Top PickThe Nomex Flight gloves are manufactured to military specification, and feature everything a pilot could want from a pair of gloves.
New: $32.00
Worn by American military pilots since the 1960s, these Nomex Flight Gloves feature everything a pilot could want from a pair of gloves.
Manufactured to military specification, you’ll appreciate how the palms of the gloves are made from genuine sheepskin leather to ensure that you’ll always have that delicate sense of touch you need for flying.
The gloves are also fire-resistant and are designed to handle the toughest and harshest of conditions.
It’s no surprise that Nomex has outfitted more pilots with gloves than any other company.
Best for Touchscreen Devices: Vbiger Touch Screen Gloves
Best for Touchscreen DevicesThese lightweight gloves are touchscreen compatible and keep your hands surprisingly warm.
For a lightweight pair of gloves, the Vbiger Touch Screen Gloves will keep your hands surprisingly warm. This is why I recommend them for pilots who need to use iPads, GPS receivers, and other touchscreen devices without having to take their gloves off.
Featuring Anti-slip & Abrasion-resistant Silicone on the palm and fingertips, my grip wasn’t compromised either.
If you need a pair of gloves that you can depend on to perfectly use touchscreen devices in the cockpit, these Vbiger Touch Screen Gloves are the real deal at an attractive price.
Best Fingerless Gloves: Bruceriver Wool Knitted Fingerless Gloves
Best Fingerless GlovesA generous 40 grams of Thinsulate lining, and the palms covered with gripper dots make these gloves a great choice.
With a generous 40 grams of Thinsulate insulation and fleece lining, the gloves kept my hands warm. But what I really like is how the palm of the gloves are completely covered with supple gripper dots to ensure a secure grip.
Best for WarmthThese gloves from Ozero are the best choice when only the warmest gloves will do.
New: $32.96
For those times when only the warmest gloves will do, but grip is still important, look no further than these Ozero Waterproof Winter Gloves. The silicone grip on the palm is what sets these gloves apart, and ensures excellent grip at all times.
Made from an artificial suede leather shell, and with multilayer insulated material and insulated polyester-TR cotton lining, they are proven to be cold resistant up to -30F.
The gloves touchscreen design is certainly welcome, though due to their size they won’t work as well as thinner gloves that put touchscreen capability at the forefront of their design.
What to Consider if You’re a Pilot Buying Gloves
Touchscreen Devices
With iPads and GPS units, the modern-day pilot relies on touch screen devices more than ever. If you want to freely be able to use these devices without compromise or having to take your gloves off, either fingerless or specially designed touch screen gloves are your best bet.
However, the trade-off is always going to be warmth. To allow for perfect touch screen response every time, gloves must be thinner thereby affecting warmth.
Warmth
A pilot who flies in California winters likely has very different needs to a pilot flying in freezing Minnesota winters where warmth is much more of a requirement. So consider just how cold it gets where you will be doing most of your flying.
Grip & Touch
It’s hard for pilots to get along with gloves that don’t offer much grip. A delicate sense of touch is often necessary too.
Therefore, look for gloves that utilize rubber or silicone in their design, and aren’t too bulky at the fingertips.
Helen Krasner holds a PPL(A), with 15 years experience flying fixed-wing aircraft; a PPL(H), with 13 years experience flying helicopters; and a CPL(H), Helicopter Instructor Rating, with 12 years working as a helicopter instructor.
Helen is an accomplished aviation writer with 12 years of experience, having authored several books and published numerous articles while also serving as the Editor of the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) newsletter, with her excellent work having been recognized with her nomination of the “Aviation Journalist of the Year” award.
Helen has won the “Dawn to Dusk” International Flying Competition, along with the best all-female competitors, three times with her copilot.
