Protection and grip are the two main factors when choosing a tactical glove. Comfort and camouflage are also considerations depending on the intended use. A hunter in a hide will want precision and comfort, while an officer in a crowd control situation may have to deal with projectiles that are coming at them.
After reviewing all the top tactical gloves for shooting available, we’ve selected our top 7 picks in the comparison table below. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect model for your needs.
|
Rank |
Product |
Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 | Mechanix Specialty 0.5 mm | Buy on Amazon | $$ |
|
2 | 5.11 High Abrasion | Buy on Amazon |
$$ |
|
3 | TG Hellfox | Buy on Amazon | $ |
|
4 | Buy on Amazon |
$ | |
|
5 | Buy on Amazon | $$ | |
| 6 | TAC9ER w/ Kevlar | Buy on Amazon | $$ |
| 7 | 5.11 Competition | Buy on Amazon | $$ |
Your firearm is your weapon but your hands are your tools for operating it.
Weapons come in all shapes and sizes, from a hunting compound crossbow to a high-velocity sniper rifle. Luckily, our hands are a little more uniform and unless you have been unlucky or aren’t too great with a chef’s knife, we usually have four fingers and one thumb on each of our hands.
That means there are very few differences when it comes to gloves. However, cold weather hunters will want something very different from a desert patrolman.
Also, protection from cuts, scrapes, and the environment need to be balanced by sufficient flexibility to pull a hair-trigger, operate your other gear, take notes or climb a cliff to get the hell out of dodge.
Top Shooting Gloves
Mechanix Wear - Camouflage
Features
- MADE FOR WORKING HANDS – Rugged .8mm synthetic leather gloves for hard-working individuals. Great as tactical gloves, safety work gloves, mechanic gloves, home improvement gloves, and everything in between
- TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES – The perfect blend of dexterity and durability, these can be used for smart phones, tablets, and any capacitive touch-screen devices on patrol or in the field
- BREATHABLE – Reduce blisters from repetitive tasks with evaporative cooling TrekDry material that forms to the back of your hand and stays breathable keeping hands cool and comfortable while you work
- ADDED DURABILITY – Thumb and index finger are reinforced to last longer than basic gloves in high wear areas. Tactical carrier loops allow for easier storage and keep gloves secure to field gear
- SECURE FIT – Prevent gloves from slipping off and keep out dirt and debris with these secure fit gloves thanks to the TPR Thermoplastic Rubber wrist closure and adjustable hook and loop design
Hatch NS430 Specialist All-Weather
$27.00 in stock
Features
- Provides excellent dexterity, grip, feel and control
- Thin, low-profile gloves for shooting and duty use
- Synsi-feel synthetic leather palm with Extreme-Grip pads
- Neoprene construction with hook-and-loop closure
- Easy to wipe down and disinfect
Mechanix Wear - M-Pact Covert
$27.99 in stock
Features
- MADE FOR WORKING HANDS – Rugged .8mm synthetic leather gloves for hard-working individuals. Great as tactical gloves, safety work gloves, hunting gloves, or home improvement gloves to provide protection in any environment
- TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES – The perfect blend of dexterity and durability, these can be used for smart phones, tablets, and any capacitive touch-screen devices on patrol or in the field
- IMPACT DURABILITY – Ergonomic designed D3O palm padding absorbs and dissipates vibration, while Thermoplastic Rubber provides high impact knuckle protection on these heavy duty gloves
- SECURE FIT – Prevent gloves from slipping off and keep out dirt and debris with these secure fit gloves, equipped with a Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) wrist closure and adjustable hook and loop design
- BREATHABLE – Reduce blisters from repetitive tasks with form-fitting TrekDry material that forms to the back of your hand and wicks moisture away to keep hands cool and comfortable on patrol
For the hunters out there, the Mechanix Wear Camouflage is a great all-around glove. It won’t break the bank and features a lot more than just a camouflage pattern.
The palm is constructed from one seamless piece of synthetic leather to ensure a comfortable and sure grip of your weapon. The rest of the glove features highly breathable TrekDry fabric which will keep your hands protected from biting wind. This breathable material will also keep your hands from overheating and sweating.
These gloves are a great allrounder. The wrist hook and loop closure ensure a snug fit, but you don’t have to be a hunter to take advantage of these gloves. Hikers, campers and indeed anyone who needs a robust outdoor glove could do a lot worse.
If you want to go all ‘Day of the Jackal,’ the Hatch Specialist All-Weather Shooting Gloves look and feel the part. These are aimed at the marksman who walks amongst us. Simply putting these on will make you feel like a different person. Just don’t get too carried away.
They are primarily aimed at handgun users but enthusiastic paintballers will love these too. They are great, come rain or shine, and the excellent grip from the synthetic leather palm will not let you down when it comes to pulling the trigger.
There is the option of an increased grip palm for those who spend time in the dirt, and the neoprene back breathes very well, keeping your hands protected but not dripping with sweat. These gloves could actually be used by anyone needing a pair of gloves as they wouldn’t look out of place behind the wheel of a vintage convertible Jag.
The only downside is they are quite fine so super heavy use in the wilderness will take its toll, but you will probably be in love and just go and buy another pair anyway.
For those in need of protection in hairy situations, like law enforcement and military personnel, the Mechanix Wear M-Pact 3 Covert will do the job.
They feature a molded thermoplastic rubber knuckle guard which provides excellent impact protection, and their reinforced internal fingertips will allow for scrambling through any terrain without the risk of abrasions.
The outside of the thumbs and fingers are protected by 3mm of EVA accordion padding, and the two-piece palm construction allows for excellent weapon handling as it eliminates excess bunching of the material. Plus, the thermal plastic rubber top closure ensures that they will stay in place come hell or high water. These gloves are, to put it mildly, pretty badass.
Honorable Mentions
Other honorable mentions are the 1 Pair Outdoor Sports Fingerless and the Oakley Si Assault Glove, which are ideal for those who like to keep their knuckles protected while having their finger directly on the trigger. These bad boys are designed specifically for combat and you can feel it by their military-grade weight, true leather palm and carbon knuckle guard (doubles as a knuckle duster).
The 5.11 Screen OPS is a good option for those who will want to use a touchscreen without the need to remove their gloves. They are ideal for patrol officers or hunters who want to check their GPS or just upload a photo to Facebook.
Conclusion
There is certainly something out there for everyone and it’s very hard to say which one comes out on top as they are designed for such different uses.
However, if forced to choose a glove that covers many bases and gives you the best ‘bang for your buck,’ I would have to go for the Mechanix Wear -Camouflage. With a great fit, feel, construction and extremely versatile, this is a tactical shooting glove that will not let you down.
So get those dainty pinkies protected and go and kick some ass.