Best Tactical Gloves – 2020 Ultimate Review

| Last Updated: January 13, 2022

If you’re looking for the best tactical gloves, chances are you’re not the only one. Finding the right pair for your personal comfort is your mission. Plus, they are the gloves that you need when you’re out and about firing off your pistol, shotgun, or rifle at the range.

When the going gets tough and you’re faced with high-stress situations, a good pair of tactical gloves are what you need to give you a better grip on your firearm in the times when you need it the most. To get you started in finding the right tactical gloves for you, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of eight tactical gloves that are currently on the market.

Before we get to the list itself, we’ll talk about what tactical gloves are and what they are used for. We’ll also provide you with a brief guide of what to look for while finding tactical gloves for your own use.

Comparison of the Best Tactical Gloves

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Best overall tactical gloves.
  • TrekDry technology to keep your hands nice and dry.
  • Thermoplastic rubber knuckle and finger guards that provide extra protection.
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  • Adjustable wrist straps for a more comfortable fit.
  • Machine washable for multiple and long-lasting use.
  • Made from various high-quality materials for superior durability.
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  • Best tactical gloves for the money.
  • Made from high-quality, breathable materials.
  • Synthetic dual-layer leather for better gripping ability.
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  • Best tactical gloves for winter weather.
  • Thermal Plastic Rubber for an excellent fit.
  • Made from water-resistant materials to keep hands dry.
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  • Best fingerless tactical gloves.
  • Machine washable for repeated use.
  • Fingerless design for the best in dexterity.
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  • Best from the Oakley brand.
  • High friction pattern for superior grip.
  • Made from breathable, high-quality material.
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  • Best from the Mechanix brand.
  • Machine washable for multiple usages.
  • TrekDry material to keep your hands completely dry.
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What Are Tactical Gloves?

Tactical gloves were designed for the high-pressure situations that members of our law enforcement and military face on a regular basis. In fact, they are one of the go-to pieces of gear for them while performing police and military operations. They give you a comfortable fit and an excellent level of dexterity regardless of how stressful and high-pressured the situations get. They are impact resistant and will give you a superior grip like nothing else. Most of the gloves are made from high-quality materials and even include amounts of kevlar for superior protection.

Characteristics of Our Favorite Gloves

If you’re looking for a pair of tactical gloves of your own, it’s important to know the characteristics that make up the best pair of tactical gloves in the business. At the same time, it will allow you to help distinguish a great pair from one that is not as high in quality and effective.

We chose the gloves for our review list based on these characteristics. And we encourage you to do the same while you’re looking for your next (or even first pair) of tactical gloves. Here’s what you need to look out for:

Price

While it’s not a physical characteristic of tactical gloves, we have to consider price as an aspect worth considering for budget shoppers. Especially when you have a budget in mind of how much you want to spend on tactical gloves. While looking at the price tag, it’s also important to take a look at the other characteristics like the overall quality of the gloves themselves. 

Material

High-quality materials like kevlar and nylon are two of the best materials that you'll need to look for in a great pair of tactical gloves. They are both proven to be strong in terms of durability. Kevlar is, in fact, the same kind of fiber that is used in bulletproof vests. If your gloves consist of the same fiber that can stop bullets, you'll know for sure that your pair of tactical gloves will be tough if not impossible to damage. 

Review of the Best Tactical Gloves

The following is a list of the eight best tactical gloves that are currently on the market. While looking through each of them, be sure to make a note of the features and characteristics of each pair of gloves. This way, if you find a pair that is closer to your ideal kind of tactical gloves, then you might find a winner.

Remember, the choice you’ll be making on these tactical gloves will be one for the long-term. So choose wisely. Now, let’s kick off our list by taking a look at the “best overall” choice for tactical gloves:

Best Overall:
Mechanix Wear - MultiCam M-Pact Tactical Gloves

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Pros

  • Super Durable in Quality
  • Longevity is Potentially Long
  • Doesn’t Feel Stiff or Lessens Dexterity
  • Resists a Lot of Shock and Impact From Gunfire
  • Fits Much More Comfortable Than Regular Work Gloves

Cons

  • Not Compatible With Most Touch Screens
  • Some Have Complained About the Overall Smell of Them
  • Velcro Adjustments are Not the Best According to Some Users

What Recent Buyers Report

Most recent buyers were satisfied with the overall fit. They were able to use their hands as normal with a good deal of dexterity. Some were able to get an even better grip on their firearms while doing a shooting session at the range. One buyer said that these gloves were “ready for primetime” the moment he tried them on.

