Discover what latex coated gloves are, their key benefits, top uses across industries, and expert tips on how to choose the right pair for your specific needs.
Definition of latex coated gloves
Latex coated gloves are an exclusive protective glove that should provide a mixture of comfort, dexterity, and superior-resistant grip.Â
The gloves are extensively applied in many different sectors because they have good protective qualities and flexibility. In essence, latex coated gloves are composed of two multiple layers namely the inner liner and the outer covering which is manufactured using natural latex rubber.
The inner liner is normally made out of cotton, polyester, nylon, or a combination of a fabric. This layer plays a major role in making long-term wear comfortable. It makes the glove fit the hand outlines, ventilates giving a chance to decline sweat accumulation, and helps the user keep flexibility and movement of the hands. Even some liners are seamless and it doesn't irritate that much and makes the overall user experience better.
The coating is an outer layer (most often of palm and fingers) that is made of natural latex. This latex height gives the glove its main distinguishing features, the additional grip, abrasion resistance and tear strength as well as protection against the puncturing power of the glove. The coating serves in the interface between the hand and the outside environment and provides great gripping even when the surfaces are oily or wet. Latex coated gloves are therefore most suitable in cases where there should be a firm grip over tools, parts or equipment.
The latex coated gloves could be produced according to different types of latex coverings and finishes depending on the following purpose:
- Crinkle latex finish: Offers a rough surface to ensure the maximum grip, particularly constructions, landscaping and heavy-duty usage.
- Foam latex coating: It will have a softer and flexible feel and still provide good grip at a dry and also a slightly wet condition.
- Smooth latex coating: Appropriate in application where precision is required, clean consistent surface, typical applications in light manufacturing or general handling.
The latex coating also has variation in coverage. Other types of latex coated gloves are of the palm only coating whereby the back of the hand has more breathability. Others are coated all around and they provide a wider protection in case of liquid or chemical exposure.
Concisely, latex coated gloves are designed according to the requirements of both professional and leisure-time users who require a multifunctional protection of their hands with the additional sensitivity. Their flexibility to various tasks and settings; they can be used both in industrial warehouses and construction areas as well as home gardening and everyday maintenance, which has made them one of the most commonly preferred kind of work gloves in the market today.
Why use latex coated gloves?
Latex coated gloves have become a favorite with the professionals and amateurs owing to their special mix of the materials and their design.Â
Look at the most convincing arguments which make these gloves so highly suggested:
1. Better handling with more grip
Among the most notable attributes of gloves made of latex and coated, there exists the exceptional grip performance. This is done by the latex coating which is textured or crinkled to provide a tacky surface that greatly improves the grip or stickiness of tools, equipment and materials. This is particularly critical in a place where one may be working on a wet, oily, dusty or otherwise rough surface.
2. Outstanding long life in extreme environment
The other highly influential strength of the latex coated gloves is that they are durable. Its natural rubber latex coating is strong, cut-resistant, puncture-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and wear-resistant, which are usually prone to cutting, puncturing and abrasion activities being performed on sharp or rugged objects such as metal, wood, or concrete.
Such gloves can in most instances last longer than uncoated fabric of gloves or even synthetic ones. Latex coated gloves are also used in the heavy-duty industries as workers keep using them without going bad. Such longevity does not only increase the level of safety but also saves money spent on replacements in the long run.
3. Precision working flexibility and comfort
Latex is stretchy in nature and adapts to the shape of the hand, thus fits well and stretches. The latex coated gloves are not stiff or bulky like other gloves thus they move with your fingers and they do not limit movement or hinder detailed work.
4. Economical security on many uses
Latex coated gloves are difficult to resist in terms of balance between price and performance. They provide much of the defense of more costly gloves e.g. cut resistance and chemical protection at a small percentage of the cost. This qualifies them as an excellent option for corporations and individuals who need quality protection unless they can meet their budget.
5. Long term wear breather design
The thing is that one of the primary disadvantages of fully rubber gloves is that they may cause the accumulation of heat and sweat that may result in discomfort and skin irritation and even hygienic problems. The solution to this problem has been the use of latex coated gloves that have a breathable fabric liner which is normally at the back of the hand to leak air.
Common uses for latex coated gloves
The latex coated gloves have become a versatile tool in most industries and used innumerably in day-to-day chores.
Owing to their unimaginable grip, durability, flexibility, and affordability, the latex coated gloves have become a versatile tool in most industries and used innumerably in day-to-day chores. Their special construction, a breathable liner with a natural latex coating rubber product makes them very versatile and adjustable to a light-duty and heavy-duty setting.
The most typical areas and operations of using latex coated gloves are provided in the list below, and some real-life examples of using are also given to elucidate their necessity:
1. Building and stone masonry
Steel rods, tools, concrete and bricks are some of abrasive materials that workers often come in contact with in the construction industry. Gloves made of latex coating would be a popular type in this industry due to the high resistance against punctures and abrasions as well as good grip. Yet, crinkle-coated latex gloves are very popular in the construction site because they allow workers to keep materials or tools under control even when it is dusty or muddy.
2. Logistics and warehouse
The employees in the warehouse are always on the go walking with packages, pushing hand trucks and driving machines such as forklifts and pallet jacks. The hand injury is a widely present danger in this high-speed culture. Workers get a good grip with latex coated gloves to secure boxes, packages and other packaging materials as well as load and unload without slipping.
3. Gardening and farming
Be it professional farming or back yard gardening, latex coated gloves are a necessity to every one who is working with soil and plants and other outdoor equipment. The coating makes it moisture resistant so that the hands do not get wet when handling wet soil, rain or working by an irrigation system.
