Animal hides have been used for centuries as protective gear: for warmth, armor, footwear, and even shelter from the elements. Leather now has a much wider range of purposes, from furniture and car interiors to fashionable footwear, and is still a staple material with protective clothing such as gloves.
There are many types of leather work gloves, intended for multiple purposes, and understanding what glove does what is important to ensure you get the right level of protection for your hands/
Types of Leather
Goat Skin
Goat skin is tougher and more durable than cowhide , and its naturally high oil content produces a soft, pliable leather. It offers excellent water, tear and abrasion resistance, despite being thinner than other leathers.
Pig Skin
Pig skin is dense but soft, breathable, and therefore comfortable to wear for long periods. You can also wash pig skin without it losing shape or becoming stiff.
Cowhide
Cowhide is the most common leather for gloves as it offers good resistance to abrasion, water, dirt and heat, but is heavier than other leather options like goat skin. The plus side to this extra weight is extra warmth!
Deer Skin
Deer skin is super soft, lightweight, naturally warm and water-resistant, while providing high dexterity and comfort. However, deer skin is typically more expensive and offers less abrasion and puncture protection.
Quality
Where on the animal the hide is cut from is also important to note as it can impact the quality of the leather in your gloves.
Full/Top Grain Leather
Top quality grain leather is usually cut from the sides and shoulder, is usually smooth, and offers the best durability. Leather taken from the belly or neck is more often used for leather trim or cheaper gloves, where durability and abrasion resistance are not as important.
Split Leather
Split leather – or suede – is the result of splitting up the thickest hide into layers. The bottom layer is what we call split leather, and has different levels of protection depending on where on the animal it came from. For example, belly hide is the least durable, but the most economical. Split leather from the rib area is durable, dense and will offer the best protection. Split leather also has better water-resistance and puncture-resistance than grain leather, with better grip in oily conditions.
Thumb Options
Winged thumb – designed on an angle for better flexibility and comfort
Keystone thumb – reinforced thumb, usually double thickness at certain points to extend longevity
Straight thumb – designed for non-rigorous activities such as driving gloves
Cuff Options
Knit cuff – helps protect the wrist and prevents bits falling inside the glove while you’re working.
Slip on – ends at the wrist with no cuff so easy to put on and take off.
Gauntlet – usually 4 inches long to protect the forearm and allow long sleeves to be tucked inside.
Safety – usually 2 inches long with a split in the side to help quick removal.
Shirred wrist – gathered at the wrist for comfort and better fit.
Linings
Cotton – to provide comfort and prevent chaffing
Foam/Fleece – for additional warmth
3M™ Thinsulate – for superior warmth and breathability (read more about thinsulate)
So, when do you actually need leather gloves?
You can put leather work gloves into three main categories including driving gloves (often with a straight thumb design), palm gloves (a low cost option where only the palm is leather for grip and protection), welding gloves (which are generally thicker and bulkier with low dexterity but high heat resistance).
Other types and styles of leather gloves include:
Leather winter gloves with thinsulate liners are an excellent general purpose option working in cold and wet conditions.
Leather gauntlet style gloves provide that much needed forearm protection when working in the garden among thorns and prickles.
You should always try on gloves before purchasing and make sure you understand what sort of conditions the gloves will be used in. If you want leather for the durability and comfort, but need additional heat or cut resistance, or warmth and water-resistance, Lynn River has the right gloves for you!