Why it Stands Out to Us

These gloves are made with some heavy-duty durable materials that will protect your hands from the inside and out. Not only are they designed to work with the high-pressure situations that law enforcement and military members face, but they are actually quite good for heavy duty work. These can absorb much more shock than regular work gloves.

Who Will Use This Most

Aside from law enforcement and military personnel, this will benefit civilian gun owners as well. This will be used by shooters who want a better grip on their firearm. As a result of a better grip, they’ll enjoy better stability and yes, even better accuracy.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One major improvement would be to make the velcro straps easily adjustable to fit almost any kind of wrist size. These gloves are tough all over and provide superior protection for even the most heavy duty of applications. If these gloves were built to last, they should also be able to fit comfortably for most users.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for the best of the best when it comes to tactical gloves, the Mechanix Wear brand tactical gloves could very well be your best choice. They are made from high-quality materials and definitely provide you more protection than your typical work or shooting gloves. Even they won’t stand a chance against a pair of gloves like this.

Runner-up: 
TitanOPS Full Finger Half Finger Hard Knuckle

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Pros

  • Durability is Second-To-None
  • Tons of Flexibility and Mobility
  • Superior Grip Regardless of What You Use Them For
  • Excellent Protection From Hand Injuries (Including Scuffs and Scrapes)
  • Excellent For Multiple Applications (Hunting, Target Shooting, Tactical Situations, etc.)

Cons

  • May Not Be Ideal For Motorcycle Riding
  • May Not Properly Shape Exactly With Your Hands
  • Some Sizes May Not Be as Perfectly Fit as Expected

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of recent buyers were satisfied with the overall comfort of these gloves. They were also happy that they were able to use these to their advantage in most situations. The material is enough to protect your hands and give you excellent grip and shock absorption. One recent buyer said the fit was perfect and he was able to move his fingers around without any stiff feeling.

Why it Stands Out to Us 

Don’t you hate having your hands get cut up or banged around with some heavy duty applications? These gloves have the right kind of material where it puts a stop to all that. These are the closest tactical gloves that you can get to multipurpose. In fact, you don’t have to shoot a gun in order to enjoy the benefits of these gloves in particular.

Who Will Use This Most

These will be used by those who want to protect their hands from the bumps and bangs that come with the territory of high-stress situations. More specifically, these tactical gloves can double as work gloves for those working in construction or auto mechanics. Aside from that, they are worth its uses in the tactical or hunting fields.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the things that might be improved would be making some adjustments to the design where the size of the glove actually feels like the correct size. Some have complained that the “extra large” is smaller than a typical extra large glove. This can be changed with some tweaks to the design itself.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for gloves that are tough as nails and will protect your hands no matter what application you use them for, the TitanOPS tactical gloves might be right up your alley. Made from an excellent blend of high-quality materials, these gloves might just last you a few years and get you through the toughest of tasks.

Best for the Money: 
FREETOO Tactical Gloves

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Pros

  • Each Size is a Perfect Fit
  • Superior Knuckle Protection
  • Allows For Excellent Dexterity
  • Excellent Grip, Almost Impossible to Lose Your Grip While Holding Your Rifle
  • Protects Your Hands From the Cold, Also Protects Them From Scratches, Scuffs, and Other Factors

Cons

  • Velcro Straps Might Come Undone a Lot
  • Might Feel Uncomfortable For Some Users
  • Some Have Complained About Some Parts of the Glove Ripping Up After Short-Term Use

What Recent Buyers Report

These are probably the most affordable tactical gloves on the market and, recent buyers didn’t seem to shrug off the price tag. They said that these are more than just “budget” gloves. They reported a good amount of dexterity, great comfort, and a very solid gripping ability. Some went so far to say that despite having to afford higher-end tactical gloves, the FREETOO gloves were actually an even better investment.

Why it Stands Out to Us 

These tactical gloves were built for the environments that law enforcement and military thrive in. They can handle high-pressure tactical situations and give you a superior amount of protection from the bumps and bangs that come with the territory. Despite being made from some rugged material, they stick out to us because you can still be able to move around with a great deal of mobility even with gloves as heavy duty as these.

