Best Shooting Gloves

Whether you’re a hunter, a police officer, or you’re serving in the military, a pair of tactical shooting gloves can be a huge aid in getting your job done. They’re particularly important for police and military, since those occupations expose you to hazards that most people will never have to deal with.

For hunters, the main advantage is warmth in cold conditions, as well as recoil reduction. The best shooting gloves for you will be the ones that are best suited to what you’re doing with them.

Not everyone needs a pair. If you live in a warm climate and primarily use your gun for hunting, they’re probably not necessary. But most hunting seasons extend into late fall, when temperatures in northern latitudes routinely drop below freezing. At those temperatures, your fingers can go numb, and you’ll lose a lot of dexterity. Not to mention the risk of frostbite with extended exposure.

We’ve picked twelve of the most popular tactical gloves available online, and put them to the test to see how they perform. Because people use shooting gloves for different purposes, we’ve tried to select a wide variety of types, materials and prices. We’ve also included a short buyer’s guide that answers your most burning questions.

Let’s begin!

Best Shooting Gloves

1. WTACTFUL

WTACTFUL Hard Knuckle is advertised for military use, but they’re better suited for sport shooting or other outdoor activities. They’re not slash-resistant, but the rubber knuckles and finger backing are extremely durable against bumps and abrasion.

These gloves provide excellent recoil reduction thanks to the thick palm padding, but they’re not terribly flexible. They’re not terribly warm. While the wrist strap provides excellent support, the metal buckle is uncomfortable.

That said, these gloves are designed to be used with a touchscreen, and they’re very affordable. All in all, they’re a solid choice for heavy-duty shooting in hoodie weather.

Pros

• Hard rubber knuckles
• Padded palms for recoil reduction
• Rubber-backed fingers
• Touchscreen friendly
• Available in 4 sizes and 3 colors
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Limited dexterity
• Limited cold protection
• Uncomfortable wrist strap

Why It’s Recommended

The WTACTFUL Hard Knuckle is a solid, affordable choice for any demanding outdoor activity.

2. Seibertron

The S.O.L.A.G. Gloves are foam-padded knuckles. This padding is less protective than hard knuckles, but also has a lower profile and is more discrete. They’re available in six sizes, in both full-finger and fingerless versions. They’re designed to fit snugly, but their sizing guide runs a bit small, so hold on to your receipt until you’re sure they fit.

These gloves provide excellent wrist support, and the padded palms provide good recoil reduction and heat resistance. The shell is made of cheap PU leather, but this is to be expected at their low price point.

Pros

• Foam padded knuckles
• Fingerless version available
• Good wrist support
• Heat resistant
• Padded palms
• Available in 6 sizes
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Sizes run a bit small
• Cheap PU leather shell

Why It’s Recommended

Seibertron Men’s S.O.L.A.G. Gloves are a good choice if you want knuckle protection, but also want something more discrete than a hard knuckle glove.

3. REEBOW GEAR

REEBOW GEAR Fingerless Hard Knuckle Tactical Gloves have a hard steel plate woven into the back of the knuckles. The palms are well padded for recoil reduction. Combined with the fingerless design, this makes them some of the best tactical shooting gloves available for pistols.

The wrist strap provides plenty of wrist support, but the velcro strap is on the cheap side. This is forgivable since the gloves as a whole are very affordable. Like all hard knuckle gloves, they limit your dexterity, so you’ll want to practice drawing with them before you use them in a life and death situation.

The ventilated material makes them an excellent choice for shooting in warm weather, but think twice about using them in the cold.

Pros

• Great for pistol shooting
• Rubber padded palms
• Good wrist support
• Ventilated material
• Available in 3 colors and 3 sizes
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Poor cold protection
• Limited dexterity
• Cheap velcro strap

Why It’s Recommended

REEBOW GEAR Fingerless Hard Knuckle Tactical Gloves are some of the best shooting gloves available for pistols.

4. WTACTFUL

WTACTFUL is designed for shooting, hunting, and other high-impact outdoor activities. The thick, padded palms are great for reducing recoil, and the breathable fabric makes them comfortable for warm weather. Because they’re breathable, you won’t want to use them in weather under 45 degrees.

