When I realized that, in all my years of writing, I never tackled the question of who makes the best work gloves, well…something had to be done. I quickly assembled the Pro Tool Reviews team and we discussed what made one pair of work gloves better than another. I also wanted to cover every key jobsite application. The best gloves for the trades. The best gloves for the money. Leather gloves for landscaping. Gloves for using electronics. Honestly, this article took a long time to write.
Of course, I had to start with my favorite—what I consider to be the best work gloves overall. After much deliberation amongst our office staff, there could be only one choice…
…and it may surprise you.
Our Top Work Glove Picks
Also In This Article
Best Work Gloves Overall
Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves (15-Pack)
What?! Yes, after having tried every kind of work gloves imaginable, I came to a simple conclusion: Fancy, padded work gloves wear out just as quickly as cheap gloves. Plus, they often increase the bulk on your hands while removing the dexterity found in simple fabric nitrile-dipped gloves. For everyday jobsite work, the best work gloves turn out to be a pair of lightweight coated fabric gloves that you can buy in bulk.
I buy the Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves in a 15-pack for about $10. I keep a couple boxes in my work truck—a clean box and a dirty box. When I get to a jobsite, I grab a clean pair. At the end of the day, when they get dirty, they go into the dirty box. At the end of the week, I take the dirty box, toss any ripped or torn pairs, and put the rest in the washing machine.
Not only do these gloves provide ample basic protection, but they also let you pick up stuff like screws. They also work well with touchscreen devices like your smartphone. Other companies add this as a feature. These cheap gloves do it right out of the box…um, literally. And they do it for less than $1/pair.
Trust me, you won’t go back. I have more picks, but they have to do with other applications that might require more than basic protection—so please keep reading!
Key Features
- Nitrile-dipped palms
- Latex-free coating
- Knit wrist construction
Pros
- Super-inexpensive
- Washable
Cons
- Only minimal cut protection
Price: $9.88
Best Gloves for Cut Protection
Milwaukee Cut Level 3 High Dexterity
If you handle sheet metal or work with metal ducts, you know the importance of cut protection. The real question comes down to how much dexterity you want to retain in a trade-off for additional cut protection. The ANSI cut protection levels increase as a factor of pressure more than simple cut resistance for incidental contact. I recommend A3 as a sweet spot for people regularly handling sheet metal or similar materials. A4 offers better cut protection but begins the tipping point for a loss in dexterity.
I particularly like the Milwaukee Cut Level 3 (A3) gloves as they offer excellent protection for light-duty cut resistance while retaining a lot of dexterity. I do these every time I cut up boxes in the shop—which is a weekly occurrence. If the proof is in the pudding, the fact that I put these on each time is a testimony to their convenience.
Grab the A4 high dexterity gloves if you feel you need a bit more protection. They make gloves up to Level 9—so you have some options!
Key Features
- Reinforced Nitrile Coating Between Thumb and Index Finger
- Lighter, breathable construction
- ANSI Cut Level 3
- Smartswipe Touchscreen Compatible Fingertips
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Washable
Cons
Price: $11.97; $131.97 (12-pack)
Also Recommended
Best Work Gloves for Hot Weather
Ironclad EXOT Tactical Operator Impact Glove
I picked the Ironclad EXOT Series Tactical Operator Impact gloves as the best work gloves for hot weather for a number of reasons. Clearly, you can go with thinner, breathable materials for summer gloves if you don’t need much protection. However, if I want protective work gloves that breathe—Ironclad Tactical Operator gloves make a lot of sense.
These gloves incorporate a breathable back that lets air flow where needed (and evacuates heat). You also get a handy terry cloth sweat wipe on the back of the thumb. The synthetic leather doesn’t shrink, so you can toss these gloves in the wash when needed. Finally, they offer this glove in a version with touchscreen capacitance capability so you can use your smartphone.
And these tactical gloves also just look plain cool!
Key Features
- Synthetic Leather
- Back-of-hand TPR impact protection
- Terry cloth sweat Wipe
- TPR cuff puller
- Vibration-reducing reinforced palm
- TPR hook and loop closure
Pros
- Breathable
- Excellent protection
Cons
- Less dexterity than some other gloves for fine manipulation
Price: $24.99
Also Recommended
Best Work Gloves for Winter
Milwaukee Winter Performance Gloves
Milwaukee Winter Performance Gloves put their focus on general protection and warmth. They include a reinforced layer between the thumb and index finger and a nylon pull loop for easy removal. With 60g of insulation, these gloves handle the cold better than most.
