I currently wear Neumann football wide receiver gloves.
Why the weird gear? Well, because they are fairly thin, durable as hell, and they shrink to “second skin” fit over time, and the leather tackifies when it absorbs moisture.
I wear them to avoid placing my hands on hot brass while proning out, or to avoid minor cuts and abrasions. I don’t need hardened knuckles, or long cuffs, and probably don’t need nomex.
I have tried some of the other “tactical” brands, and none seem to be what I want…
Does anyone use durable, thin, pliable gloves that would be a better fit and not look like I’m pulling out the ghetto gear bin?
I honestly don’t care how they look if there are no substitutes, but if they make an all black equivalent??
I got a pair of Hatch gloves I use. I got them because the leather/kevlar frisk gloves my Dept issued while good for seraches were hard to shoot in. More akin to cold weather gloves, they were thick and bulky, and didn’t relay much feeling. I found reloads, and trigger feel hampered. I got the thinner Hatch gloves and they worked much better. They aren’t the most durable out there, but the work for what I want them for and they are pretty cheap. And I prefer to spend my $$$ on ammo and what not.
I don’t know how many people know about them but I have been using IRONCLAD gloves for the last 4-5 years. They are incredibly well made and the prices can’t be beat.
The two models I use are the TAC-OPS glove and the ENFORCER. The TAC-OPS are a $25 short glove with a synthetic palm and neoprene knuckle protection. ENFORCER is a little longer in length with a short gauntlet skirt and a genuine leather palm (really nice).
They have a glove for every setting and every job. I don’t have the biggest need for kevlar during my duties (searches and frisks are limited) so I prefer to retain dexterity which the TAC-OPS and the ENFORCER do really well.
You may also want to look into their EXTREME DUTY glove. Too big for me to manipulate small items once on, but may serve you better.
Normal “tac” gloves last me about a week or so. I now use Petzl Cordex belay gloves. I have been using them in combat for 5 months and they show no visible wear. They have a tough carabiner hole in the cuff and offer excellent dexterity.
Tactical tan or can be found in black, the best price I found was REI.
I’ve been having good luck with some Chiba gloves. They have lightweight models with reinforced contact/friction areas. Several types and weights are available.
I like the Ironclad line as well. I have a hard time finding gloves that fit well. I have to try them on before I buy. I must have hands that are between the normal sizes…
I like the Mechanix Impact Pro-
My Dad (owns a small construction company) gave me a set when I was bitching about flight glove lifespan.
I think Lowes sells them for about $30, and I think I saw a similar set in brown a few months ago. I have been using the same pair for about a year and a half, so far little damage other than one of the back-hand pads tearing off due to me being stupid. The palm is pleanty grippy, and lightly padded, so the gloves work really well with both pistols and rifles. There is little dexterity loss in the fingertips, even though there is a nail pad on the fingers. Filling/emptying pistol magazines isn’t any more irritating than with flight gloves.
ETA- I really like these gloves during summer months, as they breathe way better than any nomex glove.
In all fairness I haven’t used them constantly for the time period I have owned them, as FR gloves were mandated at some points, and I have other “Tactical” gloves that I like as well. Therefore, you may have different lifespan than I have, but they seem really well put together.
I find the dexterity of batting gloves and wide receiver gloves to be very good and have used them for many years on patrol.
Lately I’ve been using Mechanix gloves. They hold up better in the washing machine (I like to wash my patrol gloves about 1x weekly, and I also use a lot of alcohol gel on them in between washings).
Compared to the above, the Oakley gloves are lacking in dexterity.
Another vote for Mechanix gloves. I have a set that I got from Lowes that fit nice and provide excellent dexterity. There are other brands of tradesman’s gloves that are similar. The color choices range from flamboyant to subdued. Some of the Mechanix gloves come in camo too. They also have a range of protection levels, all the way up to padded knuckles and palms. Cool thing is that they are inexpensive and widely available.
Motorcycle/ATV gloves are also good. They provide more protection (knuckle shells, etc) but still enable enough dexterity to use as shooting gloves. I have a set from Fox Racing that are similar to the Oakley gloves but a lot less expensive.
I use Mechanix gloves quite a bit. Your local Lowes has a nice selection in various weights. I like them as thin as possible unless its a winter glove.
I also picked up a pair of nomex/kevlar/re-enforced knuckle Wiley-X gloves a while back from DSG for 25$. Nice gloves but hardly worth the $80+ they normally go for.
