Essential Guide

CS2 Gloves Guide 2025: All Glove Types, Float Caps 0.06-0.80 & Investment Strategies

January 15, 202518 min readAll Skill Levels

Understanding CS2 Gloves

CS2 gloves are the ultimate cosmetic status symbol—visible in first-person view 100% of gameplay, making them more impactful than knives for personal enjoyment. With unique float caps (0.06-0.80 instead of standard 0.00-1.00), all gloves are "Factory New" to "Field-Tested" quality, and wear shows dramatically even at low floats. This comprehensive guide covers all glove types, the unique float system, current 2025 prices, pattern varieties, investment strategies, and expert recommendations. Use our CS2 Float Checker to analyze glove float values and ensure you get pristine low-float gloves.

Understanding Glove Float Caps: The 0.06-0.80 System

Gloves in CS2 have a unique float cap system that differs from all other skins. While knives and weapon skins can range from 0.00 to 1.00, gloves are restricted to 0.06 minimum and 0.80 maximum. This creates unusual market dynamics and makes float value even more critical for gloves than other items.

Glove Float Range Breakdown

Factory New (FN): 0.06 - 0.07

Premium

The "Factory New" range is tiny for gloves—only 0.01 difference! This makes true low-float gloves (0.060x-0.062x) extremely rare and valuable. Even 0.069 FN gloves show noticeable wear compared to 0.060x.

Minimal Wear (MW): 0.07 - 0.15

Standard

Most glove purchases fall into MW category. Low MW (0.07-0.09) can look acceptable, but wear becomes very noticeable above 0.10. This is the "budget" glove range where value-conscious buyers operate.

Field-Tested (FT): 0.15 - 0.38

Budget

FT gloves show heavy wear—faded colors, visible damage, worn textures. Only recommended for testing glove types or extreme budget constraints. Resale value is poor. Avoid unless absolutely necessary.

Well-Worn / Battle-Scarred: 0.38 - 0.80

Avoid

Gloves don't exist beyond 0.80 float (capped). WW/BS gloves are extremely worn—barely recognizable patterns, severe damage. Not recommended except for specific aesthetic preferences (some players like the "worn warrior" look).

Critical Takeaway

For gloves, 0.06-0.07 FN is the ONLY acceptable range for serious collectors and investors. Gloves show wear more aggressively than any other CS2 item. A 0.15 MW glove looks as worn as a 0.35 FT weapon skin. Always prioritize the lowest float possible—ideally 0.060x-0.065x for premium gloves.

Complete Guide to All CS2 Glove Types

CS2 features six distinct glove categories, each with unique designs and price ranges. Here's the comprehensive breakdown:

Sport Gloves

Premium

Details:

  • • Price Range: $800-$30,000+
  • • Most Popular: Pandora's Box, Superconductor
  • • Style: Athletic, vibrant colors
  • • Investment Grade: 10/10

Notable Skins:

  • • Pandora's Box: $10,000-30,000 (most valuable)
  • • Superconductor: $3,000-8,000
  • • Vice: $2,500-6,000
  • • Hedge Maze: $1,200-3,500

Verdict: The king of gloves. Sport Gloves Pandora's Box is the single most expensive glove, reaching $30,000+ for 0.060x floats. Vibrant colors and athletic design make Sport Gloves extremely desirable. Best investment potential in glove category. If budget allows, Sport Gloves are always the premium choice.

Specialist Gloves

Premium

Details:

  • • Price Range: $600-$15,000+
  • • Most Popular: Crimson Kimono, Fade
  • • Style: Tactical military operation
  • • Investment Grade: 9/10

Notable Skins:

  • • Crimson Kimono: $8,000-15,000
  • • Fade: $4,000-10,000
  • • Foundation: $1,500-4,000
  • • Marble Fade: $2,000-5,000

Verdict: Tactical elegance. Specialist Gloves offer premium quality with military aesthetic. Crimson Kimono is iconic—Japanese-themed design with red accents. Fade variant is sought after for gradient pattern. Excellent investment, second only to Sport Gloves in prestige.

