We have numerous types of work gloves in the market nowadays: nitrile, leather, cotton, fabric-coated, and metal mesh gloves. Each type is designed with unique protective functions and applications.
This article discusses leather palm gloves, which feature leather only in the palm areas and other materials in the backs and fingers. What do leather palm gloves protect you from? The reinforcement protects your palms from abrasion, cuts, punctures, excessive heat, and impact.
With a palm protection glove, you can be more confident handling sharp, heavy objects and working in high-heat procedures. Continue reading to discover more about this special type of PPE.
Table of Contents
What Do Leather Palm Gloves Protect Against?
Leather palmed work gloves come with leather (full grain or split) on the gloves’ palms and other materials, such as cotton or canvas, on the backs, cuffs, and fingers.
These gloves can also feature safety cuffs for extra protection and linings for cold weather. People often wear them to perform landscape maintenance, work at construction sites, herd livestock, or do gardening.
So, Padded Cloth Gloves Protect You From What?
1. Abrasion
Leather is one of the rare materials that can provide abrasion resistance without restricting the wearer’s hands. It can endure the force of rubbing motions without tearing and maintain its construction throughout extensive wear.
You can trust a high-quality pair of gloves with palm protection for safety and wearability when you carry heavy loads or handle metal tools.
2. Cuts and punctures
The manufacturing process of leather – including preparatory stages, tanning, and crusting – makes it one of the strongest and toughest natural materials. It takes a sharp knife to penetrate a piece of leather, and you can barely tear it by hand.
Generally speaking, cowhide has a cut-resistant level of A2, meaning it can withstand 500 grams to 999 grams of cutting load. The actual level depends on the specific thickness and production of the leather.
You can wear leather palm gloves for protection when holding sharp tools, handling glass, and stamping metal.
3. Heat and flames
Though leather is not as heat-resistant as neoprene or silicone, it provides more protection than cloth, cotton, and canvas. 100% authentic leather will shrink when exposed to a temperature of 390°C for more than ten seconds. It starts to melt at 550°C.
The resistance is sufficient to handle many heat-related tasks, such as baking and general car maintenance. The leather palm is also useful for any profession that might contact heat by accident.
In addition, authentic leather doesn’t catch flames due to its pores and natural oil. It might shrink and melt but never start a fire hazard. So, rest assured that leather palmed gloves can protect your hands from heat and flames.
4. Electric shock
Leather is not the main material for protection from electric shock. However, electricians often wear leather protectors over rubber-insulating gloves. It is to shield their hands from sparks, burns, and puncture wounds when working closely with electricity and sharp tools.
Remember that leather itself is not insulating. You shouldn’t use it as an insulator.
5. Impact
Leather has a higher impact absorption rating than other materials of the same thickness. You might have heard that leather phone cases are better than plastic ones. It can absorb more shock if the phone drops.
If your hands accidentally hit a hard object at work, the leather palm helps reduce the pain. It also aids in diminishing hand fatigue when you have to carry heavy loads or hold working tools for extended periods.
Benefits of Leather Palm Gloves
Manufacturers don’t just randomly add leather palms to gloves. They do so to optimize the gloves’ performance while maintaining their protective functions. Here are some benefits of choosing protection palm gloves.
1. Better air circulation
Full-grain leather handwear can feel thick, tough, and unbreathable, especially in hot working conditions. So, manufacturers keep leather only for the palm areas and use more well-ventilated materials for the rest of the gloves.
Leather palm gloves won’t feel as hot and stuffy as regular leather ones, but they can protect your palms from multiple hazards.
2. Lighter weight
Cutting off the leather proportion helps reduce the overall weight of the gloves. Your hands will no longer feel fatigued when wearing gloves for long periods. It also increases comfort and flexibility.
3. Durability
Despite being lightweight and breathable, leather palm gloves last much longer than cotton or canvas ones. It is because the palm – the area that contacts surfaces most often – is made from a sturdy and abrasion-resistant material.
4. Affordability
Leather palm gloves are great alternatives for full-leather ones. They are more affordable, but they still offer necessary protective features. Plus, they are more cost-effective than cotton work gloves considering their durability.
Disadvantages of Leather Palm Gloves
To come up with the wisest decisions, you should know the drawbacks of these gloves. Despite the benefits, they do not fit for mechanical work for the following reasons.
1. Dexterity
The thick and sturdy reinforcement of the palm can hinder your finger movements. You might find it difficult to pick up small tools, tighten bolts and nuts, or perform other dexterous procedures. It is impossible to pick up your phone or write a note while wearing these gloves.
The leather palm can also feel rigid and restricting when you first try the gloves on. You might need one to two weeks to break them in. If the manufacturer adds leather to the fingers, this process will take longer.
2. Oil resistance
Leather doesn’t resist oil; thus, you can’t use them for mechanical work. When motor oil and lubricants penetrate leather palm gloves, they will deteriorate the leather. Plus, they will leave a lingering and unpleasant scent on your gloves.
3. Water resistance
Leather might resist water or not. It depends on the technology manufacturers employ. HydraHyde technology can make leather water-repellent, but it will increase the price of the pair. Meanwhile, you can opt for rubber or microfoam alternatives. They repel water excellently and are available at much lower prices.
Conclusion
All in all, padded leather gloves can guard your palms against rough surfaces, cuts from sharp objects of up to 999 grams, excessive heat under 390°C, and electrical sparks. Sometimes, they are worn on top of rubber-insulating gloves.
That sums up the answer to “What do leather palm gloves protect you from?” We hope this article helped you gain clear insights about this type of PPE and come up with the best decisions for your safety.
Veronica is our content editor. She is a talent in delivery. Her main work is editing and writing articles that are both informative and simple to follow. She is in charge of synthesizing our understanding of what personal protection equipment (PPE) is needed in each job, how to best apply it, and how to visualize that equipment.