By Jayden Mark
A lot of people underestimate the importance of buying the best welding gloves. When you consider the importance of protecting your hands from extremely high temperatures and other potential dangers, it is clear that these are essential items. Whilst protecting your hands, you need to use them to perform detailed precision tasks. Welding gloves that inhibit your ability to work with ease are going to be a cause of frustration. For this article we’ll be reviewing some of the best welding gloves for all types of welding.
Welding Gloves - Our Top Picks
1. Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves
I know that welding gloves are not really a fashion statement. With that said, I think the Lincoln traditional leather gloves look really cool. Certainly not dull average working gear. Apart from having the coolest looking gloves in the shop, you will also appreciate the practical common sense that the Lincoln gloves have to offer. They’re not all that expensive and cover all the bases. Premium cowhide give these Lincoln welding gloves the durability you’re looking for, without being too stiff to work with.
Tough, triple Kevlar stitching and reinforced stress points improve durability even further. These gloves are flame resistant and have a pretty high temperature tolerance, 25° - 300°.
As for comfort, they’ve thought about us in that regard. The soft cotton liner not only enhances heat protection, it is wonderfully easy on the hands. I really like the twill lining on the inside of the cuff. This absorbs moisture, which I believe is really important. Sweaty hands make aren’t the best when working.
In the excellent lineup of professional grade Lincoln welding gloves, the traditional leather gloves are amongst the mid-range products. They have others with extra reinforcement in the stitching and greater temperature ranges. They also have cheaper options that won’t withstand too much heat. The traditional leather glove is, in my opinion, the best middle ground. Very reasonably priced and perfectly suited to MIG, stick, and flux core welding, as well as oxy and plasma cutting. The only thing that might prevent this from being the ideal welding glove for some, is the single size. You might not find the perfect fit.
Who better to trust with your welding PTFE than Lincoln Electric. They are somewhat of the holy grail of welding. Their traditional leather welding gloves look superb and serve their function perfectly. Pretty but tough. Comfortable, and easy to work with, these gloves can handle the needs of industrious professionals. Yet cheap enough for the average DIY guy.
2. WZQH 16 Inches, 932°F, Leather Forge Welding Gloves
A combination of old fashioned durability and the best of modern insulation technology, the WZQH leather Forge Welding gloves are something to behold. This product is beyond exceptional in its design. Large, bulky forge gloves are not the best for everyone. It’s not as easy to handle small pieces of hot material with gloves like these. On the other hand, you can’t achieve this level of heat protection without using several layers of thick material.
It really depends on what your priorities are. Few welding gloves are rated for temperatures as high as 932°F. This is where The WZQH welding and forge gloves take the top spot. Not to mention, double Kevlar stitching.
Incredibly thick soft cow hide (1.2MM – 1.4MM) make up the outer layer. This affords the greatest long term durability and provides exceptional protection. A second aluminum foil laminate material, offers advanced heat insulation. Finally, for comfort and protection, the inner 100% cotton soft lining takes these gloves from great to being truly fantastic. More than just welding gloves, these are the best for radiant heat, like a forge, kiln, even a hot barbeque. Protection extends for 16” up your arms. Making WZQH the heat protection gloves with 101 uses.
Ultimate quality, combing the best of age old natural materials and the ultimate that science has provided, make the WZQH leather forge gloves something special. A high level of flame resistance and incredible heat insulation offers perfect safety and user comfort.
3. RAPICCA Leather Forge Welding Gloves
For the same price as the WZQH gloves, the RAPICCA forge welding gloves don’t seem to offer as much. Quality can compare, with high-grade leather and 100% natural cotton, but the RAPICCA gloves don’t offer the same insulation or as much arm protection. On the other hand, these gloves aren’t as chunky, making them more practical for many applications. In the end, I can’t say these gloves are a lesser option, just different and every user has their priorities.
The leather exterior can compare to any of the best welding gloves. A 100% cotton lining is great for comfort and sweat absorption, whilst improving heat insulation. These forge gloves are rated up to 932°F and have an arm length of 16”. Additional Kevlar padding on the thumb offers that extra protection where you need it most. I like the practical approach to this design.
In conclusion I’d say that RAICCA welding forge gloves offer some awesome duality. They may not offer the highest level of protection for extreme heat, but 600°+ is way above average. The advantage of this approach is to offer more control over your grip, with a glove that doesn’t turn your fingers into thumbs.
4. Revco GM1611 Top Grain Leather Cowhide MIG Welding Gloves
Looking at the Revco GM1611 cowhide MIG welding gloves, I’m totally blown away by the attention to detail. One seldom sees this type of craftsmanship these days. This fastidious approach is amazing and a great advantage in combining maximum protection without hindering the use of your hands. For handling small details, with great precision, these gloves certainly make the grade. Like all the quality products we’ve selected for this review, the Revco welding gloves are made from the best materials. By using grain cowhide, split cowhide, and extra reinforcement patches where you need it most, these gloves protect your hands whilst not restricting the use of your fingers.
It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into designing this product and extra work has gone into making them. Because multiple detailed pieces of leather have been precision cut and expertly double stitched, using ultra-durable Kevlar, these gloves allow for the best natural hand movement. You won’t need to remove these welding gloves when trying perform delicate tasks. I absolutely love this. Materials are carefully selected to provide better grip where needed and additional protection in crucial areas.
I also like that these gloves come 5 different sizes, from small to double extra-large. Since the Revco GM1611 welding gloves are designed for high dexterity, having the perfect fit is important. There are a lot of welding tasks where this is crucial. It’s not a problem gripping a pencil and writing with the Revco gloves. This can’t be said for most other welding gloves.
