Best Armored Gloves

Updated October 2020

Why trust BestReviews?

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more

Bottom Line

Pros

Cons

The best pair of fully armored gloves, sporting a combination of plastic, metal, and heavy fabric protection.

Pros

Metal protection around the digits prevents many forms of abrasions and minor impact injuries around the joints. Lighter fabric and rubber padding keep the upper sides of the hands protected without restricting movement. Available in multiple colors.

Cons

Gloves are not waterproof or insulated for cold weather use.

Best Bang for the Buck

The best budget pair of armored gloves, with more protection than most other options.

Pros

Plastic backing gives the most amount of protection while still retaining a good amount of motion in the fingers. Palms are covered with light fabric for better grip and protection of the underside. Mesh construction on the back is breathable.

Cons

Full plastic cladding can feel heavy and hot in warm weather or during extreme activities.

A good, lightly armored pair of gloves for protection of important areas on the hand.

Pros

Lightweight rubber padding covers key joints such as the knuckles. Protects hands from minor crashes and typical bumps and scrapes. Lighter armor makes it easier to manipulate the digits. Rugged build with excellent grip.

Cons

Gloves lack the proper protection for extreme or dangerous activities.

Decade

Motorsport Street Gloves

Check Price

Bottom Line

An affordable pair of fully armored gloves meant for motorsports and other extreme activities.

Pros

Full-clad goatskin armor offers full hand protection without the weight and rigidity of harder plastic or rubber armor. Gloves offer full range of motion for the fingers for better grip when necessary. Ergonomic design.

Cons

Armoring may tear after repeated extreme use.

A good lightweight option for basic hand protection for a wide variety of activities.

Pros

Hard knuckle protection can take more impact than standard lightweight glove options. Velcro wrist makes it easy to adjust and secure the gloves onto the hands with little effort. Comes in many sizes and colors.

Cons

Gloves tend to run small.

Get emails you’ll love.

We send great emails.

Learn about the products you’re wondering if you should buy and get advice on using your latest purchases.

Get emails you’ll love. Learn about the products you're interested in and get advice on using your latest purchases.

Get exclusive content, advice, and tips from BestReviews.

If you participate in activities that put your hands at risk – such as motorcycling or motorcross – then you’ll likely want to invest in a pair of armored gloves. These gloves have hardened plastic or sometimes even metal on the outside to protect your hand during collisions. While sometimes this means your movement is restricted, that shouldn’t be the case with a quality pair of gloves. But because they don’t have much stretch, you’ll want to make sure you get a pair that fits well. A thinner pair of armored gloves is good for paintball as well.

Other Products We Considered

The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.

Superbike

Black Leather Armored Motorcycle Gloves

Mechanix Wear

M-Pact Covert Tactical Gloves

Tcbunny

Pro-biker Carbon Fiber Motorbike Racing Gloves

OMGAI

Men's Full Finger Hard Knuckle Motorcycle Gloves

Joe Rocket

Men's Eclipse Gloves

TAC9ER

Kevlar Lined Tactical Gloves Full Hand Protection