When it comes to flame, fire, friction, and abrasion resistance, leather work gloves are a very popular choice. But because of the many choices and leathers, it’s really confusing to figure out which one will suit your purpose.
Not all leather textures are the same. There are several different types of animals and applications that make different grains stronger, lighter, and softer, or more premium. The craftsmanship used for each type of leather depends on the animal skin, and each type of leather has its own unique look and feel.
With that in mind, here is a brief guide to choosing the right pair of leather construction gloves.
Types of Leather in Gloves
Let’s first learn about the different types of leather used in gloves.
Split Leather
Split leather is often called suede and is usually associated with larger animals. When the leather is taken out of the animal skin, the leather will be very thick. The first thing to do with the leather is to divide its cross-section into several layers. The bottom layer is made of so-called “split leather”.
Split leather work gloves have several different advantages:-
- Split leather has high abrasion resistance due to its dense fibers and how they are intertwined. Synthetic products try to imitate their level of abrasion resistance, but cannot.
- Split leather has excellent puncture resistance.
- More water-resistant than grain leather
- Split leather is cheaper and suitable for applications where oil absorption is the advantage, such as metal stamping.
- The price is cheap and the grip in oil is better.
Grain Leather
After the leather is separated, the grain leather is the top layer. Grain leather has a more attractive appearance and is, therefore, more expensive than split leather. Due to its aesthetic appeal, grain leather is often used in commercial products such as wallets, belts, and shoes. Grain leather is more suitable for outdoor working conditions and is more durable, but in the safety industry, split leather is more wear-resistant and is more commonly used when making gloves. Raw hides can come from several different places, leading to different qualities and uses. The top texture has the highest quality and the longest service life, followed by leather splitting.
Split leather is further divided into two categories; side and shoulder. Side splits are the most durable and quality products, but they are also the most expensive. The shoulder split is also very durable, but more economical.
Which Animal Skin to Choose
Not all leathers are created equal, and each leather has its strengths and weaknesses. According to experience: the bigger the animal, the thicker the leather. Synthetic leather or artificial leather is made by using a synthetic polymer base material (such as PVC) and is treated to resemble real leather, but it cannot be compared with real leather.
Cowhide is very heavy and is the most commonly used leather. It is easy to maintain, stain-resistant and waterproof, high in texture, durable, and comfortable. The cowhide has dirt resistance, water resistance, high-temperature resistance, and abrasion resistance. Although it may be a bit hard at first, cowhide is easy to wear.
So, you need to keep these factors in mind when choosing a pair of leather construction gloves. If you are looking for great-quality gloves for any type of application, you can always get the best products from us.