The 10 Best work gloves of 2024

Workplace safety is important for all employees, regardless of the industry because we all desire to work in protected and safe atmospheres. Today, workplace health and safety processes are important for both the employers and the employees because injuries are intolerable and immeasurable. An injury can have a major effect on a family. So, you should be always in the right protective gear and use the right safety equipment. Work gloves are some of the items that you can use to safeguard yourself from injuries.

Work gloves are designed to make any work including the most hazardous easier to manage, particularly when there is a need to use protective equipment. They will make your hands and fingers feel warm when working under cold conditions. You can also use them to improve your wardrobe collections considering that apart from their functionality, they are also stylish. The market offers many styles but you should choose one that allows you to do your work easily. To help you shop wisely, we have prepared a list of the top work gloves of 2020 along with a buying guide.

Best Overall: Carhartt Men’s W.P. Waterproof Insulated Work Gloves

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When searching for work gloves that you can use during the cold winter months, the Carhartt Men’s W.P Waterproof Insulated Work Gloves will not disappoint you. It is worth mentioning that they are a perfect choice for people in need of rugged but stylish gloves. One of the things you will love is the waterproof insert that helps it resist water and solvents leakage.

Both the insulation and waterproof features help in keeping the fingers and hands dry and warm in cold weather. The 100 percent polyester material used to make the outer shelling is strong enough to resist leaks. The durable fabric should assure you that the product is long-lasting. It is also made with reinforced palms and stitching to protect your hands from water. The inner lining wicks away moisture and sweat to keep your hands dry when working. Overall, the product is a good investment for individuals whose jobs require them to spend more time outdoors. It will keep your hands warm during the windy and cold days.

Best value: Mechanix Wear Work Gloves

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Mechanix Wear Work Gloves are made to protect your hardworking hands from impact, liquids, and heat, abrasion and laceration injuries. Made of industry-leading materials, the gloves feature anatomical design and high quality build ideal for hard use. In other words, the gloves will last for many years regardless of how hard you will use them. All work gloves have their way of delivering superior fit, functionality and feel to the working hands.

The form-fitting trek dry keeps your hands cool and comfortable while the flexible thermoplastic rubber closure will offer a secure fit to your wrist. You will also love the industrial-grade hook and loop. You can slide the gloves on and off including when they are wet.

Best Budget: OZERO Flex Grip Leather Work Gloves

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On the design side, OZERO Flex Grip Leather Work Gloves do everything right. They feature reinforced palms, which might be the area of failure on the non-reinforced gloves the market provides. The reinforced palms also add an extra layer of comfort to the critical areas. The excellent placement of seams makes the gloves flexible meaning that they will not affect the movements of your hands when working. Due to the softness, you will want everyone to know about your experience after you are through with each project.

The gloves are an eyeful right from the box. After you slip your hands into the gloves you will realize that they are very different from your father’s gloves – even though they might look similar. You will notice the soft lining and you will deny the warmth their insulation offers in those cold days. Even though they will not win any rewards for their flexibility, the gloves are heavy duty and not designed for people who spend their day’s wiring junction boxes or perusing schematics on their mobile devices. They are more for day laborers, landscapers and steelworkers or any person who deals with big things that they need to move safely.

Best Shape: IRONCLAD Work Gloves Impact Protection Gloves

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The IRONCLAD Work Gloves Impact Protection Gloves might be the best deals you will have in 2020, particularly if you are a firefighter. Its quality is guaranteed at a lower price. They offer an appearance of strong and firm work gloves, ideal for both outdoor sports activities and working tasks.

Their quality will not disappoint you, which is the case with many other Ironclad products. The gloves will do a perfect job of protecting your hands from injuries associated with hard and sharp objects and offer incredible dexterity and sensitivity. You can handle many tasks using a pair of gloves. The palm padding protects your hands against impacts and vibrations when working with machines. The feature is also more helpful for firefighters or anyone who works with powerful appliances.

When using it, you do not need to look for a towel to wipe away any sweat – you can even use them to wipe sweat from your face. The terry cloth sewn on the thumb allows proper absorption of perspiration. When in a hurry, the cuff puller allows the faster wearing of the gloves.

Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves

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One of the features that differentiate the Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves from the others in the market is the modern heavy-duty glove style. It is made of a mixture of long-lasting materials. Nylon makes up around 55 percent of the construction and makes the body of these gloves. Synthetic leather backs it up, mainly on the fingers and palms for softness, flexibility and stronger grip. The gloves are tough and Ironclad works hard to beef up their design when possible. So, you will realize that they use double stitching at the stress points such as fingers and palms. The other features include rubberized knuckle protectors and secure wrist closures.

