The highest item level gloves a level 21–30 character can wear as a Mage start with Stonecloth Gloves (item level 35, uncommon). 78 items fit the slot and band; the top 22 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Stonecloth Gloves | 35 | 30 | 29 | Cloth | Drops from Vile Sting (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+404 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Gloves of Old | 34 | 29 | 32 | Cloth | Found in Solid Chest (Duskwood) at 0.0% (+280 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 | Nightsky Gloves | 34 | 29 | 29 | Cloth | Drops from Vile Sting (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+419 more) (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Vital Handwraps | 34 | 29 | 29 | Cloth | Drops from Vile Sting (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+404 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Thistlefur Gloves | 33 | 28 | 28 | Cloth | Drops from Heartrazor (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+371 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 | Interlaced Gloves | 33 | 28 | 25 | Cloth | Found in Armor Crate (Scarlet Monastery) at 1.9% (+455 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Elder's Gloves | 32 | 27 | 28 | Cloth | Drops from Heartrazor (Thousand Needles) at 1.1% (+385 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Durable Gloves | 31 | 26 | 27 | Cloth | Drops from Dragonmaw Battlemaster (Wetlands) at 1.1% (+484 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 | Resilient Handgrips | 31 | 26 | 27 | Cloth | Drops from Dragonmaw Battlemaster (Wetlands) at 1.1% (+470 more) (vanilla) |
| 10 | Jutebraid GlovesCHANGED | 30 | 27 | Cloth | Quest: Horde Presence (vanilla) | |
| 11 |  Raincaller Mitts | 30 | 25 | 27 | Cloth | Drops from Dragonmaw Battlemaster (Wetlands) at 1.1% (+470 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Truefaith Gloves | 30 | 25 | 27 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 13 | Azure Silk Gloves | 29 | 24 | 26 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 14 |  Hands of Darkness | 29 | 24 | 26 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 15 | Sage's Gloves | 29 | 24 | 26 | Cloth | Drops from Brontus (The Barrens) at 1.3% (+449 more) (vanilla) |
| 16 |  Silver-thread Gloves | 28 | 23 | 26 | Cloth | Drops from Brontus (The Barrens) at 1.3% (+449 more) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Watcher's Handwraps | 28 | 23 | 26 | Cloth | Drops from Brontus (The Barrens) at 1.3% (+430 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 | Padded Gloves | 27 | 22 | 24 | Cloth | Sold by Aeolynn (+9 more) (vanilla) |
| 19 | Gloves of MeditationCHANGED | 26 | 21 | 25 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 20 | Ivycloth Gloves | 26 | 21 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Akkrilus (Ashenvale) at 1.3% (+488 more) (vanilla) |
| 21 | Sanguine Handwraps | 26 | 21 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Akkrilus (Ashenvale) at 1.3% (+469 more) (vanilla) |
| 22 |  Cross-stitched Gloves | 26 | 21 | 22 | Cloth | Found in Armor Crate (The Barrens) at 2.9% (+680 more) (vanilla) |
Ranked by item level, then quality, among items with a known source: gear nothing drops, sells, rewards or makes yet (raids not yet open, the client's test items) is left out. The class filter keeps what the class can equip at level 30 (armor type, weapon skill, Dual Wield, the item's own class limit); the side filter drops items that only the other side's vendors and quests offer. Source: the best known drop first (a Forever rate at 10+ loots, else the vanilla 1.12 chance), then vendors, quest rewards and the profession that makes it. Reviewed picks: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Chest, Wrist, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.