Every wonder how Connor McDavid makes opposing defenders look like swiss cheese as he hangs them out to dry, yet again? Combined with his speed, McDavid has some of the best hands in the game of hockey. The ease at which he dekes left before going to his right and back to the starting point before tucking the puck in on the short side.. all while we didn’t have time to blink because of his superior hands.
Hockey gloves can be some of the most underrated pieces of gear that a player will wear. It’s not until you upgrade into a top of the line glove that you realize the night and day difference between an entry level hockey glove and the same things McDavid wears. McDavid current wears CCM, by the way.
These are the best hockey gloves we recommend for 2024.
- CCM Jetspeed FT6 Pro (Best Overall)
- Bauer Pro Series (Best Pro Value)
- Warrior Super Novium (Best For The Money)
- Bauer Vapor 3X Gloves (Best Budget Gloves)
- True Catalyst 9X3
Our mission when testing which hockey gloves are the best is simple. Shoot tons of pucks, wear them for more than 5 games and gather feedback from our athletes. We train several hundred elite D1 and pro hockey players each and every year, and polling the guys wearing the best of the best give us an edge unlike any other.
We’ll recommend a product when we’ve personally worn or used it and won’t add anything unless it fits that mold. Because of this, we’ve personally spent hours testing and researching hockey gloves. We wanted to create the best list that we possibly could come up with and this is the result…
A couple things that we really want to stress when getting new gloves are durability, wrist mobility, comfort, and protection. If you can find a pair of gloves that cover all of these bases, you’re going to be dialed on the ice. You don’t want your gloves to be holding you back while you are shooting, passing, and stick handling.
Highest Rated Hockey Gloves of 2024
For each and every product that we review, we have a rating system. The glove rating system works in such a way that gives a total of 70 points out for comfort, protection, wrist mobility, stick feel, durability, looks, and price. Some categories are more important than others to some players, which is why we have the ratings the way they are. The goal is to help clarify what we feel makes one glove better than the next.
Ever wonder what gloves NHL players wear?
We’ve covered a handful of gloves on the market in this article, most of these are worn by players currently in the NHL. Of course, Bauer, CCM, and Warrior dominate the professional market.
With that being said, these are higher-end hockey gloves. You’re going to spend a bit more on the product, but in return, you’ll get performance unlike any other. Choosing the most comfortable glove for your hand, and one that offers great mobility is crucial to picking something that works well for you.
CCM JetSpeed FT6 Pro Gloves (Best Hockey Gloves on the Market)
The CCM JetSpeed FT6 Pro hands down outperform anything else in this class. The glove is simply more comfortable, more mobile, and has lasted longer than any other model we’ve tested.
One of the things I’ve never understood about other gloves is, why don’t they follow the same anatomical hand shape guidelines that CCM does? These gloves are built to reduce weight (as if that matters these days, all hockey gloves are light) and reduce material used by following the shape and general contour of your hand.
Not only does it help keep the weight down, but the contours of the glove fit the curvature of the hand and fingers better. In simple terms, these hockey gloves are more comfortable.
Of course, CCM keeps their 3 piece index finger and Pro Flex Thumb for better mobility and comfort.
If you’re like most hockey players, you get sweaty hands on the ice. CCM’s new AER-TEC Thermoregulation system helps maximize ventilation in your gloves. It’s designed to cool the body’s core temperature faster, regulate sweat, and increase air circulation. Chances are that you’ll still have sweaty hands, but let me be clear – it could be a lot worse with a pair of gloves with poor ventilation.
If you’re the type of player that needs a lightweight hockey glove, high layers of protection, or one who needs to have something with maximum mobility, you can stop your search here, the FT6 Pro gloves check all the boxes.
The highest rated gloves of 2024. Low weight, excellent mobility with solid protection.
Bauer Pro Series (Best Pro Value)
The tried and true, Bauer Pro Series hockey gloves are the next best for 2024. If you’re going for a classic look and design, this is the glove for you.
It offers top-of-the-line protection and a slightly better cost than some of the other hockey gloves on this list (albeit not by much). They’re a little heavier than the FT6 Pros (350g), but it makes up for it in protection.
The fingers and thumb feature two breaks, which some other gloves on this list have three breaks in the finger – which may be a deal breaker for you. I don’t see this as big of a deal as they’re still mobile. You won’t see any issues with stick handling or shooting.
Comfort-wise this is one of the best options you can go with. It features a hypersense finger liner and a Thermomax backhand pad for a better feel. Along with the Ivory Pro palm you are looking at a comfortable and durable palm.
