6 Best Shooting Gloves in 2025: Our Picks, Field-Tested

Shooting gloves aren’t an absolute necessity for every trip to the range (unlike hearing protection or shooting glasses, which should always be standard).

Still, there are plenty of situations where gloves can make a noticeable difference. The right pair can improve grip, protect your hands from cuts or burns, and simply make shooting more comfortable.

Because not all gloves are built for the same purpose, it doesn’t make sense to lump them all together. A pair designed for tactical use isn’t the same as one built for dexterity or heavy-duty abrasion resistance. To keep things clear, we’ve broken our list of the best shooting gloves into four main categories:

• Best Tactical Gloves
• Best Gloves for Dexterity
• Best Abrasion-Resistant Gloves
• Best Basic All-Around Gloves

Of course, there are more types of gloves on the market, but these four categories cover the majority of what most shooters will need without overcomplicating the field.

How I Chose the Best Shooting Gloves

With over a decade of shooting experience as a Navy officer, I’ve tested more pairs of gloves than I can count. Tactical gloves share some similarities with work gloves, but shooting places its own unique demands on gear (demands I’ve been evaluating ever since I started reviewing firearms and accessories).

Over the years, I’ve run rifles, handguns, and shotguns in every kind of weather: hot and dry summer days, cold and wet winter mornings, and everything in between. Along the way, I’ve learned which gloves hold up, which fall short, and which are worth recommending.

This list reflects that experience and should help you zero in on the right pair for your own shooting needs.

Gun University’s Picks for the Best Shooting Gloves

Best Shooting Gloves

1. Oakley Factory Pilot Gloves		Editor’s Choice for Best Tactical Most comfortable Kevlar knuckles Least likely to get worn out	Check Amazon
2. Magpul Technical Gloves		Editor’s Choice for tactile-feel Form-fitting Thin but strong material on hand Nicely priced	Check Amazon
3. PIG Full Dexterity Tactical Gloves		Special Operations Proven Barehand Shooting Feel Operate your touch screen	Check Amazon
4. Mechanix Wear FastFit Tactical		Form-fitting TrekDry material. Elastic cuff provides a secure fit. Two-piece palm eliminates material bunching.	Check Amazon
5. 5.11 High Abrasion TAC Gloves		Extremely durable Well priced Great Heavy Duty Shooting Gloves	Check Amazon
6. Blackhawk A.V.I.A.T.O.R. Gloves		Fire Resistant Won’t melt US Military Specs No frills yet proven design	Check Amazon

Spec Comparison of the Best Shooting Gloves

Here is a table breaking down some of the specs of each shooting glove:

Best Shooting Gloves by Type

• Oakley Factory Pilot Gloves – Best Tactical Gloves
• Magpul Technical Gloves – Best Pistol Shooting Gloves
• PIG Full Dexterity Tactical Gloves – Best Overall Shooting Gloves
• Mechanix Wear FastFit Tactical Gloves – Most Durable For the Price
• 5.11 High Abrasion TAC Gloves – Best Abrasion-Resistant
• Blackhawk A.V.I.A.T.O.R. Gloves – Best Aviator Gloves

Reviews of the Best Individual Shooting Gloves

Below is an indepth look at the individual shooting gloves and their respective grades for making our best shooting gloves list. 

Oakley Factory Pilot Glove Review: Best Combat Gloves

For heavy-duty shooting gloves, the Oakley Pilot Gloves are my personal favorites and the ones I use. The goatskin material is tough and durable without sacrificing too much dexterity. Other shooters and I have found that they last long enough to justify the price tag.

These gloves use legitimate carbon fiber with great padding underneath. Many cheaper knuckle protection combat gloves use fake “carbon fiber” to reduce costs, but not these.

Another thing I love about these gloves is their perfect breathability balance. They are thick enough for winter or cold activities but offer enough breathability to keep me comfortable during a Tennessee summer.

What I Don’t Like About Them: There are a couple of things I don’t like about them. First is the double seam in the fingertips, which I don’t think was necessary and causes me to lose sensitivity. A single seam would have sufficed, though I understand it might reduce durability slightly.

These gloves lack touchscreen capability, but I’m fine with that since I don’t like using my phone with thick gloves anyway. Click to read the complete review on the Oakley Factory Pilot glove.

However, if you want a cheaper option of tactical or heavy duty gloves, then you might want to check out Freetoo Tactical Gloves. I cover them more later.

