Our Review of the Top 8: Best Tactical Gloves for Hunting and Shooting
Gloves are a key piece of any tactical kit. Not just for keeping your hands warm, a good pair of tactical gloves can protect your hands from damage and make your overall shooting experience more enjoyable. This list is just an introduction: the world of tactical gloves is a vast one and we’re here to guide you through a small portion of it.
While they’re not on the same level of safety as good eye and ear protection, a lot of shooters really enjoy using gloves. Especially if you train hard or often (which you should), a good pair of tactical gloves can save you a lot of hand fatigue, and keep you going a little bit longer in hot, dry, or wet conditions. A few of the benefits aren’t even readily apparent. Have you ever gotten a sunburn on your hands? It’s awful and can be totally prevented. Thus, I recommend that people keep at least one pair of gloves in a range bag as part of their safety kit, as well as part of their training aid.
A few notes to consider: Most tactical gloves close with hook and loop: this is great until they get dirty. At that point, just wash your gloves. Another closure type is elastic, which will work great at first but may well degrade over time and with exposure to the elements. The industry is also moving into the digital era, and most tactical gloves – aside from the heaviest – are compatible with smartphones, so you never have to take them off in the field to use a GPS or send a text.
There are a few kinds of tactical gloves we’re considering here. Some of them are on the light side, meant mostly to preserve dexterity and protect your skin. These usually don’t have much armor, if any, and might not be the most durable. Medium gloves usually have some armor or cut resistance, and are for harder all-around use. Finally, the heavy variety is meant for all-out tactical and combat use in difficult situations. After reading this list, you’ll probably find a few different options that will be useful for any of your shooting needs.
Top Picks
Contents
- 1. Mechanix Wear – M-Pact Coyote Tactical Gloves
- 2. Mechanix Wear – Original Covert Tactical Gloves
- 3. PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Delta Utility Gloves
- 4. 5.11 Competition Shooting Glv Men’s Touch Screen Competition Shooting Tactical Glove
- 5. Magpul Core Technical Lightweight Work Gloves
- 6. 5.11 High Abrasion Tac Glove Men’s Military Full Finger High Abrasion Tactical Gloves
- 7. Oakley Men’s Factory Lite Tactical Glove
- 8. Rothco Carbon Fiber Hard Knuckle Cut/Fire Resistant Tactical Gloves
- Parting Shots
1. Mechanix Wear – M-Pact Coyote Tactical Gloves
Product
Mechanix Wear: M-Pact Tactical Gloves with Secure Fit,...
Top Overall Pick
- MADE FOR WORKING HANDS – Rugged .8mm synthetic leather gloves...
- TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES – The perfect blend of dexterity and...
- IMPACT DURABILITY – Ergonomic designed D3O palm padding absorbs...
- SECURE FIT – Prevent gloves from slipping off and keep out dirt...
- BREATHABLE – Reduce blisters from repetitive tasks with...
- MACHINE WASHABLE – Wash in warm water and air dry to maintain...
Our rating 
Details
- MADE FOR WORKING HANDS – Rugged .8mm synthetic leather gloves...
- TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES – The perfect blend of dexterity and...
- IMPACT DURABILITY – Ergonomic designed D3O palm padding absorbs...
- SECURE FIT – Prevent gloves from slipping off and keep out dirt...
- BREATHABLE – Reduce blisters from repetitive tasks with...
- MACHINE WASHABLE – Wash in warm water and air dry to maintain...
First, we have one of the original tactical gloves, the Mechanix M-pact in brown. You’ll see these gloves all over the world, from auto shops to ranges, to forward operating bases in undisclosed countries with some political turmoil. There’s a reason for that. They fit really well with a hook and loop wrist closure and multiple sizes. Further, there’s a loop to pull them on or hook them to other gear, so you won’t lose them. The palm has extra reinforcement, and the top is ventilated. The top plastic bits are more for show than for punching through some glass so don’t expect miracles on that front. These medium gloves will serve you well in most conditions that are over freezing and are a go-to for people who need to get serious work done. The fingers are also touch screen compatible, making these a good choice for the modern gentleman who wants to shoot well and post it to Instagram.
