The Best Heavy Duty Work Gloves for Construction Workers

There are over 1.6 million construction workers in the United States. Each one knows and understands the importance of safety on the worksite. One of the most important pieces of safety equipment is heavy-duty work gloves.

The right pair of gloves will save your hands from injury. So how do you know you have the best pair possible for your hands? They need to use the right materials in the construction, fit your hands, and designed for the type of work you do.

This guide will help you understand your options regarding materials and protection, along with some of the best heavy-duty work glove options.

What Are Heavy-Duty Work Gloves

These durable gloves have unique qualities that enable them to protect your hands from abrasion while also providing you with an improved grip. You should wear them during activities that could injure your hands, such as demolition, masonry, roofing, or the use of power tools. Unlike gloves meant for warmth, these gloves are designed to retain your dexterity.

Different Types and Materials

There are two categories of materials used when constructing work gloves. There are incredibly tough and durable materials used to protect your hands. Then there are the softer and breathable materials used to construct the body of the gloves.

• Shell Construction

Work gloves can use a single material or a combination of two or three materials.

• Leather
• Canvas
• Chore
• Jersey
• Knit

When looking at leather gloves, some use grain, and others use split leather. The grain is the top layer of leather, with the lower split layers removed. This makes the leather thinner, more pliable, and higher quality.

Split leather is the fibrous lower layer that gets removed from the top grain layer. You'll sometimes see it referred to as suede. You'll know you have split leather if it has a rough texture.

Additionally, leather can be made from several animals, including cowhide, deerskin, pigskin, goatskin, and buffalo. There are also some synthetic leather options.

• Protective Coating

Once constructed, some work gloves have a protective coating. These can protect your hands from caustic chemicals or sharp objects.

• Latex
• Neoprene
• Nitrile
• Polyurethane (PU)
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

• Lining and Insulation

Another element to consider is the lining of your work gloves. These provide your hands with extra protection that the basic construction can't give.

• Waterproofing
• Heat and fire protection
• Thermal lining for cold
• Cut resistance

Benefits of Gloves for Construction Workers

The biggest benefit of wearing work gloves is that they protect your hands. The tough and thicker lining on the palm gives your hands increased traction and grip while also protecting your hands from abrasion.

When your gloves have a liner, it gives you increased protection that the glove itself can't provide. If you work in high heat or with an open flame, you need gloves that will keep your hands cool and won't catch fire. Similarly, if you're working outside in winter, you need gloves that will reflect your body heat back towards your hands to help keep them warm.

Prevent these common injuries when wearing high-quality work gloves.

• Amputations
• Abrasions
• Burns
• Bruises
• Cuts
• Chemicals
• Disease
• Friction blisters
• Splinters

1. Leather Palm Gloves

The Shoulder Split Cowhide Leather Palm Gloves are classic looking construction worker gloves. They're affordable and protective, which makes them ideal for someone on a budget.

These protective gloves have split cowhide leather as the outer shell and a cotton palm lining. They have a wing thumb construction to give you more flexibility and dexterity. The rubberized cuff and leather knuckle strap help to make these gloves stand out.

2. Winter Lined Gloves

If you work outdoors in winter, you'll want to wear gloves that keep your hands warm and maintain grip. The Atlas Therma Fit Thermal Insulated Gloves can do this.

These construction work gloves have a grey latex dipped shell palm. Then the inside has thermal insulation to keep your hands warm. What makes these gloves stand out is the seamless cotton liner for increased comfort.

Then the outside coating has a roughed-up finish. This helps you to have a secure grip in both wet and dry conditions.

3. Cut Resistant Gloves

The X-Grip® Gray Polyurethane Palm Coated Glove is a must when working with sharp objects or tools. These gloves use a 13 gauge WoolTran polyester shell with seamless construction.

The protective coating on these gloves gives them high tensile strength while also maintaining a low weight. You'll have protection from cut abrasions and hazardous materials with an ANSI cut level rating of A2. The seamless and ergonomic design of the gloves helps them to be comfortable for long term wear.

4. High Visibility Gloves

Hands that are easily seen are hands that are kept safe. So wearing the Summer Penguin Glove Hi-Vis Yellow Knit glove will help keep you seen and safe.

The shell of the gloves is constructed from an acrylic knit liner in a high visibility yellow. A black wrinkled latex coats the palm to give you a strong grip. You'll find wearing the glove comfortable thanks to the pre-curved fingers.

5. Coated Knit Work Gloves

For the ultimate in protection, the G-Grip Nitrile Embossed Foam Coated gloves are a standout. They have a 13 gauge nylon shell that comfortably hugs your hands. They use blue CoolPlus Polyester.

The palm of the glove has a black nitrile foam coating. This gives you superior grip and abrasion resistance while also being comfortable to wear. You'll notice a significant difference in the dexterity, tactility, sensitivity, and fit of these gloves.

Shop for Your Work Gloves Today

With this guide, you should understand what types of heavy-duty work gloves are available and how they can protect your hands. Start by deciding what type of material you want and if you need an additional protective coating or liner.

Browse our extensive inventory of work gloves and find the best heavy-duty work gloves for your hands.