Oakley Factory Pilot Pros and Cons

Magpul Technical Gloves Review: Best Pistol Gloves

The best way to describe these gloves is that they truly feel like a second skin: form-fitting and very comfortable. I haven’t lost any sensitivity while using them, and there’s no extra padding or buffer – they’re lightweight and technical. After 4 months of heavy use, including with my AK-47, they’re still holding up well. While they may not last as long as Oakleys, I’m okay with that trade-off for their thinness and sensitivity. They also have touchscreen capability, which is important for a lightweight glove like this.

What I Don’t Like About These: While I think these MagPul gloves are very durable for their class, I’m not a fan of the lack of extra material in the thumb to finger part of the glove like some of their class have. That area gets the most wear and tear for shooting, and I’d have preferred MagPul to have some extra material in that area. This would probably increase durability, and not cause a loss of grip or sensitivity.

But as you can see, after trying out many, these are the ones I kept for myself and thoroughly enjoy. Jump over to a full review of the Magpul Technical gloves.

Magpul Technical Gloves Pros and Cons

PIG Full Dexterity Review: Best Overall Shooting Gloves

The PIG Full Dexterity Delta Utility Gloves are some of the best overall gloves I have ever used. They are very thin and allow for full dexterity making them okay to use with a pistol, yet they keep my hands warm during the winter, and have enough protection and padding to go well enough with my AR15 or my AK47.

The only downside is that the seems at the bottom of the gloves where the elastic wrist cuff is have separated over time, but overall durability is good. If you wear gloves daily like I do, you will probably wear through a pair every 6-8 months.

Normally that would be a problem accept that these are pretty cheap compared to the others so it’s not that big of a deal to have to replace them.

Overall, I would highly recommend these gloves to anyone looking for overall pair of shooting gloves and what to use them in multiple situations. Learn more about these gloves in our review of the PIG FDT gloves here.

PIG FDT Glove Pros and Cons

Mechanix Wear Tactical Review

If you’re looking for a great pair of tactical gloves, look no further than Mechanix Wear’s MultiCam FastFit gloves. These gloves are designed to provide the dexterity you need to get the job done, while also providing protection from cuts and scrapes.

The MultiCam FastFits are perfect for any activity where you need extra hand protection. The palm is coated with Mechanix Wear’s exclusive TrekDry material, which wicks away moisture and keeps your hands cool and dry. Best of all, the MultiCam FastFits are available in a variety of sizes, so you can find the perfect fit for your hands. If you’re looking for a great pair of tactical gloves, the Mechanix Wear MultiCam FastFit gloves are the perfect choice.

If you are interested in our full review of the Mechanix Wear Tactical gloves, click here.

5.11 High Abrasion TAC Gloves Review

These make the list because they’re solid, heavy-duty workman’s gloves and offer great value for the price. While they’re not as technical or high-quality as Oakleys, they still deliver in key areas and have padding in the knuckles and thumb-to-finger area. The material on the top allows for venting, which helps control sweat, a plus for shooting in hot climates. Overall, they’re decent gloves, but not particularly special beyond being durable and functional. Personally, I’d prefer to pay extra for higher quality.

What I Don’t Like About Them: However, while these are durable, the type of material causes the reduction sensitivity and feel of the gun and make it a bit harder to shoot with. The moment I have to shift my hands around to grab a mag, or to switch something on my rifle, these start to lose a grade with me. They are very dextrous, however, I’m just not fully a fan of the synthetic material they used over the fingertips.

But, overall, these gloves are thick, strong and well made, and well priced to boot. Read the 5.11 High Abrasion TAC gloves comprehensive review.

5.11 High Abrasion TAC Gloves Pros and Cons

Blackhawk A.V.I.A.T.O.R. Gloves Review: Best Pilot Gloves

I’ll admit, the old school aviator gloves are not my kind of shooting gloves. However, talking with Ryan Cleckner, another editor of Gun University, pilot gloves are his glove of choice….leave it to Rangers.

He prefers them for their military training association, though he acknowledges they might not be the best for everyday shooters. These gloves, made of flame-resistant nomex material, are thick and suitable for most seasons, but lack breathability. While they can handle hot muzzles, they’re not ideal for those with sweaty hands.

What I Don’t Like About These: When it comes to pricing, these can be a bit much. There are some cheaper nomex aviator gloves out there like these military uniform supply ones. However, you’ll find when comparing those to the Blackhawk, the Blackhawk’s quality is above and beyond.