Who Will Use This Most

This will be used by your usual customers: law enforcement and military personnel. But it won’t be limited to just them. These gloves will likely be used by hunters and even competitive shooters who want to get a better grip on their firearm of choice. Their end goal out of the deal: better accuracy. Because in the applications that matter most, accuracy is the top dog.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the things that we believe could improve is making some adjustments to the velcro quality. For some reason, if they do indeed have a tough time holding itself together, it’s likely that the quality of it is to blame. Find something that will have a better hold to ensure long term fitting and comfort.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an excellent pair of tactical gloves without ever having to break the bank, the FREETOO Tactical Gloves could be the best choice. Even if you have money to play around with, you’d be surprised by how these gloves can hold up compared to almost any other pair of tactical gloves that you can afford.

Best Winter Gloves For Cold Weather:
Mechanix Wear - Original Insulated Winter Gloves

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Pros

  • Sturdy and Tough
  • Very Warm and Comfortable
  • Sizes Fit Perfectly as Expected
  • Excellent For Very Cold Temperatures
  • You Can Easily Move Your Fingers Around Without Any Stiff Feeling

Cons

  • Movement Might Be Stiff For Some Users
  • May Not Be Insulated Enough For Cold and Windy Conditions
  • May Not Have as Much Dexterity as the Older Version of These Gloves

What Recent Buyers Report

These gloves keep your hands nice and dry in even some intense weather conditions. That’s what a handful of recent buyers have said. The insulation keeps the hands nice and warm even in single digit weather. Even some users reported that they were able to move their fingers without issue in even some of the coldest temperatures (sub-zero).

Why it Stands Out to Us

These tactical gloves were made for the winter weather. They protect your hands not just from the cold, but from the wetness from the snow. If you’re looking for overall protection from the wrath of winter, make no mistake that these gloves have the ability to stand up to almost any kind of cold weather.

Who Will Use This Most

These are great for people who snow blow, snowshoe, or do almost any other activity outside in the middle of winter. You'll use these if you're planning to be out in the cold for a long period of time. These tactical gloves can be the closest you can get to some pretty heavy duty work gloves if you're going to be out and about braving the cold.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the things we can see improvement with these gloves is adding some additional insulation to ensure that your hands stay warm when the wind chill doesn’t seem to let up a bit. Even the most bitter wind chills can make your hands susceptible to frostbite, even if you’re wearing gloves that are not reliable enough to protect your hands from winter’s harshest conditions.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a solid pair of tactical gloves that will get the job done in the winter time, the Mechanix Wear Original Insulated Winter Gloves will likely be the one choice you can count on to get you through the cold temperatures. Whether you’re working outdoors or on a hunt, your hands will keep dry and stay warm with gloves like these.

Best Fingerless Gloves:
Mechanix Wear - M-Pact Fingerless Covert Tactical Gloves

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Pros

  • Compatible With Bike Riders
  • Easy to Put on and Easy to Secure
  • Superior Grip For Most Applications
  • Fits Perfectly Without Any Kind of Issue With the Size
  • Dexterity is Excellent, No Stiff Movements to Speak of

Cons

  • Some Reported the Gloves Falling Apart After Some Short-Term Use
  • Tag Might Need to be Removed as it Provides Some Discomfort For Users
  • Some Have Complained About the Lack of Shock Absorption in Some Applications

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of recent buyers were quick to call these gloves excellent in terms of design. They were able to have a better grip and better control over their firearm of choice. Some have even used these for bike riding. They were able to keep a grip on their handlebars even when dealing with the roughest of terrain. This absorbs a decent amount of shock that can be caused by some bumping and banging that might be all part of what application you’re using these gloves for.

Why it Stands Out to Us 

For finger-less gloves, the design makes it a lot easier to use in almost any heavy duty application we can think of. Mechanical work, tactical situations, hunting, and so on. These stand out because it can handle all the heavy lifting even when it’s not a complete tactical glove (i.e.--with fingers).

