Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS

4 Best Shooting Gloves [Hands-On Tested]

We bought the most popular tactical shooting gloves to see which have the perfect grip, dexterity, protection, and price.

We review products independently. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission to help support our testing. Learn more.

Need some protection for your hands from weekend shooting to busting down doors?

We bought a bunch of the most popular tactical shooting gloves out there and tested them through thick and thin over several years.

All Tested Tactical Shooting Gloves
Some Tested Tactical Shooting Gloves

By the end of this article, you'll know which gloves to choose to make your shooting trip a little easier.

The Quick List

Table of Contents

Trending: Best AR-15s, Best Pistol Red Dots, & Ammo in Stock

How We Tested The Best Shooting Gloves

We tested the best shooting gloves by shooting with them! A lot...from competitions to drills, classes, and hunting trips. And in all sorts of inclement weather.

And besides being hands-on with guns, we also focused on how the gloves interacted with phone screens.

We've also been through several iterations of our favorite models since keep in mind that good shooting gloves are a consumable item. And have updated the article with some newer market models.

While testing, we focused on what's important to civilian shooters:

  • price/value
  • fit
  • touch-screen capability
  • durability
  • usability shooting handguns & rifles

Fit Comparison

If you have the best glove out there, and it fits like a grocery bag or a kid's mitten...it's not going to work out.

Here are the measurements of my hand so you can compare them when I go over the sizing. Overall I have skinny wrists, not much of a palm swell, and long fingers.

My Glove Sizing
My Glove Sizing

Now let's get to it...

Best Shooting Gloves

1. SKD Tactical PIG FDT Alpha Gloves

Best Shooting Gloves
SKD PIG FDT Alpha Gloves Gen 2
Prices accurate at time of writing
$49at Amazon

Pros

  • Very dexterous while still protective
  • Screen touch enabled
  • Able to cinch down wrist strap

Cons

  • Gets worn down on trigger finger

I always come back to the Alpha version of the PIG FDTs.

SKD FDT Alpha, Gloves
SKD FDT Alpha Gloves

The thicker OG version...I think this glove checks all the boxes. Still super dexterous while having some additional protection. All the while fitting like...a glove.

However, the fingers are a little more boxy compared to the previous Recons.

SKD Glove Sizing
SKD Glove Sizing

I went with large on this.

I've used these gloves the most, and they've handled pistols, ARs, reload magazines, and moved couches perfectly. A little slower to dry since it's thicker and has some synthetic suede.

SKD FDT Alpha Gloves, Palm
SKD FDT Alpha Gloves, Palm

Some stats:

  • Touch-screen enabled index/thumb
  • Isolated trigger finger material
  • Dual-joint trigger finger

You can see a lot of it is giving dexterity for the trigger finger, and it shows in those knuckle breaks. It's almost the same as the Delta but with more warmth and protection.

Plus, I like having the ability to tighten the wrist strap.

SKD FDT Alpha Gloves
SKD FDT Alpha Gloves

Lastly, it has a nice soft material behind the thumb...again great for your nose or cleaning lenses.

See them in action!

The most expensive on the list but if you shoot a lot or value protection/dexterity a littler higher...I recommend the Alpha gloves.

And keep in mind that shooting gloves are consumables.

The more you use them, the quicker they will get chewed up. Here's an example of a two-year old Alpha that saw a good amount of weekends of hard use.

Worn SKD PIG Gloves
Worn SKD PIG Gloves

You'll see that trigger fingers and other hard use areas will be the first to go. But I rather don't mind having my trigger finger exposed since it's even more tactile.

The Best Gun Deals, Coupons and Finds

Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email.

2. Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0

More Protective Shooting Gloves
Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0
Prices accurate at time of writing
$40at Amazon
Magpul (See Price)

Pros

  • Knuckle protection
  • Premium leather palm

Cons

  • Not as good for touchscreens

Looking for a little more protection?

The Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0 has thicker knuckle padding...

Magpul Patrol Gloves, Knuckle Protection
Magpul Patrol Gloves, Knuckle Protection

And a nice protective and soft leather palm.

Magpul Patrol Gloves, Leather
Magpul Patrol Gloves, Leather

I went with a size Medium based on the below chart and it fit very well.

Magpul Glove Sizing
Magpul Glove Sizing

I like wearing these if I know I'll be not only shooting but also fixing or building up something at the range.

The most important thing is that the trigger finger is still plenty dexterous for shooting both pistols and rifles.

