the fingers are touch screen compatible.

The Factory Pilot 2.0 gloves have four-way stretch panels that deliver a more precise fit while mid-height cuffs allow for a full range of motion. The cuffs come with a standard Velcro strap for a secure fit and make for a glove that won’t be slipping around while on your hand.

For military operators who need maximum protection and minimal interference from the gloves they wear on exercise or while deployed, especially in warm weather climates, these Oakley Factory Pilot gloves are great for soldiers who expect the best.

GLOVE STATION COMBAT TACTICAL GLOVES

When the mission and conditions call for full coverage protection, the Glovestation Combat Tactical gloves fit the bill. These gloves provide the operator with the confidence and capability to not only endure, but to succeed at whatever task may be at hand.

The Combat Tactical gloves have a reinforced molded knuckle plating, built to protect your hands during extreme usage in harsh environments. They have double layered reinforced polyurethane leather palms which enhance your grip and provide very durable resistance to abrasion.

The leather fingertips also work flawlessly with touch screen devices so as to never hinder you when operating mission essential tech.

The Glovestation Combat gloves have full length padded mesh running through out the entire back of the glove to let moisture out and increase breathability. The rubberized aero vents improve air flow for faster heat dissipation.

They come with a hook and loop Velcro strap for maximum security around the cuff and pull loop to assist in the donning and doffing of the gloves.

HEAVY GLOVES

BLACKHAWK S.O.L.A.G. RECON GLOVES

Blackhawks S.O.L.A.G. Recon gloves are built to protect the hands of operators in the harshest of environments from the most brutal forces you might run into. Blackhawk has been making tactical gear for many years and supplying everybody from civi’s going mountain biking, to operators over seas.

The S.O.L.A.G Recon gloves provide dual protection in the biggest way. The glove is made from Nomex which provides the glove with flash and flame protection. It also has a Kevlar lining which gives the glove cut and slash protection.

The S.O.L.A.G. has build in rugged D30 impact foam over the knuckles including the thumb as well as covering the majority of the back of the hand

The D30 impact foam, the fingers, and the palm are all covered in durable goat skin leather. This provides excellent resistance against abrasion

The cuff has a hook and loop Velcro strap giving the Blackhawk S.O.L.A.G. the ultimate in wrist security!

Even though the S.O.L.A.G. comes with absolute maximum hand protection a tactical glove can provide, it is still touch screen compatible, making it functional on mission with todays tech!

TAC9ER HEAVY DUTY TACTICAL GLOVES

No matter what environment you find yourself in with these gloves, The TAC9ER Heavy Duty gloves will be at home. Whether your going for a hike, playing paintball with your buddies, or preforming a hostage rescue, your hands will be perfectly protected.

They come with a full inner Kevlar lining which makes the entire glove cut and slash proof. The palm is double layered with digitally textured reinforcement to aid in wear and abrasion resistance. The reinforced palm also provides added grip.

The TAC9ER comes with a hook and loop Velcro strap for maximum glove security around the wrist. The cuff is also made of neoprene for added comfort.

It has a cord loop to allow for easy donning and doffing of the gloves and to provide easy storage capability on your tactical belt or vest.

The only part of the glove with out Kevlar are the tips of the thumb, index and middle finger. This gives the TAC9ER touchscreen capabilities and slightly added sensitivity when operating a weapon.

With so many options on the market for tactical gloves, these can be some murky waters to try and navigate. What do we look for? How do we determine what’s quality and worth buying?

What makes the top tier gloves stand out from the rest?

Let me breakdown for you the most important aspects of buying tactical gloves that you and I need to consider before purchasing.

FIRST STEP TO BUYING TACTICAL GLOVES

Before you even start looking for gloves, you need to stop and ask your self a question:

What tasks will I be using my gloves for?

Are you buying gloves for mainly hand protection? Then you might need gloves with thermoplastic padding, possibly hard knuckles, reinforced leather and Kevlar lining.