Overall this is a popular hockey glove for it’s clean look, protection and feel. It’s a little heavier than some of the other high end gloves on the market (not by much), but you make up for it in protection.
The Bauer Pro Series offers high protection and comfort with a classic look.
Warrior Super Novium (Best For The Money)
Look, if you’re looking for high-end comfort, protection and weight, these aren’t going to be my recommendation. But, if you’re looking to get a little bit of everything at a better price point, the Warrior Super Novium hockey gloves are absolutely the ticket.
Besides the price tag being significantly lower than some of the other hockey gloves on this list, they’ve got some things going for them.
These gloves offer a hybrid traditional fit – which means it’s a mix of the classic and contoured look. You’re getting a good mix of mobility and protection.
The cuff extends longer for better coverage in the wrists for when you inevitably get slashed on the lower arm while on the ice. It’s always good to have a little extra protection up near the top of the glove.
These gloves have the “Buttersoft Feel” that Warrior talks about in their mitts. This just means you’re going to feel the stick and puck well. I’m not one to discount this claim – Warrior hockey gloves are popular for a reason.
Overall these gloves are going to perform at a high level for a better price. You can certainly find higher performing, lighter gloves, but you’re also going to pay more for those. In my opinion this is a good middle of the road option to get the best of both worlds.
This is the best hockey glove of the year for the money. Not elite in one thing, but solid in all - for a great price.
Bauer Vapor 3X Gloves (Best Budget Gloves)
Look, I’m not going to tell you that these are the absolute best gloves you can find, but if you’re looking for a solid budget glove – this is what I’d recommend. For it’s reasonable price tag you’re getting a comfortable and largely protective glove.
It features the modern contoured look that sits close to the hand. The thumb is a two-piece Flex thumb and the three-piece index finger offer good mobility and puck feel.
The Vapor 3X gloves has a Thermo Max+ sub liner and a Hypersense finger liner. These are designed to pull moisture out so the gloves stay relatively dry. They don’t quite compare to some of the higher end hockey gloves on our “best of” list here, but it’s good to see some features built into a solid set of budget gloves.
The protection feature dual-density foam with Hyperlite HD & PE on the back of the hand, which PE inserts in the fingers. As far as protection goes, you really aren’t going to find much better in this price range.
Overall this is a solid pair of gloves, especially for the price. If you’re playing backyard or beer league hockey, take a look at these. A lot of players like them, for good reason.
This is our go-to recommendation for budget hockey gloves. Comfortable, protective - all at a good price.
True Catalyst 9X3
The True Catalyst 9X3 honestly deserves to be higher up on the list of best hockey gloves, but we were running out of options near the top of the list. That being said, if you want another premium glove option and don’t care for Bauer or CCM, True is going to be your next best option.
Yes, you’re going to pay for it, but these gloves are really comfortable and built to last. The look is a little different – a little bit of a hybrid between the traditional and contoured glove.
The Catalyst 9X3 gloves feature a new mesh liner for this year. It’s designed to help cycle air and keep your hands dry while your playing.
Having highly mobile gloves is a big factor in moving the puck around on the ice. No fears here with that. The thumb and fingers features three-piece designs – which is rare to see in a hockey glove (typically hockey gloves feature two-piece thumbs). The cuff is flexible and has an ergonomic design that helps the wrist stay mobile and flexible.
The backs of the hand have 20mm EPP foam and plastic inserts – which is above and beyond the call of duty for high level protection.
Overall if you’re looking for a premium pair of hockey gloves – these are for you. They offer elite protection, durability and mobility, but you’re going to pay for it.
A high end pair of gloves that offer great mobility, durability and protection.
Warrior Covert Pro
The Warrior Covert Pro gloves aren’t the latest and greatest to hit the market, but they’re still a quality pair of gloves. They’re the gloves that are going to get the job done and last a long time… at a reasonable price.
Our Rating:
| Product | Warrior Covert Pro |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Protection | 9/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 9/10 |
| Stick Feel | 9/10 |
| Durability | 9/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 9/10 |
| Total | 61/70 |
They feature a taper fit which is ideal because it makes it a natural fit in your hand, as all hockey gloves should be. They also feature a lightweight build for additional comfort, while stiff offering the protection you need.
The palm of the glove is very durable so you can expect to use these for a long time. Ideally, a pair of higher-end gloves should last you a couple of years.
And lastly, the Covert Pro gloves have a Wartech FNC liner which is designed to keep your hands as dry and comfortable as possible.
Anonymous Review: “These Warrior gloves are fantastic. I have worn NHL player worn gloves and these are every bit as good.”
Overall it’s hard to go wrong with a pair of gloves like these. Reasonable priced, highly protective, and should last you multiple seasons.