Who Will Use This Most

These will be used by riders of motorcycles and even all-terrain vehicles. These provide excellent comfort and superior grip while you’re navigating the tough terrain that nature has to offer. Outside of that, these will be used by those who want to protect their hands from the heavy duty things that come with the jobs they do best.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the things that could improve is doing away with the annoying tag on the gloves. Go tag-less so it’s more comfortable for those who will wear these gloves on a constant basis. If you want something that will give you a more comfortable fit each time without the annoying tag, then that’s the only improvement we can offer.

Bottom Line

If you want to forego the traditional tactical gloves in favor of the finger-less variety, then the Mechanix M-Pact Finger-less gloves could be your kind of gloves to use. These are built to last and are designed to handle almost any kind of application that requires you to wear gloves like these.

Best From Oakley:
Oakley Mens SI Lightweight Glove, Black

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Pros

  • Easy to Move Your Fingers
  • Lightweight But Very Comfortable
  • Very Warm For Colder Temperatures
  • Excellent For Military or Tactical Activities
  • Perfect Fit, Nothing Too Oversized or Undersized

Cons

  • Knuckle Protection is Lacking
  • May Not Be Suitable For Intense Cold
  • Stitching May Not Be as Stronger Than Expected

What Recent Buyers Report

These are some solid gloves that are made from a company that is usually known for its high-end sunglasses. Other than that, recent buyers loved how comfortable these gloves were. They were able to target practice without any issues. Even the military or law enforcement personnel who consistently train for high-pressure situations put these to the test and had no issues with them at all. The dexterity is great and doesn’t stiffen up any movements.

Why it Stands Out to Us

These gloves are lightweight but still have a good amount of toughness to them. In short, they definitely pass the test as being quite decent for tactical gloves. Other than that, these will protect your hands from the bumps, bangs, and everything in between that requires you to wear tactical gloves.

Who Will Use This Most

Military and law enforcement personnel will likely benefit from these gloves. These will also be used by hunters and casual target shooters as well. If you plan on using your firearm in an outdoor setting and need some additional grip, then these gloves can provide such potential.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the improvements that can be made is to add some extra protection for the knuckles. The last thing you’ll want is to take off your gloves and notice that they’re scuffed up somehow. Some padding could do the trick to ensure that your knuckles take on less impact and lessen the risk of injury.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to get a good pair of lightweight, but really comfortable tactical gloves, the Oakley SI Lightweight Tactical gloves might be something that’s right up your alley. While they may not be suitable for some winter conditions or applications, these will live up to their expectations in protecting your hands while you stay focused on all kinds of high-pressured tasks.

Best From Mechanix:
Mechanix The Original Covert Glove Black Medium

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Pros

  • Great For Cold Weather Usage
  • Nice and Dry Almost All the Time
  • Excellent Grip if You’re Using a Firearm
  • Easy to Move Your Fingers, No Stiffness
  • Superior Protection For Most Applications

Cons

  • Velcro Might Be Out of Place
  • Might Not Be as Heavy Duty as Expected
  • Some Complained That These Don’t Fit Like Regular Gloves at All

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of recent buyers were already fans of the Mechanix brands. They have previously owned gloves from the brand. But of all the gloves they’ve owned, these are the most comfortable by far. Some went so far as to say that these are their go-to gloves when the weather tends to get on the chilly side. Regardless of the weather conditions, they were able to use them for almost any application.

Why it Stands Out to Us

These are probably the best of the best when it comes to the Mechanix brand. This stands out to use for a few good reasons. First, the material doesn’t make it stiff for limited mobility. It’s breathable, yet it doesn’t allow for water to leak through them. Your hands stay dry, comfortable, and easy to move.

Who Will Use This Most

These will either be used for shooting, hunting, or even everyday work purposes (depending on the job you do). They will come in handy in harsh weather conditions since you want to get a good grip on your firearm or tools without having to worry about slippage.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One improvement that we can see with these is quite obvious. Put the velcro in the right place so you are able to secure them so they stay fit. These will stay on nice and snug if you make some changes like adjustable straps and reliable velcro to keep it in place.

Bottom Line

If you’re a huge fan of the Mechanix brand and want something that’s considered the best they’ve got, the original Covert gloves might be what you’re looking for. Made from high-quality material and providing you with the best in grip and protection, these gloves might stand out as the go-to gloves you’ll need no matter what the weather is.

