Field hockey gloves – the models in our range: level of protection, turf and indoor, sizes and prices

This is a follow-up to the post Field glove – when you need one and how to choose it. That article answers why the glove goes on the left hand, when it makes sense and how light protection differs from full protection. Here we go down to the level of specific models: we compare the field hockey gloves in our range according to their product pages, show which are marked for turf, for indoor or for both formats, how to read their sizes, what your position on the pitch suggests, how a glove works together with the grip and what each level of protection costs.

Glove data comes from the product pages in our shop as of October 2026, and prices from the product list on 27 October 2026. Check current sizes, colours and prices on the product page.

How to read a glove’s product page

Every glove in our shop has a few fixed fields on its product page. Five of them decide whether a model is even an option before you start comparing construction.

• Hand – “Left” for every single glove in our data, “Both” only for the TK PC Glove Set. The field follows from the grip: the FIH rules define the flat left side of the stick head and provide no mirror-image version for left-handers, so the left hand at the top of the handle is the one closest to the ball and the opponent’s stick in a low tackle.
• Variant – Outdoor, Indoor or both markings. This field tells you whether one glove will do for turf and indoor.
• Size – letters from 2XS or XXS to XL; each brand has its own measurement chart, and the TK set has combined sizes S-M and M-L.
• Skill level – “every level”, “everyone” or “advanced”; in the data only Grays International Pro is marked for advanced players, and Grays Anatomic Pro for intermediate and advanced.
• Composition – a description of the construction: lycra, EVA foam, composite shells, HD foam, open palm. For Naked Protek Glove Left the product page gives no details, so we say nothing about its construction.

The FIH rules allow field players to wear hand protection that does not significantly increase the natural size of the hand and fits easily into an open-ended box with internal dimensions of 290 × 180 × 110 mm; the same provision is in the edition in force from 1 November 2026. The rules do not require a glove: an obligation can be introduced by competition regulations or a club.

Types of field hockey gloves

Field hockey gloves differ above all in how much protection they give and how much feel for the stick they leave. The descriptions of the models in our range show several types of construction.

Light, with the emphasis on stick feel

The Grays Anatomic Pro has a Lycra palm that moulds to the shape of the hand and a moulded knuckle guard. The manufacturer aims it at players who want knuckle protection without losing stick feel when carrying the ball and feinting. The Grays Apex Touch has a light touch-type construction. The Ritual Precision Flex Glove Left is, according to its description, a light glove in which flexible panels preserve the feel of the handle, while the back guard takes accidental knocks.

Open palm

The Gryphon G Mitt OP G5 is an open-palm version: the inner side of the hand is exposed, which gives a direct grip on the stick, while on the outside EVA foam and a moulded hard shell protect the fingers and the first joint. The manufacturer describes it as a compromise between protection and freedom of movement and points to warmer conditions, when a closed glove would be too hot. In such models the exposed palm is intentional, not a sign of the wrong size.

Closed palm and fuller cover

The Gryphon Millennium G5 has a closed palm and multi-section high-density foam on the back of the hand, the fingers and the thumb, and an adjustable wrist strap keeps the glove stable. The manufacturer intends it for both indoor and outdoor play. The Grays International Pro has a guard for the knuckles and fingers and is described in the data as a model for advanced players. The Ritual Vapor series has three levels of protection: the Vapor Glove (base model), the Vapor Max (fuller cover for the back of the hand and the fingers) and the Vapor Shield (the strongest in the series, stiffer, at the cost of slightly less agility).

For defending penalty corners

Four models explicitly mention short corner defence in their description. The Grays Proflex 1000 has a Lycra palm, Glide Guard knuckle protection and extra padding designed for defending corners. The Osaka Armadillo Glove bases its protection on 11 composite shells combined with two types of foam, including EVA, with rubberised finger strips and a plate on the back of the hand. The Ritual Vapor Shield Glove Left is described as a model for outfield players and penalty corner defenders whose priority is protecting the left hand. Ritual aims the Vapor Max Glove Left at players exposed to frequent knocks, including those playing indoors and at short corners, who want more protection than the base model gives.

