To be successful at playing hockey you need to have strong hands. This is demanded because stick handling, shooting and passing with your hands is such a big part of the game. That also means if you suffer a hand injury it can take your ability to play the game completely away until you heal. This is why all players regardless of age really need to have the best hockey gloves they can find when they play the game.
Top Hockey Gloves Comparison Chart
Gloves will accomplish several things for those that wear them. The most important of which is protecting the hands from injury. They also help keep your hands from getting blisters as they slide up and down a hockey stick, help to keep your hands warm in a cold ice rink environment and they also will help provide you with some grip extra grip on your hockey stick. So you can see how important they are to you or your youth player as you the game
Hockey Glove Buying Guide
Now that you know or already knew how important gloves are to you or your youth hockey player as you play the game, you also need to know what the key characteristics of hockey gloves are that you need to consider when shopping for them. That is why we will devote a section of this article for that purpose.
Here are the key characteristics of hockey gloves that you need to take a serious look at when you are shopping for them:
Price
Of course price will be a factor in any purchase you make and it’s no different with hockey gloves. As a general rule the more expensive a pair of hockey gloves is the better quality set of gloves it is too. Hockey gloves tend to be a get what you pay for type item. Be aware though that there are some exceptions too and you can find some excellent deals on hockey gloves at certain times of the year.
Safety/Padding
This is by far the most important aspect of hockey gloves that you should look at when buying them for yourself or your youth player. Hockey is a physical game where sometimes violent contact occurs between players’ bodies and their sticks. The hands are an area you want fully protected because they are exposed during the routine playing of the game so much. Make sure any style hockey gloves that you are thinking about buying have adequate padding for the level of play that you or your youth player participate in. Keep in mind also there is no such thing as too much protection.
Material
Hockey gloves used to be made out of cowhide and leather but that is no longer the case. They are now made out of durable synthetic materials in most cases so the gloves are lighter and more flexible than they have ever been before. The trick is finding a material that is flexible the way you or youth player like it, yet still gives you some protection and dries quickly. So make sure you are aware of what the material is that any pair of hockey gloves that you are thinking about buying are made of.
Weight
This is another aspect of hockey gloves that has changed drastically over the years. Hockey gloves you to be very big, bulky and heavy. That is no longer the case because of the lightweight materials they are made of and the improvement in lightweight plastics placed in the gloves for protection. But there still are differences in weight and a few ounces can make a big difference in arm and hand fatigue over the course of a 60 minute game.
Palm Material
Many people don’t look close enough at the palm construction of a hockey glove before they make their purchase. This is much too an important of an area on hockey gloves to simply overlook because the feel you have when using your hockey stick is so vital. You want a material that is thick enough to prevent such things as blisters but also supple enough so you get a good grip on your stick when using it.
Fit
Hockey gloves fit in one of three different ways. Which one you choose is a matter of personal preference.
Traditional
These are the loosest fitting of all the different types of hockey gloves. There is a lot of room in both the hand and wrist areas to allow maximum freedom of movement.
Tapered
This type of hockey glove fit tends to be snug in the palm area yet still is very loose around the wrist.
Snug (Anatomical)
These types of hockey gloves fit more like a glove than they do a more traditional style hockey glove. They are much snugger in the palm and wrist areas than other types of hockey gloves.
Cuffs
The wrist area of a hockey glove often referred to as the cuff, will come in one of two different sizes. A longer cuff offers more protection, whereas a shorter cuff offers more flexibility and freedom of movement for your wrist area as you play the game of hockey.
Warranty
Hockey gloves are subject to a lot of adverse conditions when you are playing with them. They will get wet, sweaty, dirty and repeatedly hit by hockey pucks and hockey sticks. That is the reason why you want to get a pair of hockey gloves that is covered by a very good warranty. This will help give you peace of mind that you are making a sound hockey glove buying decision.
Best Hockey Glove Reviews
1. Bauer Supreme ONE.6 Hockey Gloves Junior
Pros:
- Highest-end quality
- Very good looking
Cons:
- Ridiculously high price
This premium glove tops our list because it simply has the best of everything! Sometimes our number one pick is based on quality and price/value, but in this case, we went all in on quality and let the price fall where it may. The One.6 is made of breathable, durable nylon that is also stretchable. The durability factor is about as high as they come since Bauer loaded this one with pro features. I’ll mention the excellent aesthetic value of this glove now before I get into any details.
The free-flex 2 piece thumb is both flexible (in all the right way) and inflexible (backward) so you won’t hyperextend your thumb since the reinforcement extends for many inches from the thumb backward toward the wrist. The other 4 fingers are double-segmented with extra density in the pinky and the next finger to it (high wear areas). In the cuff roll (around wrists) there are padded segments for protection and comfort. The palm is also very durable and is made of a material that Bauer calls Ivory Nash. It’s a higher end material.