Best From 5.11:
 5.11 Competition Shooting Gloves

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Pros

  • Light in Weight
  • Great Dexterity
  • Excellent Grip For Most Firearms
  • Great For Range Shooting and Competitive Shooting
  • Every Size Fits Perfectly, Nothing Oversized or Under-Sized

Cons

  • Might Be a Little Thin in the Palm Area
  • Stitching Quality Might Be a Little Suspect
  • Grip Friction Might Be an Issue With Some Firearms

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of recent buyers were able to use these gloves in most applications without dealing with any stiff movements. Plus, they were able to use the touchscreen on their phones while wearing these gloves. One minor downside to it is that you might “fat finger” your texts and hit the wrong letter. Aside from that, most of the recent buyers were shooters who were looking for gloves that would give them a better grip while shooting.

Why it Stands Out to Us

These gloves are probably the closest you can get to tactical gloves that are designed with the shooter in mind. They are light in weight and mixed with a good amount of material that will give shooters an unmatched grip. Even in the worst weather conditions, these gloves somehow come through.

Who Will Use This Most

If you plan on using a firearm for hunting, sporting, or competitive purposes you’ll be likely using gloves like these. Especially when they deliver an excellent grip in any condition or setting. Aside from that, these are for shooters who want nothing more than a comfortable fit and increased ability in moving their hands around.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the things that could use improvement is possibly improving the grip to a point where it won’t allow certain firearms to rotate and cause friction. This way, it won’t cause the glove to wear and tear a little easier than it’s supposed to.

Bottom Line

If you’re a huge fan of the 5.11 brand, you might want to give their tactical gloves a try. They are tough and a shooter’s best friend, regardless of what you’re using your firearm for. These are the gloves that were made for a tactical situation.

Types of Tactical Gloves

There are three types of tactical gloves that are currently on the market. Each has a unique advantage that will fit just about any purpose. They are the following:

All-Terrain Gloves

Though the name as all-terrain, they shouldn’t be mistaken as universal. Granted, not all tactical gloves are the same. But these are designed to handle just about any purpose from handling firearms to simply protecting your hands while digging into a hard day’s work. These are designed to give you excellent grip, superior water-resistant, and durability that is hard to match.

Sniper’s Gauntlet

These tactical gloves are best used by shooters of all applications and stripes. These have slightly more dexterity than your standard all-terrain gloves. One major difference between the two is the sniper’s gauntlet will have slimmer material and thus make them less protective than their all-terrain counterparts.

Needlestick

Needlestick gloves are designed to protect you from penetrating needles. The materials made for these gloves will deny any entry attempted by needles or anything sharp or pointy. These have been increasingly favored by law enforcement officials, especially when they’re taking part in investigations that pertain to drug crimes. The chances of them being exposed to needles are rather high, so they’ll need gloves that are guaranteed to keep them from getting poked.

Perks of Picking up a New Pair of Tactical Gloves

There is nothing more satisfying than being able to enjoy the advantages of a new pair of tactical gloves. Especially if you’re looking for something that will be used for the appropriate situations. Here are some perks that you can enjoy should you decide to snag a good pair of tactical gloves:

Prevents Most Hand Injuries

Your hands will take on a lot of impact, bumps, bangs and everything in between. You’ll need a pair of gloves that will protect you from sprains, broken bones, scuffs, and even cuts. Once again, this will depend on the material that is used to make these gloves (and sometimes even the design). 

Better Grip

If you’re constantly using a firearm, you’ll need a pair of tactical gloves to ensure that you have the best grip. Especially when you’re constantly moving around from place to place and you want to retain a good hold on your firearm of choice. Find a good pair of gloves with great gripping ability and you won’t regret it in the long run.

Best For Almost Any Weather Condition

Whether it’s warm and dry or cold and rainy, you’ll need tactical gloves to depend on no matter what the weather has in store. If you need them exclusively for colder temperatures, find a pair of gloves that have a good layer of insulation to them. This way, you’ll be able to keep your hands warm and dry even when the temperatures are insanely cold.

Conclusion

Finding the best tactical gloves can be a challenge. But if you know what you’re looking for and know what you want to get out of them, then finding the right pair won’t be as tough. Find the gloves that fit you best and give you the best possible grip and overall performance. No matter if you’re using a firearm or working hard, tactical gloves are proven to be tough, protective, and comfortable to wear