Everyone needs a good pair of work gloves in their lives.
Unfortunately, finding the best work gloves for you isn’t always easy. High quality pairs are often expensive. Sleazy manufacturers happily fill the market with low quality gloves that fall apart after a couple of mildly arduous tasks, and pairs that are built to last a lifetime are often too expensive for most people to justify.
However, with a bit of intel under your belt, you’ll be able to find yourself some of the best work gloves (or gardening gloves for that matter) around.
Sit back, relax, and come along with me as I take you on a journey through all of the different types of gloves out there, what applications each one of them is best for, and where you’ll be able to get a decent pair for yourself.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves | Best Overall |  |
| NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves | Budget Pick |  |
| Bionic Women's Relief Grip Gardening Gloves | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves
Pros:
- Premium leather
- Kevlar stitching
- Thick lining
- Excellent dexterity
- Thumb protection
Cons:
- Not flame resistant
- A bit small for larger hands
These inexpensive gloves are made from genuine leather and feature a soft ivory lining and stitched Kevlar lining which is resistant to heat and abrasion. It's also got a range of strategically placed padding for added comfort.
The 14 inch model is one of the longest gloves that Lincoln offers.
According to the manufacturer, these gloves are designed with an open finger design which allows for improved dexterity. This is definitely a good thing, as when your hands get too hot you'll need to remove your gloves in order to cool off. With an open-finger design, you can keep weld with no worry that you'll accidentally burn your hands.
2. NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves
Pros:
- High level of protection
- Good grip when handling sharp objects
- Easy to put on and off
- Ambidextrous design
- Offers a full refund if you’re not happy with the product
Cons:
- Sizing runs a little small
- The velcro can be too strong
- Can be slippery if your hands are sweaty
The first of this list is a set of ambidextrous gloves by NoCry, a manufacturer that specializes in cut-resistant gloves.
These gloves are made from a specially designed combination of Kevlar® and Dyneema® fibers that are both lightweight and extremely strong, which guarantees you protection against puncture, cuts, and blows.
Moreover, the material used in NoCry’s gloves is Food Grade, which means that your hands won’t be subjected to any type of chemical that would be hazardous to your health.
3. Mechanix Wear
Pros:
- Gloves designed to be mechanic-specific
- Lined with synthetic leather for tear resistance
- Siliconized grip dots and Abrasion-Resistant Armor
- Tear and cut resistant material
I’m a huge fan of Mechanix gloves. In fact, I’m never seen without them while working on my vehicles.
These gloves have been designed to be used in harsh environments. They’re strong, sturdy, and tough, but they’re not the heaviest gloves in the world. Despite the materials used, they’re breathable, flexible, and comfortable.
If you’re playing in your shed and you don’t want to end up with bruised hands, it’s likely that these gloves will save your skin. If you’re planning to work in a factory, you might need something more heavy duty, but these will work perfectly fine as a secondary set, or even as a one-and-only set.
4. Maxiflex 34-874 Ultimate Nitrile Grip Work Gloves
Pros:
- High quality/good fit
- Long lasting
- Amazing grip
- Completely safe to use around your home
- Comfortable
These Maxiflex UF34-874 Ultimate Nitrile Grip Work Gloves are a decent fit. The grip on the palm is good. The product wasn’t advertised as hot or cold weather gloves, but it is warm in the cooler weather.
These gloves have held up through some tough jobs. The gloves are strong and the palm grips have held up remarkably. They are tough gloves and are perfect for any job. The gel-filled pads on the palm have held up especially well.
The entire glove has good flexibility. All the fingers are treated so that they are thick and tough. The glove has a reinforced body, which is tough.
5. CLC Custom Leathercraft 125M Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves
Black.
The CLC Custom Leathercraft 125M Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves are a top rated, multipurpose glove manufactured by CLC Custom Leathercraft. With these gloves, you will enjoy the benefit of having great dexterity and less weight on your wrists compared to other gloves.
These gloves are made from durable black nylon and not only do they have a nice look, but they also have a nice feel to them. They are highly flexible and allow you to have a better connection with your work.
6. Mechanix Wear
Pros:
- Exceptionally durable
- Firm grip on tools
- Breathable
- Easily washable
- Puncture resistant
- Cut resistant
The Mechanix Wear’s Material 4X is probably the most durable gloves on the market today. The gloves are specially designed to protect your hands from sharp objects and rough surfaces.
Its SafetyCell technology features a proprietary high-performance yarn that’s lightweight and breathable.
The gloves are also tear, abrasion, oil, and solvent resistant. Despite being filled with SafetyCell, the gloves are still light in weight.
7. Mechanics Gloves
Pros:
- Comfortable
- 100% Genuine Leather
- High-quality
- Many color options
- Great for work, auto work, or just hanging around
The reason why we love these affordable work gloves from Prizor is because they’re built to take on some of the toughest tasks. You’re the type of person that’s constantly breaking through walls, moving furniture, doing yard work, and other tough manual work. These gloves are all about comfort, durability, and ruggedness.