Driver Gloves

Premium

Details:

  • • Price Range: $500-$12,000+
  • • Most Popular: Crimson Weave, King Snake
  • • Style: Racing/driving aesthetic
  • • Investment Grade: 8/10

Notable Skins:

  • • Crimson Weave: $5,000-12,000
  • • King Snake: $3,000-7,000
  • • Imperial Plaid: $1,800-4,500
  • • Overtake: $800-2,200

Verdict: Refined luxury. Driver Gloves feature leather textures and sophisticated patterns. Crimson Weave is highly sought after for its red woven design. King Snake offers distinctive snakeskin pattern. Great balance of prestige and affordability compared to Sport Gloves.

Hand Wraps

Mid Tier

Details:

  • • Price Range: $400-$3,500+
  • • Most Popular: Slaughter, Cobalt Skulls
  • • Style: Boxing/MMA wraps
  • • Investment Grade: 7/10

Notable Skins:

  • • Slaughter: $1,800-3,500
  • • Cobalt Skulls: $1,200-2,800
  • • Badlands: $800-1,800
  • • Overprint: $600-1,400

Verdict: Fighter aesthetic. Hand Wraps offer unique boxing/MMA look with exposed fingers. Slaughter pattern is most valuable. Great mid-tier option for players wanting distinctive gloves without premium prices. Solid investment potential as popularity grows.

Moto Gloves

Mid Tier

Details:

  • • Price Range: $350-$4,000+
  • • Most Popular: Spearmint, Transport
  • • Style: Motorcycle racing
  • • Investment Grade: 7/10

Notable Skins:

  • • Spearmint: $1,500-4,000
  • • Transport: $1,000-2,500
  • • Eclipse: $800-1,800
  • • Boom!: $500-1,200

Verdict: Biker aesthetic with protective armor design. Spearmint is most valuable—mint green color scheme is unique. Good mid-tier investment. Shows wear less aggressively than some glove types. Excellent for players wanting quality gloves at accessible prices.

Hydra Gloves

Budget

Details:

  • • Price Range: $250-$1,500+
  • • Most Popular: Case Hardened, Emerald
  • • Style: Tactical operation
  • • Investment Grade: 6/10

Notable Skins:

  • • Case Hardened: $600-1,500 (pattern dependent)
  • • Emerald: $400-1,000
  • • Rattler: $300-700
  • • Mangrove: $250-600

Verdict: Budget entry to glove ownership. Hydra Gloves are the most affordable category. Case Hardened variants with high blue percentage can reach premium prices. Good for testing glove types before committing to premium options. Investment potential is moderate.

Why Float Matters MORE for Gloves

Gloves show wear more aggressively than any other CS2 item—knives, rifles, pistols—nothing shows damage like gloves. This makes float value absolutely critical when purchasing gloves. Here's why:

Aggressive Wear Patterns

Gloves use high-detail textures on complex 3D models with many edges and surfaces. This causes wear to appear more prominently than flat weapon skins. A 0.10 MW glove can look as worn as a 0.30 FT weapon skin. Always inspect float carefully.

Constant First-Person Visibility

Unlike knives (only visible during animations), gloves are on-screen 100% of gameplay. Every scratch, fade, and imperfection is constantly visible. High-float gloves will annoy you every time you play. Don't compromise on float for gloves.

Limited Float Range = Concentrated Wear

The 0.06-0.80 float cap means all wear is concentrated in a smaller range. The difference between "pristine" (0.060) and "acceptable" (0.069) Factory New is massive for gloves—way more than the same 0.009 difference would matter on a rifle.

Resale Value Impact

Low-float gloves (0.060x-0.064x) command 50-150% premiums over high-float FN (0.068-0.070) for premium skins. Buying high-float gloves means taking a massive loss when reselling. Always buy lowest float you can afford.

