Why have shooting gloves when you can fire your weapon barehanded? This question is wondered aloud by every shooter, either beginners or experienced. To answer this, it all depends on your personal preference, when firing your weapon (get handy gun oil too!).
At first, you might not feel comfortable using the gloves and might even lose your dexterity therefore, you should train with them until you get fully used to the glove. Having gloves while shooting has its advantages. Get an appendix carry holster to pair with your gloves.
That being said, it offers both protection and superior grip when handling the firearm. However, it is highly important that you get a pair of gloves that accommodates your hands perfectly, for maximum comfort.
This tactical gloves are mostly well sought out by professional shooters, who have already mastered the technique of firing the weapon barehanded. So, the transition from being barehanded to wearing gloves, when handling a firearm won’t be too hard. Not only that, the factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing the best shooting gloves are comfort, durability and price.
Top 5 Rated Shooting Gloves Comparison Table
| Name of Product | Weight | Comfort | Durability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanix Wear Original Gloves | 8 oz | High | Moderate | $$ |
| 5.11 Tactical Station Grip Gloves | 4 oz | Moderate | High | $$ |
| Blackhawk Men's Aviator Gloves | 8 oz | High | High | $$ |
| Hatch Operator Shorty Gloves | 0.8 oz | High | High | $$ |
| Mechanix Wear M-Pact 3 Gloves | 5 oz | High | Moderate | $$ |
Comfort
It is important to have a comfortable pair of shooting gloves. You will most probably be wearing it for a long period of time, therefore investing in a comfortable pair is highly essential for your added convenience. To ensure comfort, some products are equipped with additional features such as padded knuckles as well as reinforced parts on the gloves.
Apart from providing comfort, the reinforced areas ensures secure fit onto your wrist so it is least likely to get loose when firing a shot. For example, Mechanix Wear products are equipped with a TrekDry feature that aims to keep your hand cool and comfortable.
Durability
Your gloves will go through a lot of abrasion and strong impacts, therefore it should have a strong and sturdy construction so that it is resistant to these impacts in the long run. Some of them are equipped with Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR) closure to not only ensure secure fit, but also improve its durability.
Most products are constructed from KEVLAR/ NOMEX material which comes in handy to protect it from flames or sudden heat exposure, so it will least likely get damaged when in contact with them. The Velcro closure on the other hand should be sturdy so it clings securely to your hands.
Proper maintenance also contributes to the durability of this product. It should be cleaned regularly which is important to remove the odor in your gloves. Most of them are machine washable so you can just toss them into the machine for quick and simple cleaning. However, some should only be hand washed hence, it all comes down to the product specifications itself.
Best Glove for the Money :
Mechanix Wear Original Gloves
The Mechanix Original gloves are available in variety of sizes that includes sizes from S to XXL, to perfectly accommodate your palms. You need to choose the right size by taking some measurements so you get a perfect grip on your firearm when shooting.
Furthermore, its form-fitting TrekDry feature comes in handy to keep your hand cool and comfortable, especially if you plan on donning on the gloves for a long period of time. Also, this feature also ensures that it is breathable, which is important especially when you’re sweating.
This product is equipped with a Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR) closure with a hook and loop to provide you with a secure fit, so there won’t be any chance of your gloves loosening from your palms because the hook will clasp it tightly into place.
In terms of maintenance, it is machine washable so you can clean it once in awhile conveniently to prevent odors, for instance. Its durable microfiber construction material is sturdy and tough, therefore extending the life of the tactical glove.
Apart from that, it comes with a nylon web loop for easy and convenient storage and keeping. You can either keep it secure to your gear or pack it with the nylon web loop so it’s conveniently positioned beneath each of your wrist, thereby contributing to its portability. Also, it has a seamless single layer on the palm area to further improve the dexterity and fit.
All in all, this product offers light duty grip enhancement as well as hand protection when dealing with firearms in the long run. It is very beneficial in my opinion, however it takes a little practice to get used to.
Suitable for :
- Form-fitting TrekDry feature
- Nylon web loop available
- Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR) closure
- Seamless single layer palm
5.11 Tactical Station Grip Glove
First things first, this tactical gear comes with a 4-way stretch back panel feature. This stretch back feature allows for excellent fit of the glove on your palms as its knit back panel stretches in 4 different directions.
It has a high level of tactility, therefore able to protect your hand from rough work and abrasion. In other words, if utilized for shooting or other applications which require some sort of barrier between the skin and the weapon, it provides excellent protection against cuts, scrapes and powerful impacts.
Apart from that, it is equipped with a unique feature where it has attached ID tags on the stretch cuff. It comes in handy especially if you lose your glove, either by misplacing it or it getting stolen in which, you are able to track it down according to the ID tags.
All in all, this product performs a variety of tasks with superior dexterity and comfort, for your added convenience. Its grip area is constructed from textured and rubberized fabric which provides you with good grip at all times, when handling a firearm.
In addition to that, it includes reinforced palms and fingers as well as padded knuckles so you get to wear it for long periods, with maximum comfort and convenience. The elastic wrist closure on the other hand are made of sturdy Velcro. The Velcro closure ensures that it accommodates your hands with a perfect fit, so you’ll have a better shooting experience.
