I Tried 4 of the Best Selling Drum Gloves… Which Won?

4 pairs enter, 1 pair wins. I tested the best drum gloves so you don’t have to.
Nick Cesarz
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Drum gloves are a thing not really mentioned by most players in the drumming community. If you have stumbled upon this post, you no doubt have an interest in drumming gloves.

Drum gloves serve a couple of purposes. They prevent annoying blisters, absorb shock from the impact of your sticks, improve your grip, and some argue that they look cool. Another use for drum gloves is for those with dry skin that cracks easily. Playing the drums with this type of pain can be very difficult.

Some drummers that use drumming gloves include Stewart Copland, Carter Beauford, Phil Rudd, Dave Grohl, Mario Duplantier, and Tommy Lee. For me, I look at drum gloves a little differently. A lot of people criticize the use of drum gloves, but they actually do work in a lot of situations.

When I am on tour, my hands dry out a lot. This results in my calluses breaking open and causing a lot of pain. I then reach for the gaffers tape or some sort of bandage to get through the show. Drumming gloves will absolutely alleviate this issue.

Earlier this month I popped over to Sweetwater and spent $119.11 on drum gloves from Ahead, Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Meinl to see which one of these four performs best. I have zero relationship with any of the brands mentioned and won’t be holding back.

Quick Picks

  1. Vic Firth Drumming Gloves — Best Grip and Comfort for Live Shows
  2. Zildjian Touchscreen Drummers’ Gloves — Solid Tech Features, But Grip Falls Short
  3. Meinl Half Finger Drummer Gloves — Durable Build, But Lacks Stick Control
  4. Ahead Drummer Gloves — Too Thick and Clunky to Recommend
  1. Best Grip and Comfort for Live Shows

    1. Vic Firth Drumming Gloves

    Vic Firth

    Drumming Gloves

    4.2
    #3 in Accessories
    Premium cabretta leather construction. Ventilated synthetic mesh palm and back. Unique synthetic rubber grip on thumb and forefinger. Durable design withstands extensive play without tearing. Comfortable fit for long sessions. Compatible with various grip techniques.
    View at Amazon.com
    See all retailers Sweetwater Sound, Guitar Center, +3 more
    Pros
    • Premium leather feel and breathable mesh
    • Excellent stick control and grip
    • Reduces wrist pain and fatigue
    • Holds up through long sessions
    Cons
    • Not touchscreen compatible
    • Slightly tight fit (order one size up)
    • Grip could be improved further

    Overview

    Vic Firth’s drummers’ Gloves are made from premium Cabretta leather (so in a sense, they are kind of like a golf glove) and have a ventilated synthetic mesh palm. The thumbs and forefingers offer a unique synthetic rubber grip. If you’re looking for gloves that will keep you warm when loading in the winter, these aren’t the gloves you’re looking for.

    Read more Read less

    Performance

    They will keep your hands cool during the show. I felt the gloves grip the stick quite nice. My hands feel good and I don’t have any pain in my wrist, which is something I struggle with normally. You cannot use an iPhone or Android device while they’re on (something the next pair boasts), and they are fit very snug. If I could go back in time, I’d order one size up. The packaging was okay—nothing impressive.

  2. Solid Tech Features, But Grip Falls Short

    2. Zildjian Touchscreen Drummers’ Gloves

    Zildjian

    Touchscreen Drummers' Gloves

    4.1
    #5 in Accessories
    Touchscreen-compatible gloves. Thumb and pointer fingers interact with devices. Lambskin palms for grip. Synthetic mesh backs for ventilation. Adjustable closure for fit. Suitable for setup, driving, and as a winter glove layer. Quality construction.
    View at Sweetwater Sound
    See all retailers Sweetwater Sound, Guitar Center, +3 more
    Pros
    • Touchscreen compatible (index and thumb)
    • Soft lambskin feel with solid grip
    • Lightweight and breathable
    • Affordable price
    Cons
    • Stitching may fray with heavy use
    • Some fit inconsistencies
    • Touchscreen accuracy limited

    Overview

    The Zildjian Touchscreen Drummers' Gloves, designed for both protection and functionality, feature a construction that prioritizes usability for drummers. The gloves are made with soft lambskin palms, which provide a sturdy grip on drumsticks, while the synthetic mesh backs promote ventilation, ensuring comfort during extended use.

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    These gloves are many drummer’s favorites, due to the fact that they’re touchscreen friendly. They come in at just under $30 and are made from soft lamb-skin. They also feature a vented back to help keep you cool on stage. If you’re a fan of Zildjian and love to endorse them, these will show your love for them.

    Performance

    The velcro on the Zildjian drum gloves is very sticky and stays together nicely. They’re very thin feeling, and while I feel more connected to the stick, they just don’t feel quite as nice as the Vic Firth pair.

    The touchscreen function works, though you have to be very deliberate with your presses. I wasn’t able to use my thumbs for operation, due to the fact of there being extra material at the end of my thumbs. I also noticed my wrist pain while using these gloves—so there’s a downside. I felt these gloves didn’t grip as well as the Vic Firth’s to the sticks.