2. Mechanix Wear – Original Covert Tactical Gloves
Product
Mechanix Wear: The Original Covert Tactical Work Gloves with...
Top Overall Pick
- MADE FOR WORKING HANDS – Rugged .8mm synthetic leather gloves...
- TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES – The perfect blend of dexterity and...
- BREATHABLE – Reduce blisters from repetitive tasks with...
- ADDED DURABILITY – Thumb and index finger are reinforced to...
- SECURE FIT – Prevent gloves from slipping off and keep out dirt...
- MACHINE WASHABLE – Wash and air dry to maintain long-term...
Our rating
Details
- MADE FOR WORKING HANDS – Rugged .8mm synthetic leather gloves...
- TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES – The perfect blend of dexterity and...
- BREATHABLE – Reduce blisters from repetitive tasks with...
- ADDED DURABILITY – Thumb and index finger are reinforced to...
- SECURE FIT – Prevent gloves from slipping off and keep out dirt...
- MACHINE WASHABLE – Wash and air dry to maintain long-term...
A lighter offering from Mechanix, the Covert Tactical gloves in black retain many of the positives of the M-pact, such as the secure fit and loops on the wrists. Where these really innovate is in its lightness and preservation of dexterity. The palm, full leather, provides good grip and nothing to get hung up as you operate a firearm or other fiddly tasks. The top is also fully ventilated, keeping your hands cool and dry. These gloves also provide a little warmth. If you need to do a night patrol or hunt in low light, these gloves will keep your low profile. Additionally, if you’re looking for a mitten liner for really austere conditions, these gloves are a more than solid choice. Mechanix makes solid gloves and these are no exception for budding operators. Basically, these are the lighter big brother of the M-pact, and are thus a little better suited to everyday use and can be found on job sites of all kinds, whether tactical or not.
3. PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Delta Utility Gloves
Our rating
Details
Next, we have another common choice in tactical glove, the PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Delta Utility Tactical Gloves. These lightweight gloves are meant to maintain dexterity first and foremost, with a multilayer palm that keeps you protected, but remains light on the fingertips. PIG says that you can even tie shoelaces in these gloves, an impressive claim worth checking out. The gloves are touch screen compatible. Whereas the Mechanix closes with hook and loop, the glove closes with elastic, meaning one less thing to make noise in the field. These come in a variety of colors: brown, black, green, grey, and Multicam. The back is fully ventilated, keeping your hands dry. The branding on these is subtle and doesn’t scream TACTICAL, so these may not look out of place in normal urban life as well as on the range or downrange. These light gloves are a good call for people favoring dexterity above all else. This kind of tactical glove might not be the most durable but are a common sight at ranges and competitions, as well as among folks who are okay with running gloves hard, knowing that they will eventually wear out. They’ll keep you dry and cut free without snagging on gear.
4. 5.11 Competition Shooting Glv Men’s Touch Screen Competition Shooting Tactical Glove
Our rating 
Details
The 5.11 Competition Shooting Glv Men’s Touch Screen Competition Shooting Tactical Glove is a sensible entry into the medium glove space. These gloves, closed by hook and loop on the wrist, come in three colors: black, brown, and green. The palm and fingers are reinforced, keeping you safe, but not at the cost of touch screen usage: the fingertips are conductive and you can still use your devices. The top of the glove has some additional padding but is still light enough to breathe to keep your hands from sweating- a major concern in hot environments. Back loops keep things organized. A feature I really appreciate is the soft sections on the top of the thumb meant to wipe your brow or clean lenses. This nice touch makes the 5.11 gloves stand out. The branding on the gloves is understated; these a good call for chilly nights in any environment, not just on the range. 5.11 makes all sorts of quality gear, and these tactical gloves are, as usual, no exception. These are tough gloves that will get you through most normal circumstances, especially at the range or hunting.