These hockey gloves are near the top of the food chain, but are offered at a better price than those others near the top.
Bauer Vapor X2.9 (Most Affordable Gloves)
The Bauer Vapor X2.9 hockey gloves are the best budget gloves on the market. Here’s what we did and didn’t like about them.
Advantages:
- Solid budget pair of gloves
- Very popular amongst high school level players
- Wrist mobility
Our Rating:
| Product | Bauer Vapor X2.9 |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 9/10 |
| Protection | 8/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 8/10 |
| Stick Feel | 8/10 |
| Durability | 8/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 9/10 |
| Total | 59/70 |
The Bauer Vapor X2.9 gloves were originally released in 2020. So they aren’t the latest gloves to hit the market, but that doesn’t take away from their ability to perform today.
The biggest positive in getting these gloves is that they don’t cost a whole lot of money – relative to the most expensive gloves on the market. You can get these for less than $120ish. This is super nice, considering that gloves aren’t exactly the most exciting piece of gear you will need (still important though).
They’re a comfortable set of mitts. They feature a Taktile palm that is designed to last a long time, while also providing a nice feel with your stick in hand.
There’s nothing worse than a pair of gloves that you can’t get broken in and never really feel natural. That isn’t the case here.
Mobility-wise this glove is special. The fingers are a 3-piece while the thumb is split into 2. This allows for better stick handling, passing and shooting. The open cuff in the wrist area also has an important part to play in this.
Lastly, the moisture wicking technology helps increase the speed at which your gloves dry out. Obviously, it’s nearly impossible to keep your gloves dry during a game or practice, but technology like this helps!
A couple of downfalls would be that these gloves likely aren’t the same quality as the elite-level gloves, but good enough for the price. You also are losing a little bit of protection in the hands compared to those gloves.
Overall though, the Bauer Vapor X2.9 gloves are stellar for those of you that want to scoop a great deal. Can’t go wrong with that!
These are the most affordable hockey gloves that offer the highest value... If you are on a budget, these are a popular choice.
CCM Tacks AS1
The CCM Tacks AS1 hockey gloves are popular for a multitude of reasons. One, the CCM brand in hockey is just a high end brand. Two, these are elite gloves.
Our Rating:
| Product | CCM Tacks AS1 |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 9.5/10 |
| Protection | 10/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 9/10 |
| Stick Feel | 8.5/10 |
| Durability | 9/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
| Total | 62/70 |
These were the best CCM hockey gloves before the latest FT4 lineup was released. Probably the best aspect of these gloves were the protection up near the wrist. Highly protective.
Other than that, they are super comfortable and have a classic old-school look.
Price-wise they are a bit up there, but other than that these are a top pair of gloves, despite getting dethroned by the FT4 Pros.
The CCM AS1 are an elite level of gloves that offer top of the line protection and mobility.
Warrior Alpha LX Pro
The Warrior Alpha LX Pro are the latest and greatest hockey gloves from Warrior. Brand new for 2021, they feature a pro palm + that is designed to improve the lifespan of the gloves. Here’s the rating that we gave these gloves.
Our Rating:
| Product | Warrior Alpha LX Pro |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 10/10 |
| Protection | 10/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 9/10 |
| Stick Feel | 9/10 |
| Durability | 8/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
| Total | 62/10 |
The Hybrid taper fit makes for a natural fit in the hand and the Pro Cuff increases the range of motion when you pass, shoot or stick handle.
The most impressive aspect of these Alpha LX Pro gloves is the overall feel of them. They don’t restrict the movement of your hands and really that’s one of them most important aspects of a pair of gloves.
The downside of these gloves is the price tag. They’re not cheap and at that price, it might make more sense to go with a pair of FT4’s or Ultrasonic gloves.
These Warrior Alpha LX Pro gloves are new for 2021. Comfortable, durable, but will cost you.
Bauer Vapor 2x Pro
The Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Hockey Gloves were our top pick for last year, and while being dethroned by the new CCM FT4 gloves, it doesn’t mean these should fall off the list. Actually, these gloves are a very comparable second choice behind the new FT4 line. I’ve already noticed them knocked back a bit at Pure Hockey and I’m hoping they’ll go down in price at Hockey Monkey as well.