Are you looking for more of a shooting glove? Perhaps then a thinner glove is what you’ll want. A glove with minimal padding, maybe no Kevlar lining, and more synthetic material than leather. Or maybe somewhere in between.

This is important to figure out before starting your buying process or at least have a good general idea. Tactical gloves will fall into one of three categories Heavy, Medium, and Light gloves. Your answers to the questions above will help determine which kind of glove you need.

General rule:

The more protection you want in a glove, the more dexterity, flexibility and sensitivity you’ll give up.

The more dexterity, flexibility and sensitivity you want, the more protection you’ll give up.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING GLOVES?

LIGHT GLOVES – MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION

Light Gloves intended for greater finger dexterity and sensitivity are not made of leather, thick nylon or Kevlar, so if that’s what you’re looking for then a light glove is not what you want. Light gloves in order to fulfill their tasks are generally made from materials such as thin nylon, spandex, Marino wool, or synthetic leather, to name the most common.

These materials allow for a tighter more natural fit. The palms and fingers should only have a single layer of material, with no reinforcement material, as to allow for greater feel and sensitivity. The goal isn’t protection it’s movement and feeling. Good quality light gloves must have double stitching, providing great strength against tearing and ripping.

Light gloves are generally intended more so for shooting, feeling the trigger, operating the mag release and tasks of that nature. I much more prefer a lighter glove when I’m spending time on the range than a thick Kevlar glove as I want to feel my rifle.

A nice and common feature to find on lighter gloves is rubberized texture grip on the palm and fingers. This is a great aid when working out side in inclement weather. Two great examples of light gloves are the PIG FDT Delta which are a favorite among special operations groups and the Magpul Technical Gloves (Magpul is a company I am personally a huge fan of).

MEDIUM GLOVES – MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION

Medium gloves are intended to be a mix between heavy gloves and light gloves. With a good medium glove you’ll get some of the protection offered by the heavy gloves, usually in the form of thermoplastic rubber or carbon fiber reinforced knuckles. As well as some of the advantages of a light glove such as greater sensitivity.

The palms and fingers will most often also have a double layer of leather or will have digitally textured reinforcement. The rest of the glove should be a mix of leather and nylon. These material are already going to lesson your dexterity and feeling, so you don’t want anything thicker.

A good cross over glove won’t have any Kevlar. With out the Kevlar liner you’ll lose a lot of the slash and hard object protection but gain a lot of dexterity.

Medium gloves don’t necessarily excel in either being super protective or providing super dexterity, but for your average soldier or civi they will meet and exceed your needs and expectations. Two very solid examples of these medium gloves are the popular M-Pact gloves from Mechanix Wear, which are a good example of thermoplastic rubber reinforced gloves while the Oakley Factory Pilot 2.0 gloves are a good example of carbon fiber knuckles.

HEAVY GLOVES – MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION

Heavy gloves intended for greater protection should have a mixture of leather and nylon. The palm and thumb area should have reinforced leather, whether it’s a second layer of leather stitched on top the base layer or whether its digitally textured reinforcement. You want that added layer of protection and padding to keep your palms and fingers safe.

Heavy gloves should also have a layer of Kevlar which is really going to add that slash and sharp object protection. Before I was in the military, I worked security in some pretty rough places, where there was constant threat of unsavory characters wielding knives and needles, in situations like that Kevlar lined gloves were a must!

Keeping everything together should be double stitching, which for those who don’t know stitching is literally just two rows side by side of stitches.

Heavy gloves must also have reinforced knuckles, possibly reinforced backs of the hand, and reinforcement over the tops of the fingers. All though there will be a little more diversity among those latter two options, but the knuckles is a must.

The gloves should have moulded knuckles made of added padding, thermoplastic rubber, or carbon fiber. Two good examples of these heavy gloves meant for pure protection are the Blackhawk S.O.L.A.G. gloves and the TAC9ER Kevlar Gloves.

GLOVE CUFF

There are four different styles of cuffs that primarily exist on tactical gloves: The standard velcro strap, the hook and loop velcro strap, the elastic band style, and the elastic cuff where the whole cuff is elastic.

