I used to have leather gloves a long time ago. But they weren't very comfortable (always too loose or too tight). And they were too slippery when using tools, especially shovels, picks and such where a good grip helps. But if I remember correctly, they protected well against splinters.

Recently, I've been using Mechanix gloves. Supposed to be good for working. But I get splinters. I know there are lots of models (and forgot which ones I currently have). But whatever I have don't protect well.

Looking for a recommendation for a gloves:
1) protect against splinters
2) comfortable to wear - some give might be good
3) cool to wear during summers (100F outside)
4) good grip for tools

Any recommendations? Or am I looking at a pair of gloves for working with tools and a different pair for working with wood / splinter risk? Even still, something for the latter would be good.

I haven't found any full finger gloves to be comfortable in summer. I've worn fingerless working chores around the house, and in the field late in the career they were almost mandatory.

Also use the Mecanix style gloves especially working with wood and I've found the bonded synthetic leathers to wear too quickly. I went another direction - the coated palm gloves. Even the lightest ones are highly resistant to splinters in my experience, which is repurposing older framing lumber, handling firewood, chain sawing etc. I generally get reminded to put them back on after getting a splinter. Same for working metal - altering a winch plate etc with a grinder makes for a lot of burrs and splinters, they resist that well, too.

The cheaper six packs of gloves mean you find a pair all over the house which works for me. I have used the much heavier latex coated ones, too - not dipped, with the molded patterns - and they have excellent grip and resist far more than they need to. They get warm over 55F for me.

The Mecanix styles wind up being cold weather gloves in driving jackets so I have something at the lumberyard. The camo ones for hunting, and yeah, they don't resist blackberry, waitaminute or rose thorns at all. We have one pyracantha and have had barberry - heavy leather was almost inadequate against them. I wish I'd hung onto some concertina gloves around them.

Whatever you find for gloves, you might consider 1 1/2" traction tape around the handles where you grip the tools. Some tapes will last forever but dont bother with cheap tape or slippery electrical tapes.

I use these hybrid Mechanix gloves as work gloves. Textured leather on the contact surfaces for protection and grip. Normal Mechanix breathable material on the non-contact surfaces. Best of both worlds.

https://www.mechanix.com/us-en...&cgid=leather-gloves

You might try elkskin work gloves. Good compromise between the toughness of cowhide and the softness (and lack of durability) of deerskin gloves.

Thanks guys. Checking out the suggestions.

I really like these. I use them for everything, including woodworking. They make heavier versions which are too heavy for me. These are lightweight, cool and have some stretch. The coating is grippy for a while but gets less grippy pretty quickly. Still better than bare hands and I'll accept that tradeoff. Splinter protection is certainly not as good as leather, but its adequate. Don't think I have ever gotten a splinter thru these.

Not cheap, and unknown durability for your purpose, but you could look at the PIG FDT Alpha gloves sold by SKD.

I've owned a few pairs, and my experience has been that they meet the criteria of comfortable, cool during the summer, and good grip for sure. I used them them to carry firewood for camping a few times and didn't find any issues, but I can't find any to test the theory right now. I do know they probably won't offer too much in the way of protection if you're, say, woodworking in them, but that's another topic entirely.

They are, however, the bar by which I judge all other gloves for fitment. I've got huge meat hooks, to the point where it's hard to find welding gloves that fit properly (I found some TIG gloves that fit, but MIG and stick are right out uncomfortable). I can have everything else perfect, but the web between the thumb and pointer finger being just the slightest bit cramped is a deal breaker.

I wear pig leather … doesn’t last as quite as long, but superior imo.

Maybe nomex flight gloves? Leather palm, nomex backing. Lightweight, breathable with bonus fire resistance! Example

Wells Lamont leather gloves are your friend.

deer hide are softer but less durable than steer hide.

Pigskin as mentioned are all so pretty good.

Apply a thin layer of Gorilla glue, slide shrink tubing over the area and heat to shrink in place. Shrunk tube is cheap. Now you got more funds for better gloves.. I never have good ideas but I throw them out just the same.

As mentioned, the first thing I thought of was suede palms with cloth backs. Strong and protective and grippy.

I’ve tried deerskin work gloves but they’re too soft and stretch out too quickly. For my uses on the ranch, what the local farm store sells as pigskin driver’s gloves seems to be the bomb. Cowhide is okay, but doesn’t hold up near as well as the pigskin if they get wet.

I’d first look at where the splinters are coming from though, as alluded to by another member. If you’re getting splinters handling crappy old nasty lumber or poky plant material trimmings, fair enough. It sucks, but when you have to work with that kind of stuff that is part of the deal. On the other hand, If you’re getting splinters from your tools, that’s no bueno. In that case I’d start by fixing or replacing the tools. YMMV…

I’ve been pretty happy with the latex dipped gloves.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Mi...48-22-8902/303635833

Atlas makes some as well in an winter weight and normal. They do get sticky if left in a hot car or truck bed but not bad. The Milwaukee are better in that respect and they are thinner. Theses are now my go to gloves for all sorts of stuff, cheap enough to be disposable, great grip, a little cooler than leather but not as tough.

At $5, I have pairs everywhere and have mostly replaced the Mechanix brand.

I have the SKD PIG gloves for shooting and such, I don’t use them for work tasks.

Thanks again guys. I opted to try a pair of leather hybrid Wells Lamont.

White OX Work Gloves. I tried them after I saw this video and they are the only thing I use anymore.

When it comes to tool handles a little sandpaper and treatment would greatly reduce the chance of splinters and it would make your tools last a lot longer.

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When it comes to tool handles a little sandpaper and treatment would greatly reduce the chance of splinters and it would make your tools last a lot longer.

Sorry for the confusion. Tools are not giving me splinters. Use of gloves with tools sometimes is slipper (leather gloves). Good tips to increase the friction on tools.

I'm getting splinters and thorns working with things like wood or bark or thorny things, etc.

So, want gloves with protection, dexterity and traction.

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Originally posted by wingspar:
I tried them after I saw this video

Good to see another Essential Craftsman fan here. What a great YouTube channel.