Getting shot in the hands suck. Let’s fix that.
There are myriads of gloves out there, all jostling for your hands. But the more they get, the louder this question rings: Are they all worth your buck? If not, how can you separate the gold from the chaff?
We’ve worn and used dozens and dozens of airsoft gloves. We’ve played thousands of airsoft games and gone to multiple MILSIM events. Let us save you some $$ and compare some of the top choices in the airsoft gloves.
Looking for an immediate answer? See our quick breakdown of the best airsoft gloves:
Keep on reading for each specific review.
Factors to consider for what makes a great glove for airsoft
Here are the factors we considered when compiling our list of the best gloves for airsoft.
- Comfort: Gloves designed for comfort will ensure you WANT to wear them regularly.
- Durability: Great gloves are made of tough study material, meant to stand the abuses and wear and tear from various arduous tasks. If you’re on the frontline or facing an opponent with a high FPS airsoft gun, you’ll need something that can take a hit and not fall apart.
- Function and Features: Features like padded knuckles, smart touch tips, and loop & hook closures are all desirable.
- Value: If your tactical gloves have all the features you desired, such as protection, providing warmth, protecting you from too much heat, and giving a firm grip on your airsoft gun while also being easy on the wallet? That’s value.
Keep these 2 tips in mind when purchasing
- What is the reputation of the manufacturer? Much like anything, you get what you pay for. I’d say that with tactical gear is especially true, as the difference between even $20 can be stark. Good tactical gear manufacturers will have more rigorous quality assurance processes to ensure that you’ve got a good product that will run when you need it to run.
- Does it come with a warranty – Review the warranty policy to determine if it is provided by the manufacturer itself, or the store.
With that said – let’s start:
SKD Tactical PIG Gloves
When it comes to protection, comfort, and the convenience of operating your touchscreen devices with your thumb and forefinger, PIG gloves never lie. We’ve used these gloves, collectively, for well over 100 airsoft games and they’re our go-to in our kit.
| Specs | PIG Gloves |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SKD Tactical |
| Material Type | Micro suede nose wipe and fourchette material on the inside |
| Padding | Padded Knuckles |
| Ventilation | Holes in palms and fingers, and additional wicking |
| Touchscreen compatibility | Yes, synthetic suede sensitized to all devices |
| Sizes Available | X-small, small, medium, large, x-large, 2x-large |
| Colors | Black, Coyote, Carbon Grey, Ranger Green, Multicam, Multicam Black |
Mechanix Wear Covert Tactical Gloves
Mechanix Wear gloves remain one of the top choices for airsoft gloves simply due to the value they bring. They come in multiple types, and we are going to be recommending two of them. The Covert, for those looking for a high dexterity glove, and the M-Pact for protection.
| Specs | Mechanix Covert |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mechanix Wear |
| Material Type | Faux Leather |
| Padding | Thin foam on fingers, palms, and knuckles |
| Ventilation | Form-fitting trek-dry breathable material all around |
| Touchscreen compatibility | Yes, synthetic leather |
| Sizes Available | Small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large |
| Colors | Black, brown, grey, woodland, Multicam |
Mechanix Wear M-Pact Tactical Gloves
The M-Pact variant of their glove is armored up. We’ve taken multiple hits to the knuckle while wearing this glove and there was no pain at all. Additionally, the M-Pact glove just looks good and really fits most loadouts.
| Specs | Mechanix Covert |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mechanix Wear |
| Material Type | Faux Leather |
| Padding | Rubber impact protection on knuckles with Armortext palm reinforcements |
| Ventilation | Form-fitting trek-dry breathable material all around |
| Touchscreen compatibility | Yes, synthetic leather |
| Sizes Available | Small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large |
| Colors | Black, brown, grey, olive drab, Multicam |
Valken Alpha Full Finger Gloves
For something on the inexpensive side, we have the Valken Alpha Full Finger Gloves. You might ask: why do these look like paintball gloves? The answer is: they are. Valken is most known for their paintball line of gear. However, this doesn’t mean that these gloves won’t work for airsoft.
In fact, these provide a LOT of protection for your knuckles, all things considered. The price is nice too for players who want to build a beginner loadout.
| Specs | Valken Full Finger Gloves |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Valken |
| Material Type | Blend of synthetic material |
| Padding | Flexible plastic on most knuckles |
| Ventilation | Mesh design – somewhat breathable |
| Touchscreen compatibility | None |
| Sizes Available | X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large |
| Colors | Black, Olive Drab, Tan |
Valken Alpha Half Finger Gloves
Take the Valken full finger gloves and chop off the tips.
What do you gain? You can now better tactically feel your way around your airsoft gun and equipment while still getting a lot of knuckle protection.
