If you wanted a glove truly designed for the modern day soldier than the SI Assault Glove from Oakley is exactly what you need. Oakley has over the years expanded it’s reach into the “tactical” market space and has been using the Oakley Tactical Line of products to do so. They have dominated the eyewear market (obviously), and made great strands in footwear and gloves.
However with the Oakley SI Gloves they have really kicked it up a notch. Oakley specifically designed these for military use and as such have been able to pass a rigorous set of requirements. Since the release of the SI they have tweaked them here and there, but ultimately it has remained the same great glove.
Key features:
Nonrestrictive Airprene® mid-height cuff with secure Velcro® closure – Low Profile Velcro Hook Closure minimizes abrasion on clothing or snagging.
Color options – Though most commonly seen in either black or tan, they are also available in Coyote Brown, and Foliage Green
Finger Air Vents – Rubber grommets located just below the first knuckle of each finger are air vents that provide just the right amount of air flow into the hand to keep your hands cool.
Mark suede finger surfaces – the finger tips have suede on both the index and middle fingers to allow you to operate screens but still keep them protected
Sonic welded – a proprietary technology from Oakley that ensures greater durability of the seams.
Carbon knuckle protector – self explanatory but basically additional protection for your knuckles that will safe them from moderate impacts.
Single Layer Palm – this makes them a great shooting glove as there is only one layer of material which contacts your shooting grip.
The goods
I will say the only problem I have with the Oakley SI Assault glove is that they are not cold-weather proof. To be completely honest, these are not gloves you want to wear with less than mild weather let alone cold conditions as your fingers will freeze.
With that out of the way, these are an awesome pair of gloves that are packed with a ton of features. They look great and feel comfortable, without any issues operating regular tasks. When you need to go hands on, they offer additional grip and protection. I know I mentioned the issue with the cold but on the flip side, in the heat of the summer they felt comfortable and I had no issues with hand sweat.
If you were looking at them for range duty or considering the idea of shooting with them then I can say they perform well. Considering how much extra protection you get, my finger didn’t have any issues in the using the trigger although if you have bigger than normal hands that might be a problem. At that point though, any gloves that compete with the Oakley SI Assault gloves will be an issue. As far as cost, yes these gloves will set you back anywhere from $80-110, but if you are someone who needs them for work (LEO/military/security), you really won’t regret the choice. Remember, you get what you paid for.
Score: 9/10
Smooth