8. Winter Work Gloves
Pros:
- Gloves feel and look well made
- Flexible material
- Good flexibility and dexterity
- Great dexterity
- Room for mobility
- Efficient wrist fit system
- They look amazing and fit perfectly
Cons:
- Have a strong smell
- The material feels warm
- The inside of the glove could be better designed
- Gloves are too heavy to use for long periods of time
As someone who works in the electrical field, I personally like the Mechanix Wear gloves. These gloves allow me to work efficiently without compromising my safety. Their construction is great, and they're comfortable to wear. The gloves have great dexterity which is important if you need to do intricate work. And I like that they're touchscreen capable.
In terms of sizing, the gloves come in only one size, however, they seem to run a little small. This is great if you have small hands. They're not too heavy and breathe well. They also keep my hands warm.
These gloves have multiple uses. I can use them in the house, on the go, or while I'm working. I like fastfit technology, which makes it easy to put on and take off the gloves. They work well in the cold. I also like the touchscreen capability of the gloves.
9. Bionic Women's Relief Grip Gardening Gloves
Pros:
- Ultra-soft grip
- Extra-durable leather
- Machine washable
- Highly tactile
- Breathable
- Latex- and sweat-resistant
- Come in multiple sizes and colors
- Can be worn with rings on fingers
- Affordable
Cons:
- Pleather is very thin
- Strap is small
- Velcro snags thin clothing
- Don’t work well for everything
The Bionic Women’s Relief grip gardening gloves are a great value-priced option to consider as the best leather work gloves for women. These gloves provide great value through their affordable price combined with a design that offers protection from blunt force, sharp objects, and the sun.
The Bionic Women’s Relief grip gardening gloves have a 90 percent nylon and 10 percent spandex material which provides for a comfortable fit and breathability. For a pair of leather work gloves, these gloves are surprisingly breathable as most leather gloves feel stuffy.
Extra protection is given to these gloves with a durable leather construction that extends up to the fingers. This gives you extra protection if you accidentally suffer a cut on the fingers.
10. Carhartt Men's The Fixer Spandex Work Glove
Pros:
- Heat sealed seams for added protection and durability
- The spandex finger holes also make these gloves easily bendable and flexible
- Hook-and-loop wrist fastening makes them more easily removable
- Theses gloves are waterproof
Cons:
- They are made of thin materials
- They are not compatible with touch screens
Carhartt gloves are known for their quality work gloves they have. The Fixer is just one more addition in their line of quality gloves. What makes this glove different from the other is its design flexibility.
Because these gloves are made of stretchable spandex material, you don’t have to worry about being restricted to a certain movement that other gloves might impose on you. You can freely move your fingers, pick up objects or anything you want to do without being restricted.
The material in this glove is also waterproof, so you won’t have any problems using this glove when doing jobs that involve water. The fabric is also heat sealed on the seams so you don’t have to worry about it wearing off pretty quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best working gloves?
In order to succeed at whatever your task happens to be, you've got to get the best possible grip on what you're working with. Best work gloves help make that happen.
The best gloves are thick enough to stay in place while still offering enough flexibility to help you perform a variety of intricate tasks. Since you'll probably be wearing them for hours at a time, they should be fairly well ventilated to keep your hands cool. And, since they're meant for heavy use, they should be fairly durable to withstand the many hours of wear and tear you'll put them through.
What are the toughest work gloves?
Our pick for the toughest work glove is the Carhartt Force. These gloves really focus on the four main areas of a work glove: fit, durability, protection, and grip.
In terms of protection, we like how the pre-curved fingers allow for better control and dexterity over most other gloves. Not only are these gloves durable, but they are easy to clean and boast a number of reinforced areas for increased longevity.
In terms of grip, most gloves cheat by using tacky polymer coatings.
The Carhartt Force does not. Instead, it uses a leather mesh covering made with a high quality, high durability leather.
In terms of fit, we especially like how the gloves were designed to be roomy without feeling loose, ensuring easy movement and comfort.
What are the best work gloves for cold weather?
I feel like I should put this warning out there: these particular gloves will keep your hands warm when the weather is under 50 degrees. Anything over 50 and you run the risk of getting hot fingers. When your hands are exposed to cold air, they become very cold very fast. So, if you need to do serious work there's no magic glove that will keep your hands toasty.
Most work gloves are available in both men's and women's styles. The only difference is the fit. As far as sizes go, generally speaking, a medium-sized man will wear a medium-sized glove, and a medium-sized woman will wear a medium-sized glove. For more information, see our article on buying the proper work gloves.
What are the best insulated work gloves?
When working in cold weather you need the best insulated work gloves to reduce the risk of developing any injuries. Ideally, you'll want to be wearing thick work gloves that allow for easy grip and dexterity, while also keeping your hands extremely warm.
Most insulated work gloves will have a thin liner made of fleece, synthetic materials, and/or down feathers. Coated and water resistant work gloves, on the other hand, will be quite thick and bulky. That means they will offer superior protection against your hands getting wet and they can even withstand light rain much better than other work gloves.
Conclusion
We live in a world where products are often built to a price and break down as soon as they’re used. We also live in a world where we often make things more complex than they need to be. When it comes to choosing the right pair of work gloves, it’s not rocket science, although most brands make it seem like that. As consumers, we should value companies who build quality into their products instead of relying on gimmicks to sell crap. These gloves will serve you well for a long time if you just take care of them.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves | Best Overall | |
| NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves | Budget Pick | |
| Bionic Women's Relief Grip Gardening Gloves | Upgrade Pick | |