In the manufacturers’ descriptions, stronger protection goes hand in hand with more weight or stiffness and less agility, as in the Ritual Vapor series. It is a deliberate compromise worth matching to your position and role on the pitch.

A glove for the whole outdoor season

The outdoor season in Poland covers both warm and cold months, and artificial turf is sometimes watered. Gryphon points to its open-palm model for warmer conditions, when a closed glove would be too hot. A closed palm also covers the inside of the hand. A glove that has soaked through on a wet pitch needs time to dry, so with several sessions a week it is worth planning the drying, and when choosing, checking the label to see whether the model can be washed.

A hockey glove is not a cold-weather glove. It protects the hand from the ball and the stick, and what to wear under your kit and on your hands on cold days is worth asking the coach, because an extra layer changes your grip on the stick.

Outdoor and indoor gloves

Outdoors the hand has to be protected from a hard ball after a hit and from an opponent’s stick. Indoors hitting the ball is not allowed, but there is contact with the floor and the boards when carrying the ball low. Manufacturers therefore design gloves for different conditions, and in our shop data this shows in the format label:

• Outdoor only – Grays Anatomic Pro, Grays Apex Touch, Grays International Pro, Grays Proflex 1000, Naked Protek Glove Left, Osaka Armadillo Glove.
• Outdoor and indoor (Indoor, Outdoor) – Gryphon G Mitt OP G5, Gryphon Millennium G5, Ritual Precision Flex Glove Left, Ritual Vapor Glove Left, Ritual Vapor Max Glove Left, Ritual Vapor Shield Glove Left, TK PC Glove Set.
• Indoor only – Gryphon Indoor Blockr, a blocker-type glove in one universal size.

If you play both formats, a model labelled for outdoor and indoor lets you have one glove all year. We described how indoor designs differ from outdoor ones and when players wear a glove on the right hand indoors too, in the post on the indoor glove.

Field hockey gloves in our range

We compare fourteen gloves from six brands in our range data as of October 2026: Grays, Gryphon, Naked, Osaka, Ritual and TK. You will see the current, full list of models in the glove category. The comparison below shows the sizes, construction according to the product page, format and price.

Model	Sizes	Construction per product page	Variant	Price on 27.10.2026
Gryphon Indoor Blockr	one size	blocker-type hand protector	Indoor	PLN 86
Grays Anatomic Pro	XS, S, M, L	Lycra, moulded knuckle guard	Outdoor	PLN 86–87
Gryphon G Mitt OP G5	XS, S, M, L	EVA foam, hard shell, open palm	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 108
Naked Protek Glove Left	XXS, S, M, L	the product page gives no details	Outdoor	PLN 108
Grays International Pro	2XS, XS, S, M, L	knuckle and finger guard	Outdoor	PLN 129–130
Ritual Vapor Glove Left	S, M, L	back of hand and finger cover, base model of the series	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 129
Grays Apex Touch	XS, S, M, L, XL	light touch construction	Outdoor	PLN 150–152
Osaka Armadillo Glove	S, M, L	11 composite shells, 2 types of foam	Outdoor	PLN 151
Ritual Vapor Max Glove Left	XS, S, M, L	reinforced back of hand and finger cover	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 151
Gryphon Millennium G5	S, M, L	multi-section HD foam, closed palm	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 172
Ritual Vapor Shield Glove Left	S, M, L	the strongest cover in the Vapor series	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 172
Ritual Precision Flex Glove Left	S, M, L	light, flexible panels	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 215
Grays Proflex 1000	XS, S, M, L, XL	Lycra, Glide Guard, padding for corner defence	Outdoor	PLN 236
TK PC Glove Set	S-M, M-L	set for both hands	Indoor, Outdoor	PLN 520

The order in the table follows price, not a rating. The choice depends on position, format and how the glove sits on the hand with a stick.