I have had tactical gloves with each of these styles of cuffs and all though I wouldn’t say any of them are bad I do believe through experience that some of them hold greater advantages than others. However that being said, each style of cuff can shine in different fields of use. For this reason in the gear guide below there will be gloves I recommend that have each style of cuff.

The Hook and Loop style like on the FREETOO tactical gloves or the WTACTFUL gloves definitely offer a very tight cuff and the most secure cuff out of them all. It also provides a real sense of strength (like Thanos’s Infinity gauntlet when he puts that last stone in.)

However, I am not the biggest fan of this style as I have found in moments when I just need to rip my gloves off (for example if my rifle malfunctions and I just want bare hands to remedy the problem) this kind of strap makes it much more difficult to do it with any real sense of urgency.

If you are using this style of glove for more extreme sports or another area where this won’t be a concern, then THIS STYLE OF CUFF IS GREAT.

The Elastic Band Style of cuff where the cuff has a single elastic band in it and the Elastic cuff style where the whole cuff is elastic, are generally created slightly smaller in order to offer a good feeling of security around the wrist.

I have used an enjoyed gloves with both these styles of cuffs. Unlike the full wrist velcro strap these kinds are very easy to put on and remove quickly.

I find though they come with a greater potential to tear, as a pair I own right now have done, because you’re constantly pulling on and stretching the elastic. They also have the potential to stretch and stay stretched and then not feel as tight and secure on your wrists as when you first purchased them.

The Standard Velcro Strap I find to be the best and most commonly used style of cuff on tactical gloves and work style gloves in general. It is easier to put on and take off then the full wrist velcro style and unlike the elastic styles of cuffs provides a way to manually tighten them to always keep that wrist feeling snug and secure.

Currently Im rocking two pairs of gloves that have this style of cuff the Mechanix Wear M-Pact and the Magpull Core Breach Gloves Both of these gloves fall into the medium category and both function fantastically!

BREATHABILITY

I’ll be honest, I’ve seen this category on a lot of other blogs and it definitely has its merits, but in my personal opinion and from all my experience with gloves, there’s not much you can do about this. Light gloves are generally quite breathable because they’re made thinner. Less layers and no Kevlar naturally means more breathable.

Medium gloves are slightly less breathable, but still generally quite good. My Magpull Core Breach Gloves have an entirely leather palm with digitally textured reinforcement, leather cuffs, and leather around the reinforced knuckles. I’ve worn these in everything from 14 degree weather to 104 degree weather and been perfectly fine. With today’s technology and materials most well made tactical gloves function very well in this area.

Heavy gloves that have Kevlar will be hot and sweaty and very unbreathable and no little finger holes will change this. Kevlar is a very unbreathable material, I can tell you this from A LOT of experience, the helmets and vests I wear in uniform are full kevlar.

Kevlar is hot and sweaty, so if your wearing kevlar lined gloves and doing physical activity your hands will get hot and sweaty. But if you want the slash and puncture protection kevlar offers, you’ll just have to be ok with that.

TECHNOLOGY

It might seem a bit ridiculous, but in todays modern era technology is every where. Whether you’re operating your phone screen or a drone screen if you can operate it with out having to remove your gloves you’re all the better. There’s times when I want the dexterity that only bare hands and fingers can provide, but operating technology is not one of those times!

Touch screen sensitivity is a valuable strength that many tactical gloves have these days. Whether light, medium, or heavy make sure your gloves function with touch screens. It might seem small, but is a very valuable quality.

CONCLUSION

Whether you’re military, another frontline servicemen, or you’re just a regular person, having the best gear matters and that includes your gloves.

Know your objective, your tasks, and your area of operation and you can select the perfect glove you.

Which ever style best suits you, good tactical gear and good gloves will help you accomplish your tasks in any area of life. Remember, it’s not just a name, good tactical gear is 4 life!

TacticalGear4Life is reader-supported. Clicking on provided links and making a purchase may earn me a small commission at NO extra cost to you.