2. Bauer Vapor X800 Lite Senior Hockey Gloves
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Stylish
- Tapered shape
Cons:
- Not for youth players
- A little tight for some
- A little thick in the palms
The Vapor X800 Lite is feature-packed and begins with a synthetic leather and cable mesh exterior. The synthetic leather is used on the high wear areas like pinky and ring finger as well as the thumb. Dual high-density foam is used in each finger while medium density foam lies beneath the HD foam on all fingers. The back of your hand is protected by the same configuration as your fingers PLUS added plastic for increased durability and protection.
Bauer uses a patented “dynamic-flex” thumb construction while the palm is made of Black Nash and Digital Nash material. Digital Nash is a very grippy material and is used for obvious reasons. The Thermo-Max microfiber interior liner is one of the best options for breathability.
The wrists are protected by a segmented dynamic flex system that looks good and adds a pro-level feature. Like most Bauer gloves, it features a tapered fit.
This is truly a high-performance glove!
3. Bauer S18 NSX Senior Hockey Gloves
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Moisture-wicking liner
- durable polyester fabric shell
- Great if you like a tapered fit glove
Cons:
- Not for youth players
- Not great if you like a traditional fit glove
The Bauer S18 NSX senior gloves are perfect for nearly any level of player (if you like the fit, that is). The exterior is a tough polyester mesh with the Bauer logo, and of course, it has the Ivory Nash palm with the extra overlay layer to mitigate wear and tear. The glove is protected with medium-density foam and plastic inserts on the back of the glove, the side of the glove and fingers. As with most gloves, the NSX has a thumb that is reinforced against hyperextension.
We like the segmented cuff which is designed to allow greater mobility without restriction. It’s called a “Dynamic Flex Cuff” and it’s another detail that Bauer has added in their relentless pursuit of professional excellence! (yes, that’s my tag line – how’s that for a rosy review?!)
4. Bauer Prodigy Youth Hockey Gloves
Pros:
- One-piece thumb
- moisture-wicking liner
- Single density foam protection
Cons:
- Not for older youth players
- A little stiff in the fingers
- thick in the palms
These are really nice gloves for beginning youth hockey players. It is an entry-level glove that is extremely lightweight yet still offers all the protection your youth player will need at that hockey level. Bauer, as usual, is right on top of things when it comes to the design of this youth hockey glove.
There is a lot to like about these gloves. For one, they have breathable fabric on both the inside and the outside of the glove. This means the moisture that gets on them does not stay long. If you hang these out to dry after your youth player is done with a game, the moisture-wicking fabric will quickly dry which will help the material in these gloves hold up for a long time.
These gloves are simple but effective both in the protection they afford your youth player and in the way they look. These Bauer gloves are also very affordable in price and just flexible enough for your youth player to be able to nicely hold onto a hockey stick.
5. Warrior Senior Alpha Qx Pro Gloves
Pros:
- Exceptional quality
- Moisture-wicking liner
- Pro-quality design
Cons:
- A price tag that will make you cringe
The Warrior Alpha Qx Pro is undoubtedly one of finest gloves available anywhere! It has what we would consider the perfect combination of looks and anatomical feel which will surely improve puck control and protect your hands as good or better than any on the market. The glove feels incredibly soft and features responsive Lycra gussets along with a very flexible thumb (AXI-Flex). The liner is infused with something called Polygiene which promises to keep your hands relatively (compared to others) dry, clean and odor-free. Warrior’s “Hybride Taper Fit” feature allows the 4-roll glove to contour to the natural shape of your hand which ultimately maximized protection.
A flexible cuff (Hybrid Flex Cuff) allows for a bigger range of motion which improves puck handling while still protecting your wrists from impacts like slashes.
Overall, a “not-so-inexpensive” glove that is about the best you can buy on the market!
6. Warrior Sports Covert Qre 5 Senior Hockey Gloves
Pros
- Lightweight
- Stylish
- Dependable Brand
- Decent Price Point
Cons:
- Not for youth aged players
- A little thick in the palms
Warrior has had the QRE 5 gloves for a couple of year now, but that’s a testament to their quality and demand. The Qre 5 continues its trend of making a mobile and lightweight glove. The Warrior Covert QRE 5 Senior Gloves reduces weight while increasing mobility by adding key protective and durability upgrades, which ultimately result in a glove that moves as a natural extension of your hand. Warrior’s Covert QRE 5 gloves will offer the Cover Taper Fit which will contour to the natural shape of your hand, this design lets the glove move naturally with your hand. Lightweight foam pods will provide protection without sacrificing mobility.
The liner on the Covert QRE 5 glove is specifically made to keep the player’s hands cool and dry throughout play. Warrior’s Smartpalm gives added feel and durability to the glove, while keeping the game ready feel.
If you are a newer player looking for a quality lightweight glove, then look at the Warrior Covert QRE 5 Senior Hockey Gloves.
