Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

- I’ve tried those “chemical resistant” gloves - they’re way thicker and honestly do hold up better with solvents, but they’re kinda clunky for detail work.
- For roofing, I mostly stick to nitrile disposables unless I’m dealing with tar or adhesives, then the heavy-duty ones come out.
- Agree on the smell - once a glove gets that oil-based funk, it’s never the same.
- I don’t think the extra cost is all hype, but unless you’re doing heavy solvent work all the time, regular reusables seem fine.
- Drying them inside out is a game changer... learned that the hard way after a moldy surprise.

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Drying them inside out is a game changer... learned that the hard way after a moldy surprise.

Yeah, been there - pulled out a pair that looked fine, but man, that smell... had to toss 'em.
- I use disposables for most stuff too, but if I’m handling the sticky adhesives, those big thick gloves are a must even though I feel like I’m wearing oven mitts.
- Reusables save some cash, but I always end up with at least one pair that’s just permanently “funky.”
- Kinda wish there was a glove that was both nimble and bomb-proof, but haven’t found it yet.

Kinda wish there was a glove that was both nimble and bomb-proof, but haven’t found it yet.

Honestly, same here. I’ve tried a bunch - those “cut-resistant” ones are decent for grip but the second you get into tar or adhesives, they’re toast. Disposables are fine for quick stuff, but I always end up double-gloving when things get messy. Reusables just seem to collect that weird smell no matter how careful I am. Maybe it’s just the nature of roofing... nothing stays clean for long.

Is there actually a glove out there that doesn’t end up smelling like a gym bag after a week? I’m with you - those “cut-resistant” ones are great until you get into anything sticky or oily, then it’s like they just soak it up and never let go. I’ve tried rinsing them, hanging them up, even tossing them in the wash (not sure that helped). Still end up with that weird funk.

For me, disposables are a mixed bag. They’re handy for quick checks or when I’m poking around insulation, but if I’m crawling through an attic or dealing with anything sharp, I just don’t trust them. Double-gloving helps, but then I lose all sense of touch... which is kind of the whole point of gloves, right?

Is there some magic cleaning trick I’m missing, or is glove funk just part of the job? And does anyone actually find a reusable pair that lasts more than a month before the fingertips start to go? Maybe it’s just one of those things we have to live with, like mystery stains on work pants...

I’ll admit, glove funk is a universal truth, but I’ve actually had better luck with some of the newer nitrile-coated gloves. They’re not perfect - nothing is when you’re elbow-deep in roof tar - but they seem to rinse out easier and dry faster than the old-school cut-resistant ones. I’m not convinced disposables are always a downgrade for sharp stuff, either. If you double up with a snug fit, you get more dexterity than you’d think, and you can just toss ‘em when they get gross. Still, nothing’s survived more than a month for me, either... maybe it’s just the price of admission.