For sweat management, the gloves come with a terry cloth situated on the backside of the thumbs so that the user can focus on the job at hand alone. The product is machine washable. And for the drying part, you just need to leave the pair in an open place. That way, you will maintain their size consistently. Their adjustable hook and loop closure offers a custom fit for the best performance. Overall, the gloves are resistant to abrasion and vibration impacts. When working in winter cold months, you might need to use some warmers.

CLC Custom Leathercraft 125L Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves

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CLC Custom Leathercraft is among the leading manufacturers of various accessories, including work and workout gloves. Most people know them for producing high-quality leather items, but they chose synthetic leather to make the CLC Custom Leathercraft 125L Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves. Because the entire body is made of synthetic material, the gloves are resistant to shrinking. That is the main reason they are easy to clean and resistant to water damage. They are very tough and resistant to abrasion, particularly on the palms and fingers. Apart from protecting you, they will last for many days.

On the sides, you will find Lycra and spandex panels. They allow stretching of the gloves to match the hand movements of the user. In other words, they help make the gloves more dexterous. And on the inside, the padding offers adequate protection from abrasion but it will not guard you against impacts perfectly. Overall, the gloves are lightweight and heavy-duty.

DEX FIT Level 5 Cut Resistant Work Gloves

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The DEX FIT Level 5 Cut Resistant Work Gloves are a good choice for any person in need of gloves with a higher cut resistance level. In the pack, you will find level 5 cut resistance gloves, meaning that they are superior when it comes to safety when using cutting tools. Apart from that, the gloves are very easy to clean because they are machine washable. Their large design indicates that they are comfortable and provide a proper fit for every user. Even more, they provide a 3D comfort-stretch fit. Due to the many offered colors, you will easily find one to match your needs. Use them when handling knives, sheet steel and glass among other sharp materials.

Mechanix Wear MFF-05-010 FastFit Work Gloves

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Mechanix Wear MFF-05-010 FastFit Work Gloves are made of Mechanix’s special material, which is durable and resistant to abrasion and tear. In addition to that, the work gloves withstand wet conditions properly and they are machine washable. Made of synthetic leather, the material is comfortable in any wet conditions and it will not retain any moisture when exposed to oil, water or any other solvent. It will return to its original shape if you leave it to dry.

The used materials and techniques offer superior flexibility. That is thanks to the used breathable TrekDry material, which form-fits the backside of the user’s hand to help keep the gloves functional and comfortable. The D30 palm padding safeguards the palms from direct impacts. It absorbs and dissipates any high-impact energy vibrations and forces. The stretch elastic wrist closure allows the gloves to fit securely and facilitates easy-on, easy-off in-between tasks. The second layer of material reinforces the index finger and thumb to extend wear. Also, the added thermoplastic rubber will protect the back of your hands from the wrist to the tips of your fingers.

These work gloves have a perfect fit and feel. The material is not only soft and pliable but it also allows finger movements and dexterity. You can use a touchscreen device while wearing the gloves but you will need to be careful when using them because they offer inadequate protection on the knuckles.

Tarvol Leather Work Gloves Heavy Duty Industrial Safety Gloves

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The Tarvol Leather Work Gloves Heavy Duty Industrial Safety Gloves are suitable for both men and women. They are ideal for mechanics, welders, drivers, gardeners, construction workers, farmers, and even forklift drivers. Made of 100 percent high-grade split-cow leather, the work gloves feature quality stitching, which enhances their overall durability and flexibility.

One of the things that make the wearers happy is the custom sung fit. Apart from that, the gloves will protect you when completing your household tasks. Thanks to their thick wristband, the gloves protect the wrists and keep dirt and debris out. So, when cutting bushes, trees or pruning flowers, you should not worry about injuries. Do not forget safety goggles when completing a welding project.

G & F 15196L Seamless Nylon Knit Nitrile Coated Work Gloves

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If you need work gloves that provide a tactile feel along with an outstanding grip, the G & F15196L Seamless Nylon Knit Nitrile Coated Work Gloves might be the right product for you. G & F used rubber composite along with tough cotton to make the gloves. On the inside, they added a latex layer so that the fingers, palms, and thumbs can be safe. The gloves are designed properly to allow the user to handle almost every project as if he/she is not wearing them.

Rubber and cotton blend is flexible and nice while the latex offers a stronger grip. The knit is thick enough to offer enough protection from the harsh elements and sharp objects. Unfortunately, the gloves do not feature any real insulation or padding, something that reduces the protection. However, they will keep both your hands clean when working on a vehicle and their dexterity allows faster completion of jobs. And because they come in packs of 12 or 10 gloves, you will use them for a long time.