More than that, they acknowledge that, when you work, you also tend to sweat—even when the outside temps are low. For that, Milwaukee includes their terry cloth sweat wipe on the thumb. You also get a handy SmartSwipe section on the knuckle that lets you access your phone or tablet without taking off your gloves.
Key Features
- Waterproof and windproof layer
- 60 g layer of insulation
- Smartswipe Knuckle & durable layer between thumb & index finger
- Waterproof/windproof layer
Pros
- Excellent warmth
- Integrated terry cloth wipe
- Washable
Cons
Price: $30.97
Also Recommended
Best Work Gloves for Electricians
Youngstown FR Fire-rated Leather Gloves
When it comes to picking the best work gloves for electricians, a couple of things come to mind. First off—I’m not recommending insulated gloves for linemen. Those are very specialized and rarely do you have much choice on those.
Instead, I focused on the residential and commercial electrician running lines in homes, warehouses, and other industrial applications.
Electricians need gloves that aren’t too thick and which can still pick up screws. You want protection, but not at the expense of being able to get your hands around tools and do the job. Real leather gloves also perform well when pulling cable, stripping wires, or simply using the hand tools of the trade. For that reason, I like the Youngstown FR Fire-rated Leather Gloves with Kevlar cut protection. Wait—leather and Kevlar? Yes, please.
As an all-around glove, these provide everything from basic arc flash protection to cut resistance and general durability when working with cables and wire. A pair runs you about $60, but they seem to hold up well.
Key Features
- 3D construction for finger dexterity
- Arc Rating 37 cal/cm²
- Cut-resistant ANSI/ISEA 105 Level A4
- Kevlar
Pros
- Durable design
- Excellent dexterity
- Soft!
Cons
Price: ~$60
Also Recommended
Best Work Gloves for Handling Wood
Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves (15-pack)
The best work gloves for handling wood should be good for splinters without losing the tactile feel needed for tools and fasteners. I again go back to my Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves. They do a great job covering most general construction work. That includes handling lumber and most of the power and hand tools I use.
Am I overdoing it by including these twice in our list? Nope. Once you jump on board with inexpensive nitrile-coated gloves I think you’ll get hooked. At $10 for the 15-pack, I sure did.
Editor’s Note: Don’t wear gloves when operating table and miter saws. Gloves can get snagged in a blade since they extend further than your hand. Once snagged, they can pull your hand into the blade and cause serious injury. It’s much better to operate these tools with your bare hands. Similarly, you also want to avoid wearing loose-fitting gloves while running circular saws.
Key Features
- Abrasion- and water-resistant
- Knit wrist
- Latex free
Pros
- Super-inexpensive
- Washable
Cons
- Only minimal cut protection
Price: $9.88
Best Work Gloves for Landscaping
Milwaukee Leather Performance Gloves
For landscaping, nothing beats a nice pair of leather gloves. You want something that can handle thorns—at least I do when working around my holly bushes. And don’t get me started about bougainvilleas! For this, I would normally recommend a standard gardening goatskin glove from any number of suppliers. They usually cost about $24. But then Milwaukee leather performance gloves came out. And, well, I’m a tool guy—so why not have a glove that does double duty at the same price?
Some of the toughest leather (for gloves) comes from goats. Consequently, I love goatskin leather gloves. They maintain a less porous surface than most, and they resist abrasions and punctures. That makes them perfect for most gardening and landscaping.
These gloves really let you feel what you’re working on. You also get built-in SmartSwipe touchscreen-compatible knuckles and a built-in terry cloth sweat wipe. When these Milwaukee Leather gloves came out, I thought they’d cost a whole lot more. At around $26/pair, you really can’t go wrong.
Key Features
- Hook and Loop Wrist Closure
- Smartswipe touchscreen compatible knuckles
- Webbing Pull Loop
Pros
- Great value for leather
- Excellent dexterity
- Integrated terry cloth wipe
Cons
Price: $25.97
Best Work Gloves for Using Smart Devices
GRX PalmWick Nitrile Coated Gloves
GRX Palwick 733 gloves from Lowes offer above-average performance when using screens. They also deliver ANSI A3 cut protection—which is a nice perk. Even when I messed up these gloves with dirt and sawdust, they continued to let me answer my iPhone and even send short text messages without major issues.
These $11 gloves have performed better than some gloves that claim, specifically, to work well with touchscreens and smart devices!