5. Magpul Core Technical Lightweight Work Gloves
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Details
From the people most famous for their magazines and AR accessories, we have the Magpul Core Technical Lightweight Work Gloves. As the name indicates, these light-duty gloves, coming in both black and grey, are meant to keep things light. Closed with an elastic wrist and loops for storage, these gloves are simple almost to the point of elegance: they don’t look out of place even as formal gloves if they match your jacket. The synthetic suede palm maintains dexterity while giving you some protection. Fingertips are light enough to make them smartphone compatible. These tactical gloves billed as minimalist, are just that: there’s not a ton of extra padding to get in your way when operating a firearm. Instead, they have slickness as a primary feature, though still including a neoprene back to keep you dry, and a terry thumb to wipe things off.
6. 5.11 High Abrasion Tac Glove Men’s Military Full Finger High Abrasion Tactical Gloves
Our rating
Details
Another offering from 5.11, we have the High Abrasion Tac Glove Men’s Military Full Finger High Abrasion Tactical Gloves. A medium option, these close by hook and loop at the wrist and have the standard storage loops so you don’t lose your glove to absentmindedness – or a curious dog, as the case may be. These are thicker than the other gloves we have listed so far, with an abrasion-resistant palm and reinforced knuckles. As such, these tactical gloves are meant to do serious work. That said, they are still compatible with phones and other devices. These gloves look a little more tactical than the rest, with a faux camo pattern on the back of the black and grey gloves. 5.11 has made these gloves for hard days at the range or in the woods, and thus I recommend them for anyone intending to actually get them dirty.
7. Oakley Men’s Factory Lite Tactical Glove
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Details
- Price For: Each
From Oakley comes another fantastic light glove entry with the Lite Tactical Glove. These slick gloves close with elastic and don’t include anything extra, such as a loop that could get caught on gear. Prioritizing dexterity above all else, these gloves have a ribbed design to keep the palm and fingers flexible. Also, the suede of the palm keeps you nice and protected, while also ventilated. Smartly, there’s a panel on the web of the hand to cut down on hammer/slide bite; 1911 shooters will very much appreciate this. As always, these gloves are touch screen compatible, which is a nice standard that the industry seems to be adopting. These tactical gloves may not stand up to the hardest use, but they are a common sight at the range and would do well in three gun competitions. The Oakleys look cool and will keep you cool, without much of the ‘tactical’ protection that most of us won’t need outside of training.
8. Rothco Carbon Fiber Hard Knuckle Cut/Fire Resistant Tactical Gloves
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Details
Rounding out the list with a heavy option, we have the Rothco Carbon Knuckle Cut Resistant tactical gloves. From one of the giants in the tactical industry, these gloves are tough. Closed with hook and loop, these stay on under pretty much any condition. The palms are tough leather, as is the upper, which also has carbon fiber inserts on the knuckles in order to keep you from beating yourself up if you find yourself in a sticky situation. The back of the hand is neoprene, keeping things breathable. The knuckles are also cut resistant. These gloves are meant for exceptionally hard use and can hold up under most austere conditions. Perfect for military or law enforcement, these will get the job done for you but are somewhat heavy for hot days. Basically, if you needed one pair of gloves for, say, a bug out bag that you knew, for a fact, could get you through hell and keep on keeping on, these gloves would be high on my list for that purpose. A little menacing for most things, I have seen these gloves used on patrol, as well as for shooting and as moto gloves, though they may not be totally ideal for the latter purpose.
Parting Shots
Having looked at this list, you can see that there are a lot of options on the tactical glove market. The lightest of them keep you nice and dexterous, while the medium gloves can stand up to a little more abuse and the heaviest gloves will get you through just about anything. As with any tactical gear, think over what you actually plan on doing with the gloves, then make a choice, or a few, that are suitable to your purposes. These days, tactical gloves are a normal part of any kit, and hopefully, our recommendations help you in choosing yours.
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