That’s the story of my life lately—trying to find gloves that don’t make me feel like I’m working with oven mitts on, but still keep my hands from getting shredded. The first week I started, I thought those thin nitrile disposables would be enough for everything. Didn’t take long before I tore through a pair just picking up shingles. Now I swap between those and some thicker leather ones, but it’s never quite right for every task.
Funny thing is, sometimes I’ll ditch the gloves for stuff like flashing or detail work, thinking I’ll be careful... and then end up with little cuts or tar stains that take days to fade. My supervisor keeps saying “you only get one set of hands,” but it’s tough when you’re trying to not drop hardware off a steep pitch.
I’ve noticed some guys use those cut-resistant gloves with the rubber palms—seems like a decent middle ground? Haven’t tried them myself yet. Anyone have luck with those, or do they just get too sweaty in the summer? And for eye protection, do you all stick with safety glasses even when it’s humid and they fog up? Half the time mine end up on top of my head because I can’t see anything through the fog.
Guess there’s no perfect answer, but I’m curious if anyone found a combo that actually works for more than an hour at a time. Or maybe it’s just about swapping gear constantly depending on what you’re doing...
“Half the time mine end up on top of my head because I can’t see anything through the fog.”
Honestly, I’ve never had much luck with those cut-resistant gloves in hot weather—my hands just get clammy and I end up taking them off anyway. For eye protection, I actually switched to anti-fog coated glasses last year. They’re not perfect, but they beat constantly wiping lenses or risking an eye injury. I know some folks swear by swapping gear for every task, but in practice, that just slows me down. Sometimes it’s about picking the lesser evil and sticking with it for the job at hand.
I get the frustration with foggy glasses—mine used to do the same, especially when I was working in the basement during summer. The anti-fog ones help, but I still have to wipe them sometimes. As for gloves, I’ve tried both disposable nitrile and reusable cut-resistant types. The disposables are cooler but don’t last long if you’re doing anything rough. The reusable ones are better for heavy work, but yeah, sweaty hands are a pain. For me, I just keep a couple pairs handy and swap out when they get too gross or slippery. Not perfect, but it saves money over time.
Totally get where you’re coming from with the foggy glasses—especially in humid basements or when you’re moving around a lot. I’ve tried a few anti-fog sprays, but honestly, they’re hit or miss. As for gloves, I lean toward reusable for most jobs, but I keep a box of disposables for quick fixes or anything messy. The sweat factor is real, though... sometimes I just have to take a break and air out my hands. Swapping pairs like you mentioned definitely helps stretch the lifespan and keeps things a bit more comfortable.
The sweat factor is real, though... sometimes I just have to take a break and air out my hands.
Man, I hear you on that. Working on roofs in the summer, my gloves get soaked in no time. I’ve tried those “breathable” reusable gloves, but honestly, they still get gross after a couple hours. Disposables are handy for the nasty stuff, but they tear way too easy if you’re hauling shingles or scraping old tar. I end up rotating between two pairs of reusables and just let one dry out while I work. Not perfect, but better than peeling off sticky gloves every 20 minutes.