Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

I hear you on the sweaty glove mess. I’ve tried both disposable nitrile and those “breathable” reusables, and honestly, neither is perfect when you’re up there in July. The disposables are nice for a while - hands stay drier, but they rip so fast if you’re hauling shingles or scraping old tar. I end up going through a whole box some days, which feels wasteful and gets expensive.

The reusable ones last longer, but like you said, my hands get swampy after an hour or two. I tried cutting tiny holes in the back of one pair (probably not OSHA-approved), but it didn’t help much. Sometimes I just take them off for a few minutes when nobody’s looking, let my hands air out. Not sure there’s a perfect solution unless someone invents gloves with built-in fans or something.

Honestly, I’d rather deal with swapping gloves than risk blisters or cuts, but it’s annoying either way. Maybe it’s just part of the job?

- Totally get it - gloves are a pain in the summer, but I’d rather go through a few pairs than deal with busted knuckles or splinters.
- I’ve tried the “breathable” ones too. They help a bit, but my hands still end up sweaty after a while.
- The cost of disposables adds up fast, but cheaper than a trip to urgent care for stitches.
- I just keep a towel handy and swap out gloves when they get gross. Not perfect, but it works for now.
- Honestly, seems like sweaty hands are just part of the deal... at least until someone invents those fan gloves you mentioned.

Fan gloves would be a game changer, right? I’ve tried both disposable and reusable, and honestly, I keep coming back to the cheap nitrile ones. They’re gross after an hour, but at least I’m not picking out splinters for days. Reusables just never dry out fast enough for me.

I get the love for nitrile, but I’ve actually had better luck with those thick, rubber-coated fabric gloves - especially crawling around attics or poking at old decks. They’re not as quick to dry, yeah, but I just hang ’em on my truck mirror and they’re usually good by the next job. Plus, I don’t feel like my hands are marinating in sweat soup. Only downside is you lose a bit of dexterity...but at least I’m not tossing out a dozen gloves a week.

- I’m with you on the reusable gloves. I used to go through boxes of nitrile, but it felt like I was just burning money, especially when I’d rip a pair just pulling them on.
- Those rubber-coated ones last me months, even after scraping around under the house or hauling brush. They’re not perfect - sometimes I have to take them off for small screws or wiring, but for demo or yard work, they’re solid.
- Sweat’s a big one for me too. My hands get gross in nitrile after an hour, and then they smell weird. The fabric ones breathe better, even if they’re a bit stiff at first.
- Only thing is, if I forget them outside and it rains...well, lesson learned. Had to wear soggy gloves all day once. Not fun.
- For the price, I’d rather wash and reuse than keep buying disposables. Just makes more sense if you’re doing projects every weekend like I am.