Man, I hear you on the gloves basically melting onto your hands. Been there after a full day stripping shingles in August—felt like I was peeling off a second skin. I keep a pile of those cheap disposables for quick flashing work, but they’re toast if you even brush past a rough edge. Reusables are better for grip, but once they get stiff from too many washes, it’s like trying to work with cardboard mittens. At this point, I just accept my hands are gonna smell weird half the summer... tradeoffs, right?
- Nitrile disposables are my go-to for quick, messy jobs—easy on/off, but yeah, they shred fast if you’re scraping or hauling debris.
- For longer days, I use coated fabric gloves (poly or latex dipped). They breathe better than full rubber and don’t get as stiff after washing, but still not perfect in the heat.
- Trick I picked up: rotate two pairs through the day. One dries while you work in the other. Cuts down on that swampy hand smell... a bit.
- Haven’t found a glove that’s both durable and cool in summer—tradeoffs, like you said. If anyone’s cracked that code, I’m all ears.
Nitrile’s great until you run into a nail or rough concrete—then you’re basically wearing finger puppets. I carry a box in the truck for crawlspaces and quick electrical checks, but yeah, they’re one-and-done most days. Those coated fabric gloves are my usual for attic work or poking around basements. They’re not perfect, but at least I don’t feel like my hands are in a sauna after an hour.
I’ve tried the double-glove rotation trick, too. Helps a bit, but by mid-July, nothing’s really “dry” anymore—just less soggy. Honestly, the only gloves that have lasted me more than a season were leather, but those are useless if you need any dexterity or you’re working in the rain. Still haven’t found anything that doesn’t turn my hands into prunes when it’s hot out.
Eye protection’s another story... Lost count of how many times I’ve fogged up safety glasses crawling under a house. If someone comes up with gloves that breathe and safety glasses that don’t fog, I’ll buy stock in that company.
Leather gloves were always the most durable for me too, but like you said, they’re useless if you need to do anything that requires a bit of feel. I’ve tried some of those newer “breathable” coated gloves, but honestly, they still get swampy in the summer. Has anyone found a reusable glove that actually holds up to rough surfaces without turning into a sweatbox? I’m not wild about burning through disposables every week, but I haven’t found a decent middle ground yet.
On the safety glasses—anti-fog coatings never seem to last more than a few washes for me. Curious if there’s a brand out there that actually works long-term, or is it all just marketing hype?
I hear you on the gloves—leather's tough but clumsy, and those coated ones just get gross in the heat. I’ve had decent luck with the nitrile-dipped ones from Milwaukee, but they still get sweaty after a few hours on a hot roof. Haven’t found anything perfect yet. For glasses, I’ve tried Uvex and Edge—anti-fog works for a bit, then it’s back to wiping them every 10 minutes. Has anyone actually found a pair that doesn’t fog up when you’re working hard, especially in humid weather?