Advantages:
- Elite level gloves
- Lightweight (265 Grams)
- Protective (Shock Lite Foam)
- Ultra-Sensitive feel with your stick (CONNEKT+ PALM)
Our Rating:
| Product | Bauer Vapor 2X Pro |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 10/10 |
| Protection | 10/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 9/10 |
| Stick Feel | 9/10 |
| Durability | 7.5/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
| Total | 61.5/70 |
Last season, these were some of our favorite gloves. Like everything, we’re on to bigger and better things and we’re not into playing brand favorites. The new CCM gloves are legit, but for those of you looking to sneak into something perhaps at a bit of a discount, check the Bauer 2X Pro gloves out.
They’re super comfortable with Thermo Core and Hypersense lining in both the palm and fingers. They’re super protective with Shock Lite Foam making up most of the glove. The quality of the gloves is very good, and they’re super durable. Not only that, but these gloves are super lightweight. The price hits a little hard, but you won’t find a better pair of hockey gloves on the market.
The Bauer Vapor 2X Gloves are no slouch when it comes to buttering up your mittens. These are a very comparable choice to the new CCM Jet Speed gloves.
True Catalyst 9x
Over the last several years, True has been dramatically improving the quality of their equipment. Their gloves are different.
The True Catalyst 9x gloves are the top of the Catalyst lineup.
Our Rating:
| Product | True Catalyst 9X |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 9/10 |
| Protection | 10/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 10/10 |
| Stick Feel | 8.5/10 |
| Durability | 8/10 |
| Looks | 8/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
| Total | 60.5/70 |
Definitely one of the most underrated hockey gloves on the market. While they aren’t the best looking, and you’ll pay a premium to have these, they do offer a lot of high end qualities.
For one, wrist mobility. While it’s difficult to say that one glove has a tremendous advantage in mobility compared to the next, the Catalyst 9X deserve to be near the top.
For two, comfort. Playing hockey in comfortable gloves is a game changer. Everything depends on how well each moving piece fits together, and the less friction possible, the better. That’s where True really elevated their game for this year.
Overall, there are definitely higher ranked gloves that might suit you better, but if you want to step away from the crowd a little bit, you can’t go wrong with some True gloves.
The True Catalyst 9X gloves are a "sleeper" for this year. They're very comfortable and mobile.
Warrior Covert QRE10 (Most Innovative Glove)
The Warrior Covert QRE10 gloves are next on the list. Here’s what we did and didn’t like about them.
Our Rating:
| Product | Warrior Covert QRE 10 |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 8.5/10 |
| Protection | 9/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 8.5/10 |
| Stick Feel | 8/10 |
| Durability | 9/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Total | 60/70 |
The Warrior Covert QRE10 hockey gloves are super lightweight. They’re designed with Convert Taper Fit that allows for maximum protection of the wrist area. They also feature AxyFlex V2 Cuff technology which helps out with the protection of the wrist, while also keeping it mobile. Warrior also implemented The AxyFlex Thumb which provides supreme flexibility in the thumbs.
The gloves as a whole are made of Warrior’s first-class protective EXO+Foam. It’s some of the most protective foam that you can get for your gloves right now. Not only is it protective, but it doesn’t weigh a whole lot.
Finally, the durability of these gloves is top of the line. They’re made very well with quality materials. The only problem with the gloves is the price tag, they’re not cheap. But otherwise they protect the hands very well, are mobile and lightweight. There’s not much more to look for in a high-quality pair of hockey gloves.
The Warrior Covert QRE10 gloves are 2020's top Warrior gloves. Slightly reduced in price now, you can find yourself looking at a great deal.
Related: Best Hockey Stick
CCM Tacks 4R Lite Pro
The CCM Tacks 4R Lite pro hockey gloves are designed for players that aren’t interested in spending a million dollars on a nice pair of gloves. Overall these are fairly comfortable and have a quick break in time.
Our Rating:
| Product | CCM Tacks 4R Lite |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Protection | 8/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 9/10 |
| Stick Feel | 8/10 |
| Durability | 8.5/10 |
| Looks | 9/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Total | 58.5/70 |
While you will be getting better features in higher end gloves such as the FT4 pro’s, the lower price makes these gloves attractive.
In these gloves, you will be getting middle of the road protection and mobility. They feature dual-density foam in the fingers and the back of hand for added protection. The wrist has a mobile design with an open segmented cuff and PE inserts.
The palms of the gloves are also reinforced with additional material to increase the life span of the gloves. The thumbs can be flexed forward easily, but they have no give when flexed backwards. This keeps your thumbs protected from hyperextending in collisions.
These are a solid pair of gloves, especially for the price. Performance-wise, they might not be as good as the Vapor 2X Pro gloves, but they also cost a lot less.
These are a popular pair of gloves amongst high school level hockey players.
Related: Best Hockey Helmet
True A6.0
The True A6.0 gloves are are very technologically advanced. Here’s what we did and didn’t like about them.