Float Targets for Different Budgets

Premium Buyers ($2,000+): Target 0.060x-0.062x

If you're buying expensive gloves, don't compromise on float. The difference between 0.0600 and 0.0690 on a $10,000 glove is massive visually and in resale value. Pay the premium for true low floats.

Mid-Range Buyers ($500-$2,000): Target 0.062x-0.065x

This is the sweet spot for mid-tier gloves. Still Factory New with acceptable wear. Avoid anything above 0.066—wear becomes very noticeable and resale value drops significantly.

Budget Buyers ($250-$500): Target 0.070-0.090 MW

If budget forces Minimal Wear, keep it as low as possible. 0.070-0.080 range is acceptable. Anything above 0.10 MW will show heavy wear. Consider saving longer for low FN instead.

Best Gloves by Budget 2025

Based on current market conditions, visual appeal, and value retention, here are the best glove recommendations for each budget:

Budget $250-$600: Entry-Level Gloves

#1 Recommendation: Hydra Gloves Case Hardened (~$400-600, low float)

Best budget option. Pattern-dependent pricing means you can find good deals. Look for higher blue % for better aesthetics and value retention.

#2 Alternative: Moto Gloves Boom! (~$350-500, FN)

Affordable entry to Moto Gloves. Distinctive red/black design. Shows wear less than some glove types. Good for testing glove ownership.

Budget $600-$1,500: Mid-Tier Sweet Spot

#1 Recommendation: Hand Wraps Badlands (~$800-1,200, 0.06x float)

Excellent mid-tier value. Unique wrapped aesthetic with distinctive pattern. Good investment potential as Hand Wraps gain popularity.

#2 Alternative: Moto Gloves Eclipse (~$800-1,200, low float)

Dark sleek design with good wear resistance. Solid mid-tier option. Holds value well in Moto Gloves category.

#3 Underrated: Driver Gloves Overtake (~$800-1,500, 0.06x float)

Entry to Driver Gloves category. Racing aesthetic with green accents. Good stepping stone to premium Driver Gloves.

Budget $1,500-$5,000: Premium Entry

#1 Recommendation: Hand Wraps Slaughter (~$1,800-3,000, 0.060-0.063 float)

Best value in premium tier. Iconic Slaughter pattern on unique Hand Wraps aesthetic. Strong investment potential. Don't compromise on float—target 0.060x-0.063x.

#2 Alternative: Driver Gloves Imperial Plaid (~$2,000-3,500, low float)

Sophisticated plaid pattern on premium leather. Distinctive luxury aesthetic. Good for players wanting refined, non-flashy gloves.

#3 Save More: Specialist Gloves Foundation (~$1,500-3,000, 0.060x float)

Entry to Specialist Gloves category. Military tactical design. If you can save extra $1,000-2,000, upgrade to Crimson Kimono or Fade for better investment.

Budget $5,000+: Investment Grade

#1 Recommendation: Sport Gloves Pandora's Box (~$10,000-30,000, 0.0600-0.0610 float)

The ultimate glove. Most expensive, most prestigious. Pay maximum premium for 0.0600-0.0605 floats. Best investment in entire glove category. If you can afford it, this is the only choice.

#2 Alternative: Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono (~$8,000-15,000, 0.060x float)

Iconic Japanese-inspired design. Second most valuable glove. Excellent investment with strong collector demand. Target absolute lowest float available.

#3 Diversify: Driver Gloves Crimson Weave (~$5,000-12,000, 0.060x float)

Premium Driver Gloves with distinctive woven red pattern. Excellent investment. Diversification from Sport/Specialist categories. Strong appreciation history.

Glove Investment Strategy

Gloves can be excellent investments if you choose wisely. Here's how to approach glove investing:

Prioritize Premium Gloves with Iconic Skins

Sport Gloves Pandora's Box, Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono, and Driver Gloves Crimson Weave have the strongest appreciation histories. These are "blue chip" glove investments—established prestige, consistent demand, strong value retention.

