Buyer guide
Bulk Order Enquiry Guide
How to send a bulk glove enquiry that gets an accurate quotation the first time.
Read the guide: Bulk Order Enquiry GuideBuyer resources
Work Glove Buying Guides for Industrial Buyers
Plain guides for procurement teams and safety officers: leather types, matching gloves to hazards, EN 388 and ANSI ratings explained, specification checklists and private-label sourcing.
- Leather types compared
- Hazard ratings explained
- Checklists for specifications and audits
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Buyer guide
Safety Workwear Specification Checklist
What to decide before ordering leather welding jackets, aprons, sleeves and leg guards.
Read the guide: Safety Workwear Specification ChecklistBuyer guide
OEM and Private Label Ordering Guide
How OEM and private-label glove orders work, from first sample to repeat orders.
Read the guide: OEM and Private Label Ordering GuideBuyer guide
Custom Glove Specification Checklist
Everything a manufacturer needs to quote a custom work glove accurately, in one list.
Read the guide: Custom Glove Specification ChecklistBuyer guide
Choosing the Right Glove for Industrial Tasks
Common industrial tasks matched to the glove types that usually suit them.
Read the guide: Choosing the Right Glove for Industrial TasksBuyer guide
How to Choose Leather Work Gloves
Five questions that narrow down the right leather glove for a job, before you ask for quotes.
Read the guide: How to Choose Leather Work GlovesBuyer guide
Glove Leather Compared: Cowhide, Goatskin, Sheepskin and Pigskin
A plain guide to the four leathers used most in work gloves, and how grain and split leather differ.
Read the guide: Glove Leather Compared: Cowhide, Goatskin, Sheepskin and PigskinLeather type and sourcing
Difference between cowhide, pigskin and goatskin work gloves
Cowhide is thick and strong. Abrasion resistant full grain cowhide gloves suit heavy industry, and split cowhide suits rough handling and welding. Goatskin is soft and tough for its thickness, so it is the best leather type for high dexterity mechanics gloves and TIG welding. Pigskin breathes well and stays fairly soft after getting wet.
In a top grain vs split leather durability comparison, grain usually wins on feel and water resistance, while split is tougher against abrasion and costs less. Read the full glove leather comparison.
Quick picks
- Toughest: split cowhide
- Best feel: goatskin, sheepskin
- Breathes best: pigskin
- Best all-rounder: grain cowhide
Hazard matching and glove selection
How to choose the right work gloves for industrial hazards
List the hazards first: abrasion, cuts, punctures, heat, sparks, cold, wet or oily parts, and impacts. Then match each one to a glove feature and, where it matters, a tested rating.
EN 388 mechanical risk ratings explained: under EN 388:2016 a glove gets a code such as 4X42C. The digits are abrasion (0 to 4), coupe cut (1 to 5, or X if not tested), tear (0 to 4) and puncture (0 to 4). The letter is the ISO 13997 cut result (A to F). A final P means the glove passed the impact test.
ANSI cut levels (ANSI/ISEA 105) run from A1 to A9. If your workers handle sharp tools or sheet metal, use an ANSI cut resistance level checklist: what is cut, how sharp, how often. Then choose a glove tested to the level you need. Impact resistant padded knuckle safety gloves for heavy machinery should also carry a tested impact result if your site requires one.
Important
A rating belongs to the exact glove that was tested. Plain leather gloves are strong against abrasion but are not cut- or impact-rated unless that article was tested. Always ask for the report.
B2B specification and customization
Writing a glove specification
A custom work glove specification checklist for safety officers covers the leather, pattern, palm layers, lining, cuff, thread, sizes, branding, packing and any standards. Double palm reinforcement options for heavy duty welding gloves, for example, should say where the extra layer goes and how it is stitched.
For cold-weather gloves, a waterproof insulated work glove specification template should name the lining type and weight, any membrane, and the test or claim you need. If you want branded insulation such as Thinsulate™, say so, and the supplier should confirm they can source the genuine material.
Use our custom glove specification checklist and safety workwear checklist.
Specification essentials
- Leather type, grade and color
- Palm, back and reinforcement
- Lining and cuff
- Thread and seams
- Sizes and quantities
- Standards and test reports
- Branding and packing
Private label and bulk sourcing
How to private label leather safety gloves from direct factories
Pick proven articles, send your logo and packaging, agree the specification in writing, approve a sample, then order. Low MOQ private label production makes it easier to test a line: our catalog articles start at 50 pairs per article.
Bulk ordering by the case lowers unit cost through quantity, simpler packing and fuller shipments. Ask for prices at two or three quantity levels to see where savings start. Before signing a contract manufacturing deal, use a factory audit checklist for wholesale safety glove contract manufacturing. See our quality control page for the questions to ask.
Sourcing trends we see
- More private label lines from distributors
- Smaller trial orders before volume
- More requests for test reports up front
- Mixed-article shipments
Questions
Buyer guide FAQ
What does an EN 388 code like 4X42C mean?
Abrasion 4, coupe cut not tested, tear 4, puncture 2, and ISO cut level C.
Which leather lasts longest?
Split cowhide is usually the toughest against abrasion. Grain cowhide balances durability and feel.
Are leather gloves cut-resistant?
Not by default. Cut ratings apply only to gloves tested for them.
How do I start a private label glove line?
Choose articles, send artwork, agree the specification, approve a sample and place a trial order.
Have a sourcing question?
Tell us what you are buying and for which job. We will answer and, if you want, send a quotation.