Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

I do wish there was a glove that could handle both the rough stuff and clean up easily, but I haven’t found anything that lasts more than a season if I’m using it hard.

Same here - every “heavy-duty” glove I’ve tried either falls apart or gets so stiff after a few solvent jobs that they’re useless. I’ve even tried those chemical-resistant PVC ones, but they’re clumsy and still don’t last. As for eye protection, anti-fog never works for me either. Has anyone actually found a pair that doesn’t fog up when you’re sweating? Or is it just marketing hype?

- Totally get it - gloves seem to have a secret self-destruct timer. I’ve got a graveyard of “indestructible” pairs in my garage.
- Those PVC ones make me feel like I’m prepping for a nuclear spill, not just cleaning the grill. And they’re about as nimble as oven mitts.
- Eye protection? I swear anti-fog is just code for “will fog up at the worst possible moment.” I’ve tried the fancy sprays, the vented ones, even the ones with little fans (which just made me look ridiculous).
- Only thing that’s helped a bit: keeping a microfiber cloth in my pocket and wiping them every five minutes. Not exactly high-tech.
- If someone invents gloves that last and goggles that don’t fog, I’ll buy stock. Until then, guess we just keep cycling through gear and pretending we’re not annoyed.

Hang in there - at least we’re not alone in the struggle.

If someone invents gloves that last and goggles that don’t fog, I’ll buy stock.

Right there with you. I’ve burned through more “heavy-duty” gloves than I care to admit - roofing granules just chew them up. As for goggles, nothing like climbing a ladder and suddenly seeing nothing but fog. At this point, I just accept I’ll be swapping gear mid-job and hope for the best. If you ever find that miracle combo, let us know...

I get the frustration - roofing granules are brutal on gloves, and fogged goggles are just asking for trouble. But I’ve actually had better luck with disposables than “heavy-duty” gear, at least for certain jobs. Here’s where I’m coming from:

At this point, I just accept I’ll be swapping gear mid-job and hope for the best.

I used to think the same, but after burning through a couple pairs of $30 “indestructible” gloves in a single weekend, I started buying those 12-packs of nitrile-coated work gloves. They’re not invincible, but I can swap them out as soon as they start to go, and I don’t feel bad about it. For roofing, especially, the grip is decent and they’re thin enough that I can still handle nails and tools. I keep a box in the garage and just grab a fresh pair when the old ones get shredded. It’s not perfect, but it’s less annoying than trying to nurse one expensive pair through a whole project.

Goggles are trickier. I’ve tried anti-fog sprays, but honestly, the only thing that’s worked for me is switching to safety glasses with foam gaskets instead of full goggles. They don’t seal as tight, so you get a bit more airflow, and they fog way less. If I’m doing something super dusty, I’ll just take a break every so often and wipe them down. Not ideal, but better than climbing down a ladder blind.

One thing I learned the hard way: don’t bother with “washable” gloves for roofing. The granules get embedded in the fabric, and after one wash, they’re stiff as cardboard. Disposable or semi-disposable seems to be the way to go for me.

Curious if anyone’s found a reusable glove that actually holds up to shingles, but until then, I’m sticking with the cheapies. Sometimes “disposable” just makes more sense, even if it feels wasteful.

I get the appeal of disposables, especially when you’re knee-deep in shingle grit and your gloves look like they’ve been through a wood chipper. But I’ve actually had decent luck with those leather-palmed “mechanic” gloves - yeah, they cost more upfront, but mine have survived two roof patch jobs and still bend at the knuckles. Maybe it’s just my slow pace or the fact that I’m too cheap to toss them after one weekend. For goggles, though, I’m with you - nothing worse than fogging up right as you’re balancing on a ladder. I just wish someone would invent safety glasses that don’t make me look like I’m prepping for a chemistry final...