Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

I’ve been down this road more times than I care to admit. After the last hailstorm, I went through three different pairs in one afternoon - cut-resistant, nitrile, even those “waterproof” ones with the rubber coating. None of them held up once the shingles got slick and the glass started poking through. The so-called waterproof gloves just filled up with sweat and rain anyway, and then you’re basically working with a wet sponge on your hands.

Honestly, I’m starting to think the perfect glove for storm cleanup just doesn’t exist. You either get something tough that turns your hands into prunes, or you get dexterity and end up with bandaids by the end of the day. I get why people double up with nitrile under cut-resistant, but that’s a pain and still not foolproof. Maybe the real answer is just accepting you’ll go through a few pairs every job and keep a stash in the truck. If someone’s cracked the code, I haven’t seen it yet.

You’re definitely not alone. I’ve cycled through just about every glove out there, and it’s always a trade-off. The “waterproof” ones are a joke in humid weather - my hands end up just as wet from sweat as they would from rain. I’ve tried the double-glove trick too, but after a couple hours, dexterity goes out the window. Honestly, keeping a stash in the truck is what I do now. Not ideal, but at least you’re not stuck with shredded gloves halfway through a job. If there’s a magic solution, I haven’t found it either...

I hear you on the sweat issue - sometimes it feels like you’re just trading rain for your own personal sauna. I’ve had better luck with those thin nitrile disposables under a lightweight reusable pair, but they still don’t last a full day. Has anyone found a reusable glove that actually holds up to shingle grit without turning your hands into prunes?

I totally get the sweaty glove struggle - my hands end up looking like raisins after just a couple hours. I tried those “heavy duty” reusable gloves from the hardware store, but the fingertips wore through fast on asphalt shingles. Has anyone had better luck with those coated fabric ones? I’m in a pretty humid area, so maybe that’s part of my problem...

The humidity really does make a difference. I’m in the southeast, and it’s like my gloves turn into mini saunas after a while. I’ve been through a bunch of different types - those thick yellow “heavy duty” ones from the hardware store, the blue latex-coated fabric ones, even some pricier “breathable” options. The coated fabric gloves have actually held up better for me on shingles than the all-rubber ones, but they’re not perfect. The coating helps with grip and abrasion, but the fabric backs still get soaked with sweat, especially on hot days.

One thing I noticed: the cheaper coated gloves tend to wear out at the fingertips pretty fast, especially if you’re doing a lot of scraping or prying. I tried a pair from a local supply shop that had a thicker nitrile coating just on the palm and fingers, and those lasted longer than the full-coat ones from the big box store. They weren’t much more expensive either, which was a nice surprise. Still, after a couple weekends on the roof, I had to toss them.

I’ve also experimented with wearing thin cotton liners under the gloves to help with sweat, but honestly, it just made my hands even hotter. Maybe that works better in cooler climates? For me, it’s a tradeoff between durability and comfort. Disposable gloves are useless for roofing - tear in minutes and don’t breathe at all. The reusable ones are better, but I haven’t found anything that lasts more than a few jobs.

If you’re on a budget, I’d say grab a few pairs of the coated fabric gloves and rotate them out during the day. Let one pair dry while you use another. Not ideal, but it keeps your hands from getting too pruney. I wish there was a glove that could handle both the heat and the rough shingles, but I haven’t found it yet... If anyone has cracked that code, I’d love to hear about it.

Man, I hear you on the glove struggle. I’m in a humid spot too, and it’s like my hands are swimming by noon. Ever tried those bamboo fiber gloves? They’re supposed to be more breathable, but I’m not convinced they last much longer. I keep wondering if there’s some eco-friendly option that doesn’t just fall apart after a couple days... or is that just wishful thinking?

Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. Down here, the summer humidity is a killer. I’ve tried those bamboo gloves a couple times - some folks on my crew swear by ‘em, but I’m not totally sold. They do feel lighter at first, but by lunchtime my hands are still pruney, and after a few days they start to fray. Maybe it’s just how rough roofing is on gear, but I haven’t found any “eco” glove that can keep up for more than a week.

I used to go with those cheap cotton ones thinking I’d just burn through them and toss ‘em, but the waste started to get to me. Switched to some pricier reusable nitrile-coated gloves last year. They breathe a bit better, but still not perfect - especially once you get a little tar or shingle grit worked in. At least they last longer before the seams blow out or the coating peels.

Honestly, I’m not sure there’s a magic glove out there. Humidity just ruins everything eventually. I try to keep a couple pairs in rotation so one can dry out while I wear the other - helps a little, but it’s not a fix. Sometimes I envy the guys who work in dry climates... their gloves probably last twice as long.

Anyway, don’t feel bad if you’re burning through gloves faster than you’d like. Seems like it’s just part of the job in sticky weather. If anyone actually finds an eco-friendly option that holds up even half as long as the regular ones, I’d love to hear about it - but until then, I guess we’re all just sweating it out together.

Honestly, I keep wondering if any of these “eco” gloves are more than just marketing. I tried a pair of those bamboo ones and they felt great for about two days - then they basically dissolved when I started scraping paint. Nitrile’s lasted me longer, but the sweat factor is real. At this point, I just rotate pairs and hope for the best... humid summers don’t do anyone any favors.

I hear you on the bamboo gloves - mine barely survived a weekend of yard work before they started fraying. For messy jobs, I stick with nitrile too, but I’ll powder my hands first to help with the sweat. If I’m doing something rough like scraping or sanding, I’ll double up: thin cotton liners under nitrile. Not perfect, but it keeps my hands from feeling like boiled ham by the end of the day... humid summers are brutal.

