Nomex Pilot Glove Questions

[HoosierQ]

Obviously our troops in Iraq are pretty much all wearing the Nomex (I assume it's Nomex) pilot gloves as tactical accessories. Protects against burns from all kinds of things including sun heated surfaces. These are the green or brown knit gloves with the sort of grey leather reinforcements on the fingers...you know what I mean.

At any rate, my local surplus store has some but they seem odd to me. The Nomex fabric on these things stop where the leather starts so there is no fabric under the leather. That seems like an odd way to do it and it makes me think despite their $35 price tag, these may be knock-offs, Nomex or not.

Every knit glove with a leather palm I've ever seen (from when I was a kid to the sort of stuff Cabelas sells) has the leather sewn on to the knit fabric (usually rag wool) and thus the fabric completely surrounds the hand.

With a fireproof/resistant glove like this, I would think you'd want the fireproof/resistant fabric completely covering your fingers.

Any knowlegeable folks out there or servicemen/women who know what these things should really look like in terms of construction?

 

[highorder]

The gloves you have described are authentic, and the price sounds like its in the ballpark as well. The nomex covers the back, and the leather is VERY thin in the palm.

Remember the original purpose was warmth, dexterity and flash-fire resistance.

They are not fireproof, nor are they intended to be.

The leather is just as protective against flash-fire, considering your hands are balled into fists when you are ejecting from an aircraft.

They are great for turning baking potatoes in the grill however!

http://www.hatch-corp.com/detail.aspx?pid=BNG190

 

[Devonai]

The authentic gloves should have this label inside.

 

[BBBBill]

There are better choices for a tactical glove. The issue aviator's glove is not durable enough for extended use. The leather wears through and the stitching pulls out/tears fairly quickly when used that way. That is first hand experience talking from a total of about 2 years "in the box" chasing bad guys and many years of flying as a civilian and Civil Air Patrol pilot.
That said, I do still use them for range work and hunting when the temps are not quite comfortable enough for bare hands.

 

[highorder]

There are better choices for a tactical glove. The issue aviator's glove is not durable enough for extended use. The leather wears through and the stitching pulls out/tears fairly quickly when used that way.

agree 100%

 

[HoosierQ]

Highorder and BBBill

Thanks for the info. I knew that leather is a good flash fire resistor so I wasn't writing them off completely.

I would probably just wear them for light duty. I am not an LEO nor someone with "tactical" needs. What I do need is a good glove that is warm under normal midwest conditions (for driving and shooting on better days) and provides dexterity. Up until now, I have tended to use the milspec, size 6 wool glove liners but they are a little slippery when new without the leather over glove (there goes dexterity).

You input is valuable and much appreciated.

 

[BBBBill]

Sounds like they will be perfect for your intended use. They are certainly comfortable.

 

[highorder]

agreed, I have used them for driving and general use (in the midwest) and they do work great.

Hatch (and others) make a more practical short-cuff version that I like better than the gauntlet style.

 

[jdh]

Racing gloves are made the same way. Nomex fabric sewed to a leather palm.

http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-gf-g1-gloves.html?productid=898

 

[feedthehogs]

The Sparco X-Pro gloves I wear for racing are great for grabbing a wheel or shift knob with exceptional grip, but are too thick for firearms use.

The gloves that I wear with my #20 suit are more like winter insulated gloves due to the severity of fire hazzard.

Better options out there.

 

[Jenrick]

I've found these work quiet well for shooting:

http://www.countycomm.com/gloves.htm

As they are Lycra and Nitrle, they DO NOT provide any kind of fire/flash/burn protection beyond just a layer between your skin and the hot stuff. They will also probably melt if you really get them hot.

With that said, great grip, great feel, and easy off and on. I've used them for several training classes and really like them.

If you're looking for flash/fire/burn resistant gloves I'd go with one of the big manufactures. Hatch, Damacus, Blackhawk, 5.11, etc. all make nomex or kevlar (which works almost as well) in everything from extended length to short cuff. If you're looking for something that doesn't scream "operator" (or mall ninja ) Mechanix Wear has a bunch of heat resistant gloves. Some might find them a touch bulky, but I haven't had any problems shooting in them.

-Jenrick

 

[elChupacabra!]

You know, I've got several pairs of the nomex flight gloves but can't shoot a handgun nearly as well with them. Rifles are fine I suppose, but with pistols, it's not happening for me. My accuracy suffers a good bit in slow fire, and tremendously if I'm doing defensive drills.

Maybe it's that I don't shoot in them very often, but I hate shooting pistols with any gloves on... maybe I just haven't found the rights ones, though.

 

[pfc.pennington]

They are ok gloves for light duty, (like everyone said) But they wear out very quickly. I would find some a little better. I have a pair of whitewaters that have been great for me. I cant find them on the web but i paid 20$ at the PX. Their are better gloves at a better price. Just my 2cents.

 

[Soldiersurfs]

Unless required to by unit, not many guys I know wear the flyers gloves. Oakley makes some good ones. But if you can afford them these are worth every penny http://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/ProductListing.aspx?ActivityCode=TACTICAL&SeriesCode=281 They can be found in the $70 range possibly cheaper. Absolutely the most comfortable gloves I have ever worn.