5 Best Work Gloves
Contractors work with many tools, but the most important and invaluable among them? Their hands.
If you’re a professional builder, you know just how important it is to keep your hands protected.
Here are the best work gloves based on their grip, level of protection, and comfortability.
Best Work Gloves
Our picks for the best work gloves include:
- SHOWA 300L-09 Atlas Fit 300 Gloves
- Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves
- G&F Products Latex Double-Coated Work Gloves
- CLC Custom Leathercraft 124L Workright Flex Grip Work Gloves
- Mechanix Wear Covert Tactical Work Gloves
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SHOWA 300L-09 Atlas Fit 300 Rubber-Coated Gloves
As someone who does their work outdoors, you have to work in all kinds of weather. With this in mind, the grip on these SHOWA 300L-09 Atlas Fit 300 Gloves is well-suited for work in both dry and wet conditions.
These seamless gloves are designed to be lightweight and feature an elastic wrist to keep them securely where they need to be. They also are ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue.
They’re made from a stretchy cotton-polyester blend that makes them comfortable and breathable, featuring a rubber coating on the palms and fingers to provide superior grip. They are a great choice for men’s work gloves or women’s work gloves.
The work gloves are also machine-washable, making it easy to keep them clean after long days of repeated use.
Pros
- Ergonomic design to reduce fatigue
- Rubber coating for wet and dry grip
- Machine-washable for easy cleaning
- Seamless design for added comfort
Cons
- Sized too large for smaller hands
- Can leave an unpleasant scent even after washing
Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves
The part of your hands that are under the most stress during jobs is the knuckles. To reduce knuckle fatigue and risk of injury, these Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves come with thermoplastic rubber knuckle guards.
They are insulated enough to keep your hands warm in the winter, even in wet conditions like snow, making them the best winter work gloves. They are also breathable enough to not make hands sweaty after long use.
Here are a few things that reviewers had to say about them:
“I have handled concrete, shingles, dirt, rocks, tools, logs, mud, you name it. They are dirty, but otherwise unscathed. For half the price of other gloves, color me impressed. UPDATE: it’s now a month and a half since my review, still going strong with no wear.” -Nick, 5-star review on Amazon.
“They are even warm when sodden – I wear them whitewater canoeing in very cold water and they are great, like wet suit gloves, but with abrasion protection. I have a stock pile of them in my wardrobe in case Iron Clad stop making them!” -Ruth H., 5-star review on Amazon.
Pros
- Keep hands warm and dry
- Adjustible straps for better fit
- Thermoplastic rubber knuckle guards to reduce fatigue
- Terrycloth sweat wipe to prevent clammy hands
Cons
- Complaints of lack of durability in finger stitching
- Not enough protection from heat
G & F Products – 3100L-DZ-Parent Latex Double-Coated Work Gloves
As the best-selling work gloves on Amazon, the G&F Products Latex Double-Coated Work Gloves are clearly popular for a reason.
They are made of a stretchy knit fabric that’s breathable, then double-dipped in a latex coating for heavy-duty grip. This double-coating also protects your hands from abrasions and moisture.
Coming in a bulk pack of 12, you can throw a pair of these gloves anywhere and never have to worry about forgetting your gloves at home when on a worksite again.
Here’s what reviewers love about these work gloves:
“Good quality gloves and a real bargain. I get through a lot of these, cheap ones usually last no time at all but these are as rugged as much more expensive examples and having so many means I’ve always got a dry pair.” -Slimpickins, 5-star review on Amazon.
“These are thick enough to keep your hands warm on a cold day but not so thick that you lose the ability to use your hands. The price was great! I’m still on my first pair. It’s been 4 months. I’ll have these for years. Very waterproof. Very gripping. They also don’t stretch out like other gloves. Still fit like new.” -Jonathan Teague, 5-star review on Amazon.
Pros
- Bulk pack contains 12 pairs of gloves
- Double-coated latex takes longer to wear down
- Knit blend for comfort and flexibility
- Moisture-resistant
Cons
- Latex wears down faster than other gloves on this list
- Not as good at protecting hands from cold or hot weather
CLC Custom Leathercraft 124L Workright Flex Grip Work Gloves
When you’re working under conditions where your gloves are likely to become wet, there’s often the possibility that your gloves may harden or even shrink. With the CLC Custom Leathercraft 124L Workright Flex Grip Work Gloves, you don’t have to worry about either of those issues.