The microfiber hard knuckles can absorb a lot of impacts, but they also limit your dexterity. These gloves are designed to be used with a touchscreen, so you can snap pictures of your target without needing to take them off. They’re available in four sizes and six different colors and are very reasonably priced

Pros

• Durable knuckle guards
• Padded palms
• Breathable
• Touchscreen friendly
• Available in 4 sizes and 6 colors
• Affordable

Cons

• Not very warm
• Limited dexterity

Why It’s Recommended

WTACTFUL Professional Design Tactical Gloves are well designed for shooting from late spring through mid fall.

5. Campstoor

Campstoor is designed to provide a good balance between protection and dexterity. They have a leather padded palm that’s relatively low profile while still providing good grip and recoil reduction. The rubber knuckle guard is tough and durable and doesn’t limit your mobility as much as most hard knuckles.

These are a great pair of pistol shooting gloves, and they’re easy to put on and take off. Unfortunately, this is because they don’t have a wrist strap, so your wrist support is pretty much nonexistent. These gloves are very affordable and are available in three sizes and three different colors.

Pros

• Great for pistol shooting
• Hard rubber knuckle guard
• Good dexterity for a hard knuckle glove
• Non-slip leather padded palms
• Available in 3 sizes and 3 colors
• Affordable

Cons

• Poor wrist support

Why It’s Recommended

If you’re looking for a well-designed pair of pistol shooting gloves, the Capstoor Tactical Half Finger Gloves are a solid, affordable choice.

6. Accmor

Accmor Touch Screen is designed for shooting but is also a good cold-weather choice for any outdoor sport. The rubber knuckle guard provides limited protection, while still allowing you a full range of movement. The stretch nylon shell gives you a little play in terms of sizing.

The palms of these gloves are padded enough for recoil reduction, but not enough to make them clunky. Best of all, they’re touchscreen-friendly, which is hard to find in a warm pair of gloves. They’re reasonably priced, and come in three colors and three sizes.

Pros

• Very warm
• Rubber knuckle guard
• Padded palms
• Touchscreen friendly
• Durable stretch nylon shell
• Available in 3 sizes and 3 colors
• Affordable

Cons

• Not breathable

Why It’s Recommended

Accmor Touch Screen Tactical Gloves are some of the warmest touchscreen gloves you’ll find, and they’re pretty durable for the price.

7. Beretta

These Beretta’s are polyester mesh shooting gloves with textured leather palms and fingers. This makes them extremely breathable, while still giving you plenty of grip. Because they’re so thin, they’re extremely flexible, so you won’t experience any lack of dexterity.

That said, they’re not made to keep your hands warm. These are strictly warm-weather gloves for improving your grip. The material is heat resistant, and protects you from a hot barrel if you’re doing some rapid-fire sport shooting. All of this comes at a price, but you have to pay the most to get the best.

Pros

• Very flexible
• Plenty of dexterity
• Heat resistant
• Textured palm
• Breathable
• Available in 2 sizes

Cons

• Not good for cold weather
• Pricey

Why It’s Recommended

Beretta Men’s Mesh Full Finger Shooting Gloves are a great choice for added grip in warm or hot weather.

8. TurtleSkin

As the name implies, TurtleSkin Police Duty Gloves are made specifically for police officers. Their main feature is the internal woven aramid sheath, which is both slash and needle resistant. They’re perfect for searching through pockets where a needle or knife may be concealed.

While these gloves aren’t specifically made for shooting, they allow you a full range of motion, and the leather palms provide plenty of grip. The only downside is their poor wrist support, although that’s a side effect of being easy to put on and remove. They’re pretty expensive, but your health and safety are well worth the price.

Pros

• Knit back with heavy leather palms
• Needle and slash-resistant
• Won’t limit your dexterity
• Comfortable and flexible
• Available in 5 sizes

Cons

• Expensive
• Poor wrist support

Why It’s Recommended

TurtleSkin Police Duty Gloves are the best gloves on the market if your job involves patting down suspects and searching questionable pockets.

9. Eamber

Eamber Archery has a three-finger design that protects your first three fingers while leaving your thumb and pinkie free to breathe. It’s constructed from supple deerskin, with thick cowhide fingers that provide plenty of protection from your bowstring. The wrist strap provides a small amount of support and is adjustable for comfort.