Buying guide for best work gloves

The above is the list of top work gloves in 2020 and there is variety in it. Some environments and circumstances might necessitate the use of gloves and each of them will have unique features. For example, the heavy-duty gloves are suited for many requirements and they, therefore, come with many features. When shopping for work gloves, here are the key features to look for.

• Fit and comfort

  You do not want your work gloves to flap around and you do not want them to fall off when working on an engine part. So, go for the elasticized cuffs, button or the Velcro sealed cuff straps. The seams should be strong. Ensure that the palm is sturdy and the fingertips cover your hands full. What’s more, the gloves should be comfortable so that they will not get in your way when putting up drywall or cutting glass.

• Dexterity

  When working, you would not want to take off the gloves when you have to do a task that needs more dexterity than holding a drill or swinging your hammer. Even though finding the middle ground between dexterity and protection is hard, it is important. If you are unable to feel the details and intricacies of the airplane engine parts, wings or concrete blocks, injuries or even accidents might happen.

• Protection

  The purpose of work gloves is to protect you from injuries like puncture wounds, cuts, abrasions, splinters and burns when working. However, the type of protection you need depends on the kind of work you do. Gloves are available in many designs and therefore the level of protection is different. Thick gloves provide a higher level of protection because their high abrasion areas are made of tough materials like real and synthetic leather. String knit gloves are great when working on metal parts like metal stampings or sheet metal, while the coated gloves are great for small-part assembly, appliance manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing and handling of glass.

• Durability

• The durability of work gloves might vary according to the type and the work you do. Most people keep their gloves until a time when they consider them unsuitable for the work at hand. However, OSHA recommends inspection for wear and tear before each usage. Your cut-resistant glove will be of no use if the fingers or palm is already worn out.

  Vehicles can be dirty environments to work on. So, your gloves will accumulate dirt very fast. Unfortunately, dirty gloves are a pain and you have to clean them. Choose a design or material that is easy to clean, particularly one labeled as machine washable. With such material, the maintenance part will be easy.

Choosing the work gloves material

Your work gloves should keep your hands comfortable in cold weather in addition to protecting them from injuries. That is the reason some materials used to make gloves are better than others are. A good pair of gloves should also help increase your endurance and grip strength. Many tools such as spanners and wrenches demand enough grip pressure. Here are the materials to consider during your shopping.

• Leather

  Goatskin leather makes the best gloves. The material is strong and despite its thickness, it is flexible. It is sturdy and it will protect your hands against abrasions. Horsehide, cowhide and water buffalo hides are a good choice when you need a durable pair of work gloves. But if you require ultra-fine dexterity for your daily work, including welding, sheepskin is the best choice. Keep in mind that sheepskin is not as durable as horsehide or cowhide and it does not make multi-purpose work gloves.

• Kevlar

  To protect yourself from extreme heat and cuts, you have to buy Kevlar gloves. Kevlar by itself or combined with other materials such as goatskin has been a choice for gloves of firefighters.

• Cotton and fabric

  Knit and cotton gloves are not as strong as those made of other materials are. However, they will prevent your hands from abrasions and keep them clean. Coated fabric work gloves are used in laboratories where workers want to protect themselves against the harsh chemicals.

• Chemical resistant gloves

  If you work with chemicals most of the time, chemical resistant work gloves are a good choice. They are made of materials designed to keep the hands safe from used chemicals. The gloves include butyl rubber gloves, which are designed for use when working with sulphuric acid, nitric acid, peroxide, and hydrochloric acid. Rubber gloves or natural latex gloves are a good choice when working with alkalis, acids, ketones or water solutions. Use neoprene gloves when working with hydraulic fluids, alcohols, gasoline, and organic acids. Nitrite rubber gloves will protect you from chlorinated solvents effectively.

Caring for work gloves

• If you prefer leather gloves, wash them with saddle soap and cold water and then leave them on a flat surface to dry. Never wring the water out when cleaning them because that can warp their shape. Remember to keep them in a cool dry place.
• Use your washing machine to wash your cotton gloves. Use warm water only and tumble dry. When cleaning knit gloves, use cold water and air-dry them.
• Wash your chemical resistant gloves with soapy water in your utility sink before you remove them. Wash your hands thoroughly after removing them. Hang them to dry and store them in a dry place to protect them from mildew.

The benefits of work gloves

There are two main reasons you should use work gloves. They are designed for protection and work improvement.

• Work improvement

  For work improvement, work gloves work in two ways. First, they work to keep their hands comfortable, particularly in cold weather. Some of them work as efficiently as the cold weather gloves because they come with additional insulation and padding. They also increase the endurance and grip strength needed when working with some tools such as spanners, wrenches and hammers.

