Best Work Gloves – Detailed Reviews & Buyer’s Guide for 2021
For most industrial jobs and even some household tasks, it is a necessity to wear gloves as an added safety measure to prevent cuts, splinters, and burns. But with engineering and innovation, wearing gloves is no longer a chore but a way to enhance accuracy and grip when working. Gardeners, woodworkers, artists, and hunters, almost all types of mechanical jobs, require work gloves, not just as a safety measure but also to assist with delicate handling and ideal operation of machinery. To aid you in this goal we have compiled this list of best work gloves.
[lwptoc]Top 5 Picks of the Best Work Gloves
Table of Contents
Some specialized workers like welders require work gloves with unique features. Still, most general tasks like lifting heavy objects, driving, gardening, or woodworking can be accomplished using a standard pair of work gloves. Of course, some are better than others and will allow you to achieve more. Work gloves are an essential piece of safety gear, read on for help choosing the best pair.
#1 M-Pact Coyote Tactical Gloves
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A top-notch high-end pair of work gloves, these M-Pact Coyote Tactical gloves are equipped with thermoplastic guards for the knuckle and fingers to provide protection against impact, a dual internal layer for abrasion resistance, insulation against the cold weather and durability. The gloves also have palm padding and a straight thumb design, which improves grip quality.
To make sure the glove fits the hand perfectly, it uses a Hook and Loop Pull strap to make sure there are no loose ends, and no contaminants can get inside to the side. The glove is from synthetic leather that gives it extra toughness and makes it cut-resistant, but while the gloves endure exposure to low heat, high temperatures will take their toll. This glove is often used by hunting enthusiasts but can be used for all general tasks due to its high quality built.
A high-end top notch pair of work gloves, these M-Pact Coyote Tactical gloves are equipped with thermos plastic guards for the knuckle and fingers to provide protection against impact, a dual internal layer for abrasion resistance, insulation against the cold weather and durability. The gloves also have palm padding and a straight thumb design which improves grip quality.
To make sure the glove fits the hand perfectly it uses a Hook and Loop Pull strap to make sure there are no loose ends and no contaminants can get inside to the hand. The glove is made from synthetic leather that gives it extra toughness and makes it cut resistant but while exposure to low heat is endured by the gloves, high temperatures will take their toll. This glove is often used by hunting enthusiasts but can be used for all general tasks due to its high quality built.
Pros:
• Made with Synthetic Leather
• Knuckle and finger guards
• Abrasion-resistant
• Insulated
• Durable
Cons:
• Expensive
#2 Ironclad GUG 04 Work Gloves
At a lower price point, the Ironclad GUG 04 provides the same abilities of the M-Pact Coyote of being abrasion-resistant, cut resistant, and durable throughout. Additionally, it has a wing thumb, which allows for more flexibility and individual sweat wipe at the back of the thumb, so during a workout, you can easily wipe the sweat away from your brow without leaving your work or compromising on safety.
Ironclad has created an exceptional hybrid cuff using both the Hook and Loop Pull strap and the Easy-on cuff, so it is easy to remove and re-equip, enhancing mobility, and still nicely wraps around your wrist. However, the GUG 04 only has a knuckle guard and no finger guards for added impact protection and is not insulated against cold weather. This pair of gloves is ideal for the general-purpose at a reasonable price point.
Pros:
• Made with Synthetic Leather
• Flexible
• Allows mobility
• Abrasion-resistant
• Durable
Cons:
• Not finger knuckle guards
• Not insulated
#3 3100L DZ Work Gloves
Made with cotton and laminated with a textured latex coating for chemical resistance, these are the best work gloves for working in a lab or with potent liquids. However, they are not as durable as their leather counterparts as they are not cut or puncture resistant and cannot protect against heat. Still, due to the latex coating and the straight thumb design, they offer more exceptional grip ability.
The cotton fabric also provides a superior sense of control that is not attainable with thicker fibers. It also absorbs sweat and provides a breathable cover, so the hand doesn’t get clammy. The glove is armed with a Knit cuff to ensure a perfect fit so no debris/dust can enter. It is the cheapest of all gloves available on the market and can be used for many general tasks, also making it the most commonly used glove.
Pros:
• Cheap
• Breathable
• Enhanced Grip
• Chemical Resistant
Cons:
• Not good near heat
• Not cut resistant
#4 OZERO Flex Grip Work Gloves
This glove is a reliable product, designed for flexibility, with a keystone thumb and flexible cowhide leather. A textured palm patch enhances abrasion resistance and the grip of the glove. Originally designed with an Easy-on cuff, the glove comes with a ball and tape pull-strap that can easily set on the glove giving it a tighter fit so you can modify the glove according to your immediate requirement. The OZERO Flex Grip is a durable and puncture-resistant pair, but they are not cut-resistant, so they are for heavy-duty work like woodworking.
Pros:
• Flexible
• Abrasion Resistant
• Modifiable Cuffs
Cons:
• Not Cut Resistant
• No knuckle guards
#5 CB3501 Vgo Work Gloves
Made with cowhide leather, the Vgo Work Gloves are puncture resistant and durable, but just like the OZERO Flex Grip, they are not cut-resistant. Fortified with a Safety cuff, so there is extra rubberization around the wrist to keep the hand safely tucked away from harm, and the wing thumb, to give the glove overall flexibility during work. At a low price point, this pair of gloves can overcome many general household tasks.