This glove has an ambidextrous design, so both left and right-handed shooters can use it. Because it’s so breathable – and only goes on one hand – you won’t want to use it in cold weather. Other than that, it performs very well, and comes at a low price.

Pros

• Made specifically for archery
• Plenty of air flow
• Durable leather fingers
• Adjustable wrist strap
• Ambidextrous
• Available in 3 sizes
• Affordable

Cons

• Not good for cold weather

Why It’s Recommended

The Eamber Archery Shooting Gloves will protect your fingers from the bowstring, while also allowing your hand to breathe.

10. ArcheryMax

The ArcheryMax is a three fingered archery glove that’s designed to protect your index, middle, and ring finger while letting your other fingers breathe. It’s ambidextrous, it’s constructed from durable leather, and it stands up well to abuse. The supportive wrist strap is adjustable, while the fingers themselves are flexible enough to maintain full dexterity.

This glove is available in four sizes and two colors: brown and black. Because it leaves your thumb and pinkie exposed, it’s not a good choice for cold weather use. The finger padding is also relatively thin, so it’s better for hunting than it is for use on the archery range, where you’ll be shooting multiple times in a short period. The price is very reasonable.

Pros

• Durable cowhide construction
• Comfortable and flexible
• Breathable
• Ambidextrous
• Adjustable wrist strap
• Available in 4 sizes and 2 colors
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Relatively thin finger padding
• Not designed for cold weather

Why It’s Recommended

The ArcheryMax Leather Archery Glove is a good quality protective glove for both left and right-handed bow hunters.

11. StrongSuit

StrongSuit Q-Series are synthetic shooting gloves with enough padding to keep you warm and protect you from hot barrels, while still maintaining a slim profile for maximum dexterity. The palm and fingers are coated with textured, rubbery synthetic that helps you maintain a solid grip.

These gloves are touchscreen compatible and are available in three sizes. They’re also very affordable. Our only concern is the velcro on the wrist strap, which has low-quality stitching and isn’t very tough.

Pros

• Heat resistant
• Very warm
• Excellent dexterity
• Textured palm and fingers
• Touchscreen compatible
• Available in 3 sizes
• Affordable

Cons

• Low-quality velcro strap

Why It’s Recommended

StrongSuit Q-Series Shooting Gloves are an excellent choice for cold weather shooters who need to maintain dexterity.

12. OneTac

OneTac has a nylon shell, with neoprene palms and fingers for extra grip. The Kevlar liner resists cuts, so you can put a pair of latex gloves over them for skinning and gutting, rather than needing a whole extra set of gloves.

These gloves are padded enough for cold weather use, while still being thin enough to handle your rifle and magazine effectively. They’re available in three sizes and are inexpensive considering the high quality. That said, the thin velcro wrist strap doesn’t provide much wrist support, so pistol shooters will prefer a different set of gloves.

Pros

• Warm and flexible
• Neoprene palm and fingers
• Cut resistant Kevlar lining
• Available in 3 sizes
• Affordable

Cons

• Poor wrist support

Why It’s Recommended

OneTac is useful for dedicated hunters who don’t want a second set of gloves for skinning.

Key Considerations

Unless you’re a tactical expert, you probably have some questions about how to choose the right pair of tactical gloves. And let’s be honest, if you are an expert, you’re probably not looking up advice on the internet. Here are some of the most common shooting glove questions.

What Are the Benefits of Using Shooting Gloves?

Shooting gloves can provide a variety of benefits, depending on what you’re doing with your gun.

For police and military, they provide protection from flying debris, fire, cuts, and other occupational hazards. For police in particular, some gloves are specially made to protect your hands from needles, which can come in handy when you’re searching a suspect.

For all shooters, a well-made glove can provide a small level of recoil reduction. This isn’t necessarily significant for hunters, who generally fire one or two shots, but it’s a huge benefit if you spent a lot of time on the range, particularly with higher recoil firearms.

Most importantly, they keep your hands warm. If you’ve ever spent eight hours in a tree stand in freezing temperatures, you’ll appreciate this aspect.

What Are the Different Types of Shooting Gloves?

Shooting gloves are one of those things that don’t have a well-defined set of categories. Different manufacturers use different terms, and sometimes their definitions overlap. Here’s a broad overview of some of the terms you’re likely to see.