4. Auto mechanical repairing
Latex coated gloves are required when performing a delicate task such as working with small engine components, tools, or greasy equipment by mechanics and auto technicians. These gloves can be used when it is necessary to tighten bolts, filter removal, or even to look at the engine parts.
5. General maintenance and cleaning services
Whether they work in a school, a hospital, an office building, on the street or even in a home, maintenance and cleaning staff members are always subjected to cleaning chemicals, sharp surfaces and several surfaces with different textures. Latex coated gloves will prevent low-grade cleaning agents, and have a great grasp during wiping, scrubbing or carrying objects/equipment.
6. Outside jobs and landscaping
Landscapers have to work with harsh outdoor materials like branches, stones, mulch, fences and power tools. The gloves which are mostly used in this line of business are latex coated gloves due to their better grip in unpredictable weather conditions, abbrand, protection against tree growth and rough surfaces and flexibility in laying sod, planting shrubs and trimming hedges.
Choosing the right latex coated gloves
There are so many different types of latex coated gloves in the market today.
There are so many different types that deciding on which pair of gloves to use might be confusing especially when you need to purchase gloves on behalf of an entire team or in case you intend to use the gloves on a specific task intensive project. It is all about knowing what features of a glove best suits you, the environment and the required high degree of protection.
Below are the key considerations to make when selecting the right pair of latex covered gloves:
1. Latex coating type
The finish and texture of the coating on the latex coated gloves is various and all these finishes have a different set of advantages that is specifically beneficial to specifics of the job:
- Crinkle latex coating: Crinkle Coatings are perfect in heavy-duty product needs as they have a rather good grip with their rough surface in rough or irregular surfaces. These are ideal in construction, masonry and working with bulky materials and where a firm grip is required even in dusty or muddy surfaces.
- Foam latex coating: Foam latex can be painted and contain less dense coating that are flexible and permeable. They are easier to grip in somewhat moist conditions and they give it a more tactile feel. This qualifies them to occupy positions that demand precision like assembly jobs, packaging or warehouse.
- Rugged latex coating: Smooth coatings are generally applied to less demanding jobs when a clean surface is needed and when more control is desired, such as electronics work or general maintenance work or mild janitorial work. They do not offer the grip that you find with crinkle coatings, but do have a low resistance slippy feel to create precise work.
2. Glove girth: Toughness vs. Agility
The thickness and the general structure of the glove is also another important issue as it has a direct influence on the durability, level of comfort and dexterity:
- The thicker latex coated gloves provide better protection to punctures, abrasions, and sharp edges. They are ideal in harsh areas like construction industry, metal work and even landscaping, though they might somewhat diminish the sensitivity of the fingers.
- Gloves which are thinner are at their best in terms of dexterity and flexibility thus suited with precision work requiring control and feel of the hands. They are generally used when working in a warehouse, inspection line or electrical repairs.
It is all about balance- you need a glove that is of the required measure to protect your hands but at the same time not so solid that it impairs movement and tactile control.
3. The adequacy of bags and fit
This is not only a question of comfort, this is a question of efficiency and safety as well by wearing the correct size of glove. Over-tight ones might make it hard to move around or make the glove fatigue or even tear. Oversized gloves can lose grip and may fall off, which poses more danger in case of accidents.
Try to find a pair of gloves in a variety of sizes (usually XS to XXL) and as far as possible, get the ones that fit your hand comfortably. Most of the new latex covered gloves used have a smooth weave knit lining that allows them to mold to your hands and also minimize irritation and prolong shelf life.
Other gloves also have elastic cuffs /wristbands which ensures keeping off dirt and debris and such gloves are mostly used in outdoor or dirty working environments.
4. Environment and planned use
Take into consideration the special environment in which the gloves are going to be used. Depending on outside conditions, latex coated gloves do not behave alike:
- In dry surroundings, then any form of latex paint should do the trick and more so the crinkle or smooth finishing, which will make it easier to get a hold of the dry surface.
- Use foam or textured paint in a wet environment which has more grip to reduce the chances of slipping.
- This is the case whereby, where having an oily or greasy work environment, latex does the job quite well though nitrile options should be considered in case you require oil resistance.
Consider the effect of chemicals, moisture, high/low temperatures, or rough handling and consider a design.
5. Latex allergy and substitute varnishes
Although latex coated gloves represent a trustworthy and common solution, one should remember that natural latex is allergic to some people. Sensitivity to latex varies depending on the level of sensitivity and therefore leads to minimal skin irritation or the serious ones.
To be on a safer side, when you or your teammates are allergic to latex, then you ought to look at other coated gloves e.g. latex:
- Nitrile coated gloves: Ideal in chemical resistance, puncture strength and in working with oil. A favorite option to latex since it has an absence of latex and is mainly used in the medical, food processing or automotive markets.
- Polyurethane (PU) coated gloves: It is characterized by thin and lightweight performance and dexterity. Perfect on electronics, inspection work and precision work.
The alternatives proposed tend to feature similar performance as well as exclude the risk of allergy, which is why it can be viewed as a rather safe and responsible option within the mixed working environment.
See more: Nitrile coated work gloves: What they are and why you should use them?
Final thoughts
To conclude, latex coated gloves are a valuable product that should be used by those persons that require high protection of their hands and offer grip and comfort. The reason is that they are adjustable and cheap, hence, a favorite in most industries.
At EvridWear, we recommend, before you can buy a variety of latex coated gloves, go ahead and consider your particular needs so that you obtain a brand that best suits your work. If you are lifting, cutting or gripping, these gloves can enable you to do anything in a better and safer way.