Since 1996, we have provided a variety of Marching Band Gloves and Parade Gloves to a wide range of customers and today, we now offer (if you can imagine) over 40 different styles. These styles fulfill the needs for school bands, university marching bands, military, and honor guard units. Besides the marching band units, our models also serve to provide that parade look for banner carriers, cheerleaders, drill team units, and flag bearers.

We are also very honored and proud to be the official supplier to the Military Honor Guard Units at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. among others across the USA. The Honor Guard staff people have been our most loyal customers for many years and we thank you.

Important feature

Before I discuss our various marching band gloves and parade gloves, I feel the need to point out an especially important feature in our parade gloves which is frequently overlooked when you buy gloves.

Keystone thumb feature: I am sorry to repeat myself since I have discussed this feature many times in the past, but it is essential. This feature may not seem to be particularly important, but it is if you want the gloves to be comfortable, form fitting, and ergonomically fit the user. Think of the comfort and dexterity required by marching band instrument members who must wear and use the gloves for exceptionally long periods of time. This includes the dexterity that is needed and required by musicians.

Note: To identify a keystone thumb glove model, these are where the thumb piece is made separately and set into and sewn into the palm of the glove. Gloves without a keystone thumb are simply two pieces of fabric laid out and cut to the shape of the hand and sewn together. Our hands are not designed this way and therefore, gloves without a keystone thumb are less comfortable and provide less dexterity. Gloves without a keystone thumb are also a sign of a lower quality and cheaply made glove. This is an essential feature in almost any glove except for some rugged heat resistant and some industrial work gloves such as welding gloves.

Best seller: This is a question that is frequently asked, and I always ask, “What are you using them for first?” However, for general use, we always suggest our CP-250 White Parade Gloves and we also offer them in a CP-250-BK black model version. These are 100% high quality cotton with ornamental stitching located the back of the gloves for a more ceremonial look. This model is also available in an Extra Long version which is the CP-250-12 Model. 

Parade Glove Styles

Glove Lengths: We offer a glove style for every requirement. Our styles include our wrist length models to our extended cuff (Extra Long Cuff) which run between 10 to 12” in length. Many customers prefer the extended lengths if they wish to hide their skin for that sharp military style look.

Glove Grip: We also have models with micro-dotted palms in both lengths which offer superior grip.

Deluxe Grip Glove Model: This popular model is a more rugged version of our normal beaded grip gloves with reinforcements throughout the glove and denser beads on the palms and fingers. This model also has a reinforced thumb cotch for extended life of the glove. They also come with a Velcro wrist strap closure for a very snug fit. This model is available in a White (MC-517) or black color (MC-571-BK).  

Glove Cuff Options: The most popular cuff option of choice is the slip-on version. Most of these models come with a shirred (gathered) wrist for a snug fit and to prevent the gloves from slipping off. Another option are models with a snap cuff. Although these gloves look sharp close up, I’m not a fan of these models since the snaps can break and can become useless over time. Many customers like the look of these gloves but I always try to encourage our customers to purchase gloves with a slip-on cuff. The exception here would be our “Deluxe Grip Glove” with the Velcro cuff closure reviewed above.

Cold Weather Glove Model: Another option is our Extended Length Fleece Lined White Honor Guard Glove models for use in cold weather conditions. However, we do not make a lined model in the wrist length gloves for obvious reasons. Our Lined Cold Weather Glove Model also comes with a standard plain palm and a dotted palm if more grip is required. Look for the CP-422 and the CP-422-PD models.

Colored Glove Models:

Most of our Cotton Parade Gloves come in both black and white color options. However, for over 25 years we have made and sold Flash Colored Gloves.

Our Flash Gloves, as they are commonly called, are made using high quality “stretch” polyester fabric since they are more universally sized (one size fits most) and not as size critical with dyed cotton versions. It should be noted that we make both Men’s Flash Gloves and Women’s Flash Gloves models.

Another advantage of using polyester is that polyester fibers, being a polymer, can be made in very vibrant colors and will not fade or lose their color like cotton. It should be noted that our polyester material looks and feels like cotton opposed to the shiny cheap polyester that used to be made into clothing in the 60’s.

Important Features in the colored gloves is to make sure the polyester is a soft stretchy material due to sizing issues and, again, make sure that they have a Keystone Thumb Feature as previously discussed above.

Three Colored Glove Models:

We offer our Flash Gloves in 3 models. The most popular are the solid color models which come in both Men’s and Women’s models. The other model is our Flash 2 Color Glove Model. The two-color models have a white top with a colored palm. The purpose of the two-color model is that the performers look like they are wearing traditional white gloves while marching which turns into a color as they do a dance routine showing their palms in unison. This is a nice visual element when you see a performance using the two-color models.

Colors: The Ladies Flash Gloves come in 8 vivid colors; the Men’s Flash gloves come in 5 popular colors; and the Two-Color Flash Gloves come in 9 colors. 

Ladies Flash Gloves

Men’s Flash Gloves

Ladies Two Color Flash Gloves

In conclusion, I hope I have covered most of the important details regarding Band Gloves and Parade Gloves. You should also be able to see more specific details about each model in the product details by following the links provided.

I know that everyone like me enjoys watching live marching band performances and I hope that this season unlike last season due to the Covid Virus issues is exciting and lively once again.

If you have any questions or need any assistance with selecting a parade glove, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Stay safe with gloves and thank you for subscribing,

Joe McGarry

The Glove Guru