Float is 50% of Investment Value

A 0.0600 float glove will appreciate far more than a 0.0690 float of the same skin. Low-float gloves (0.060x-0.062x) have separate collector markets with premium pricing. Never compromise on float for investment-grade gloves.

Budget Gloves Are Poor Investments

Hydra Gloves and low-tier Moto/Hand Wraps typically depreciate or stay flat. Investment-grade gloves start at $1,500+ (Hand Wraps Slaughter) and ideally $5,000+ (Sport/Specialist/premium Driver). Budget gloves are for personal use, not investment.

Gloves Appreciate Slower Than Knives

Gloves typically appreciate 5-15% annually (premium gloves) vs. 10-30% for premium knives. However, gloves have lower entry prices for premium items. A $10,000 Pandora's Box is more accessible than a $50,000 Karambit Sapphire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't gloves be 0.00 float?

Valve set glove float caps at 0.06 minimum deliberately. This creates artificial scarcity for low-float gloves and ensures all gloves show some wear. The 0.06-0.80 range is hardcoded into glove drops and cannot be changed.

Should I buy gloves or a knife first?

Most players buy a knife first (more prestige, better investment). However, gloves are visible 100% of gameplay while knives only show during animations. If personal enjoyment matters more than status, gloves first. If investment/prestige matters, knife first.

Are Field-Tested gloves worth buying?

Generally no. FT gloves (0.15+) show heavy wear and are difficult to resell. Only consider FT if you're testing a glove type before committing to FN, or if you genuinely prefer the worn aesthetic. Save longer for low-float FN instead.

What's the best glove for investment under $2,000?

Hand Wraps Slaughter with 0.060x-0.063x float (~$1,800-3,000). Iconic pattern, unique glove type, strong collector interest. Best investment potential under $2,000. Alternatively, Driver Gloves Imperial Plaid offers similar value with different aesthetic.

How much does float affect glove prices?

Massively. For premium gloves, 0.0600 float can cost 50-150% more than 0.0690 float of the same skin. The difference between 0.060 and 0.065 alone can be 20-30% for investment-grade gloves. Float impacts gloves more than any other CS2 item.

Can gloves be obtained from trade-up contracts?

No, gloves cannot be obtained through trade-ups. They're only available from opening specific cases (Glove Case, Clutch Case, Danger Zone Case, etc.) or purchasing from marketplaces. This limited supply contributes to their high prices and investment value.

Find Perfect Low-Float Gloves Instantly

Install CS2 Float Checker to see instant float values on every glove listing. Filter for 0.060x-0.065x floats, identify investment-grade gloves, and never overpay for high-float gloves again. Float is everything for gloves—make sure you see it.

Install Free Chrome Extension

Join thousands of glove collectors using CS2 Float Checker to find pristine low-float gloves.

Conclusion

CS2 gloves represent the ultimate visible status symbol—on-screen 100% of gameplay, making them more personally impactful than knives for many players. The unique 0.06-0.80 float cap system creates concentrated wear patterns, making float value absolutely critical. A 0.0600 float glove looks dramatically better than a 0.0690 float glove, despite both being "Factory New." Never compromise on float when buying gloves.

Premium gloves (Sport, Specialist, Driver) with iconic skins (Pandora's Box, Crimson Kimono, Crimson Weave) offer the best investment potential, consistently appreciating 5-15% annually with strong liquidity. Mid-tier gloves (Hand Wraps, Moto) provide excellent value for personal use at more accessible prices. Budget gloves (Hydra) allow entry-level ownership but have limited investment potential.

For personal enjoyment, prioritize gloves that match your aesthetic preferences—you'll see them every game. For investment, prioritize low float (0.060x-0.063x) premium gloves with established prestige. The combination of premium glove type + iconic skin + ultra-low float creates maximum value retention and appreciation potential.

Explore our other guides: Knife Buying Guide for pairing gloves with knives, Float Value Guide for understanding the critical importance of float, and Investment Guide for maximizing returns on glove investments.