So, if you’re looking for a legit, high quality nomex pilot gloves, these get our vote. Jump over to our Blackhawk AVIATOR glove review.

Blackhawk A.V.I.A.T.O.R. Gloves Pros and Cons

Gloves That Didn’t Make the Cut

There are a lot of gloves that were tried that didn’t make the cut. Some of them are really popular with other shooters. However, for the reasons listed below, each one had something about them that caused them to be beat out by our list above:

Outdoor Research Iron Sight Gloves

Great rugged durability. However, didn’t like the rubber grip pads on them. Furthermore, based on the price, I do not think they provide a good value considering it lacks many other features that gloves in its price have. I also don’t like their extremely long cuff band – would interfere with my coat cuff, but I’ve heard the new version did correct this issue.

Check Amazon Price

Also, some of the gloves we were considering were the caldwell ultimate shooting glove and Mechanix wear m pact. Also, if you were wondering, no we don’t intend to list any gloves with kevlar lining for obvious reasons, but we felt we needed to state that here.

Best Shooting Gloves: Buyer’s Guide

Before you pick up a pair of shooting gloves, it’s worth knowing what to look for. The right choice depends on both the glove’s features and the purpose you need it to serve.

Fit, comfort, dexterity, durability, and even weather resistance all play a role in how well a glove performs at the range or in the field.

To help you make an informed decision, this buyer’s guide breaks down the most important factors so you can find the pair that matches your shooting style and conditions.

Let’s start with the basics: why shooting gloves matter in the first place.

What are Shooting Gloves for?

Before you buy shooting gloves, decide what you’ll be using them for and where you’ll be using them.

Climate, firearm type, and the tasks you’ll be doing all affect which glove is right. A thin pistol glove that excels on a summer range won’t work well for cold-weather hunting, and a heavy-duty abrasion glove designed for breaching won’t give you the fine trigger feel you need for precision pistol work.

Common reasons shooters wear gloves:

• Cold-weather protection. For winter shooting you want insulated or thicker gloves that keep fingers warm while still allowing you to manipulate controls. Slim pistol gloves trade insulation for dexterity and typically won’t cut it in freezing conditions.
• Hot-weather comfort. In hot climates choose thin, breathable gloves or ones with venting. Some shooters prefer fingerless styles, but full-coverage gloves usually give better trigger control and consistent grip.
• Burn prevention. Barrels, suppressors, and hot muzzle devices heat up with sustained fire. Gloves with heat-resistant panels or flame-retardant materials reduce the chance of burns when touching hot metal.
• Cut and abrasion protection. Tactical work, rough terrain, or handling equipment with sharp edges (for example, some AK variants) make abrasion-resistant palms and reinforced fingers useful for avoiding scrapes and cuts.
• Reducing felt recoil and fatigue. Gloves with targeted padding can soften recoil’s sting and reduce hand fatigue during long sessions. They won’t eliminate recoil, but after hundreds of rounds the padding can make a noticeable difference.

Match the glove to the job. That’s the single best way to get value out of them

What Type of Glove Features are Best for You?

Once you know how and where you’ll be using shooting gloves, the next step is matching features to your needs. No single glove can do it all (a covert glove can’t be both paper-thin and loaded with hard knuckle armor).

Instead, focus on the features that best fit your environment and shooting style.

Key features to consider:

• Fire resistance. Gloves made from Nomex, Kevlar, or other heat-resistant materials protect against extreme heat from barrels, suppressors, or flash. These are popular in military and tactical settings.
• Cut resistance. Kevlar or Dyneema gloves guard against sharp edges and thorns. Hunters, or anyone handling long guns with rough metalwork, benefit from this added protection.
• Cold-weather insulation. Thick gloves keep you warm but often restrict movement. Modern materials like polyester blends, neoprene, and spandex offer a better balance (thinner designs that still insulate without sacrificing dexterity).
• Hard knuckle protection. Knuckles reinforced with Kevlar, polycarbonate, or similar materials add impact protection. They’re useful for tactical professionals, law enforcement, or shooters training in rugged terrain.
• Soft knuckle protection. Rubber or foam knuckle pads provide back-of-hand defense with more flexibility than hard knuckles. A good middle ground for shooters who want protection without stiffness.
• Draw tabs or loops. Thick gloves can be tough to pull on and off. Tabs make it easier, and loops let you clip gloves to gear with a carabiner when not in use.
• Adjustable wrists. Straps, Velcro, or drawcords help customize fit and keep gloves secure. They take a bit longer to put on or remove, but they improve comfort and prevent slipping.
• Touchscreen capability. Some gloves have conductive fingertips so you can operate phones, tablets, or shot-tracking tools like MantisX without removing them.
• Stitching quality. For leather or suede gloves in particular, look for double stitching in high-stress areas. Reinforced seams improve durability while still allowing your trigger finger to move freely.