• All-terrain gloves. This is a catch-all term for gloves that aren’t heavily padded or armored. They usually have plenty of grip and good flexibility, but this differs depending on what you’re buying.
• Lightweight recreation gloves. Strictly speaking, these aren’t tactical gloves. Nonetheless, many of them are serviceable for hunting. Basically, these are gloves that are relatively thin, flexible, and offer some level of protection against the elements.
• Extreme recreation gloves. These are heavily padded gloves for skiing and other winter sports. These are not tactical gloves, and you don’t want to use them for shooting.
• Field dressing gloves. These also aren’t tactical gloves. That said, they provide slashing protection and dexterity, and usually have gauntlets that extend over you’re forearm. Even if you’re not using them for shooting, they’re an important part of any hunter’s field kit.
• Bow hunting gloves. These are usually made from suede or another thin, durable material. They’re designed to keep your hands warm while providing maximum dexterity.
• Needlestick gloves. These are designed specifically for law enforcement officers and offer protection against needles. If you search suspects on a regular basis, needlestick gloves are a good choice.
• Cut-resistant gloves. These gloves are basically what they sound like. They’re useful for law enforcement, the military, and anyone who uses a knife on a regular basis. They limit dexterity slightly.
• Hard-knuckle tactical gloves. These have molded shells covering the knuckles, usually made from Kevlar or polycarbonate. They significantly limit dexterity, but keep you protected if you’re shooting off a wall or breaching a room. Military and special police units should seriously consider them. Needless to say, hunters will prefer other options.
• Soft-knuckle tactical gloves. These are similar to hard-knuckle tactical gloves, but use soft foam instead of a harder material. On the one hand, they offer you more flexibility. On the other hand, they provide less protection.
• Touchscreen gloves. These are very flexible and are made to keep your hands warm while allowing you to use a touchscreen. They’re a good choice for hunters who use digital tools in the field, such as advanced sights.
• Handgun gloves. These are generally made from leather and have cut-off fingers for added dexterity. They’re not as warm as other types of gloves, but provide good recoil resistance for pistol shooters.

What Are the Best Shooting Glove Materials?

It depends on what you’re doing. Here are some of the most common materials, as well as what they’re used for.

• Nomex. These gloves are fire and heat resistant but are very expensive. Consider these materials only if you’re in law enforcement or the military.
• Kevlar or Dyneema. These are highly cut-resistant, and Kevlar gloves are also fire and heat resistant. If you frequently have to push your way through thick brush, these gloves are a good idea.
• Spandex. These are the least expensive gloves and are primarily used for warmth, and for protection from minor dings.
• Other synthetics. These include nylon, polyester, and rayon. They’re used primarily for warmth, but they stand up better than spandex.
• Leather. Leather gloves provide warmth, but also offer protection from scratches, as well as some impact resistance. They tend to cost more than synthetic gloves, but are more durable.
• Suede. These gloves keep your hands warm but offer more dexterity than regular leather. They cost more, too, but they’re the best choice for bow hunters.

Do Shooting Gloves Restrict Your Movement?

It depends on what type of glove you use. Refer to our earlier question about different types of gloves for more information, but generally speaking, you’ll get more dexterity from gloves that provide less physical protection, and vice-versa.

Can You Use Shooting Gloves For Shooting Bows?

Absolutely! But you should make sure to choose a pair that are made specifically for archery. This will ensure that they’re durable enough for your purposes, while still leaving you enough dexterity for handling a bow trigger.

Bottom Line

It should be obvious by now that there are more tactical gloves out there than we could cover in one, or even ten, articles. There’s just such an insane variety of styles and materials available. Because of this, there’s no single “best” pair of shooting gloves. It all depends on what you need for your purposes.

The first thing you’ll need to consider is whether you’re primarily concerned with protection from the elements, or protection from bumps and bruises. Law enforcement officers and members of the military will want to favor a heavier, more protective glove, while hunters and sporting shooters will be more concerned with dexterity and flexibility.

The next thing you’ll want to think about is extra features. Do you need to use a touchscreen? Do you need to be concerned with needles? And of course, if you’re a bowhunter, you’ll need to choose a pair that’s specially designed for archery.