Keep ’em covered

Sometimes it is still necessary to wear gloves in hot weather to protect your hands, improve grip, and displace sweat. Summer gloves do not need to insulate your hands, but they do need to be lightweight, strong, and breathable. With all this in mind, here are a few options to consider.

MFH LIGHTWEIGHT GLOVES £20.95
Made of a combination of nylon and polyester, these are extremely lightweight gloves with a very soft and flexible feel. They are tight to get on at first, but once on they are a comfortable fit. The palm material gives good grip but is still thin enough for you to ‘feel’ what you are holding. The index finger, middle finger and thumb are all touchscreen compatible, which is handy, and also adds that bit of extra protection to these vital digits.
The material is highly breathable and surprisingly quick-drying, so if you take them off for a quick break and put them in the sun, they will be dry and ready to go again. The wrist is elasticated and then also flares out to accommodate and protect a wristwatch. The MFH Lightweight Gloves are the pair that are most suited to accommodate and protect a wristwatch, and they also prevent any glare from the face. Overall, good pair of well-priced gloves that are ideal for unhindered shooting.

PENTAGON MONGOOSE GLOVES £20.95
Mongoose gloves are made of a lightweight and breathable nylon material which really vents away sweat and keeps your hands surprisingly dry, even in extremely high temperatures. The suede-leather palm grip extends slightly onto the fingers and although small, it gives good grip without covering the whole palm, which would hinder breathability in this vital area. The outer material on the back of the fingers has slits at the first knuckle to ensure unrestricted movement, and a Velcro wrist fastening ensures the gloves stay in place.
These gloves offer a nice fit, and there is a very good size guide on the Military 1st website. If you wear them on a particularly hot day, there is no build-up of sweat or loss of grip/feel. A rubberised cuff combined with a Velcro fastener helps to keep the gloves in place. This pair of gloves certainly seemed the most breathable, and even on very hot days there was minimal build-up of sweat or heat.

MECHANIX WEAR FASTFIT GLOVES £14.95
These gloves are designed with shooting sports in mind and the anatomically designed, two-piece synthetic leather palm gives a great grip on both rifles and shotguns. The synthetic leather palm is just 0.6mm thick, for optimum dexterity without loss of feel, but it still gives a good level of protection. The section of the synthetic leather nearest to the wrist has ventilation holes to improve cooling. The TrekDry material used in the construction of the body of the gloves is highly breathable and comfortable, and the soft back of the hand liner is unrestrictive and flexible. The wrist is elasticated and bellows out to accommodate a watch, and a well-placed Mechanix Wear logo sits right over the watch’s face for added protection.
These really do feel like a shooting glove, and although the synthetic leather covers the entire palm area, it does not cause overheating or sweating. The elasticated cuff ensures a close fit, and the reinforced thumbs and index fingers are touchscreen-compatible.
When it comes to hot weather gloves, I found that these have the best combination of features. Plus, the price makes them a great choice if you are on a budget.

KINETIXX X-LIGHT LIGHT OPERATIONS GLOVE £31.95
Another glove designed with shooting in mind, these particularly well-designed and fitted gloves have the right material in the right places, giving comfort and grip where it is needed. The synthetic leather on the palm enhances grip, and a U-shaped gusset aids recoil control.
They are extremely comfortable, and the addition of reinforcement patches on the back of the gloves does not hinder flexibility or breathability. An elasticated wrist with a Velcro closer ensures a good fit, although they are not shaped particularly well to accommodate a wristwatch. In fact, the back of the glove did keep catching on the edge of the watch body.
Of all the gloves tested, this pair feel the most durable and more likely to withstand a lot of heavy use without wearing out. They also feel like the best pair of shooting gloves, with the palm and gusset giving a comfortable hold on a rifle. The product also satisfies European safety glove regulations for abrasion, puncture, and cut and tear resistance, which is reassuring.
If cost is not a major consideration, then these gloves are a great choice. They are the most expensive, but they are going to last a long time and so represent good value in the long term.

Conclusion
All of the gloves tested were a good, comfortable fit and included features that make them suitable for shooting. Whether it is grip, protection, or comfort that is most important to you, there is an option to meet your needs. Personally, the Mechanix FastFit proved to give the best combination of fit, comfort, and grip, plus they were also the least restrictive. The TrekDry cooling material also seemed to keep my hands dry and comfortable.
Military 1st carries a huge range of gloves, and with many brands providing a size guide, you can be sure of getting the right size and fit. Off-the-shelf gloves often only offer a one-size-fits-all option and if they are not the right size for you, then they are not going to do the job. It does not have to be an inconvenience to wear gloves in hot weather if you get the right glove, with the right fit, and it will not have a detrimental effect on your shooting.