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Best Lacrosse Gloves (2026): Buying Guide, Fit and Today's Prices
Prices updated November 2, 2026.
Gloves are the piece of lacrosse gear players notice most. They change how the stick feels, how well you can protect your hands from slashes, and how quickly your hands get sweaty and slick. This guide explains what separates a $55 glove from a $220 one, how to size gloves correctly, which styles suit attack, midfield and defense, and how to find a real deal. Below the guide is every men's glove in our daily price check, grouped by budget, with links to the retailer and to compare on Amazon. Prices in the text were checked on October 28, 2026; the cards always show the latest tracked price.
The short answer
Buy a glove that fits snugly in the fingers, lets you close your hand fully around the stick, and protects the back of your hand and thumb. For most players that means a mid-range glove in the $125 to $165 range. Beginners and younger players do fine with an entry glove under $80, and only experienced players who take a lot of checks really need a $180-plus flagship.
Here is how the gloves we track break down today. Entry level: the STX Stallion 75 at $54.99 to $59.99 and the Maverik MX at $74.99. Mid-range: the STX LZR at $124.99, the Maverik M6 at $144.99, the Maverik M7 and STX Cell VI at $149.99, and the Warrior Franchise at $154.99. Premium: the Warrior Burn XP2 at $184.99, the Maverik Shift and Max from $179.99 to $189.99, the STX Surgeon RZR 2 and Warrior Evo V at $189.99, and the STX RZR 3 at $219.99.
The standout deal right now is the Warrior Evo QX2 at $139.99, marked down from $199.99. That's a flagship-level glove at a mid-range price, and it's the only glove in our tracker currently below list.
What lacrosse gloves actually do
A lacrosse glove has two jobs that pull against each other. It has to protect the hand and wrist from stick checks, and it has to let the player feel and control the stick. More padding protects better but feels bulkier; a thinner palm and flexible fingers feel better but give up some protection.
Every glove manages this with the same basic parts. The backhand is made of foam blocks or segmented pads that take the hit from a check. The cuff protects the wrist and lower forearm and can be long or short. The thumb has a reinforced, often rigid insert because thumbs get hit constantly. The palm is a thin, grippy material that eventually wears out and is the first thing to fail on any glove.
What you're paying for at higher prices is mostly better materials in those same parts: lighter foam that still absorbs hits, more flex breaks so the glove bends with your hand, better palm material that lasts longer and stays grippy when wet, and more ventilation.
How to size lacrosse gloves
Gloves are usually sold in inches, most commonly 10, 12, 13 and 14 inches for men's and boys' gloves. The number roughly follows hand length and age. As a rough starting point, many young youth players fit a 10, older youth and smaller middle schoolers a 12, most high school players a 13, and larger high school, college and adult players a 13 or 14. Each brand publishes its own chart, and they don't all match, so check the chart for the exact model.
The fit test is simple. Your fingertips should reach close to the ends of the glove fingers without jamming into them. You should be able to make a full fist and grip a stick without the palm bunching up. The cuff should cover the gap between glove and arm pad without digging into the wrist when you cradle.
If you're between sizes, most players choose the smaller one for better stick feel, unless they're a defenseman who wants maximum coverage. Unlike helmets, gloves loosen a little as they break in.
Gloves by position
Attack players want feel and quick hands. Look for a lighter glove with a flexible backhand and a shorter cuff that lets the wrists move freely. The STX Surgeon RZR 2, STX RZR 3 and Maverik Max are popular in this group.
Midfielders need a balance of protection and mobility because they play both ends. Most mid-range gloves fit here, including the Maverik M6 and M7, STX Cell VI and Warrior Franchise.
Defensemen take fewer checks on the hands but hold a long pole, so a slightly longer cuff and a firm, well-protected thumb help. Many defenders still wear the same models as midfielders. Goalies wear goalie-specific gloves with heavily reinforced thumbs; those are covered in our goalie gear guide.
Is a $190 glove worth it?
For a varsity, college or club player who practices five days a week, often yes. Premium palms last longer, the gloves stay lighter as they soak up sweat, and better backhand foam is noticeably more comfortable after a slash. Spread over a season of daily use, the difference per practice is small.
For a first- or second-year player, usually not. An entry or mid-range glove protects well enough for youth play, and kids outgrow sizes fast. The STX Stallion 75 and Maverik MX exist exactly for this player.
The smartest middle path is a discounted flagship. When last season's model or a limited-edition colorway drops 25 to 30 percent, as the Warrior Evo QX2 has, you get top-end materials at mid-range money.
Limited editions and colorways
Many of the gloves we track come in limited-edition (LE) versions, like the Warrior Franchise St. Paddy's and Pink, the Maverik M6 LE and Shift Splatter, and the STX Surgeon RZR 2 South Beach. These are normally the same glove as the standard model with a different look. They often cost $5 to $10 more at launch, but once the season or holiday passes they're frequently among the first gloves to go on sale. If you don't care about the color, wait for those markdowns.
Making gloves last
Palms wear out first. Let gloves dry fully after every session, with the cuffs open, instead of leaving them zipped in a bag. Never put them on a heater or in a dryer; heat stiffens the palm. Some players rotate two pairs during the season, which doubles drying time and helps both pairs last longer.
When the palm tears, some shops can replace it, which can be cheaper than new gloves for a premium pair. For a cheap entry glove, replacing the whole glove usually makes more sense.
How to save on gloves
Gloves follow a predictable price cycle. New models launch in winter ahead of the spring season, and older colorways get marked down through summer and fall. Fall and early winter, right now, is usually a good time to buy last season's flagship. Compare the same model at more than one retailer; each card below links to Lacrosse Unlimited and an Amazon search for that glove.
Don't buy gloves that are too big so a player can grow into them. Loose gloves hurt stick skills, and that costs more in development than you save in money.
On sale now (1)
Gloves currently below list price.
Entry-level gloves (under $100) (4)
Good protection for beginners and youth players.
Mid-range gloves ($100 to $169) (9)
The best value for most high school players.
Premium gloves ($170 and up) (9)
Flagship models with the lightest materials and best palms.
Related buying guides
Buying tips
- Size by the brand's own chart; 13" fits most high school players.
- You should be able to close your hand fully around the stick.
- Attack players favor lighter, shorter-cuff gloves; defenders favor more cuff and thumb protection.
- Dry gloves open after every use and keep them away from heaters.
- Limited-edition colorways are usually the same glove and often go on sale first.
- A discounted last-season flagship is often the best value.
Click any product for its full price history and a link to the retailer.