Gloves Gloves Gloves

[jagermeister]

Well have you ever fired a weapon tell it was smoking? Or touched a metal object that has been out in the 120 degree weather? Gloves are truly priceless.

[IMTT]

I can only speak to my experience however; I began SWAT in 1988, at that time no one I'm aware of other than a few elite military units wore gloves. The glove thing began for me about 1991-3. We (LE SWAT) began on a small scale to wear gloves nomex primarly. Prior to that in the late 80s no one wore gloves generally. Fast rope and rappeling operations required a better glove than what we had. Most of us wore work gloves of a rough leather type for farm work for rappling and fast roping. Then we began to see injuries from detonations occasionally from LSDDs detonating during training to users, sometimes burns. Once in while you would see injuries from breaching ops forced entry missions to the hands of operators. Then we have ops that require intervention with individuals armed with knives or small slashing instruments (jail setting). This requires cut / puncture resistant gloves with long guantlets up the arms. The evolution of gear has progressed to the point now that more information is widely spread and the needs of the end user are more rapidly addressed with the advent of so many companies competing for the dollar. Now there are so many Military users and so many SWAT teams in the USA that the manufactures are making a fortune just staying up with the need. At one time we would make our own gear and no one made anything other than "Eagle" and a couple of other small companies. Many now consider gloves manadatory safety gear and require them for the operators. The other factor involved is more contempory training has evolved and the older Cops in charge are retiring with old methods, ideas and frankly misconceptions. Younger, better trained and more litigation senstive professionals are moving up the ranks. Also SWAT and LE in general is much busier and the work load has increased. I have 5 sets of different gloves for different mission peremeters to protect my hands. At times depending on the mission I have at least two sets on me at all times plus two more sets of blood borne pathogene protective gloves. This is due to the high level of Hep C and Aids in some communites in the general population as well as drug users that have needles on them. Society is changing and the equipment and skills required is changing as well for responders. Prior to 1998 we never wore protective glasses just goggles for special ops. Now this is mandatory regular duty wear due to the increase in spitters in our client base. The list goes on and on! The customer gets what they order.

[Britboy]

Yep, I've burnt myself on metal parts of the gun after blatting a fair few rounds off.

Barrel changes can be a bitch for that sort of thing

But you soon learn not to do it! Very quickly...

IMTT that's a great description, I can see how cops need them, especially for searching people.

Do you just use the latex gloves for searching people, or is there a more substantial glove that'll stop a needlestick? Since that could be useful for troops having to search various peoples in current theatres...

[IMTT]

I have worked in LE and the US Military as an active & reserve for many years. In both arenas I feel gloves are manadatory. In the case of barrel changes the AG kit comes with a mit that should be in the bag with the extra barrels. The great part about the M249 is that you can use the barrel handle to do a qwick change even when its hot. The M2 comes with a mit as well. The old Pig (M60) also has a mit. I'm not sure about the 240B. However in regard to the M4 if you have the all metal handgun with rails it can get pretty hot pretty qwick that's the nice part about the old style handguards they keep your hand cool. As recently as a couple of days ago I was on the range firing my duty weapon. We shot about 150 rounds respectively in a short time frame, we were doing ready up drills and shooting on the move. The weapon was giving off steam and burning oil off the surface areas on the barrel resulting in slight smoke. I had my Oakley gloves on and the handguard never got hot enough to prevent handling. That's where the vertical grip on the rail systems come in nice.

As for the needle stick gloves there are many types but many don't combine the tactical requirements. Typically they have a thin black leather covering with a yellow kevlar lining to prevent sticks. I have a pair of guanlets that were made in Russia that are laterially razor proof they pull up all the way to the elbow. The are not as good for sticks but close. I use these once in a while for specific tasks I also have a scarf that is made of the same material to prevent slashes to the throat. They were gifts from some Estonian friends and they work very well. They are strange material and I have never seen anything else like it sold in the USA. Its also important to wash your gloves after contact with subjects after shift if you are using them for clothed body searches or hands on searches. I haven't looked recently for new gloves but I'm sure Hatch or one of the other glove manufactures combines many requirements by now. I get most of my gear issued so I really don't get to wrapped up in searching for new stuff all the time.

