To understand how to choose good work gloves you must always consider the type of activity that will take place. For example, if you need to protect your hands for activities such as gardening or for do-it-yourself homework, you probably won’t have to focus on high-cost professional gloves, but just buy gloves with specific characteristics.
As for gardening, the most important factor is resistance to punctures and cuts as the thorns of the flowers could injure you or you could accidentally hurt yourself while using shears or other cutting tools.
Right here we had selected the best work gloves for you that are listed below.
Work Gloves Buyer Guide
As for the do-it-yourself, on the other hand, the choice of gloves that allow free movement of the fingers without significantly reducing the strength of the grip is fundamental, thus guaranteeing the simple use of small tools.
Based on The Job
If, on the other hand, you need gloves for professional reasons, then you will have to evaluate the risks you run in the workplace. Those who carry out construction activities.
Therefore in the open air, must opt for breathable, resistant gloves and, if you find yourself working even in winter or at the mercy of atmospheric agents, also waterproof and with an internal lining able to keep the hands.
These are specific requirements that not all gloves comply with, so remember to carefully analyze the technical data sheet of each individual product, also help you with our reviews, to find out whether or not the gloves are right for you.
Synthetic Fabrics or Real Leather?
The former has the advantage of being cheaper and often allow you to move your hand very precisely since they are more adherent and specifically designed to be able to use touch screens such as those of smartphones and tablets.
However, they do not always guarantee the same resistance as leather gloves. The latter, in fact, especially those made with treated pig leather, have a long life, protect against cuts and abrasions as well as acting as a good barrier against wind and rain.
However, they are not the hottest on the market, proving to be unsuitable for those who work in cold environments where temperatures can drop quickly even below freezing.
The best pair of work gloves ever, therefore, does not exist and you have to establish what your priorities are.
Certified Gloves
In some cases, it is important to choose your gloves also on the basis of European certifications. In fact, the Community establishes standards to which producers must comply if they want their PPE to be considered, for example, thermal or cut-resistant or suitable for specific jobs.
Generally, it is necessary to verify that the manufacturer specifies that the gloves fall within EN 388, 420, and 511.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Do You Use Work Gloves?
Work gloves can be used in any situation, from simple home-made chores to specialized ones. If in the first case, however, you are not obliged to wear them and it is a simple precautionary measure, in some working environments gloves are considered real PPE, or personal protective equipment.
In this case, however, they will be chosen by their employer based on the type of protection required. For example, gloves that protect against cold, heat, cuts, or perforations may be needed.
If you have to personally choose your gloves, however, it is very important to establish the intended use. For more information, you can take a look at our buying guide that you find above.
How Often to Change Work Gloves?
The replacement of work gloves, if they do not come into contact with substances that will corrode them or alter their properties in the long run, is attributable to personal comfort, especially if we are talking about gloves that are used at home for jobs of various kinds.
If there is a hole, however small, or a seam begins to open, it may be time to replace it, to avoid accidents potentially harmful to your ends. However, before purchasing a new pair, you will be able to make your own assessments and suspend home activities until the purchase of additional gloves.
In the case of PPE, i.e. personal protective equipment, it could be a little more complex. In such situations, in fact, it would be advisable to immediately report to your employer the need to replace gloves, even if they present a slight imperfection, a small minor tear, or similar elements.
How to Wash Work Gloves?
Work gloves also need a good clean from time to time, but how can you perform the procedure without damaging them and preserving their materials and durability? In reality, a lot depends on the gloves and although some can be safely washed in the washing machine, for others it would be advisable to carry out a hand wash.
Generally, they can be immersed in lukewarm water, with a temperature not exceeding 40 ° centigrade. Using other gloves, possibly high up to the elbow, wash the work gloves using ordinary soap, rubbing well so that dirt and potentially harmful materials are removed.
It is very important to wear gloves to wash them since if the work gloves absorb harmful particles, protecting your hands during your daily tasks, you need to remove them properly before you can put them on again.
After washing, sensitive areas such as those that protect against cuts or heat may experience premature deterioration. Before using them again, it is recommended to carry out use tests to check their integrity.
How to Use Work Gloves?
After deciding which work gloves to buy, you will have to understand how to use the best and, above all, how to take care of them so that they do not deteriorate earlier than expected.
Work gloves are often included in PPE, i.e. personal protective equipment, which is mandatory in many working environments where risks to hands deriving from sharp objects, too high or too low temperatures, perforations, and so on cannot be excluded.
It is therefore extremely important to wear them correctly, avoiding that there is space between the tip of the finger and that of the glove or by closing the cuff adequately so that these cannot be inadvertently removed.
If the cuff does not provide any closure, you can use coupled work sleeves, usually used to protect the forearms. It is not uncommon to see them in places where they can come into contact with toxic substances.
Test Your Gloves Often
Sometimes there may be small holes, tears, seams that are about to give way. These are all potentially dangerous situations that could cause the protection that gloves should provide during work to be lost.
To avoid such problems, it would be good to check them, from time to time, carefully, expanding the fabric in the areas that seem most worn to verify that they are not about to give way.
Leather gloves will certainly have thinner areas but to prevent them from cracking, thus losing their protective qualities, you can apply industrial creams specifically designed to hydrate the gloves and keep them efficient for long periods.
Wash
Cleaning gloves is important not only from an aesthetic point of view but also to remove potentially harmful dust for the organism that can accumulate on the surface of the gloves, especially if you work in environments where it is necessary to also use gas masks or other PPE.
The washing of these gloves must be carried out precisely and cannot be simply put in the washing machine. It is therefore advisable to carry out a hand wash, immersing them in a basin of water with special detergents, perhaps wearing another pair of disposable gloves to protect your skin from residues that the former could release.
Replacement
As much as you take care of your gloves, know that the time will come when you will have to replace them with a brand new pair. Over time they lose resistance, impermeability to solvents, and elasticity, exposing you to risks that it would be better not to take.
The best way to prepare for the event is to opt for savings packs that include at least three pairs of gloves. Although compared to other professional products they may last a little less, you will ensure that you have a supply that can last for several months.