The fabric of this shooting glove is rather thick, however don’t be fooled, it is not insulated hence, it is not the best type of gloves to don on during cold weather conditions. In terms of maintenance, this product is washable so you should clean them for added convenience. It also dries fast after a good wash. After that, it’s good as new!
Suitable for :
- 4-way stretch back panel
- Padded knuckles
- Elastic wrist Velcro closure
- Attached ID tag
Best Multipurpose Gloves :
Blackhawk Men’s Aviator Gloves
Notice the word ‘aviator’? Yes, you read right. This product is built to withstand the toughest environment and terrains. Judging by its name, it is rather versatile as it can be utilized for both aviation and shooting, not to mention it serves well in both applications. Also, get a good and matching pair of boots with your shooting gloves!
This product is quality tested in the field, hence its durability and toughness are guaranteed. That being said, it is available in 3 different colors which includes black, coyote tan as well as olive drab which you can choose according to your personal preference. In terms of size on the other hand, it is available from sizes S to XXL, so it can perfectly accommodate any palm sizes.
The extra elastic on the back of your wrist area clings to your wrist, thereby providing a secure fit which comes in handy as it will most likely stay in place when you are handling your firearm, for your added convenience.
Its durable and soft cowhide leather construction on the other hand ensures that this shooting glove has a long-lasting wear, promising you with flexible and easy movement for shooting with maximum ease. Also, in terms of comfort, it is rather comfortable to be worn for prolonged time.
It provides you with excellent grip on your weapon, however you should get the right size that will perfectly fit your palm. Tightly-fitted gloves are important not only to ensure maximum comfort, but also for better grip enhancement when firing the shot.
A unique feature of this product is that, it comes with NOMEX back material. The NOMEX material is very important as it provides flash and flame protection of up to 800 Farad (427 degree Celsius), hence further contributing to its durability as it can withstand a great amount of heat.
Suitable for :
- NOMEX back feature
- Soft cowhide leather
- Extra elastic at the back
- Versatile
Best Glove with Short Length :
Hatch Operator Shorty Glove
First things first, this product is constructed from high performance KEVLAR and NOMEX knit back material which comes in handy as it provides maximum comfort and durability. The KEVLAR material is utilized at the back only meanwhile the palm area is made from treated leather for maximum durability.
Moreover, it is available in sizes S and M in Amazon so you can choose the right size based on your palm measurements. Choosing the right size is highly essential to ensure you have good grip on your weapon at all times.
The cut-ring stitching on the other hand allows for optional removal of your index finger for improved trigger control, when dealing with your firearm so you can most likely improve the accuracy and consistency of your shot, solely by this feature.
Weighing 0.8 ounces, this tactical glove is rather lightweight therefore easy to handle without weighing your hands down during shooting. It is also water-resistant thus suitable to be used during rainy weathers.
In the aspect of maintenance, you must hand wash it using mild detergent. Refrain from machine drying it, instead you can leave it to simply dry itself overnight under the fan, to ensure its durability in the long run.
Besides that, the length of this glove is a little too short. It only comes up till your wrist, unlike most of the others that slightly rides up to your arm. In other words, this product features a short, wrist-length model that comes with a water-resistant leather palm material, cut and heat-resistant nylon thread as well as sewn well to resist abrasion.
It has a KEVLAR/NOMAX construction therefore ensuring that it is well-protected from flames. In other words, the construction remains plexible and sturdy after heat exposure. The elasticized wrist on the other hand ensures that it clings securely to your wrist, without any possibility of it getting loose during shooting.
Suitable for :
- Cut-ring stitching
- KEVLAR/NOMEX knit back
- Short, wrist-length model
- Elasticized wrist
Mechanix Wear M-Pact 3 Gloves
Equipped with spandex construction, this product provides you with full-coverage hand protection. That being said, its internal fingertip reinforcements functions to ensure extreme abrasion and impact resistance. Also, it has solid stitching as well as a sturdy Velcro closure which further contributes to its durability.
The outside of the fingers and thumbs of this tactical glove are protected by 8mm EVA accordion padding to ensure maximum comfort, when you don on the gloves. It comes with a nylon web loop to ensure convenient storage, where you are able to position it conveniently beneath each of your wrist.
In addition to that, the double piece palm reinforcements ensures added durability. This is solely because it reduces material bunching as well as reinforces high-wear areas to maintain the proper dexterity and fit when handling firearms.
Not only that, it includes an anatomically sharped single piece Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR) knuckle guard which comes in handy to provide superior impact resistance. In other words, it absorbs powerful impacts to the back of your hand as well as improves the overall mobility.
The low profile TPR top closure on the other hand ensures a secure fit to your wrist upon use. In terms of maintenance, it is machine washable so you can just toss it into the washing machine for simple and convenient cleaning. Furthermore, it is important you choose the right size of glove so it doesn’t inhibit your motion and is comfortable for you to wear.
Suitable for :
- Spandex construction
- Nylon web loop
- TPR knuckle guard
- 2 piece palm reinforcements
Conclusion
In a nutshell, it is good to have a great pair of shooting gloves, however it is not a must-it solely depends on your personal preference. The purpose of wearing gloves while shooting is to improve your grip on your firearm as well as protect your hands from abrasion and impact resistance. Thus, I hope my review assists you in making a decision.
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