    Build Quality & Design

    Some users have noted that after a few months of playing, some of the stitching begins to come out of the gloves. While unfortunate, I think all gloves stitched with a threading will begin to deteriorate over time. Other users have claimed that their hands had black marks on them after wearing the Zildjian drum gloves.

  3. Durable Build, But Lacks Stick Control

    3. Meinl Half Finger Drummer Gloves

    Meinl

    Half Finger Drummer Gloves

    3.5
    #8 in Accessories
    Constructed for durability and comfort. Provides hand protection during hand drumming. Half-finger design allows for grip and feel. Prevents blisters and damage. Compatible with various drumming styles. Suitable for drummers with sore hands.
    View at Sweetwater Sound
    See all retailers Sweetwater Sound, Amazon.com
    Pros
    • Very durable construction
    • Provides protection from blisters
    • Good grip and ventilation
    • Affordable for its build
    Cons
    • Limited control compared to full gloves
    • Tight fit; difficult to remove
    • Not ideal for cold weather

    Overview

    The Meinl Half Finger Drummer Gloves are designed to provide drummers with a blend of protection and comfort during performances. Constructed from durable materials, these gloves are reported to be well-made, offering a sturdy design that holds up well over time. After a month of use, many users have noted no signs of wear, which speaks to the longevity of the product.

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    Performance

    First off, I do love the design of a half-finger glove. They should allow for more technical movement while playing to make those quick and complex fills and grooves happen. However, in practice, it wasn’t the case. I really should have picked up these gloves one size higher, as they were quite tight. It was nice that I could actually feel my drum sticks with my fingers, but I still felt disconnected from the sticks near my palms.

    These gloves are really a pain to take off. Just like all the others on the list, the Meinl drumming gloves will protect your hands from blisters and other drumming injuries, as well as prevent existing ones from cracking open.

    If you have ever thought, “I know, I’ll just cut my existing glove fingers off to get the same design,” you’ll quickly realize that this doesn’t work. The fingers of your freshly cut drum gloves will quickly begin to roll up your fingers toward your palm as you begin playing, along with fraying. This is not only annoying but also will irritate any current blisters or cuts.

    As with any product, there will be critical reviews. I read online many people who have experienced their Meinl drum gloves ripping by the wrist horizontally.

  4. Too Thick and Clunky to Recommend

    4. Ahead Drummer Gloves

    Ahead

    Drummer Gloves

    2.8
    #9 in Accessories
    Designed specifically for drummers. Extra large size for a comfortable fit. Features Hot Spot Pads for protection and durability. High-quality materials ensure consistent performance. Excellent grip for better control during play.
    View at Guitar Center
    See all retailers Sweetwater Sound, Guitar Center, +3 more
    Pros
    • Excellent wrist support
    • Thick padding for protection
    • Durable materials
    Cons
    • Very poor stick control
    • Overly thick and stiff
    • Expensive for limited usability
    • Reported tearing between fingers

    Overview

    The Ahead Drummer Gloves in Extra Large provide a tailored fit specifically for drummers, emphasizing protection and durability where it's most needed. The gloves feature "Hot Spot Pads," strategically placed to enhance comfort and longevity. This design aims to reduce wear on high-impact areas.

    Read more Read less

    Ahead is famously known for their metal drumsticks. I personally have never been a fan of these sticks. I remember asking my parents to buy me a pair of these when I was younger.

    It made sense, right? A pair of sticks that lasts way longer! It turns out, for me, that these sticks just don’t cut it, even though they are endorsed by many big-name players.

    The Ahead drum gloves designed specifically for drummers and “not golfers” as their website explains. These gloves feature “hot spot” pads that make for a longer life and added wrist support.

    Ahead claims that these drum gloves are used by more professional drummers than any other brand on the market.

    Performance

    Out of all the drumming gloves I tested, these performed by far the worst. They are much thicker than regular golf gloves and playing the drums felt terrible. Fast rudiments are almost impossible and I had zero control over my sticks while playing. Because of the synthetic leather material, I really felt like I had no grip on the sticks. They’re also very stiff, but I assume they will break in over time.

    Some users have reported the drum gloves ripping in the exact same spot as we saw with the Meinl gloves, as well as between the fingers. That being said, the wrist support that these drum gloves give you is fantastic.

Top Pick
Vic Firth

Drumming Gloves

4.2
#3 in Accessories
Premium cabretta leather construction. Ventilated synthetic mesh palm and back. Unique synthetic rubber grip on thumb and forefinger. Durable design withstands extensive play without tearing. Comfortable fit for long sessions. Compatible with various grip techniques.
View at Amazon.com
See all retailers Sweetwater Sound, Guitar Center, +3 more
"While not touchscreen compatible, Vic Firth delivers on grip and eliminates my wrist pain while playing."
Nick Cesarz | Editor

The Vic Firth and Zidljian are the two best options on the list with Vic Firth taking the crown. It is unfortunate they aren’t touchscreen-friendly, so you’ll have to make a sacrifice if using your phone while playing is essential. For playing shows where I don’t need my phone, I’d use the Vic Firth’s every day. But for recording social media content where I need to choose songs from my library on my phone, I’d need to use the pair from Zildjian.

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