[Christophe]

Yep, I've burnt myself on metal parts of the gun after blatting a fair few rounds off.

Barrel changes can be a bitch for that sort of thing

But you soon learn not to do it! Very quickly...

IMTT that's a great description, I can see how cops need them, especially for searching people.

Do you just use the latex gloves for searching people, or is there a more substantial glove that'll stop a needlestick? Since that could be useful for troops having to search various peoples in current theatres...

Just for me:
During regular patrol: I use the gloves for searching people and close encounters.
For riot duty: Since I am a grenadier, regular riot gloves are too thick, not enough feeling using the issued weapons like a Cougar grenade launcher or its hand grenades, or an Ispra gas device.On the other hand, the Hatch Operators have great feeling, are nomex so fire retardant, as needed, with nuckle protection as an extra touch.

[Britboy]

Hmmm, interesting.

I know the Canadian Forces issue a 'Mortarmans Glove' which is meant to be pretty dextrous as well as insulating (I'm guessing its got to be insulating with mortar barrels getting pretty hot, and in Canadian winter up north...)

I'm actually on the lookout for a pair of new gloves since I just lost a pair, bad skills I know

[Waterman]

Neoprene gloves a great in modest cold conditions. But as stated above, your hands are wet if you are doing anything active...which can be very bad if you are in VERY cold conditions. I find that they work better in milder, but maybe wetter conditions.

Something that I have found that has worked well is to wear a lightweight full finger mountain bike type glove under a heavier insulated glove. When I need to do detail work, I can slip off the outer glove, and still have my fingers covered (I have been in places where you could freeze to bare metal unless your skin was covered).

But as stated above, you need to spend some time in an outdoors store (REI, EMS, etc, etc.) and try some on. And see what will work for you in your situation.

[Waterman]

It's a good glove for retaining dexterity. I have been happy with mine....but they have showed their use very quickly. What you gain in dexterity, you lose in protection (and as stated above they are NOT fire resistant).

My work keeps me more in wet places where I need abrasion protection and grip, and I have been happy with mine.

[gtronin]

I have bought these gloves and they are not bad...
I dont think they were meant for the field though, more LE use is my guess...
I found that the gloves were too short and that rain, snow and other stuff got into the glove from the cuff... you cant close the sleeve over the glove or the sleeve over glove...

The winter specialist is not only neoprene, but has a liner in it. As it goes it is a pain in the butt when it separates when you remove the glove... especially when its still wet...

the glove isnt flame-proof, but obviously will not spontaniously combust, I mention this because besides the negatives mentioned, I did not dislike the gloves.

If you arent out for extended periods and usually ride around in a vehicle, they wont melt if you dry them on most hot spots on the armored vehicle...

They do retain some warmth even when they are wet and dont take too long to dry.

Dexterity is ok, you can do most things with them...

I think the gloves could be alot better, but then again I havent seen any glove out there that can keep your hands dry and warm for the field... so... I am on my second pair... my first pair got caught in the hatch and get extra ventilated...

[kaibilgt]

Hi.

I am considering buying a pair of gloves that allow me to operate my weapon and drive my Motorcycle I have two ideas

SureShot™ Leather Shooting Glove
BSG170

Or

Street Guard™ with X11™ Liner
SGX11


Im from Guatemala sory for my Inglish
Thanks

[Carib]

You're not in MS-13 r u?

[kaibilgt]

You're not in MS-13 r u?

ajjajajajajaja.... nop...

[Pappy]

You should not get one set of gloves for both motorcycle riding and also shooting. They require two very different things. Shooting requires heat resistant gloves, and riding requires abrasion resistant gloves. Even if the shooting gloves are leather, it most likely won't be a leather that's resistant enough to the pavement at 50mph.

[INAT]

I have a pair of Hatch gloves EM007 50%Kangaroo leather 50%Schoeller Dynamc Extreme.Not sure what that means but they are comfortable.

[JC0352]

yea, just buy some motorcycle gloves AND some shooting gloves