ProGauntlet by Crossguard

After more than 5 years and over 32.000 hours of research and development by CrossGuard, we are excited to finally see this game changing glove on your hands!

The size Large ProGauntlet is available. Sizes Small and Medium are expected to be available by the end of first quarter 2022.

See sizing information below.

What is ProGauntlet?

ProGauntlet is a protective exoskeleton for the hand, designed to provide the best combination of impact & thrust protection and freedom of movement. 

The ProGauntlet is composed of a self-supporting, plastic hard-shell with a specialised padded inner glove. The design has many unique features and qualities that make a big difference for your safety and performance.

What makes the ProGauntlet Unique?

• Optimal impact reduction through lightweight, smart geometry hard-shell elements combined with shock absorbing layers.
• Ergonomic design based on biomechanics and anatomical studies, allowing for a natural grip and smooth transitions.
• Full mobility and protection with overlapping hard-shell elements that protect the hand in all positions without strain.
• Modular & renewable parts which improve individual fit and product lifespan.

ProGauntlet Sizing

The ‘ Perfect fit’ in the size chart below : Based on ProGauntlet research, experience and hundreds of real-world measures taken on fighters, you can be confident that you have a perfect fit.

If one or more of your measure are above and below that range, you will have a ‘Suboptimal fit’. This means that you may or may not have a good fit. A good fit is subjective and you may be better off waiting to try on a friend's pair, or on one of our event sales stands.

At the moment, only size Large is available for pre-order. Size Small and Medium size charts will be available in a few months.

Detailed Product Information

What is the ProGauntlet made of?

The ProGaunlet is made from a variety of high-performance, industrial grade synthetic materials. All hard-shell components are of durable polyurethane, complemented with tough cut and thrust resistant synthetic fabric blade catcher elements. 

The specialized Inner Glove is a fine-tuned combination of light, breathable materials on the fingers & the back of the hand and tough, cut and thrust resistant materials on the especially vulnerable parts of the hand. The palm and the webbing between the thumb and index finger are covered with 800N thrust resistant Dyneema - the same high resistance fibre required for Olympic fencing equipment to receive FIE approval. 

As padding, the ProGauntlet features durable synthetic rubber. Unlike foams, this rubber material will not crush, and will retain its protective properties over time.

Do I need to buy a separate Inner glove?

No, The ProGauntlet comes with a standard inner glove, that is optimised to perform together and fully integrate with the hard-shell. The inner glove can be removed for washing and can be replaced if necessary.  Please note that the Inner Glove is a fully integrated part of the ProGauntlet system and is not intended to be used alone.  This is not a "dual glove system".

Are there customisation options in colour, shape or function?

While the ProGauntlet Mark 1 will first come in black, certain other colour options will be possible in the future. Thanks to a completely modular system, parts with style or functional variations are also possible. Parts that receive updates will become available for individual purchase through the ProGauntlet webstore.

Where is the ProGauntlet made?

All ProGauntlet hard-shell components are made at CrossGuard’s own facility in the Netherlands. The Inner Glove is made by their manufacturing partners, specialists in the manufacturing of safety gloves.

What is the weight?

The weight of each glove is approximately 300 grams.

Mobility & Control

The ProGauntlet exoskeleton is a system of overlapping elements that closely mimic the movement of your hand without stretch or friction. Closing your hand or moving from one position to the other is effortless and without strain. 

The wrist cuff is composed of multiple sliding elements affording a great amount of wrist mobility, without adding bulk.  

The shell is designed to be as unobstructive as possible. Great care has been taken to keep the material between the fingers to a minimum. All touching surfaces are curved and streamlined for smooth interaction between the parts. The result is a protective hard-shell glove that imposes no limitation on your fighting skill and lets you effortlessly handle your gear, put your helmet on and off, pick up your sword from the ground and tie your shoelaces (yes, really!)

The palm-side of the ProGauntlet is kept free from hard-shell elements (with the exception of the vulnerable inside of the wrist). The inside of the fingers is covered with a durable, thin material which assures optimal grip control and sensitivity.

Impact & Thrust Protection

The protective properties of the ProGauntlet come from a combination of a self-supporting synthetic exoskeleton (the hard-shell), spreading impact forces over a larger surface area, and a soft rubber padding under-layer to absorb the energy.

The hard-shell elements tightly overlap each other and are designed so that the protective coverage remains the same, no matter what hand position you’re in. (As opposed to layered gloves, in which the protective foam, leather or textile structure stretches and become thinner).

Ridges in the hard-shell design locally increase the rigidity of the parts or create bridge lines, making certain vulnerable parts of the hand less likely to be hit directly.

Fully enclosed fingertips prevent crushing of the finger between an incoming blow and the hilt of your weapon.

To prevent severe thrust injuries between the fingers (which can occasionally transfix the hand, even with blunt sword tips), the ProGauntlet features hard-shell elements in between the proximal phalanges of the fingers. These elements are suspended in such a way that they will always position themselves in the middle of the gap between fingers. A unique protective nylon fabric catch also closes off this vulnerable area from incoming thrusts, as added security.

The inner glove provides thrust protection for the inside of the hand. The palm to the base of the fingers and the palm side of the wrist is covered in 800N Dyneema, one of the toughest fabrics in the industry and often used for high-end Olympic fencing gear. The webbing between the index finger and thumb, another vulnerable area prone to thrust damage, is also reinforced with Dyneema fabric from all sides.

To allow wrist mobility, the wrist-top hardshell slides up, leaving a small gap where it meets the back of the hand plate. To prevent a thrust from coming through this gap, a nylon fabric blade catcher has been added to cover the entire top of the wrist.

Durability & Replacement

The ProGauntlet is made from the toughest, industrial-grade materials available and is produced with great attention to quality. Yet, as with all protective equipment, some parts will eventually wear down with use. Unlike most gear, however, his does not mean the end of the glove.

Every part - from hard-shell elements, to connection bands, to the complete inner glove - is completely replaceable. This drastically extends the lifetime of your ProGauntlets.

To get you started, every ProGauntlet pair is delivered with standard replacements for the parts that are likely to wear down first.

All connections are designed for you to be able to disassemble and replace parts yourself (with the help of our on-line instructions). Very few parts are glued in place and you won’t find any rivets or stitches holding the hard-shell together.

The modular design of the ProGauntlet also allows for the installation of upgraded parts or specialized parts which may be available in the future.

ProGauntlet Inner Glove

The Inner Glove is developed specially for the ProGauntlet. 

• The Inner Glove has damping integrated with the fabric on the back of the hand and along the fingers. 
• Fingertip damping caps are delivered separately and can be replaced if needed.
• The buttons on the fingertips are used to connect with the outer glove shell.