A set for both hands: TK PC Glove Set

The only set in our range is the TK PC Glove Set, labelled “Hand: Both” on the product page. It comes in S-M and M-L, is labelled for outdoor and indoor play and costs PLN 520. Both sizes include M, so for an M hand the manufacturer’s size chart and a fitting will help you decide.

A set makes sense when the coach recommends protecting both hands, for example when defending a penalty corner, or when a player wants both hands in the same model. When trying it on, check both gloves separately. The right hand slides along the handle when receiving and passing, so the glove on it should not block that movement.

How to choose the glove size

Glove sizes are given in letters, and behind each letter is the manufacturer’s own size chart. The same M from two brands does not have to mean the same hand, so compare your measurement with the chart for the particular model, not with the size of another brand’s glove. In our range you will also see different labels for the smallest sizes: Grays writes 2XS and Naked XXS. We explain how to read these labels in the post on glove and shin guard sizes.

Manufacturers’ charts are based on a hand measurement, for example the circumference below the knuckles without the thumb, and different manufacturers may measure differently. Check in the model’s chart which measurement is needed, measure your hand with a tape measure and compare.

The sizes of the fourteen models side by side

If you are looking for a specific size rather than a specific model, this overview shows where to look:

• 2XS or XXS – Grays International Pro (2XS), Naked Protek Glove Left (XXS).
• XS – Grays Anatomic Pro, Grays Apex Touch, Grays International Pro, Grays Proflex 1000, Gryphon G Mitt OP G5, Ritual Vapor Max Glove Left.
• S, M and L – every model except Gryphon Indoor Blockr (one size) and TK PC Glove Set (S-M, M-L).
• XL – Grays Apex Touch and Grays Proflex 1000.
• One size – Gryphon Indoor Blockr.

Trying it on with a stick

• Bring your own stick with the grip you use, because a thick grip changes your hold.
• Grip the stick as you do in training and turn it a few times, as when carrying the ball.
• Check that the fingers bend freely and nothing presses on the knuckles.
• Lay the stick low as in a tackle: the guard should stay on the knuckles and fingers, not slide to the side.
• Fasten the Velcro or strap at the wrist: it should hold the glove without squeezing the hand or restricting wrist movement.

A glove that is too loose twists during play; one that is too tight restricts movement and tires the hand. In models with an open palm or open fingertips, the exposed areas are part of the design, so judge the fit by how the glove sits on the covered areas.

A glove for a child

A child needs the smallest size that sits well on the hand with a stick. Among the models compared here, the smallest labels are found on:

• 2XS – Grays International Pro (described in the data as a model for advanced players),
• XXS – Naked Protek Glove Left,
• XS – Grays Anatomic Pro, Grays Apex Touch, Grays Proflex 1000, Gryphon G Mitt OP G5, Ritual Vapor Max Glove Left.

A glove one size too big slides on the hand and the guard does not sit where it should, so buying to grow into is not a good idea here either. A child who trains indoors in autumn and winter and outdoors in spring may benefit from a model labelled for both formats, for example the Gryphon G Mitt OP G5 or Ritual Vapor Max Glove Left in size XS.

Gloves and playing position

Position does not automatically dictate the glove, but it suggests which way to look. The manufacturers’ descriptions give concrete pointers here:

• A player who carries the ball and dribbles a lot – models with the emphasis on stick feel: Grays Anatomic Pro, Grays Apex Touch, Ritual Precision Flex Glove Left.
• A midfielder playing full matches – the manufacturer describes the Grays Proflex 1000 as a versatile glove for a player playing full matches, and the Osaka Armadillo Glove as suitable for midfielders playing in close contact.
• A defender and a player defending penalty corners – Osaka Armadillo Glove, Grays Proflex 1000, Ritual Vapor Shield Glove Left, Ritual Vapor Max Glove Left.
• A player who plays outdoors and indoors – models labelled Indoor and Outdoor, for example the Ritual Vapor series or the Gryphon Millennium G5.

