Combat Gloves: The Complete Guide

Essential elements of the soldier, combat gloves aim to provide enhanced protection to the hands (against shocks, weather, abrasions, etc.), while offering dexterity suitable for shooting to improve the operational capacity of the fighter.

You got it, tactical gloves act as an extension of your hands and are therefore essential for the smooth running of an operation. But choosing from the plethora of tactical gloves available on the market today can be a dilemma. Here is a small practical guide including the different essential points to know to choose the right pair of gloves for your mission.

Technical characteristics

As with a pair of shoes, whether you are a soldier or a member of the police force, the choice of a pair of gloves depends on the type of mission. So find out about the requirements of your mission (type of terrain, climate, actions to be taken, duration of the operation...).

Once you have in mind the requirements of your mission, and you know what is allowed or not by your superiors, you will then have to choose from many technical characteristics that a combat glove can have. Here are the most common options:

Metacarpal protections: Soft or hard, these protections are located at the knuckles of the hand, thus protecting the joints against shocks. Generally made of thermoplastic rubber (TPR), some can be removable or cover the entire length of the hand.	Touchscreen Compatibility: Present today on most tactical gloves, Touchscreen technology allows the glove to be compatible with touch screens.
Palm reinforcement: Often made of non-slip rubber for better weapon handling, the palm reinforcement is a more or less thick padding present on almost all tactical gloves. It essentially reduces abrasion and protects against shocks while maintaining good dexterity.	Adjustable wrists: Remember, gloves act as an extension of your hands. It is therefore essential that they fit your morphology perfectly. In addition to a range of sizes specific to each brand, tactical gloves generally have a tab at the wrist, designed with an elastic band or hook-and-loop fabric, which adjusts the glove as close as possible to your hand, thus avoiding any accidental loss.
Breathability: A combat glove must be breathable, otherwise, between heat and humidity, prolonged wear will quickly become a nightmare for the user. The most ventilated will undeniably be fabric gloves, leather ones will poorly evacuate sweat but offer better protection. The choice will therefore depend on the duration and type of mission.	Insulating layer: Reserved for cold weather missions, so-called "insulated" tactical gloves have an insulating layer and will provide thermal protection to the user. However, keep in mind that the warmer the glove, the more dexterity you will lose.
Fingerless gloves: Ideal for shooting, combat fingerless gloves have the same characteristics as tactical gloves but offer increased dexterity and excellent ventilation. They will therefore be perfect for hot weather missions.

The most common materials

The materials used in the manufacture of tactical gloves vary depending on the model and brand and will be more or less suitable depending on the intended use.

Leather: made from animal skin, leather is flexible, comfortable, and water-resistant. However, avoid taking all-leather gloves for your hot weather missions, they are more resistant than nylon but poorly evacuate sweat, which can cause chafing and irritation.

Nylon: used in many pieces of equipment, nylon is known for its strength and flexibility. In combat gloves, it is often found at flex points to offer greater dexterity.

Polyester: breathable but not water-resistant, polyester is a material that absorbs moisture, making it ideal for wicking away sweat and keeping your hands dry in hot weather.

Kevlar: present in most tactical gloves, Kevlar is made from aramid fibers. Kevlar gloves are generally more resistant to cuts and abrasion.

Rubber: often used as shock-absorbing padding or non-slip inserts, rubber is a versatile and water-resistant material. It is found in metacarpal reinforcements and the palm of tactical gloves.

Neoprene: neoprene is a synthetic rubber most often used to make wetsuits. It is a naturally water-repellent material with good thermoregulatory properties. Neoprene gloves are therefore an excellent choice for keeping your hands warm and dry.

Thinsulate: Thinsulate is an insulating membrane that offers good thermal protection. The thicker the membrane, the warmer the glove.

Spandex: Spandex or Lycra is an elastane fabric known for its elasticity. Tactical gloves with this type of material offer a perfect fit thanks to their flexibility and stretch. They also offer great dexterity, making them an excellent choice for your shooting sessions.

Nomex: Nomex is a fire-resistant material. Nomex gloves are generally used by firefighters, aviation pilots, and other specialized military units.

Our tips for choosing your gloves

After choosing the type of gloves that will suit your mission, it is time to choose the size, because as mentioned earlier, combat gloves act as an extension of your hands, so size is just as important as the model! Here are our tips and tricks for making the right choice.

See our selection of tactical gloves

Length vs. Width

Like all clothing, tactical gloves tend to stretch and widen over time. When purchasing, therefore, prioritize the length of the glove rather than its width because if the glove is too tight in length, it will remain so even after prolonged wear and will remain uncomfortable to wear, unlike the width which will widen.

"Multi-material" gloves

All-leather gloves will undoubtedly be much more resistant than fabric gloves. However, leather does not evacuate sweat, and prolonged wear in hot environments will cause all kinds of discomfort. As for fabric gloves, they will be more flexible and breathable but less robust. The best is to make a compromise between leather, fabric, and if possible a bit of elastane for a perfect fit and increased comfort.

A second skin

A glove that is too loose will impair your dexterity because a glove that "moves" or "slips" will not feel natural, and every manipulation will be more difficult. It is better to take gloves that are too tight rather than not tight enough (without cutting off circulation or hindering movement), the glove should "stick" to your hand like a second skin.

Little tip

After putting on your gloves, join your hands by interlacing your fingers and press well between each finger to "fit" the gloves to your hands. Once the gloves are "fitted" and adjusted at the wrist, perform situational movements (clench your fist, grab an object, etc.). If you feel pressure at the fingertips, the gloves are too small; conversely, if there is a space equivalent to the size of a nail or more, they will be too large.