No matter if you are a beginner or an experienced drummer, there is one thing that you have come to understand, it can be painful to play without the right tools.
One way to decrease the wear and tear of playing on your hands is to invest in a good pair of drumming gloves.
There are many brands and types to choose from. From bass drummer gloves to half-finger options, you may find yourself struggling to find the best drumming gloves for you.
That is why we have compiled a few of the best drummer gloves on the market and how you can determine which is the right choice for you.
Benefits & Drawbacks of Drumming Gloves
First off, we have to address the big debate of whether to choose a drum glove or not! There are many drummers out there that have varying opinions.
This is why we think it is essential that you know the benefits and drawbacks of drummer gloves before you start looking for the best drumming gloves.
Benefits
Let's start with the benefits!
Protection From Blisters & Calluses
When you are playing for a long time, you may find that you feel calluses and blisters forming. This can make playing uncomfortable, and so the drumming glove will help protect you from these issues.
Better Grip
Also, when playing, you will most likely sweat a bit which could affect your grip on the sticks. Adding a pair of drum gloves to your ensemble will help you maintain that grip. This will give you more control and eventually speed too.
Shock Absorption
The last major benefit is that they will absorb some of that shock your hands will go through as you are drumming. This will decrease the wear and tear on your hands and allow you to move with more fluidity.
Drawbacks
Even though there are a lot of advantages, it's not perfect.
Lack of Feel
There are some drummers that feel that drum gloves affect their ability to play. The drum gloves create a layer between the drummer and the sticks. This loss of that tactile sensation could affect the drummer's ability to get the full range of motion.
Control
That loss of feeling when it comes to the sticks might also affect the drummer's control. We know there may be other drawbacks, but these are the two big ones you will hear about when you talk to drummers regarding the best drum gloves.
What To Consider When Buying Drumming Gloves
How do you know what drum gloves would be a good choice for you and your drumming style?
There are a few factors that play a key role in what makes good drumming gloves. Below are the ones we used to choose the best drum gloves we look at further on.
Here are the drum glove features you should pay attention to when shopping for the best gloves for drumming for you:
Material
When you're looking at the material of your drum gloves, you will have a few options. You want to find one that is made with lightweight and durable materials.
You will typically find them made of leather (with one of the best being Cabretta leather which is one of the most durable and flexible), synthetic mesh, or even synthetic rubber.
Wrist Support
You will want to look at gloves for drumming, which have a design that offers good wrist support and protection. Drum gloves with this design will give drummers reduced strain for long hours of drumming.
Ventilation
When you're rocking out playing your drums, you will be working up a sweat. That is why finding a pair of drummer gloves with a vented back or one that uses breathable mesh in the body is so important. This will allow air to flow freely while you're drumming, reducing the sweat.
Grip
The idea of using drum gloves is to help you develop a heightened feeling of control. This is especially true if you are a beginning drummer.
So when choosing a good pair of gloves for drummers, the drummer will want to look for one that has a good grip. These most likely will have some sort of synthetic rubber in the palm and fingers.
Pads
If you play hard, you may also consider looking at drummer gloves that have pads in them. These pads help alleviate some of the shocks and give the drummer a little cushion for a more comfortable drumming experience.
Appearance
Appearance doesn't really play a part in the performance of the drumming gloves unless you are looking at the design and go for fingerless drummer gloves. Most of the importance of appearance is all about building a look for your own image.
Size & Fit
Finally, when you are looking for the best drummer gloves for you and your style, you need to consider the size. Look for drumming gloves that come in multiple sizes, and test drive them to make sure they are the best fit for you.
Why Do Drummers Need To Wear Gloves?
As we have said, there is quite a debate when it comes to drummer gloves and whether they are necessary. The truth is that this is a personal preference. That being said, there are a lot of reasons why the supporters of drummer gloves choose to wear them.
For beginner drummers, it is recommended as it will help decrease the pain and soreness for constant practicing. Using drummer gloves will help these young drummers get used to the feel and protect them from blisters and calluses.
Many drummers like gloves because they help maintain a better grip, giving them more control when they are drumming. Though there are many reasons to wear gloves, it is a personal preference.
Best Drumming Gloves Reviews
Here are some of the best drummers gloves available to get you started.
1. Ahead Drummer's Glove
If you have been drumming for a while, the brand name Ahead may mean something to you as they produce some pretty awesome metal sticks. These types of sticks last longer, and maybe why this glove was designed the way it was.
The Ahead Drummers Glove is crafted in super-soft leather as well as Lycra and spandex. This combination of materials reduces the vibrations and shock, which gives it more comfort when used for drumming those long gigs. The materials also lend a good amount of grip to the gloves.
