Buyer's Guide

Work Glove Constructions & Protection Ratings Explained

Compare glove materials, construction details and product-specific ratings before choosing your specification.

Last updated: October 2026 4 min read

Construction Is Not a Protection Rating

Material names, price tiers and a glove’s appearance describe different things. Economy, mid-range and premium are commercial labels, not standardised protection levels. They cannot establish cut, abrasion, heat, chemical or impact performance.

Use the catalogue to identify a construction. Then review the exact product specification, marking and applicable test documentation against the task and destination-market requirements.

Leather Palm & Driver Constructions

Leather-palm gloves combine a leather working face with a textile back and may include knuckle strips or reinforcement patches. Driver-style constructions use different leather panels, thumb patterns and wrist profiles. Split leather and grain leather describe surfaces, not a tested safety grade.

Compare where the leather is placed, which hide is specified, the cuff shape and the fit. Start with the leather work glove range, then discuss the task and sample requirements.

Coated, Knit & Mechanic-Style Constructions

A coating may cover the palm and fingers or the complete glove. Specify its chemistry, coverage, texture and liner. A black coating is not enough to distinguish PU from nitrile, and a dotted working face does not establish a particular grip rating.

Mechanic-style gloves combine synthetic-leather working faces, textile backs and model-specific panels. Raised back-hand details do not by themselves establish impact protection. Browse coated constructions and mechanic-style gloves by GE reference.

Gauntlets, Reinforcement & Coverage

An extended cuff changes coverage; a palm patch changes the construction at a particular wear area. Neither is proof of a heat, cut or chemical rating. Check thumb movement, seams, cuff opening and compatibility with sleeves and other equipment during sample review.

For welding and other hazard-specific work, identify the process and required standard before selecting from the gauntlet range. Product naming is a browsing aid, not a substitute for matching the complete specification to the work.

Match Documentation to the Actual Product

Record the work task, contact materials, environmental conditions, required dexterity and foreseeable hazards. Request documentation tied to the selected model and its final construction. A test report for one material or model does not automatically cover another colour, reinforcement layout or substituted component.

Our standards and documentation guide explains the information to request. Qualified workplace safety personnel should assess suitability for the intended task.

Approve the Specification Before Bulk

Use the GE code to anchor the enquiry, then document materials, reinforcement, cuff, dimensions, size run, labels and packaging. For range displays, identify the design and quantities for each variant.

Review samples for the agreed construction and fit. Any relevant performance documentation must correspond to the final specification. Track replacement frequency under actual use rather than assuming that a higher price or a “premium” label means longer life.

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Talk To Our Team

Have questions about your specific application? Talk to our team.

Every job site is different. If you need help choosing the right glove specification, reach out and we'll help you find the right answer.