These gloves offer both security and flexibility with a spandex blend and Lycra side panels, you have a full range of motion and dexterity when working with any variety of tools and materials. They also come with elastic straps that you can adjust to ensure a snug fit.
These are some glowing reviews from users of these work gloves:
“Overall, I can’t say enough about these gloves. If you’re like I was and going through work gloves like water, buy these now.” -Wayne, 5-star review on Amazon.
“Great gloves. Have used them about a week now, and they are very tactile with a good cushion for handling both hammer and nail gun.” -Papa Bob, 5-star Review on Amazon.
Pros
- Spandex and Lycra allow for excelletn dexterity
- Shrink-resistant and do not harden in wet conditions
- Breathable weave knit for ventilation
- Padded knuckle area for added protection
Cons
- Sized small
- Not as durable as others on this list
Mechanix Wear: The Original Covert Tactical Work Gloves
Though their name sounds like they would be created for use by superspies (which they just might be), the Mechanix Wear Covert Tactical Work Gloves are just as effective for those working in construction.
They are made of a form-fitting Trek Dry material designed to keep your hands dry, comfortable, and cool during the hot summer months.
Another unique feature that these gloves have to offer is touchscreen-friendly fingertip pads designed to enable use on your electronic devices while wearing your gloves.
A few things reviewers had to say about these gloves:
“The thermal plastic rubber velcro closures are very limber, well made and unobtrusive. Don’t even know they are there. Good dexterity which should get better as I break them in. Very pleased with the purchase and gloves are very modestly priced and top-notch. Will certainly buy more.” -NewsEditor, 5-star review on Amazon.
“These are fantastic! I wear them on duty, at times in 30 degree or colder weather. They are suprizingly warm for how thin they are. Having said that, they breathe well so your hands don’t end up sweaty and cold.” -Tom, 5-star review on Amazon.
Pros
- Trek Dry material to keep roofers’ hands cool and dry from sweat
- Touchscreen-friendly fingertips
- Insulated to keep hands warm in cold weather
- Good dexterity for maneuvering roofing tools
Cons
- Inside seams are not well-stitched
- Not waterproof
What Are Work Gloves?
Work gloves are gloves that have special features designed to make them ideal for keeping your hands safe while handling sharp or rough materials.
They can be made from a variety of materials including cotton, rubber, and latex. They protect your hands from cuts and punctures and also provide increased grip to keep materials securely in hand during projects.
Are Work Gloves Worth It?
Gloves are an important part of safety for anyone who handles sharp, hazardous materials all day.
Here are a few more specific reasons why it’s worth it to get a pair of reliable gloves.
Safety and Protection
Most importantly, work gloves offer a level of protection and safety that bare hands do not.
Tiles, nails, nail guns and hammers, wood, and metal have sharp edges and rough textures that tear up your hands after a time. This can lead to injury and can even put you out of commission for a bit if your wounds are too serious.
Work gloves keep your hands and fingers safe from cuts and tears that would otherwise arise from projects.
Comfort
Aside from the dangers of injury, work gloves can also protect hands from the regular wear and tear that construction causes.
They reduce the friction between your hands and roofing supplies, preventing callouses. They sometimes also wick away moisture, allowing you to avoid sweaty palms.
Better Grip
The smooth (sometimes sweaty) surface of bare hands only offers so much grip, causing you to grip harder than necessary just to keep hold of your materials.
Gloves have a rougher texture made from materials that have better gripping ability, allowing for a more secure hold on tools, wood, tile, and metal.
More Roofing Tools and Equipment
We’ve used our industry expertise, partnerships, and analysis to find the absolute best roofing tools and equipment online. If you liked this post on the best roofing shoes, consider checking out some of our other guides to find top products.
- Roofing CRM Software – Read guide
- Roofing Hammers – Read guide
- Roofing Harnesses – Read guide
- Roofing Knives – Read guide
- Roofing Nail Guns – Read guide
- Roofing Shoes – Read guide
- Solar Powered Attic Fans – Read guide
- Hard Hats – Read guide
- Safety Goggles – Read guide
- Tape Measures – Read guide
Summary
To keep your hand safe and protected, find a high-quality pair of work gloves from this list to make your next job easier.