Man, I feel you on the sweaty hands - summer yard work turns my gloves into a swamp. I’ve tried the cotton liner trick too, but sometimes I just go full cheapo: dollar store nitrile, two pairs at a time. Not fancy, but hey, my wallet’s happy and my hands aren’t raw.

I’ve tried the cotton liner trick too, but sometimes I just go full cheapo: dollar store nitrile, two pairs at a time. Not fancy, but hey, my wallet’s happy and my hands aren’t raw.

That double-glove method does work in a pinch, especially when you’re sweating buckets up on a roof in July. Personally, I lean toward reusable coated gloves for grip and breathability - less landfill waste, and they hold up better against rough shingles. Downside is, they get funky fast if you don’t wash them. Disposable’s cheaper short-term, but I end up blowing through a box in a week during busy season. Guess it depends on the job and how much abuse your hands are taking.

Disposable’s cheaper short-term, but I end up blowing through a box in a week during busy season.

That’s my issue too - disposables just vanish when you’re crawling attics or poking around crawlspaces all day. I switched to those nitrile-dipped reusables and yeah, they get gross, but a quick wash and they’re good as new. Plus, better grip when you’re juggling tools on a ladder... which is always fun.

I’ve noticed the same thing - disposables just seem to disappear, especially when I’m working on plumbing under the house. I tried those reusable nitrile gloves too, but sometimes they feel a bit bulky for electrical work. Maybe it’s just me, but I like having both types around depending on the job.

I totally get where you’re coming from. Disposables are like socks in the dryer - always vanishing when you need them most. I keep a box in my truck, but somehow they still disappear by the end of the week. For roofing, I lean toward reusable gloves, mostly because disposables just shred on shingles or rough plywood. But I hear you about the bulkiness - some of those nitrile ones feel like you’re wearing oven mitts, especially if you’re trying to handle small fasteners or wire nuts.

Honestly, I think it’s all about matching the glove to the job. If I’m doing tear-off or handling sharp metal, I want something with a bit more protection. But for quick fixes or anything messy, disposables are just easier to toss. Only thing is, I’ve noticed the reusable ones last way longer than I expected if you rinse them out and hang them up. Not perfect for every task, but they save me a few bucks over time. Just wish someone would invent a glove that doesn’t make your hands sweat buckets in the summer...

Just wish someone would invent a glove that doesn’t make your hands sweat buckets in the summer...

Man, I hear you on that. I’ve tried those “breathable” gloves and my hands still end up soaked by lunch. I’m usually running between units fixing leaks or patching drywall, so I need something I can slip on and off quick. Ever tried those fingerless work gloves? Not great for messy stuff, but they’re a lifesaver when it’s hot out. Curious if anyone’s found a disposable that doesn’t feel like a sauna after ten minutes.

Fingerless gloves are alright for light stuff, but I always end up with busted knuckles or mystery splinters when I try using them on a tear-off. Honestly, I’ve never found a disposable that doesn’t turn my hands into prunes by coffee break. I just stick with thin nitrile ones and swap ’em out a lot - beats having sweaty hands all day, but it’s not perfect. Anyone else just give up and go bare-handed when it’s blazing out, or is that just me being reckless?

Bare hands in the summer? Yeah, I’ve done it, but usually regret it after the first nail slip or when the shingles get hot enough to fry an egg. I tried those thin nitrile gloves too - better than nothing, but they rip fast on rough stuff. For tear-offs, I just suck it up and use full gloves, even if my hands get sweaty. Not perfect, but at least I’m not picking out splinters all night.

I hear you on the sweaty hands with full gloves - summer work is brutal. I’ve tried those thin disposables too, but they just don’t hold up when you’re dealing with rough shingles or old decking. For me, reusable leather-palmed gloves are the sweet spot. They’re not perfect, but they last a lot longer and I don’t mind tossing them in the wash every so often.

Curious if anyone’s found a reusable glove that actually breathes well? Most of mine end up soaked by noon, and then it’s just uncomfortable for the rest of the day. Also, for eye protection - do folks stick with disposables or invest in pricier goggles? I’ve had cheap ones fog up constantly, which is almost as bad as not wearing any at all...

Yeah, leather-palmed gloves are about the only thing that survive a week on shingles for me too. I’ve tried some of those “breathable” synthetic ones, but they always end up just as sweaty. For eye protection, I finally bit the bullet and got anti-fog safety glasses - mid-range price, not full-on goggles. They’re way less annoying than the cheap ones that fog up every time you breathe. Still not perfect, but at least I can see what I’m doing without taking them off every five minutes.

I’m with you on the sweaty glove struggle - those “breathable” ones never seem to live up to the hype, especially once the sun’s beating down. I’ve mostly stuck with leather-palmed gloves too, but I always wonder if I’m just burning through money replacing them every couple months. Has anyone had luck with washing and reusing them, or do they just fall apart faster that way?

On the eye protection side, I’ve tried a couple of those anti-fog glasses from the hardware store - some work okay, but I still get fogging if I’m up on a hot roof for more than an hour. Are there any brands that actually hold up, or is it just a matter of price? I keep thinking about trying disposable gloves for quick jobs, but they tear so fast it barely seems worth it. Curious if anyone’s found a middle ground that doesn’t break the bank but also doesn’t end up in the trash after one use...