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In this post, we wish to inform the reader of some key factors to consider when it comes to buying the best work gloves and safety gloves for construction. This is important information to know for multiple reasons. Having the right glove for the construction industry application you need it for can greatly improve your work performance and protect your hands at the same time. These are the main reasons for using construction work gloves in the first place.

You always want to keep your hands in gloves with a comfortable fit and keep them dry when you’re working. Just ask anyone who’s ever had to mix mortar in cold weather or swing a hammer all day with a cheap pair of split leather palm gloves. No matter how tough we are mentally and physically it’s human nature for us to avoid physical pain. So it’s only common sense that you’ll get a lot more work done with a pair of comfortable well-protected hands than you ever will with a pair of cold, blistered, red chafed hands.

You also want to keep your hands fully protected from any one of the many elements that can hurt them when you’re working such as cold weather, cuts, and abrasions. Whether you’re swinging a hammer, installing a toilet main, digging a ditch, or replacing an engine you’ll want gloves that will keep your skin safe, comfortable, and protected whilst you perform that task to the best of your ability.

This guide will focus on three main areas:

  • What matters most in choosing the best gloves
  • How to choose the best work gloves for your industry
  • Top 10 picks for the best work gloves for the construction industry

What matters most in choosing the best gloves.

No matter what the specific application for the gloves are there are some key factors that apply to all gloves universally. First off, they need to fit right. Having gloves that are too small will cause discomfort and restrict movement. Having gloves that are too large or that stretch too much won’t feel right either and that excess space will undoubtedly rub against your skin the wrong way and leave you with blisters. Try to look for a glove that fits you well enough that you don’t feel the need to keep taking them off between tasks. Whether you’re buying really high-quality Mechanix wear gloves or cotton jersey work gloves you should always look for the best fit and try to choose ones that have really good elastic cuffs or some type of closure strap that keeps them secure on your hands. This is especially important with winter work gloves.

Secondly, they need to protect your hands as much as possible. There are different levels of padding and different materials that will give you different levels of protection. For instance, leather is going to be the best choice for protection against abrasion while the choice in padding thickness will play a role in cutting down on fatigue. If you’re working outside in a cold environment you’ll want to choose thermal gloves that are properly lined for the winter and preferably waterproof. Nothing beats actual experience to determine which gloves offer the most protection but those are some good reference points.

Lastly, you’ll want to get the most bang for your buck. If you are supplying these gloves for your workers you obviously don’t want to waste money on them by supplying more than what is needed. A lot of companies use disposable gloves when it comes to hand protection. Nitrile gloves are quite popular also as they are a little more abrasion-resistant. This doesn’t mean that you should only look for the best price as that can be a bit misleading as to the true value. For instance, you can buy brown jersey gloves for .89 cents a pair or $2.99 a pair and it would seem obvious which ones to buy right? Not necessarily. If you look a little deeper you’ll discover many key factors such as their weight and do they provide comfort. What does this glove feature exactly? Are they 8oz or 10oz? Are they flame resistant? Do they have strong elastic cuffs that don’t wear out easily? What kind of lining do they have if they are lined? Are they machine washable and if so, do they retain their original form so you can keep using them?

A pair of string knit work gloves that you buy for .89 cents, use once and throw away doesn’t match a better pair of tear-resistant gloves that are three times more expensive but feel much better, protect you better, and last 10 times longer. Focus on saving money over time if your crew is going to actually take care of what you give them. If your turnover rate of construction gloves is very high due to your guys’ rough usage or just simply losing them a lot then you’ll obviously have to take this into consideration as well.

How to choose the best work gloves for your industry

The type of labor you’re doing on a construction site as well as practicality is going to be the best indicator for what type of personal protective gloves you’ll need. For example, if you’re running a landscaping or framing crew or something similar that deals with the outdoor elements and you have a lot of workers your consumption rate is going to be way higher. You don’t really need expensive top-grade gloves here as your guys are going to burn thru them or lose them at a higher rate and you’ll more than likely be replacing them quite often. Your best bet here would be to go with some good palm coated work gloves for better gripping strength. These seem to be the best option for price and performance. This will depend greatly upon how many of your construction workers or employees wear gloves and the rate at which the gloves are being consumed.

If your construction industry work deals with any type of chemicals or oily and greasy surfaces such as plumbing or sewer work you’ll want to choose a chemical-resistant rubber type of glove or gloves that have oil-resistant rubber palms and fingers. There are different variations and gas gloves out there such as smooth palm or rough textured palm and dotted palms depending on the grip you want. There’s even a brand of safety gloves with excellent cut resistance called ‘’The Ugly Glove’’ made specifically for this purpose. They are heavy-coated and puncture-resistant. If your work is in the cold leather gloves and split leather working gloves are ideal as they protect very well, are very durable and remain flexible. Again this will depend upon the end-user as to which gloves are the best for your needs.

If your industry is a little more precise or technical such as doing motor work or electrical work you’ll want something like a foam nitrile that offers very good protection but allows you full dexterity all the way to your fingertips. If the price is not a factor it’s better to go with some form of leather driver gloves or a synthetic leather glove or Mechanix wear style gloves with a leather palm. There are quite a few options out there including padded, lined or unlined, fingerless, insulated gloves for high voltage, etc. Not to mention the different types of specific welding and metal fabrication gloves. We will offer a few suggestions on these in the next section.

There are also different types of leather work gloves that are suited for different applications. If you’re doing a lot of manual labor you’ll want to go with a leather grain cowhide with a safety cuff. Buffalo and goatskin are great tight grip work gloves also. All perform well against cut and abrasion damage and rough usage with cowhide being the most cost-effective, buffalo being the toughest and goatskin being the strongest and most pliable. Ironclad heavy utility gloves are a great example. At the other end of the spectrum, you have the softer more flexible leathers such as pigskin which doesn’t harden or stiffen when wet, deerskin which does the same but is a little lighter keeping your hands less sweaty or sheepskin which is the softest and most comfortable leather that is sensitive to the touch. These make for the best leather drivers gloves.

Top 10 picks for the best work gloves for the construction industry

Here are our top 10 picks for the best work gloves. Whatever the application, you’ll find it here!

#1 CAIMAN MECHANICS GLOVES

     These are some really tough knuckle protection gloves with all the benefits you’d expect at the most competitive price.

#2 SHUBEE UGLY GLOVES

    These are the best plumbers and utility work gloves on the market period!

#3 GRIP FIT PALM GLOVES

    These are the best general-purpose rubber latex coated work gloves and have 3 different   styles to choose from

#4 N-TECH NITRILE PALMS GLOVES

    These coated work gloves offer better resistance than rubber and have 3 different styles to choose from.

#5 ATLAS NITRILE COATED GLOVES

    Same as above but fully launderable, very popular with landscapers

#6 DUBARRY SUPER RUGGED HEAVY DUTY RUBBER GLOVES

   These are very rugged and particularly popular with masons and tile contractors

#7 ELITE GRIP TOUCH SCREEN FRIENDLY MECHANICS GLOVES

   Great mechanics gloves with touchscreen-friendly fingertips so you don’t miss any calls.

#8 CAIMAN ULTRA HEAVY DUTY 21 INCH SPECIALTY WELDING GLOVES

   If you’re looking for the best in welding gloves, look no further.

#9 ELITE” NITRILE GLOVES

  These are about the best value out there

#10 CAIMAN PIGSKIN WATERPROOF MECHANICS GLOVES

  A very breathable and durable cold-weather option

We hope that this guide has been helpful to you and hope that you use this information to choose the gloves that are the right fit for you.