Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience with those coated fabric gloves. Maybe it’s just the way I work, but after a couple days of tearing off shingles or hauling bundles, the coating starts peeling and then I’m back to square one. I’ve switched to those thicker leather-palmed gloves for most of my jobs - yeah, they cost a bit more, but they last way longer for me. Only downside is they’re not great if you need a lot of dexterity, but for heavy stuff, they’re solid. Just my two cents...

- Noticed the same with coated gloves - once that coating starts flaking, they’re basically done for.
- Leather-palmed ones definitely hold up better for demo and hauling, but yeah, I fumble with smaller fasteners when I wear them.
- Sometimes I’ll double up with a thin liner glove under the leather ones if it’s cold or I need a bit more grip.
- Curious if you’ve found any leather-palmed gloves that don’t get stiff after a few wet days? That’s been my main gripe, especially working in damp weather...

Yeah, I’ve run into the same issue with leather-palmed gloves stiffening up after a few days of rain or just working in damp conditions. Even the pricier ones seem to get pretty rigid unless you’re super careful about drying them out every night, which isn’t always realistic on a busy site. I’ve tried treating them with leather conditioner, which helps a bit, but it’s not a perfect fix - sometimes they just end up greasy instead of soft.

For fiddly stuff like small fasteners, I usually just take the gloves off for a minute, but that’s not ideal if you’re handling rough material. I’ve seen a couple guys use those synthetic “leather” gloves (like the Mechanix brand), and they seem to stay flexible longer, even if they get wet. Downside is they don’t last as long if you’re hauling sharp debris or doing demo.

Layering with a liner glove is a solid move in cold weather, though. I do that too, especially when it’s windy up on the roof. Just wish there was a glove that could handle everything - hasn’t happened yet...

Even the pricier ones seem to get pretty rigid unless you’re super careful about drying them out every night, which isn’t always realistic on a busy site.

That’s been my experience too - leather gloves just aren’t built for constant wet and mud. I’ve tried the synthetic ones (Mechanix, like you mentioned), and they’re great until you hit sharp edges or nails. Sometimes I’ll keep a box of nitrile disposables in the truck for quick, messy jobs - surprisingly handy under a pair of beat-up work gloves when it’s pouring. Not perfect, but better than trying to pry frozen leather off your hands...

Sometimes I’ll keep a box of nitrile disposables in the truck for quick, messy jobs - surprisingly handy under a pair of beat-up work gloves when it’s pouring.

I’ve done the same - nitrile under old gloves is a lifesaver when you’re dealing with wet mulch or cleaning gutters. But I always wonder, do those double layers actually help with grip, or just keep your hands drier? I find my hands get sweaty fast, which isn’t ideal either. Has anyone found a reusable glove that doesn’t stiffen up after a week in the rain? The constant cycle of tossing disposables feels wasteful, but I haven’t found a solid alternative yet.