Magpul Patrol Gloves, Finger
Magpul Patrol Gloves, Finger

And it's not as great for using the touchscreen as the 221B or PIG gloves...at least with your index finger. You'll have to use that black part on the tip of the thumb.

It's ok for scrolling but if you're typing, it's not going to be easy.

Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0 Finger
Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0 Finger

But if you're doing some more demanding stuff where you want to protect your knuckles and palms...while still being able to shoot...the Magpul Patrol Glove 2.0 is a great choice.

Magpul Patrol Gloves
Magpul Patrol Gloves

3. Mechanix FastFit Gloves

Most Affordable Shooting Gloves
Mechanix FastFit Gloves
Prices accurate at time of writing
$14at Amazon
OpticsPlanet (See Price)
Primary Arms (See Price)

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Jack of all trades

Cons

  • Not as form fitting
  • Restricted for handgun shooting

I've had a couple of regular Mechanix original gloves for shop work, but the few times I took them to the range, I felt their fingers were a little too bulky for some firearm tasks.

Enter...their FastFit Gloves.

Our Most Popular Posts

Firearms Flops Featured
Guns That Flopped So Hard Nobody Wanted Them
Canik Prime Radian
Canik Prime Radian Review: A Race Gun For The Streets
Tavor Vs AR-15
Best 5.56 Rifles That Are Not AR-15s [2026]
Tested 5.56/.223 Suppressors 2025
9 Best AR-15 Suppressors in 5.56 [2026]
Mechanix Fastfit Gloves
Mechanix FastFit Gloves

I wore mediums and using their sizing chart, I re-confirmed I was indeed medium.

Mechanix Size Chart
Mechanix Size Chart

Here are some other useful stats:

  • $15-20
  • Synthetic leather and spandex
  • Touch-screen enabled
  • Fast-drying
  • Elastic cuff

They didn't fit quite right because of my palm size. You can see there's a lot of gap in there.

Mechanix Fastfit Gloves, Palm
Mechanix FastFit Gloves, Palm

And the cut between the index finger and thumb is a little restricting for handgun shooting; rifles are fine.

Also very thin, so they are great for dexterity, but not very warm or heat resistant if that's your thing.

Mechanix Fastfit Gloves, Fit
Mechanix FastFit Gloves, Fit

But for under $20 and pretty good durability from what I've seen from friends...you can't go wrong for a first pair of shooting gloves, especially if you have slightly meatier hands.

4. SKD Tactical PIG FDT Charlie Gloves (Women)

Best Women's Shooting Gloves
SKD PIG FDT Charlie Gloves
Prices accurate at time of writing
$33at Ferro Concepts

Pros

  • Optimized for female hands
  • Touchscreen enabled

Cons

  • None

The women's version of my favorite gloves...SKD's PIG FDT Charlie.

SKD sent these to me for testing after my original article. My wife has small hands but relatively fat fingers (her words).

SKD FDT Charlie Gloves vs Hand
SKD FDT Charlie Gloves vs Hand

Her measurements pointed her towards the small size, but it felt very snug against her fingers. It wasn't so tight to be constricting, but it should loosen as she wears them more.

SKD FDT Charlie Gloves
SKD FDT Charlie Gloves

Same great feel and ability to move her trigger finger. Plus, she made sure it still worked on smartphones.

Our current best pick for women's gloves.

Why Wear Shooting Gloves?

Why gloves? Let me list a couple of reasons:

  • Things get HOT: Guns themselves in hot weather, barrels when you shoot a lot, and suppressors
  • Things get COLD: Sometimes you're shooting cold weather, and you would prefer to feel your fingers
  • Prevent hand damage: Cuts and scrapes might be meh for most shooters, but they still suck, and if you're out in the field...infections can become killer.
Rough Rider 16-Inch c clamp grip
Rough Rider 16-Inch, C-Clamp Not Recommended

Final Thoughts

After a good amount of testing...here are my final recommendations.

For the best overall glove...

SKD PIG FDT Alpha Gloves Gen 2
Prices accurate at time of writing
$49at Amazon

How'd I do...did I miss any that I should test out next? Let us know in the comments below. Need some Heated Gloves instead? Or how about the Best Electronic Shooting Protection?

Shop Products Mentioned

loading...

Written By

Eric Hung

Eric Hung

Founder, CEO

linkedin Icon
I'm Eric Hung, the founder of Pew Pew Tactical, and I love guns. For over 10 years I've been soaking up as much information as possible online, in competitions, classes, and from my own testing. Now I hope to bring that info to you! I've written over 250 articles on Pew Pew Tactical that are read by millions a month. I'm also an NRA certified pistol instructor and avid USPSA/3-Gun/NRL22 competitor. Learn more at About Us.