The best glove is the one that gives you exactly what you need without getting in the way.

What Glove Material Is Best for You?

Shooting gloves are generally made from either natural materials or synthetic materials. Each category comes with its own strengths, and the best choice depends on the balance you want between durability, dexterity, cost, and performance.

Natural Materials

Natural hides and leathers are often chosen for their feel and long-term durability.

Advantages:

• Higher overall build quality
• Excellent dexterity, even in thinner designs
• Typically last longer than synthetic alternatives
• Comfortable, with a “nicer” feel to the hand

Examples: Leather, suede, goatskin

Comparisons:

• Goatskin – soft, lightweight, and ideal for fine finger control.
• Cowhide leather – rugged, durable, and best for heavy-duty use.
• Treated suede – offers insulation and warmth, making it a solid option for cold-weather shooting.

Synthetic Materials

Synthetic fabrics are widely used in tactical and modern glove design, often bringing specialized performance features.

Advantages:

• Generally less expensive than natural materials
• Lightweight and breathable
• Can incorporate high-performance traits like quick-drying or flame resistance
• Some blends (like polyfill) retain warmth even when wet, unlike down

Examples: Nomex, nylon, poly blends, synthetic leather

Comparisons:

• Kevlar – excellent for cut resistance and hard-knuckle reinforcement.
• Nomex – heat- and flame-resistant, common in gloves built for tactical or military use.

How to Determine What Size Glove to Get

The best way to determine what size glove you need is to try them on. However, you may not always be in the position to do so such as when ordering online. But that’s no problem as long as you know how to measure your hand for a proper fit.

When measuring your hands for gloves, you always want to measure your dominant hand. Your dominant hand is almost always marginally larger than the other. And by measuring the larger hand, you’ll ensure that your gloves aren’t too small.

In order to measure your hand, follow the below steps. This will make sure you get the best size shooting gloves for your hand.

Conclusion

We live in a world full of great shooting gloves, giving everyone plenty of options. This guide aims to help you find the perfect pair for your needs.

Remember, the best shooting gloves aren’t always the most expensive or popular—they’re the ones that suit you best. Whether you’re a shooting fan, in the military, or just need reliable gloves for protection and performance, there’s a pair out there for you.

Take your time, think about your choices, and choose wisely. A good pair of shooting gloves is a smart buy and, with proper care, can last for many years.

Best Shooting Gloves: FAQs

How do I choose the right size of shooting gloves?

Measure the circumference of your dominant hand (just below the knuckles, excluding the thumb) and compare it to the manufacturer’s sizing chart. A snug but flexible fit is key. Too tight restricts movement, too loose reduces control.

Are synthetic or natural materials better for shooting gloves?

Both have advantages. Natural options like leather or goatskin are durable and provide excellent dexterity. Synthetics like Nomex or Kevlar bring specialized benefits such as flame resistance, cut protection, or lightweight breathability. Choose based on the environment and demands of your shooting.

Can shooting gloves be used with touchscreens?

Yes. Many modern gloves have conductive fingertips that let you operate smartphones, tablets, or shot-tracking tools without removing them.

Are patrol gloves and military gloves the same?

Not exactly. Patrol gloves tend to be lighter and versatile, built for law enforcement officers who need daily utility. Military gloves are often more specialized, with added protection against heat, cuts, or harsh conditions.

Do shooting gloves affect trigger control?

They can, especially if they’re bulky or poorly fitted. That’s why most shooting gloves are designed with thinner trigger fingers or materials that maintain dexterity. A good pair should protect your hands without compromising accuracy.

Can I wash my shooting gloves?

It depends on the material. Many synthetics can be hand-washed with mild soap and air-dried. Leather gloves usually require special care, like leather cleaner or conditioner, to avoid cracking or stiffness. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Are shooting gloves necessary for casual range use?

Not strictly, but they add comfort, grip, and protection. Even casual shooters can benefit, whether it’s shielding hands from hot barrels, reducing recoil fatigue, or simply avoiding blisters during long sessions.