Some officers don't give patrol gloves a second thought. It's time that you did. Gloving up can mean much more than protecting yourself from inclement weather. Today's patrol gloves can also protect against microbes, bacteria, blood-borne pathogens, needles, and even knives. They can help you scale chain-link fences, keep your extremities warm, and give you a better grip when you need it.
Gloves: 2009
Uncle Mike's Law Enforcement provides a large array of products for law enforcement from holsters and belts to gun cases and shooting accessories. The company's neoprene gloves are made from thin, moisture-resistant stretch fabric with nylon inside and out. The Lycra panels between the fingers let the gloves breathe and flex, and the synthetic leather palms provide a non-slip grip for driving and shooting. Unlike leather gloves, these gloves are fully washable.
Known best for its sporting equipment, Oakley gloves have also found use in law enforcement. Designed originally for mountain bikers, the Factory Pilot Glove features Kevlar-reinforced knuckles with padding for comfort, moisture absorption material built into the palm, and high friction surfaces on critical finger zones.
Wiley-X's high-end gloves come in a variety of colors and features. All models have Injection molded Kevlar knuckle protectors that provide superior impact and abrasion resistance. The Coyote CAG-1 glove also has a Kevlar weave throughout the fingers and back of the hand for added protection.
Manzella offers more than 20 glove models in varying degrees of warmth for all manner of assignments-from tactical, to duty, to motorcycle, to SWAT. Engineering to the human shape is important to Manzella. All of the company's gloves feature curves that follow the natural lines of the hands and fingers, including special designs to better fit female hands. This design enhances comfort as well as performance.
Since 1967, Hatch has designed gloves for law enforcement that provide dexterity and tactility. The product line runs from patrol to tactical, with models for cold environments, traffic duty, cut resistance, and disturbance control.
When 5.11 decided to launch a glove line, chief designer and former Navy SEAL Jeff Gonzales and 5.11 CEO Dan Costa challenged themselves to create gloves that would incorporate everything tactical teams need in the field but would also work for everyday law enforcement needs. The TacticalTouch line incorporates extra reinforcements in typical wear areas to ensure durability, cut-outs in the palm that eliminate bunching, and rolled fingertips to ensure excellent fingertip feeling.
BlackHawk has a line of top-drawer gloves that provide a wide array of protection from weather, fire, fluids, and weapons. The company's Cut Resistant Short Cuff Search Gloves with Kevlar provide moderate cut resistance and are ergonomically designed for maximum dexterity. They're made with a durable, high-quality, drum-dyed cowhide leather shell. Extended Cuff models are also available.
With more than 50 years of experience in glove making, Damascus is well known in the law enforcement market. It was the first company to introduce the rolled fingertip design to allow for maximum dexterity when searching or shooting, and it has now incorporated this design into other styles within its extensive line of gloves.
CamelBak's glove line includes nine models that not only address the basic needs of patrol officers, but also incorporate enhanced features and ergonomic designs. CamelBak's Impact CT glove features two-way stretch spandex for a snug fit and anti-static carbon fiber for industrial safety. It also has extra padding on the palm to protect the wearer from impact and vibration. These gloves are particularly useful for motor officers.