Police officers have a demanding and often dangerous job. The right tactical gear, including high-quality gloves, is essential for their safety and performance.
Tactical gloves provide critical protection, dexterity, and functionality to help officers handle various situations. A quality pair of gloves really is one of the best investments you can make, especially in the colder winter months.
In this blog, we'll cover the benefits of tactical gloves and highlight five of the best police glove options on the market.
Benefits of Tactical Gloves
Tactical gloves are essential for law enforcement officers, providing numerous benefits that enhance safety, performance, and comfort in the line of duty.
Let's take a closer look at the key advantages that tactical gloves offer:
Protection
High-quality police gloves are designed to shield hands from cuts, punctures, and abrasions during physical altercations, searches, or while handling rough surfaces.
Many tactical gloves incorporate durable materials such as Kevlar, a high-strength synthetic fibre known for its excellent cut and heat resistance. Kevlar reinforcements in critical areas like the palms, fingers, and knuckles protect against sharp objects.
Grip
Maintaining a secure grip is crucial for law enforcement officers, especially when handling weapons and gear.
Tactical gloves feature textured palms and fingers that improve grip, even in wet or slippery conditions. The materials used in these gloves, such as synthetic leather or rubber, are carefully chosen for their ability to provide a non-slip surface.
Dexterity
While protection is a top priority, tactical gloves must also allow for a high level of dexterity to perform intricate tasks.
Police gloves are designed to maintain tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity, enabling officers to handle firearms, search suspects, and use tools.
Some gloves incorporate touchscreen-compatible fingertips, allowing officers to operate mobile devices or touchscreens without compromising protection.
Weather Protection
Law enforcement officers work in various weather conditions, from near-arctic temperatures to sweltering heat.
Quality police gloves protect against the elements, ensuring officers' hands remain comfortable and functional in any environment. In cold weather, gloves offer insulation to keep hands warm, prevent numbness, and maintain dexterity.
Durability
Given the demanding nature of law enforcement work, tactical gloves are built to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions. These gloves are constructed with high-quality materials that are resistant to wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting performance.
Reinforced stitching at stress points, such as the fingers and palms, prevents seams from splitting or falling under strain.
Best 5 Police Gloves
So, what kinds of police gloves are best-suited for law enforcement? Here are Niton999’s top five pairs of police gloves:
Niton Tactical Search Gloves with Spectra
These top-tier gloves feature Spectra fibre liners for exceptional cut and puncture resistance. Synthetic suede palms enhance grip, while elastic wrists ensure a snug fit.
Touchscreen-compatible fingertips add convenience.
Niton Tactical Kevlar Liner Gloves
Ideal as duty gloves or liners, these lightweight gloves have Kevlar liners for cut and heat protection. The close fit maximises dexterity. They can also be used as a cut-resistant liner for other gloves in cold weather.
HexArmor NSR Mechanic-Style Needle-Resistant Gloves
For officers at risk of needle sticks during searches, these high-end gloves incorporate fine layers of SuperFabric to prevent needle punctures.
The full-coverage design, neoprene cuffs, and textured palms offer all-around protection. An exceptional pair of gloves.
Hatch Street Guard Gloves with Kevlar
A great all-purpose duty glove, the Street Guards have Kevlar liners for cut resistance and textured palms for reliable grip. Kevlar linings across the palm add impact protection, and the hook-and-loop closures create an adjustable fit.
Hatch Patrolman Touch Screen Gloves with Coolmax
Perfect for patrol use, these lightweight gloves have touchscreen-sensitive fingertips for operating mobile devices. The Coolmax liners manage moisture, while the synthetic leather palms provide a tactile grip in a durable package.
What Gloves Do UK Police Use?
UK police forces use various gloves depending on the role and situation. General duty officers often wear lightweight search gloves like the Niton Tactical models, which allow for dexterity and protection during pat-downs and searches.
Armed response and public order units may use more robust gloves with knuckle reinforcements and Kevlar liners, such as the high-end HexArmor NSR or Hatch Street Guard, to protect against impact and edged weapons.
Crime scene investigators wear disposable nitrile gloves to prevent evidence contamination.
What Are the Levels of Protection in Gloves?
Glove protection levels are rated according to EN 388, the European standard for protective gloves. The standard measures four areas: abrasion resistance (1-4), blade cut resistance (1-5), tear resistance (1-4), and puncture resistance (1-4). The numbers signify performance levels, with higher numbers indicating greater protection.
For example, a glove rated 4544 would have the highest abrasion resistance (4), cut resistance (5), tear resistance (4), and puncture resistance (4). This would be suitable for high-risk duties. Gloves with lower ratings may be appropriate for general patrol and search roles where dexterity is prioritised over maximum protection.
Summing Up
Tactical gloves are vital for police officers, providing essential protection, grip, and dexterity in demanding situations.
Officers can perform their duties safely and effectively by selecting the right gloves based on their specific roles and the required protection level.
Investing in high-quality tactical gloves is non-negotiable – they both protect you and keep you comfortable.
For more gloves, visit Niton999’s glove selection now.
