Best Airsoft Gloves Round Up Review – What tactical gloves should you buy for airsoft?

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:

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Bottom Line
 

mechanix m-pact gloves for airsoft

Mechanix Wear M-Pact
Best Overall

Bottom Line

This is the most well rounded glove at a very affordable price.

Pig airsoft glove best airsoft glove

SKD FDT Alpha PIG Gloves
Editor’s Choice

Bottom Line

Our favorite gloves. High dexterity and rugged construction keeps this tactical glove at the top of our list.

valken alpha half finger gloves

Valken Alpha Half Finger
Best Low Budget

Bottom Line

For those who just want something to cover their hands and not spend much money at all.

Keep on reading for each specific review.

What are the best airsoft gloves? Header Image
Table of Contents:


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

Pig airsoft glove best airsoft glove

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
Positive
  • Additional trigger finger joint
  • Wrap over fingers for fingernail protection
  • Highly dexterous and tactile feel
  • All-finger flex and ventilating joints
  • Lightweight
Negatives
  • No additional impact protection
  • On the pricier side – but well worth the cost

Mechanix Wear Covert Tactical Gloves

mechanix wear covert glove

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
Positive
  • Impact resistance
  • Built-in flex joints
  • AX suede and TrekDry for moisture and comfort
  • TPR rubber wrist with hook-and-loop fastener
  • Machine-washable
  • Very high value for the cost
Negatives
  • No thermal insulation for cold weather
  • Limited knuckle protection
  • Overt branding may put off some users

Mechanix Wear M-Pact Tactical Gloves

mechanix wear mpact airsoft 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
Positive
  • Very high impact resistance
  • Molded rubber protects nearly all knuckles
  • AX suede and TrekDry for moisture and comfort
  • TPR rubber wrist with hook-and-loop fastener
  • Machine-washable
  • Very high value for the cost
Negatives
  • Additional rubber protection keeps heat in
  • Less dexterous than the Covert model

Valken Alpha Full Finger Gloves

Valken full finger airsoft 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
Positive
  • High impact resistance on knuckles
  • Thicker material for warmth
  • Very inexpensive
Negatives
  • Thick material – perhaps too thick for dexterous tasks
  • Material can make objects feel slippery
  • Looks like paintball gear

Valken Alpha Half Finger Gloves

valken half finger gloves for airsoft

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
Positive
  • High impact resistance on knuckles
  • Half finger design lets you do dextrous tasks easier
  • Very inexpensive
Negatives
  • No protection if you grab something spiny or thorny
  • Material can make objects feel slippery
  • Looks like paintball gear

Reebow Tactical Military Tactical Glove

reebow tactical military glove for airsoft

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
Positive
  • Hard knuckle protection at a low cost
  • Look close to the Oakley Pilot gloves – good for cosplays and impression kits
  • Very inexpensive
Negatives
  • Padding is thicc – maybe too thick
  • Build quality is questionable
  • Sizing is strange – ours came too tight

Glove Station Combat Tactical Knuckle Glove

Glove Station The Combat Tactical Knuckle Gloves

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
Positive
  • Hard knuckle protection at a low cost
  • Look close to the Oakley Pilot gloves – good for cosplays and impression kits
  • Touchscreen Capable
  • Inexpensive
  • Reinforced hook-and-loop fastener
Negatives
  • Not too breathable – will get hot

Oakley Pilot 2.0 Glove

oakley pilot gloves 2.0 airsoft tactical gloves

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
Positive
  • Top quality hard knuckle protection
  • Built-in ventilation
  • Fully textured material on palms & fingers
  • The real deal
  • TAA Compliant
Negatives
  • Expensive

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

Mechanix Wear glove sizing chart

Oakley Glove Sizing Chart

oakley glove size chart

Reasons to Wear 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 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.

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.

The post Best Airsoft Gloves Round Up Review – What tactical gloves should you buy for airsoft? appeared first on Airsoft Core.

Published first here: https://www.airsoftcore.com/tactical-gear/best-airsoft-gloves/

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