What do you lose? Protection near your fingertips. It does suck to get shot there, but the tradeoff might be worth it.
Lastly, it is inexpensive – great for players on a meager budget. In our opinion, we prefer these over the full-finger variant, generally.
| Specs | Valken Half Finger Gloves |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Valken |
| Material Type | Blend of synthetic material |
| Padding | Flexible plastic on most knuckles |
| Ventilation | Mesh design – somewhat breathable |
| Touchscreen compatibility | None |
| Sizes Available | X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large |
| Colors | Black, Olive Drab, Tan |
Reebow Tactical Military Tactical Glove
We’ve seen many airsoft beginners end up picking up a pair of gloves like these. These are basically replica Oakley Pilot gloves.
Only worse in every way.
To be completely fair though, the knuckle protection on these gloves is great. You won’t even feel a hit from a .40 at airsoft combat distances. The cons? Well, just read more below.
| Specs | Reebow Tactical Airsoft Gloves |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Reebow Tactical |
| Material Type | Microfiber leather |
| Padding | Hardshell knuckles and reinforced padding on fingers |
| Ventilation | Thick and not too breathable |
| Touchscreen compatibility | None |
| Sizes Available | Small, Medium, Large, X-Large |
| Colors | Black |
Glove Station Combat Tactical Knuckle Glove
Here’s another replica of the Oakley Pilot gloves. However, we do think this is far more well-made than the Reebow version.
The main difference here are the faux leather palms and touchscreen compatible finger tips.
| Specs | Glove Station Combat Tactical Knuckle Gloves |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Glove Station |
| Material Type | Polyester / Faux Leather |
| Padding | Hardshell knuckles and reinforced padding on fingers |
| Ventilation | Semi breathable padded mesh |
| Touchscreen compatibility | Yes |
| Sizes Available | Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large |
| Colors | Black, Grey, Tan, Green |
Oakley Pilot 2.0 Glove
So after a couple of replicas, we’re featuring the real deal here. The Oakley pilot gloves are some of the top-end gloves you can buy.
Is it worth the money? Well, that wholly depends on your budget. Generally speaking, we’re bigger fans of the more dextrous SKD Alpha PIG gloves, or the M-Pact gloves, but if you NEED hard knuckle gloves, then this is one of the best choices.
Stylish, comfortable, and protective; nearly everything you need in the best airsoft glove.
| Specs | Oakley Factory Pilot 2.0 Gloves |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Oakley |
| Material Type | Leather, Nylon, Polyester Blend |
| Padding | Hardshell knuckles and reinforced padding on fingers |
| Ventilation | High – mesh zones & topside exhaust ports for breathability |
| Touchscreen compatibility | Yes |
| Sizes Available | Small, Medium, Large, X-Large |
| Colors | Black, Tan |
Common Size and Fit Guides
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting the right tactical glove size for your hands:
- Wrap a tailor’s tape measure around your palms on the knuckles. Knuckles are the points where your palms are the widest.
- Fold your hand into a loose fist.
- Record the measure to the nearest decimal inch.
One hand might be larger, usually the dominant. So, follow the same procedure for both hands.
Now, gloves are sold in sizes, not metric or imperial units. To get your glove size right, use the table below to match measurements with the right glove sizes.
Tactical Glove Sizing Table in Inches
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Men | 6.5 – 7.5 | 7.5 – 8.5 | 8.5 – 9.5 | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10.5 – 11.5 | 11.5 – 12.5 |
| Women | 6 – 6.5 | 6.5 – 7 | 7 – 7.5 | 7.5 – 8 | 8 – 8.5 | – |
Mechanix Wear Glove Sizing Chart
Oakley Glove Sizing Chart
Reasons to Wear Tactical Gloves
Wearing gloves when playing airsoft has many advantages, such as:
- Protecting your skin from bruises and cuts from rough foliage
- Protecting you from extreme weather
- Protecting you from painful airsoft BB strikes
- Keeping your gun steady for more accurate shots
- Provide camouflage
Reasons Not to Wear Tactical Gloves
Despite their advantages, gloves have some downsides, such as:
- Irritating the skin due to long periods of wearing
- Increasing the effects of humidity, heat, and cold
- Interfering with flexibility and routine tasks like opening doors, swapping magazines, and adjusting gear.
Are there any other sources for airsoft glove reviews?
Yes. Our favorite place to check in with is the r/airsoft subreddit.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you found this list of the best airsoft gloves useful. Gloves are part of any good airsofter’s safety gear. In fact, airsoft gloves are one of the top items we recommend getting, even before a plate carrier.
We look forward to seeing you out on the field.
