Review: Outdoor Research Firemark Tactical Gloves
Outdoor Research has long been know for making very high quality gear for hiking, camping, mountain climbing, ice climbing and just about anything else one might do outdoors. It wasn’t until early 2010 though that they branched out to include gear designed for military application. We first encountered their tactical line at Shot Show 2010. The video can be found here: http://gunwebsites.net/2011/02/24/outdoor-research-tactical-gloves/
The OR Firemark gloves were designed to be a lightweight tactical glove that combined maximum dexterity with some protection against hard surface contact and fire. They come in at 3.3oz and feature lightweight Nomex on the tops with a full leather palm and fingers. The palm is also reinforced with another piece of leather that is “stippled” for added grip. Leather covered padding wraps the knuckles and the top of the fingers for light impact protection. A loop is also sewn into the bottom of each glove for storage options. Sizes available are S-XXL and the retail is $79.
I have been using the OR Firemark Gloves for 3 months now with great results. I picked mine up for $65 and sized them the same as the popular Mechanix gloves with success. here is a break down of the features, pros and cons:
Durability:
Durability is the leading factor in every tactical glove on the market. The Firemark’s have held up extremely well so far. I have used them in 3 ACTS matches, 4 shooting sessions involving high round counts and doing VTac/Magpul drills, as well as for yard work. The stitching is top notch throughout the glove and the only area that seems to be fraying a bit is on the palm where the second piece of leather is sewn in. i don’t foresee this being as issue for a while. So far the area covering the web of the hand (between thumb and index finger) has held up very well. This is the part of the glove most people see failures in first. The leather on the finger tips is holding up very well, the only wear being a couple of very minor cuts that aren’t anything to worry about. The Velcro closure on the wrist has maintained its grab and the stitching is still perfect.
Dexterity:
The amount of dexterity one gets with these gloves is plain impressive. The leather fingers are cut extremely tight and feels almost like wearing a latex glove. I found myself able to type in these gloves as well as operate tools and handle small objects while performing tasks (ie: thumbing in a screw). As will any glove though, there are tasks that will require you to take them off.
Protection:
The Firemark gloves offer a medium level of protection and are marketed as a combat glove. While being flame resistant i will note that because they are not completely Nomex and cut short on the wrist, they are not ideal for being around fire all the time. The fire resistance aspect is more of a bonus when you may find yourself near a flame. The leather palm offers great protection from the heat that a firearm emits and from rough surfaces. The padding on the knuckles and fingers helps with some impacts but obviously wont protect you as much as a hard knuckle will. I would like to see a pad on the palm for ground impact. This being said, the protection level is medium at best and in my opinion is a great balance for a shooting glove.
Pros:
Very Lightweight
Great Dexterity
Soft knuckle and finger protection
Loops for storage on gear
Some flame resistance
Good stitching and construction
Sizing
Cons:
Minimal protection against hard impacts
No palm padding
Not cold weather suitable
Price
Conclusion:
In the end, the Outdoor Research Firemark Gloves are a winner for me. The construction is top notch and has led to a durable multipurpose glove. They provide a great balance between protection and dexterity and are ideal as a shooting glove. I foresee these gloves lasting quite a while and have already survived what other gloves have not. The price tag is a bit steep but all things considered, they are worth the money. Look forward to an update as the OR Firemark Gloves get more use.
For more information, please visit:
http://military.outdoorresearch.com/gov/
Day 1:
3 Months and Counting:
Tops:
Palms:
Webbing:
Palms Close:
Tops Close:
Velcro:
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