Key Features
- Cut level 3
- Oil- and grease-resistant
- Reinforced thumb
- Lightweight, breathable liner
Pros
- Perfect blend of dexterity and cut-protection
- Great value
Cons
Price: $10.98
Best Work Gloves for the Money
Klein Tools 60188 Leather Work Gloves
While I clearly favor nitrile work gloves overall, I have to butt in and talk about another pair of gloves I enjoy. I lean toward disposable gloves for saving money, but the Klein Tools 60188 Leather Work Gloves fit really well and have become a favorite. I also love the goatskin leather combined with the breathable back and padded palm. You can also access your smartphone to take a call or navigate a website—even though Klein doesn’t advertise this as a feature.
At less than $26/pair, they aren’t the cheapest gloves you can buy, but mine have lasted for months. I love the fit and feel, and they function as my go-to gloves when I just want a bit more protection than my nitrile gloves provide.
Key Features
- Pro-grade goatskin leather
- Knuckle/finger protection with PVC guards
- EVA foam padding on palms
- Breathable mesh backing
- Leather thumb reinforcement
Pros
- Excellent value (duh!)
- Very breathable for all-day use
- Surprisingly good touchscreen performance
Cons
Price: $25.99
Other Work Gloves From Manufacturers We Trust
DeWalt Work Gloves
DeWalt licenses a nice pair of adult work gloves with some decent impact padding on the back and a hook-and-loop wrist closure. They aren’t fancy, but for those of you who like to wear your colors (you know who you are) these make a great overall construction glove. Expect to pay around $20/pair.
Price: $21.99
Makita FitKnit Work Gloves
While they don’t offer a lot of protection, the Makita FitKnit A1 gloves deliver basic cut resistance and abrasion resistance. The nitrile coating is nice for resisting oils, and the $10 price is hard to beat (but you can if you shop competitively.)
Price: $9.99
Ironclad Heavy Utility Work Gloves
Ironclad makes much more colorful and vivid gloves, but I like the washable and durable HUG models. At $20/pair you want these gloves to last—and they do. They also come with basic knuckle protection and an integrated terry cloth wipe.
Price: ~$20
Mechanix Wear Covert Tactical Work Gloves
Who doesn’t want a pair of “covert tactical” gloves? Regardless of whether you’re planning an op to steal the nuclear codes from North Korea or simply trying to remodel a bathroom, these gloves are a great choice. They breathe well, let you use your touchscreen phone, and (my favorite) are machine-washable.
Price: ~$20
Best Work Gloves Buying Guide
When shopping for the best work gloves you need to look at several key areas. We always start with the big ones and work our way down.
Why Wear Work Gloves?
Before you pick a pair of work gloves, figure out why you want them. It may be a job requirement, or it may be for protection. Then you have to figure out what you need protection from. Impacts? Cuts? What material are you handling? Do you need several pairs for different applications or a glove that serves multiple purposes?
Asking these questions helps set up the right work gloves for you. You can’t simply take someone’s recommendation. A glove that protects your palm from being crushed but lets your fingers get sliced by sheet metal does you no good! Consequently, cut protection on its own may not “cut it” either (pun intended).
Work Glove Material
We love the fact that work gloves now come in various materials. To include everything would require its own article. For now, realize that gloves come in various types of leather, synthetic blends, woven fabrics, and other materials that include rubber, nitrile, latex, and vinyl. Some combine these materials to achieve various goals.
The material only matters insofar as it serves to provide the grip, protection, and feel that you need. Doctors don’t operate with leather gloves! In the same manner, you need a material that provides cut protection when handling certain materials. Nitrile (alone) doesn’t stop the sharp metal edge of AC ductwork from cutting you.
A great example is gardening. Leather rules the day here, but synthetic products now exist that offer similar puncture, tear, and cut protections that didn’t exist even 10 years ago. These bring a potential for more breathable gloves for when you need to work in hotter climates (like Florida!)
Cut Protection
If you haven’t already, check out our article on ANSI cut ratings for an explanation of cut protection levels. When handling sheet metal, HVAC duct, roofing metals, or similar items, you need a glove that provides cut protection. Just how much depends on the job or the kind of work you do.
Newer gloves combine materials like Kevlar and similar products into woven fabrics to provide cut protection alongside breathability. We also see those gloves getting the nitrile-coating treatment so they deliver even more protection and grip.
Impact Protection
One thing our top recommendation for the best work glove doesn’t provide is much impact resistance. For that, you need to go with something that has PVD-reinforced padding on the back of the work glove. The best-padded work gloves also tend to include reinforcements for the thumb and palm. These gloves work well when you need to deal with heavier items that might crush or otherwise impact your hand or fingers while working.
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