• protection

  The other reason you should wear work gloves is for protection. For example, when working on a vehicle engine part, your hands will do most of the physical work. They will swing the tools, grip the dirty vehicle parts and carry the heavy loads from one place to the other. Therefore, it is very easy to damage them. Mostly, injuries result from abrasion, burns and laceration or punctures. Work gloves are effective protective accessories that will add a protective layer between your hands and the hot and sharp things.

Tips for wearing work gloves

• Go for the right cuff length

  Work gloves featuring closure cuff are ideal for all types of jobs. If you are planning to work around hazardous objects such as weeds, go for work gloves with long cuffs. That way, you will be able to tuck in your shirtsleeves into those cuffs for better protection.

• Do not use contaminated gloves

  When working with chemicals or any other hazardous material, be careful to avoid spills and accidents. Immediately the material touches your work gloves, goes to a safer place and removes the gloves carefully. Any harsh chemicals you leave on your gloves might leak and hurt your skin.

• Take out your gloves correctly

  The items and tools you work with will influence how you take off your work gloves. To remove them safely, turn their cuffs down and then push them off your hands. That will turn the gloves inside out and prevent the hazardous chemicals or any other substance from touching your hands.

• Adjust the closure

  Before wearing your work gloves, wear one at a time and adjust it. Generally, you should pull the strap through a buckle and press down on their Velcro. The closure should fit tightly but tight enough to allow movements of your hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How are coated work gloves different from the others?
A: Coated work gloves are different from the other types in that they feature jersey or knit material as their base with coatings applied on their surface. The coating is flexible so that the fingers can move freely. It prevents damages associated with solvents and chemicals that are capable of eating through gloves. Some coatings will protect your fingers and palms from cuts.

Q: How tight should your work gloves fit?
A: Your work gloves should fit snuggly. The space between the tips of your fingers and the glove has to be minimal.

Q: Which type of work gloves will protect you effectively from electric shock?
A: For effective protection from electric shock, use electricity insulated rubber gloves. Most electricians will wear them when working on a project.

Q: Should I wear work gloves when driving?
A: Quality work gloves are good when driving a tractor. They will also be fine when operating any other type of vehicle but they are not designed for that.

Q: How do work gloves function on touch screens?
A: Not every type of gloves works with touchscreen technology. Touchscreen technology has to be in contact with an electrically conducting material for it to work. That is the reason work gloves made of wool or cotton will not work. They block the signals instead of working with them.

Q: How can I keep my hands warm while in work gloves?
A: When working in a cold climate and your hands start shaking, heated gloves will keep your hands warm. Alternatively, you can use hand warmers, which you should place inside the gloves. The warmers are available in small packages, which heat up after you open the packets and expose them to the air. The warmers will provide several hours of warmth. When you are done, throw them away.

Q: Are work gloves suitable for the gym? My grip suffers because of sweaty palms.
A: No, they are not designed for use in the gym. The market offers workout gloves, which are ideal for the gym. Work gloves will come off if something catches them or pulls them for the user’s safety. Workout gloves are different.

Q: How should I choose the right work gloves size?
A: Selection of the right size of your work gloves is not easy, particularly if you are buying them for the first time. Yet, purchasing gloves of the right size is important. To choose the right size of gloves, start by measuring around your dominant hand’s palm from the base of the first finger around its knuckles. Record the size in inches and use it when shopping for the gloves.

Q: Are all work gloves resistant to cuts?
A: No, not every work glove is resistant to cuts and abrasions. The common cut-resistant work gloves are metal mesh, seamless knit and cut-and-sewn glove varieties.

Q: What are cuffs?
A: Cuffs are the additional fabric layers on work gloves that cover your wrists. The length of cuffs highly depends on the intended application of the glove. A quick example, any work gloves featuring safety cuffs are ideal for people who would want to remove the gloves quickly in case of an emergency. Those with knit wrist cuffs are ideal for workers who need their gloves to offer a snug fit and protect them against debris and inclement weather.

Q: What causes latex allergies? How can I prevent them?
A: Latex allergies are a form of an allergic reaction to natural proteins featured in latex. If you are allergic to latex, you should avoid using latex gloves.

Conclusion

Whether you are an employee in the heavy industries, a homemaker interested in DIY, our work gloves buying guide should help you choose the best products. We use scientific and standardized testing methods to scrutinize products and offer objectively accurate results. The wide choices of work gloves mean that you will always get a perfect one for your application. Keep in mind that the selection of work gloves is not easy, the guide and the list will help you narrow down your playing field and choose wisely.