  Hands are a fundamental tool humans use to interact with the environment and
objects. Through hand motions, we can obtain information about the shape and
materials of the surfaces we touch, modify our surroundings by interacting with
objects, manipulate objects and tools, or communicate with other people by
leveraging the power of gestures. For these reasons, sensorized gloves, which
can collect information about hand motions and interactions, have been of
interest since the 1980s in various fields, such as Human-Machine Interaction
(HMI) and the analysis and control of human motions.
  Over the last 40 years, research in this field explored different
technological approaches and contributed to the popularity of wearable custom
and commercial products targeting hand sensorization. Despite a positive
research trend, these instruments are not widespread yet outside research
environments and devices aimed at research are often ad hoc solutions with a
low chance of being reused. This paper aims to provide a systematic literature
review for custom gloves to analyze their main characteristics and critical
issues, from the type and number of sensors to the limitations due to device
encumbrance. The collection of this information lays the foundation for a
standardization process necessary for future breakthroughs in this research
field.
