Ideal Shooting Gloves for Women

TFB Review: Viktos Operatus XP Gloves

Let’s get real for a second ladies and gents... if you’ve spent more than one range session wiping sweat off your hands, digging your hands into gravel while working on shooting from prone, or trying to keep a solid grip while your palms feel like they’ve been dipped in canola oil, you’ve probably wondered if gloves are worth it. I sure did. And not just out of curiosity, I wanted to see if gloves could actually enhance my training, not just protect my hands. So I grabbed a pair of Viktos Operatus XP gloves, hit the range, and ran over 1,000 rounds through both pistol and rifle platforms to see how they held up. What I discovered might surprise you, especially if you're a woman looking for gear that actually fits and functions for smaller hands.

The Gloves Go On

I’ve always believed nothing beats a solid grip... pressure, friction, control. Gloves shouldn’t be a crutch for bad technique, and they certainly aren’t a replacement for dry fire reps and solid fundamentals. But gear should support good technique, and gloves (especially the right gloves) can do just that.

From the moment I slid on the Viktos Operatus XPs, it felt like a mental switch flipped. They became part of the ritual, just like cinching down my gun belt, checking my red dot, and confirming my mags were seated. Gloves weren't just an accessory. They were part of the system. Viktos, a veteran-owned company based out of Janesville, Wisconsin, designs their gear with the shooter in mind. Whether it’s for any skill level of shooters, military, law enforcement, or those of us grinding on the range weekly, their products are built with purpose. The Operatus XP is a prime example as they are tough, flexible, and surprisingly comfortable right out of the box. Side note, if you are interested in the ones I purchased, they are the ones in the color Coyote (size small of course) and can be found here.

Real Range Testing and Not Just a Fashion Statement

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, I didn’t “baby” these gloves, I gave it the ‘ole tough girl run. Over several training sessions, I ran well over 1,000 rounds with them in all kinds of conditions: hot, humid North Carolina days, light rain, dry dusty drills, and everything in between. I ran reloads, malfunction clearing, barricade positions, transitions, prone shooting, and yes, even did the classic Bill Drill to test recoil management and grip consistency.

The first thing I noticed? I could shoot slightly faster, for longer. Not because gloves made me a better shooter, they didn’t. But they did keep my hands dry and helped maintain grip during longer strings of fire. On more humid days, where I’d normally have to stop and wipe off or regrip mid-drill or apply quarter sized amounts of liquid chalk, I powered through without these extra tools. 

For the Ladies

Here’s the part I really want to highlight and I say this to any women (of any age) reading who train seriously or are just getting started. Finding gloves that actually fit female hands is ridiculously frustrating. If you are like me, most of the time I am left stuffing my fingers into a “small” that still fits like an oven mitt. Viktos did something different here. The Operatus XP gloves are very low-profile, with a contoured fit that actually feels like they were made for smaller, narrower hands and that’s huge when you’re trying to manage muzzle flip, execute reloads, or shoot one-handed.

Reloads, Malfunctions, and Movement

Reloading with gloves always feels a little awkward at first. The added layer between my fingers and my mags changed how I indexed (I needed to feel the baseplate a little more in the lower palm of my hand and slid my index finger down slightly to allow room for any extra material on the finger and the magwell,) how I felt the mag release, and how cleanly I seated the mag. That said, I would say it took me about 100 reps before it became natural again. Slide lock reloads were smooth. Speed reloads? Same. Viktos designed these gloves to be tactile enough to not get in the way and it shows.

Running malfunction drills was another area where these gloves really impressed me. The added friction made racking the slide easier and more secure, and I never really worried about a hot slide or scraping a knuckle. And when it came time to brace against a barricade whether wood, steel, or hot metal, the gloves added a nice barrier.

What About Accuracy?

Ah, trigger feel... the one area gloves still fall maybe a little short in my opinion. It’s not that you can’t be accurate with gloves. You absolutely can. But there's a slight loss in tactile sensitivity for me. I had to focus more to feel the wall and break, especially during slow-fire or 10–20 yard accuracy drills. My splits were fine. My hits were on. But I wouldn’t use gloves when I’m chasing tenths of a second in a USPSA match. I want that raw feel of the trigger with no barrier. That’s why I don’t always wear gloves when competing, though I do wear them during rifle-heavy or longer range days. I have also seen quite a few practical shooters wear gloves even during matches though. I ran the Bill Drill a few times at 7 yards to test the consistency of the grip with “slapping” and “rolling” trigger techniques, and I will say, I was pretty happy with the outcome in regards to consistent accuracy. I used the standard A zone in the USPSA cardboard targets for best measurement of this.

Tech Compatibility: Ehh...

One hiccup that’s worth mentioning is the touchscreen compatibility is hit-or-miss (no pun intended). Sometimes the gloves would register on my phone, and other times I was jabbing my screen like I was trying to win a carnival game. If you’re logging your data between drills in the notes section on your phone or need to check a timer app, this might not be super smooth. Not a huge deal, but it’s not flawless. For wearing gloves, shooting and using technology, I guess I can’t complain too much.

Durability & Performance

Here’s where Viktos knocked it out of the park. After weeks of abuse, reloading mags, pushing off barricades, getting soaked in the rain, 2 washes later, and even crawling in prone, these gloves are still fully intact. No holes. No loose threads. Just some minor seam wear. The Velcro around the wrist still has its strong hold as well. I expected to replace them after a few months, but now I’m not so sure. For a pair of gloves in this price range, the value’s definitely there. You can check out the full specs and order from Viktos.com if you’re glove-curious like I was.

When I Use Them… and When I Don’t

To be honest, gloves are a situational tool. I wear them during rifle training, long practice days, bad weather, and barricade-heavy scenarios. I don’t usually wear them when running high-level pistol drills, prepping for a match, or doing slow, detailed trigger work though.

And that’s the point: you don’t need to wear gloves every time, in my opinion. But if you never train with them, and then try to use them in a course or real scenario, you’re adding unfamiliar friction, literally and figuratively. So if you plan to wear gloves for protection, you need to include them in your reps.

So... Should You Train with Gloves?

Yes! But not because they’ll make you shoot better. Train with gloves because they let you train longer, with fewer distractions. They protect your hands. They reduce fatigue. They let you focus on reps, movement, mechanics and not on heat, splinters, or sweaty palms. They help you stay in the zone, in my opinion.

And for women shooters especially, gloves like the Viktos Operatus XP offer that much-needed blend of form, function, and fit. They give you one more tool to stay consistent (which is key!) behind the gun.

At the end of the day, gear should serve you. If gloves let you push a little harder, shoot a little longer, or feel more in control, they’re worth having in your range bag. Worst case? You protect your hands. Best case? You elevate your training and maybe even look pretty cool doing it.