Signs You Need a New Pair of Cut-Resistant Gloves

While the lifespan of work gloves can vary, the truth of the matter is that they can wear out quite quickly when they’re subjected to almost daily use in intensive work conditions. While our armored gloves are prepared to handle such use for longer periods of time, there will come a time when even they need to be replaced. Here are signs you need a new pair of cut-resistant gloves.

Work Glove Life Span

Typically, work gloves have a lifespan of three to six months when they’re used solely for their intended purpose and used on a regular basis. This isn’t a strict deadline, as evident by the three-month difference between the intended lifespan, but it’s good to keep in mind if you’ve been using a pair that far exceeds that amount of time. Even if there are no holes or abrasions in your work gloves, there may be some other signs you need a new pair of cut-resistant gloves.

Signs of Wear and Tear

The most obvious sign of wear and tear is holes and other abrasions in the gloves. Even tiny holes can compromise the cut resistance of your gloves. Additionally, properly repairing these damages can be more trouble than it’s worth, as you need to get your hands on materials like Chineema, Tuffalene, or Kevlar to preserve the protection cut-proof work gloves are supposed to provide.

Aside from obvious holes, a more subtle sign is that the coating of your work gloves has worn off. This can often be identified if the material of your glove feels thinner than when you first got them or if the material begins to feel more abrasive to the touch.

Finally, while stains from dirt and other substances are common, your gloves shouldn’t remain a filthy hue even after being washed. If your gloves are saturated with excessive amounts of dirt, chemicals, oil, and other contaminants, it’s time to acquire a new pair of gloves.

Misconceptions About Work Gloves

Two common misconceptions that often lead people to overuse their gloves is that cut-resistant gloves are totally immune to being pierced by sharp objects. Likewise, some people use makeshift “tests” to gauge how well their cut-resistant gloves continue to function. Keep in mind that “resistance” doesn’t mean invulnerable. Instead, these gloves function to prevent serious injuries from sharp objects that may otherwise require stitches or worse. Similarly, this is why makeshift test methods don’t work because you’re putting the gloves in situations that aren’t realistic. Work gloves are tested and based on the ANSI cut test in which the gloves are tested against razor blades under a TM-100 machine.