7. Warrior Alpha QX4 Junior Hockey Gloves
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Traditional fit for those who like a looser feel with lots of unrestricted mobility and ventilation
- Good price point
Cons:
- A little loose around your wrists
- Traditional fit (this is bad for those who like a tapered or contoured fit)
These are not the least expensive gloves on our review list by any means but boy are they very good quality ones. They are a pair of gloves that can take the beating that you will get while wearing them in any junior hockey league play.
The exterior is Warrior’s Tuf-Tech 2.0 material including stretch nylon for ventilation. Officially, they have a traditional fit but actually, it’s more of a cross between tapered (in the fingers) and traditional (around the palm and cuff. Medium-density foam covers the back of the hand and finger blocks with injected inserts on the back of the hand for added protection.
There’s a large embroidered cuff (with the Warrior name) for excellent looks. It features a 2-piece Axy-Flex thumb construction which is a bit different for a traditional fit glove. It’s one of the few traditional fit gloves that also comes with a flexible thumb. Of course, like most gloves, it also has hyper-extension protection for your thumbs. An upgraded palm material along with a traditional microfiber moisture-wicking interior makes this an excellent valued glove.
Finally, there is a larger open fit around the cuff for maximum movement and flexibility for your wrists and arms.
8. Verbero Mercury HG80 Senior Hockey Gloves
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Competitive level hockey approved
- Anatomical fit
Cons:
- No youth sizing
- No-name brand
While not exactly a household name, the Mercury HG80 is an overall good combination of a high-performance glove with a tapered fit, and the comfort and style you expect from the New Mercury line. Available in the most popular colors, Mercury HG80 features a new Grey Clarino palm with overlays, classic gussets providing maximum grip and dexterity, and a newly designed flex thumb.
On top of that, the Mercury HG80 gloves can be baked for two minutes in a skate oven for a more broken-in feel and perfect fit. Verbero promises that the palm of the HG80 will wick away moisture at a higher rate than many other gloves’ palms, while at the same time, providing a superior level of comfort and flexibility AND a game-ready feel.
9. STX Stallion HPR Hockey Gloves
Pros:
- Great stick feel
- Superfabric patch to reduce stick wear on palm
- 3-piece finger joints in a traditional glove
Cons:
- Traditional fit (for those who like anatomical or tapered gloves)
This is a high-end glove with a worn-in feel right out of the box. The exterior has PU overlays in the high wear zones and a cable knit nylon for ventilation and flexibility in the rest of the glove. Ultimate finger flexibility is achieved by not connecting the finger blocks to the back of the glove. They move independently and that’s a unique feature! Three out of 4 fingers on the front of the glove have 3-piece mobility and that’s something we REALLY like – especially in a traditional fit glove (most of which have only 1 joint with 2 sections). It even has a flexible thumb feature which we don’t see in a lot of traditional gloves.
There’s a huge “STX” 3D embroidered logo near the cuff. The big deal with this glove is that it uses STX’s “PureFoam” technology. It’s a system of hockey specific technologies designed to connect players to their equipment through advanced articulation, retention, and comfort. The PureForm™ utilizes next-generation technologies to increase connectivity and range of motion for the player.
The palm is huge upgrade from previous versions using a Pittards digital leather palm with a very grippy finger coverage area. There are even large air vents in the side near the finger area. The SuperFabric patch on the palm virtually eliminates stick wear on the palm material.
The cuff has 3 padded segments and the interior is an efficient microfiber material.
This is a traditional fit glove, but has plenty of features of a more contoured glove.
10. STX Ice Hockey Surgeon 100 Junior/Senior Gloves
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Recreational level hockey approved
- affordable
Cons:
- No youth sizing available
- Some durability concerns
- Loose-fitting around the wrists
Rounding out our top 10 is the Surgeon 100 glove. It features lots of the great features offered by STX, including a hybrid anatomical and tapered profile. That’s a big deal in a budget-priced glove! The anatomical construction is seen in the back of the hand while the tapered fit is noticed in the cuff, offering more range of motion.
The Cable Flex thumb is included which offers flexibility and motion along with hyperextension protection. STX uses their M2 knuckle which really just means there is open stitching in the breaks of each knuckle which helps to increase range of motion and ease of motion.
This is one of the better values out there, so it had to make it on our list!
Fitting Your Gloves
Recommendation & Conclusion
It’s no secret that we are big fans of all the model hockey gloves that we reviewed here. Each and every one of them has distinct advantages they offer to the age group that they are designed for. You cannot go wrong with purchasing any pair of them. With that being said, there are two hockey glove models that really caught our attention. That is the Bauer Junior Supreme 150 Glove for younger players and if it fits into your budget the Bauer Supreme TotalOne MX3 Senior Hockey Gloves.
If by chance you don’t like any of the hockey gloves we reviewed then take your time shopping in the sports marketplace. There are a lot of different hockey gloves to choose from out there. You will actually be pretty amazed by the size of the selection available to you. Don’t be afraid to refer to our handy buying guide to help you recognize the key factors of hockey gloves to consider. If you do all of these things then you should have no problem finding the best hockey gloves that fit you or your youth player’s needs.