The Revco GM1611 Top Grain Leather Cowhide MIG welding gloves are more expensive than many of the others. They are not intended for extreme temperature, best for MIG welding. What you really paying for here is top quality materials and the detailed skill that goes into making a product like this. This is not just a few pieces of leather slapped together to make a high-temperature glove. Countless pieces are cut and stitched to perfection. This would certainly be one of my top choices.
5. NoCry Heavy Duty Heat Resistant & Flame Retardant Welding & BBQ Gloves
For affordable general purpose gloves, the NoCry heavy-duty flame retardant welding and BBQ gloves are an excellent option for home and DIY. There’s nothing fancy here. Just quality leather, offering good protection for a multitude of tasks.
Because of the low price, I can see many ordinary folk rating these gloves highly. Thick cowhide, with double layer protection where you most need it is great. Unlike the industrial grade welding gloves, that are rated for extreme protection, the NoCry product can only withstand a maximum of 212°F. Certainly good enough for basic light welding, and all sorts of jobs we would do around the home and garden.
Not everyone wants to pay exorbitant prices for the very best welding gloves. This is understandable. If you’re looking for good quality gloves to use around the garage, garden, and home, the NoCry heat resistant welding gloves offer excellent value for money.
6. Lincoln Electric Roll Cage Welding/Rigging Gloves
This is the second Lincoln product we’re reviewing here, possibly the best. Lincoln Electric Roll Cage welding and Rigging gloves are not just exceptional welding gloves, they offer the ultimate protection for heavy-duty construction, cutting, and rigging. I’m not speaking as an expert here, but these gloves look like they could be close to bomb-proof. Though, I don’t recommend you test this theory.
As heavy-duty flame proof welding gloves, this one is at the top of the Lincoln spec level, offering heat protection up to 350°F. These gloves can be recommended for every type of arc and gas welding or cutting and are arguably the best for all of these.
The Lincoln Roll Cage design is what really separates these gloves from all others. Layer upon layer of high-tech protection is added for not only heat, but impact and heavy-duty cutting equipment. The Kevlar layer can be compared to the bullet proof protection used for military and law enforcement protective gear. Not quite as thick, but then again, no is expecting you to shoot yourself in the hand. The silicone pads on the fingers double up the confidence you’ll feel when performing the most dangerous of tasks. Even the grain leather is of a higher standard than just about any other.
As close to perfection as anyone can hope for. I really believe you can’t top the type of protection these welding gloves provide. Naturally, the Lincoln Roll Cage Welding and Rigging gloves are among the most expensive. Premium quality and advanced materials are going to cost a bit. For shop and home welding, these gloves may be overkill, but they have a specific purpose. Riggers and construction workers face the greatest risk to injury and these gloves are the best protection for these extreme conditions. They also come in a variety of sizes, which is great.
7. Hobart 770440 Premium Form Fitted Welding Gloves
We’ve reviewed a couple great value cheap welding gloves. These Hobart welding gloves are more like mid-priced value for money. True to form, Hobart have always offered close to professional grade welding equipment at prices that are more attractive. This makes the Hobart premium welding gloves a more affordable option for heavy-duty professional use, which can also be considered a higher grade DIY product. Much like the Revco GM1611 (reviewed above) extra care has been taken to make the Hobart Premium glove easy to work with. The form-fitted design greatly improves dexterity.
A combination of leather grains provide the perfect balance between soft material that won’t restrict hand movement, and additional non-slip grip. At the same time, high-grade cowhide leather with top-quality stitching, offer fantastic durability.
Good old Hobart common sense cannot go amiss. Whilst not cheap, those extra few dollars give you a premium quality product that is expertly designed and meticulously manufactured. These gloves are not quite as expensive the real top grade products, but close in terms durability and usability.
8. Tillman 1338 Top Grain Goatskin TIG Welding Gloves
The Tillman 1338 welding gloves are the only goatskin option in this review. If you’re not sure which is better, goatskin vs cowhide work gloves, I should clarify this first. Goatskin is softer and thinner than cowhide. This is a distinct advantage if you want more precise use of your hands. The softer material does not restrict your hand movement as much, thereby improving dexterity. You have better sensitivity, allowing you to feel what you’re doing, which can be an advantage with delicate precision tasks. The payoff is a less durable welding glove and not quite as much heat insulation.
Compared to the other gloves in this review, offering improved dexterity, the Tillman option is cheaper. Though probably not as good when it comes to durability and heat protection. They offer a good deal of forearm protection and this is another advantage over many soft welding gloves.
These gloves are certainly manufactured to an incredibly high standard. The pros and cons of using goatskin vs cowhide is debatable. For some, this affordable soft welding glove is the best option, others may seek a tougher glove for more demanding work.
Best Protection for Your Hands
TIG welding, MIG welding, and stick welding have their own unique set of circumstances. Oxy welding and cutting involves an open flame, which has its own set of potential dangers. Some types of welding and cutting pose a greater fire risk and arc welders operate at different temperatures. You want gloves that suit both the type of welding you do, and the way you work. If your welding gloves aren’t up to scratch, they end up on the workbench instead of on your hands. I know this all too well.
You’re working in a high temperature environment. Gloves that cause your hands to sweat profusely are just not going to cut it. I often have an issue with thick chunky gloves that make it difficult to do precision work. Considering the punishment that these gloves endure, they have to be incredibly tough. A welding glove that is all things to all people might not exist. It will depend on the type of work you do. A metal artist may require more dexterity to handle small pieces of material. This might not be the same for a fabricator of large industrial type products, or construction welding.
Given that there are so many different requirements for the ultimate welding glove, we’ve looked at a great variety of options. I’m confident that you will find the perfect match amongst the products we’ve selected for this review.
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