WHY YOU CAN TRUST PEW PEW TACTICAL

Since 2016, the Pew Pew Tactical team has been dedicated to providing expert reviews and in-depth testing of guns and gear. All while keeping in mind that guns are fun and that readers come first.

Written by American gun enthusiasts, competitive shooters, former military/law enforcement personnel, and trained journalists, we use our extensive skill sets and knowledge to bring a well-rounded, researched approach to our content.

We pride ourselves on hands-on testing and real-world experience with all products we recommend. Further, we believe in objectivity and approaching all articles without bias – our few advertisers never influence our reviews or recommendations. We believe in giving our readers a comprehensive understanding of how and why a product is great – or isn’t. And if it’s good enough for us to use ourselves and recommend to loved ones.

Our content, analysis, and insights on firearms and gear are recognized across the web. We are proud to be cited by authoritative third-party platforms including Newsweek, Yahoo News, and Wikipedia, demonstrating our standing as a trusted resource in the firearms industry.

Conversation

62 Comments

Join the discussion

  • I have many students who suffer from arthritis, weak and sensitive hands. Could you please review anti-vibration gloves for them? All the ones I have found have too much heavy protection a on the back of the hand, especially the knuckles. A lightweight glove with gel padding designed for holding, shooting and absorbing vibration would be great for many people, includind the hand cannon crowd.
    ...
  • I'll never use the gloves for touch-screen applications. Just not a factor to consider for shooters except LE, who have different needs.

    To me, a critical factor in a shooting glove is palm friction. A slick glove is worthless. A glove that grips like rosin would be very useful to me.

    Big bore revolvers with heavy recoil demand some protection in the web between thumb and forefinger; also, a tacky glove helps with recoil control and can help to prevent violent rotation due to barrel lift.
    ...
  • 1
    You test more comprehensively than the product testing service that costs me an annual fee, providing information that an actual shopper finds useful. Few sites offer honest comparisons.
    ...
  • I just shot my 38 special revolver for the first time.. Traded my 9mm for a revolver. What I didn't know was, every time I pulled the trigger I said OW!! This gun hurt the webbing of my hand so stinkin' bad. Are there gloves that can help this, or am I gonna have to take a regular pair of gloves I've seen on here and add some sort of padding to the web of my hand? My husband thought that was humorous until HE shot it, then he said OUCH! Are there gloves on this site that might work for me? Thanks much
    ...
  • The title says “heated” shooting gloves. Are there any that are battery powered that heat your hands?
    ...
  • 1
    I think you tried the wrong Mechanix. You should try the Tactical Specialty 0.5.
    ...
  • 2
    I do not -- ever -- use my phone while I am shooting (it is "me" time), so I chuckled at all of your references to the good/bad of each glove, relative to touch-screen capability. It , unfortunately, did leave me wondering how the gloves would have been ranked for someone like me, who cares nothing for the touch-screen capability component. (I am NOT saying that there is anything wrong with including that, for those who find it to be of interest. I AM saying that including it in the ranking makes the list, essentially, useless for those who have little or no interest in that capability.) Good article, just not fit (pun intended) to my purposes.
    ...
  • 221btactical I think definitely deserves to be atop the list, they make some of the most durable, secure fitting gloves I've used.
    ...
  • 1
    I honestly felt you may be getting a stipend from SKD. The topic of shooting gloves is very subjective. I personally did not care for my SKD's Alpha's, I bought mine according to the sizing chart and found they weren't snug enough. That being said I have learned to go a size smaller than size chart recommendations on all the gloves I have bought over the years. I prefer snug, especially as I have developed some arthritis in my advancing years. I like a glove that fits like a compression glove. Personally the Oakley Factory Lite 2.0 ( I am on my 3rd pair in 2 years, yeah I shoot that much) in all but winter shooting conditions and the Outdoor Research Ironsight just because they fit snug eith more positive contact with my firearm. Anyway, try covering a few more options next time because this review really looks like an SKD advert.
    ...

    • Eric Hung

      We understand. We don't get a stipend from SKD. But like you said it's subjective and we sort of stuck with what we liked. We're in the middle of testing some other gloves as well so stay tuned for the update!
      ...
  • 1
    Too bad the FDT gloves are basically unobtanium if you aren't willing to pay a ridiculous markup. If you can find them in stock at all. Otherwise, I'd buy a few pairs to keep backups.
    ...
  • 5
    Good luck getting them for the prices they list in the article.
    ...