Advantages:
- Protective (Pro Grade EPP Foam)
- Ergonomical cuff
- Microban technology cleans and dries
- Durable palms
| Product | True A6.0 Gloves |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Protection | 8/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 7.5/10 |
| Stick Feel | 7/10 |
| Durability | 8/10 |
| Looks | 7/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Total | 53.5/70 |
The True A.60 gloves are another awesome pair of gloves for playing hockey. They’re quite expensive, but they’re super comfortable, highly protective and mobile. Not only that, but the palms also are durable. The fit and feel is snug, not too much loose space and not too tight. The stick control in these gloves are one of its biggest pluses. The high grade nylon shell is super lightweight, but keep the hands and fingers protected.
The True A.60 gloves are engineered to absorb impact. Getting slashed in the wrist or taking a shot to the hand isn’t super painful. Finally, maybe the coolest feature in these gloves is the Microban technology. They use antimicrobial properties that kill the growth of bacteria and keep your gloves fresh. Essentially reducing the smell of sweat in your gloves.
Overall the True A6.0 gloves are a great option for hockey players in 2023. They’re durable, protective and have bacterial growth killers to keep them clean and dry.
The A6.0 gloves were the top rated True gloves before the new Catalyst lineup was released. Advantage: Reduced Price.
Bauer Nexus 2N (Best Looking Gloves)
The Bauer Nexus 2N hockey feature a 4 roll design that looks really cool. Here’s what we did and didn’t like about them.
Advantages:
- Look great
- Quick break-in time
- Updated for new style of hockey
- Adjustable wide cuff design
- Sensitive touch
| Product | Bauer Nexus 2N Gloves |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 8.5/10 |
| Protection | 8.5/10 |
| Wrist Mobility | 9/10 |
| Stick Feel | 8/10 |
| Durability | 8/10 |
| Looks | 9.5/10 |
| Price | 7.5/10 |
| Total | 59/70 |
The 2N hockey gloves were a leader in the glove industry for many years. Easily the best-looking gloves, they are now at a cheaper price than before. That is obviously because the newer 2X and Ultrasonic gloves were released to the market.
Which is totally fine. I believe that a lot of hockey players just want to get the latest and greatest gear when in reality a lot of equipment doesn’t improve a whole lot compared to the latter.
That being said, the 2N gloves are at a steal of a price right now. I have to assume that’s because Bauer stopped making them, which is generally the case after new iterations of equipment are released.
Moving onto why these gloves are in the top 15 hockey gloves. For one, they’re comfortable. They have a nice stick feel and also have sanitization technology to reduce the smell and keep them clean.
Overall these are a classic style looking pairs of gloves that have been very popular in the hockey world.
Arguable the best looking gloves on the market and also have a quick break in time.
Related: Best Hockey Pants
CCM Jetspeed Ft1 Youth (Best Youth Gloves)
The CCM Jetspeed FT1 Youth gloves are the best gloves you can get for youth hockey players. Here’s what we did and didn’t like about them.
Advantages:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Protective PE thumb
- Soft Nash palm
Disadvantages:
- Not super advanced
The CCM Jetspeed FT1 Youth gloves are the best youth hockey gloves. They’re not very expensive but get the job done for your kid. They’re comfortable, lightweight, and comfortable. The thumb is protected and strong.
Yes, these gloves aren’t super-advanced, but youth hockey players typically don’t slash very hard, if it all. Which sort of takes out the need to have high-end hockey gloves that are super technologically advanced.
The Jetspeed FT1 gloves will get the job done, and done well. Without breaking the bank.
These are the top rated youth gloves for the price!
Related: Best Hockey Bag
Hockey Glove Sizing
Getting the correct size of your next pair of gloves is critical. If you are interested – we have a full post on how to correctly size your hockey gloves so you aren’t spending time ordering, returning and otherwise wasting time. Click here to view the glove sizing chart.
Maintaining Your Hockey Gloves
Hockey gloves, like every other piece of hockey equipment, can and should be washed. In fact, one of the easiest ways to prevent holes in your gloves and unnecessary palm repair is by maintaining your gloves on a somewhat regular basis.
Here’s a guide we wrote on how to wash your hockey gloves. Think about it, every time you complete a strenuous practice, what condition are your gloves in? They’re soaked, completely through. One of the easiest maintenance things you can do for the health of your gloves is to wash them on a regular basis.
Conclusion: Best Hockey Gloves
Hockey gloves are an important yet underrated pieces of equipment. They are the difference between soft or break hands. The difference between going bar down or missing the net. The difference between catching the pass or the puck bouncing off.