The drumming gloves are also designed with hot spot pads and a reinforced base at the finger and thumb index. This furthers the support against shock and helps with the durability of the gloves. Even with that, though, the gloves are still very well ventilated.
The design of the gloves includes a built-in wrist support and a pretty easy-to-use Velcro strap. Even with all that, though, there are still a few issues that you should be aware of before making your final decision.
With excessive use, we found the seams are less than durable. They are also not great for larger hands. All in all, these drumming gloves are one of the best options for the harder rocking drummer.
Pros
Cons
When you first start out, you will want to spend most of your money on your kit. But accessories like drumming gloves are still important, so if you are working with a tight budget, these gloves from Zildjian are a great option.
These gloves start with high-grade materials, and then they are crafted into a design that gives the drummer a lot of value. Crafted with soft leather, the gloves fit amazingly and are incredibly comfortable. The thin fit of the leather gloves also does not obstruct the feel when playing.
The gloves are also designed for even more comfort through the use of a Velcro strap. Even though these drumming gloves are not expensive, their overall aesthetic is nice to look at. Emblazoned with the iconic Zildjian logo, they are both stylish and functional.
We really like these gloves, but there are some drawbacks that we should discuss. The seams of the gloves have been known to fray pretty easily, causing the gloves to fall apart. Other than that, the design will take some time to get used to.
These gloves are great for those beginners or drummers with a limited budget. They are comfortable and wear well when taken care of.
Pros
Cons
Promark is one of those brands that are very well known in the drumming world. They craft high-quality gear, and that includes these Promark DGL Drummer's Gloves. They are a well-made model that is really a great choice for a lot of people out there.
These gloves are designed using Cabretta leather that is precision cut, which makes them more durable than many of their competitors. The design is then finished off with extra cushioning in the key areas like the thumb, knuckles, and fingertips.
Along with the high-quality material and the cushioning, another thing we really like about these gloves is the breathable mesh. This synthetic mesh is integrated into the design, which helps with the seat, and that means it has an improved grip.
These lightweight gloves are certainly a good option for most drumming enthusiasts, but there are some issues with them as well. The fingers cushioning may protect from calluses and help with shock absorption, but they also make the fingers a little bulky. This might make them a little more difficult to get used to using. Also, the price could be a little high for some, especially beginners.
The design of these gloves makes them an excellent option for a lot of different types of people. However, we think they are best for those that play in the harder music genres due to the cushioning and durability.
Pros
Cons
If you are a person that isn't a huge fan of gloves but needs to protect your hands, then the Meinl Half Finger Drummers Gloves could be the answer. Crafted by Meinl, a company out of Germany, these are stylish and functional.
These fingerless drum gloves have a lot of styles and will pretty much go with any style of music. They are crafted with thick pads to help protect from those hard hits on the drums. This will save your hands from those painful blisters that come with long jam sessions.
Another great feature of these half-finger gloves is the rough palm which helps with grip. That is thanks to the mesh pattern, which enhances the grip so that you don't have to worry about stick slippage. They are crafted with lightweight leather that allows for more mobility.
Though these gloves are pretty good, they still are not perfect. The first is that there are some questions about the durability of the wrist. After some extensive sessions, there have been some that have reported ripping. Also, hand playing will be dampened.
When it comes down to it, these gloves are great for those that are looked for a cheaper glove and don't like the idea of a whole glove.
Pros
Cons
Vic Firth is another well-known company that deals with accessories for drumming. These are not only designed for performance, but they are pretty stylish as well. That style, though, is only wrapping for a high-quality glove.
These are designed with high-quality soft cabretta leather that, when combined with synthetic rubber, gives them better grip and comfort. They are finished with mesh for breathability in the palm, which makes this an all-around high-grade option.
The versatility of this Vic Firth accessory is a nice thing as well because it gives different hands the ability to find the perfect fit. It is styled with a unique look that appeals to both men and women. So the model offers a lot of variety.
That being said, there are some issues that we need to look at. The white dots are nice stylistic touch, but some have found that they easily fall off. Many like the aesthetic, but for those that play a little harder music may find them not super stylish.
These are a super well-designed option that will work for any drummer from beginner to professional.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
If you are looking for a good pair of gloves, for us, the best drum gloves from the ones we just looked at are probably the Vic Firth gloves. They are crafted with high-quality cabretta leather and designed for optimal protection as well as comfort.
Though each of the other models we looked at as part of our comprehensive list of the best drumming gloves has its own advantages as well. We hope this guide has helped you in your search for the right pair for you.
