Covering the World of Cotton and Cotton Gloves

Cotton material has been a go-to material for centuries and has a long legacy of use in everything from clothing to canvas to cording. The material is used to manufacture absorbent towels, durable clothing, and comfortable bed linen. Elements of the cotton plant are also found in less commonly considered places like coffee filters and food products.

In this article, we will highlight the benefits of cotton, especially within work gloves. We will also share with you some of the best cotton gloves we offer.

What makes cotton ideal for use in clothing? The number one benefit of cotton is its versatility. Cotton fibers can easily be blended with other fibers, such as polyester, to create various materials offering different benefits. Cotton is also exceptionally comfortable and highly durable due to the cotton plant's strong cellular structure. These qualities make it the ideal material for daily clothing.

Here are some of the many reasons cotton is a preferred clothing material:

• Breathable
  Easily made into different weights
  Effortlessly dyed
  Environmentally friendly
  Inexpensive compared to other fibers

Many of these benefits are what make cotton an ideal material for manufacturing work gloves.

Why should we use safety gloves

While safety gloves are not the first thing that comes to mind when we think of safety workwear, it ought to be. Statistically, what hand injuries cost employers is six times what it would cost to outfit their entire workforce in a construction scenario.

Add to that the fact that workers are more likely to injure their hands than any other part of the body, including wrists, arms, and shoulders. Breaking it down further, cuts or punctures are the most common hand injury, representing 40% of all reported hand injuries on the job. This is followed by sprains and fractures, and then burns or chemical burns. The top reasons cited for hand injury include the absence of hand protection and lack of adequate training, but the biggest takeaway from these numbers is the fact that the vast majority of these injuries could have been avoided if the worker was wearing proper hand protection. If they are properly trained on the task at hand (pun intended), workers know that wearing safety gloves will help protect them from injury. However, up to 75% likely do not wear gloves unless they are engaged in a particularly dangerous job. This concern is backed up by more stats that show although workplace injury is largely on the decline, hand injury itself is not. And when you consider that wearing safety gloves can potentially reduce the instance of hand injury by 70%, it is concerning that workers – and employers – are not taking a hard line on glove safety.

Dexterity and comfort are common issues surrounding the decision to wear or not wear safety gloves. The common thought may be that it may take longer to complete a task while wearing safety gloves, or that the gloves may be too hot, too uncomfortable, or don’t have enough grip. If this is the case, employers are not choosing good-quality safety gloves of the type that are on the market today. Today’s high-performance safety gloves are made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). They are lightweight, comfortable, and breathable without scrimping on grip or comfort. Ironclad safety gloves provide cut and puncture protection while delivering a comfortable fit and high performance. Depending on the model, they can be waterproof, windproof, and rated for extremely high or low temperatures, assuring your hand safety no matter what the job – from welding to construction and more.

How to Choose Socks

Outdoor activities are tough on feet, so a pair of high-tech socks is your first line of defense for dry, comfortable and blister-free feet. While "technical socks" might sound funny, there's no denying the big improvement they make over your old all-cotton tube socks. Socks at are organized by intended activity. Each features subtle differences in construction:

• Athletic/multisport socks: This broad category ranges from traditional white gym socks (updated with moisture-wicking fabrics) to technical socks intended for cross-training and running. Most provide some sole cushioning but have minimal bulk overall.

• Running socks: These range from thin liner socks with very little padding to those with dense cushioning in the heel and ball of the foot. Some runners prefer less padding for a better fit in their shoes; others like more padding for added cushioning and reduced foot fatigue.

• Walking socks: These offer cushioning and moisture-wicking properties for fitness walkers.

• Casual socks: Though distinguished by their casual styling (colors, stripes, etc.), these lightweight socks, at least those found at REI, usually feature performance fabrics such as merino wool.

• Lightweight hiking socks: These relatively thin socks provide a good fit for hikers with high-volume feet (i.e., feet that are wide or have a high instep). They wick away moisture and offer modest cushioning in the heel and ball of the foot. They are thinner, especially on the top, than midweight socks and can be worn with or without liner socks.

• Midweight backpacking socks: Their additional thickness gives a good fit to hikers with low-volume feet (i.e., feet that are narrow or have a low instep). They offer more padding in the heel and ball of the foot than do lightweight hiking socks, plus cushioning on the top of the foot and leg for comfort on long trails. They can be worn with or without liner socks.

Understanding Glove Coatings

When it comes to finding the right hand protection for your industry and application, it’s likely you’ll encounter various different glove coatings from flat and foam nitrile to PU and latex. But how do they differ and which coating is right for you? In this blog post, we look at each of the common glove coating types and when and where you should use them.

• Gloves with a flat nitrile coating are tough and durable with good abrasion and puncture resistance. They typically stand up well to oil, grease, and liquids, however, they can be less dexterous so not suitable for small intricate assembly work.Polyurethane (PU) is often considered the ideal coating for cut resistant gloves thanks to its soft and stretchy properties that still provide good puncture resistance without being too bulky.

• PU gloves are durable and flexible, making it an excellent coating for general sharp handling and assembly across multiple industries such as manufacturing, aerospace and precision assembly. PU coatings tend to have higher penetration levels into the knit liner as a downside and this can cause issues with skin sensitivity. PU is also a non-breathable coating so is often used as finger or palm dip style to reduce perspiration inside the gloves.

• Latex delivers high elasticity and grip in comparison to other glove coatings. This is especially true for crinkle latex, which offers outstanding grip along with abrasion and puncture resistance. Latex is very durable and suitable for a number of applications in industries such as construction, metal fabrication, utilities, and waste management.

General Features and Specifications of Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves can be separated into 2 categories: Medical use and Industry use. Medical use Nitrile examination gloves are suitable in work environments where there is possible contact with bodily fluids, microorganisms, and chemicals. They do not contain natural rubber latex and are an excellent alternative for those suffering from Type I allergies. The powder-free gloves offer high flexibility, tactility, tear and chemical resistance. Nitrile gloves can be designed with a special Nitrile formulation so that they feel and fit like latex and allow full range of motion and excellent flexibility to minimize stress and fatigue.

Features of medical nitrile gloves:

• Ultra Soft to minimize stress.
• 100% Latex Free.
• Powder Free. Non-sterile.
• Stronger. Meets/exceeds NFPA requirements.
• Tested using medical level standard ASTM D6319.
• Blue color.
• 100/box, 10 boxes/case.
• 2 thickness options: 3mil and 4mil, satisfy all situations.
• Length: 9.5"