Pros:
• Cheap
• Durable
• Safety Cuff
Cons:
• Not Cut Resistant
• No Insulation
Buyer’s Guide for the best work gloves
In theory, buying a glove may seem like a simple chore; after all, we need a tough-looking glove, but in reality, it can be quite a difficult task. Many different styles vary in cuff size, thumb design, and overall build that, in turn, affect the user’s work-ability and safety.
Material
Just because a glove may seem harsh doesn’t mean it’s cut resistant. Cotton gloves are the easiest to cut through, so be careful using them when working with sharp edges. Leather provides better protection, but again leather is just skin, and so the leather is just as resistant to cut as our skin would be, which is not a lot.
Exact cut resistant gloves are made using synthetic materials such as synthetic leather or Kevlar. Experts say that the best work gloves use Kevlar as the ideal material, and if the fiber is in just the threading, it will take the toughness of the glove to another level.
But materials don’t just determine toughness, but also thermal protection, weather resistance, abrasion resistance, and durability, and each element has its specific application. Plastic/rubber gloves are usually used for cleaning or for working with liquids, while leather gloves are used for jobs prone to moderate heat and abrasion from the machinery. Synthetic leather also provides anti-vibration, which is ideal for handling power tools and heavy machinery and also retains heat making these gloves perfect for use in the winters.
The best work gloves for specialized industrial use, such as a shop, casting, or welding, are aluminized—the aluminum of gloves gives the users reflective and insulating protection. Kevlar gloves are also used for heavy-duty industrial applications due to the unique ability of not only being cut and abrasion-resistant but also to provide security against the hot and cold, extreme work conditions.
Gloves made of nylon, vinyl, or coated fabric are also chemical resistant and are often used in labs or when working with powerful etchants. But when using materials that are known to be chemical resistant, it is essential to check before use if they may have absorbed any of the chemicals that they are supposed to ward against, which could diminish their protective capabilities.
Thumb Designs
While it may seem strange to inspect the thumbs of a glove before buying it, it is hugely important to strictly observe the angles and stitching of the thumb because it can lead to diminished flexibility and comfort if you choose the wrong one.
1. Straight Thumb
A straight thumb is set perpendicular to the wrist, and it is used to increase gripping ability. However, these straight thumb designs are not as comfortable to wear when compared to others.
2. Wing Thumb
This design features an angled thumb that is not separately stitched onto the palm, so there is no seam in between. The angular placement allows mobility and flexibility when working.
3. Keystone Thumb
This feature is the most preferred and most common thumb style because it provides the most flexibility during use. Identifying the keystone thumb is easy because the thumb is sewed on separately to the palm, so there is a seam between the two.
Cuff Styles
When purchasing gloves, you’ll see each clove has a unique cuff shape, and while it may seem that this is not important when it comes to the practicality of a work glove’s job, the situation is quite contrary. Cuff style can determine the level of comfort, protection from contaminants, and even enhances safety.
4. Knit Wrist
A Knit Wrist style cuff will wrap your wrist in a tight casing for the perfect fit, and while keeping your hand warm against the cold weather, its primary function is to keep debris and dust out.
5. Safety Cuff
The purpose is in the name, and you guessed it! This cuff provides extra safety as it is enhanced through a lamination process to add durability and toughness to the glove overall.
6. Easy-on Cuff
Made for comfortable wear, the concept behind this cuff is a fast reaction job, which requires quick on and off the use of the gloves. The Easy-on Cuff is best for the mobility of the hand.
7. Gauntlet
Usually, we find gloves with a gauntlet cuff on welders or cleaners. The extended length adds protection to not just the wrist but also the lower forearm from outside elements like dirt, debris, or even (in the case of welding) cinders.
8. Pull Strap Cuffs
This kind of cuff ensures a perfect fit of the glove around the circumference of each individual’s wrist. These kinds of gloves are also the most commonly found and are suitable for most practical tasks because they provide a comfortable fit and keep contaminants out. There are two types commonly available on the market:
• The Hook and Loop
• The Ball and Tape
Overall Build quality
Wait, there’s more! A glove is a specific object, and every part of the glove enhances its abilities. Knuckle and finger guards can be added on to the glove for added protection against impact and palm padding for higher abrasion-resistance, enhanced grip, and insulation layers. The best gloves on the market will even be laminated with a special coating to make the gloves immune to external interaction with harsh chemicals.
The thicker the glove, the more chemical and cut resistance it provides. But this thickness is a double-edged sword, because it can impair grip and accuracy, which is a high safety risk after all a secure grip prevents from dropping or losing control of your machine. For maximum hold, silicone dots are added to the palms and fingers of the glove.
Conclusion
Each pair of gloves caters to a specific work application in mind, and each person will have their unique plan of what they wish to accomplish with their gloves. Some may want a cheap glove to wear while driving or a right puncture-resistant glove for gardening or maybe a high impact glove for hunting. We recommend the Ironclad GUG 04 as the best work gloves as they can be used for most if not all general tasks and even some specialized tasks, at a low price point.
With their innovative design, they will provide the utmost comfort and utility during work. However, if someone is looking for an even cheaper option, the 3100L DZ work gloves are as cheap as you can get. Chemical resistant, flexible, breathable, and comfortable, they provide a little bit of everything and can be used for household tasks and provide the most for the least amount of money.