When defending a penalty corner, besides a glove players wear a face mask, which the FIH rules recommend when defending a corner or a penalty stroke. You will find the Grays Facemask and TK PC Elite Face Mask, as well as knee guards, in the category field hockey protection, and we described how a penalty corner works and what kit defenders wear in the post on the penalty corner.

Glove, grip and hold

The glove and the grip work together. A thicker grip combined with a glove with a thick palm can make the handle too thick to turn the stick comfortably, while a thin grip with a Lycra glove feels different from the same grip with a bare hand. That is why it is best to try a glove on with the stick you play with. If your hold no longer feels right after changing gloves, sometimes it is enough to switch to a thinner or thicker grip. You will find the grips in our range in the category hockey stick grips.

Care and when to replace a glove

A glove soaks up sweat at every session. After training, take it out of the bag, undo the Velcro and leave it to dry at room temperature, away from radiators and hair dryers. Only wash it as the manufacturer’s label allows. Every few weeks, check:

• the foam, shells and panels on the back of the hand and the fingers – no cracks or holes worn through,
• the seams, especially at the fingertips,
• the palm – no holes where you hold the handle,
• the Velcro or wrist strap – clean and holding along its whole length.

Replacement depends on condition and fit, not on the age of the glove. A cracked shell, foam worn through or a glove that no longer fits the hand are signs to compare new models. A glove that sat badly from the start will not protect better over time either.

How much does a field hockey glove cost

At the prices in our shop on 27 October 2026, the models compared here fall into these ranges:

• up to about PLN 110 – Gryphon Indoor Blockr (PLN 86, indoor only), Grays Anatomic Pro (PLN 86–87), Gryphon G Mitt OP G5 (PLN 108), Naked Protek Glove Left (PLN 108),
• from PLN 129 to PLN 172 – Grays International Pro, the Ritual Vapor series, Grays Apex Touch, Osaka Armadillo Glove, Gryphon Millennium G5,
• over PLN 200 – Ritual Precision Flex Glove Left (PLN 215), Grays Proflex 1000 (PLN 236) and the TK PC Glove Set for both hands (PLN 520).

A higher price does not automatically mean better protection for you. A light glove for PLN 86–87 and a model designed for penalty corner defence are made for different jobs, and which one works for you depends on your role on the pitch and the fit on your hand.

Questions before buying a glove

• Does a beginner need a glove from the first session? Not necessarily. A glove is a purchase for the first few weeks, once you know how often you train, unless the club or coach recommends one straight away.
• Will an indoor glove work outdoors? Some models are labelled for both formats. The Gryphon Indoor Blockr is labelled for indoor only, so for outdoor play it is better to choose a model labelled Outdoor.
• Open or closed palm? An open palm gives a direct grip on the stick; Gryphon points to it for warmer conditions. A closed palm covers the whole hand, including the inside.
• Will a glove replace learning tackling technique? No. A glove protects the hand, but safe tackling and defending technique is practised with the coach.

How to choose a glove in four steps

• Step 1: where you play. Outdoor only – all Outdoor models. Outdoor and indoor – models labelled Indoor and Outdoor. Indoor only – also the Gryphon Indoor Blockr.
• Step 2: how much protection. A light glove with knuckle cover, a model with hard panels on the fingers or a design for penalty corner defence.
• Step 3: size. Measure your hand according to the manufacturer’s chart and try the glove on with a stick.
• Step 4: details. Open or closed palm, Velcro or wrist strap, one glove or a set.

Among the gloves compared here, prices start at PLN 86 (Gryphon Indoor Blockr, for indoor) and PLN 86–87 (Grays Anatomic Pro, for outdoor). If you are torn between two models or sizes, write to us with a description of your position and where you play. You will find all the models with their size charts in the category field hockey gloves.