Why 'Good Enough' Isn't Enough

With more brands and choices available than ever, make sure you're using the right glove for the right task.

Are you buying the wrong gloves at the right price?

Did you have to settle for lesser quality gloves during supply chain disruptions?

Those days are over.

As the surplus of low-quality gloves dwindle, now is the perfect time to reevaluate your hand protection options.

Choose the perfect fit for your application

Do you need powder free nitrile? Wondering which AQL levels or colors is right for your project?

With 3,000,000,000 disposable gloves sold, and over 30 years of industry experience, let us help you navigate the maze.

Glove Materials
Gloves Grades
Thickness & Strength
AQL
Colors
Sizes
Packaging
Applications/Industries
Glove Terminology

Nitrile Gloves

Are you looking for latex-free gloves? Nitrile is for you with superior durability, minimal allergies, and a comfortable fit for various applications.

  • Synthetic material made from butadiene rubber, which is a co-polymer of butadiene and acrylo-nitrile
  • Regarded as the highest quality replacement for latex
  • Common colors are blue (most popular), black, white, orange, pink, green, and two-tone

Why choose nitrile?

It's not only cost-effective but also versatile. While it may lack the elasticity of latex, nitrile advancements has come a long way in providing fit and dexterity for many applications. Nitrile excels in resisting petroleum-based oils and fuels, offers outstanding puncture resistance, and allows for easy detection of tears before you handle hazardous substances. Plus, it's heat-tolerant and eliminates the risk of latex allergies.

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves offer a snug fit and excellent elasticity, making them the go-to option for tasks requiring maximum finger dexterity.

  • Made from processed natural rubber derived from tree sap
  • Typically come in beige or blue, colors designated for high-risk applications.
  • Latex proteins can cause allergy reactions in some individuals
  • Chlorination methods can reduce these proteins, and double chlorination is available for those who need it, optional by request.

When is latex the best choice?

They are the ideal choice for medical or precision applications that require a high level of form-fitting, tactile sensitivity, and effective protection against blood borne pathogens. If you are concerned about allergies or need protection against harsh chemicals, consider nitrile gloves as an alternative.

Neoprene Gloves

Neoprene gloves are highly resistant to chemicals, oils, and a wide array of corrosive substances, making them an excellent choice for various industrial and laboratory applications.

  • Made from synthetic materials, no latex allergies to worry about
  • Combine the comfort of latex with the durability of nitrile
  • Primarily come in green, although black, blue, and pink options are now available

When to choose neoprene?

These gloves are your best bet when you need the snug fit and dexterity of latex but want to avoid allergy risks. Effective against a wide range of acids, peroxides, and harmful chemicals, they are a solid choice for high-precision tasks, including medical procedures. However, it's worth noting that they aren't the best match for certain aromatic hydrocarbons and tend to be pricier than nitrile and latex gloves.

Vinyl Gloves

The budget-friendly, latex-free choice for a wide range of applications.

  • Made from synthetic, petroleum-based PVC (poly vinyl chloride)
  • Inexpensive option for handling non-hazardous materials
  • Available in clear and blue

When are vinyl gloves the best option?

Vinyl gloves excel in scenarios that don't require a snug fit—think basic food prep or industrial tasks involving oils, fats, resins, and greases. They hold up well against abrasions, remain flexible in cold temperatures, and have anti-static qualities. If latex allergies are a concern, vinyl is a safe bet. However, they're not recommended for jobs requiring protection against hazardous materials.

Polyethylene Gloves

These gloves are your go-to for short-term applications where sanitation is key but high-level protection isn't necessary. While they can't match the dexterity and robust defense of other materials, they excel in convenience and affordability.

  • Made from plastic resins and sealed with heat
  • Affordable, lightweight solution for tasks requiring frequent glove changes—like sandwich assembly, for example.

Glove Grades

Medical (Exam) Grade:

Medical grade gloves are precision-made to meet strict healthcare standards, providing reliable barrier protection and dexterity for healthcare and lab professionals in infection control and medical procedures.

  • Minimum AQL for medical grade gloves is 2.5
  • For applications that come in contact with blood borne pathogens (blood, urine, saliva, etc.)
  • Used at doctors’ offices, hospitals, laboratories, fire, EMS, and police

Industrial (Non-Medical) Grade:

Industrial or B grade gloves are designed for use in various nonmedical applications, offering durable hand protection in industrial and commercial settings.

  • Minimum AQL for industrial grade gloves is 4.5
  • For applications that come in contact with blood borne pathogens (blood, urine, saliva, etc.)
  • Widely used in industrial, food service, and labs, where blood borne pathogens aren't a concern.

Surgical Gloves:

Sterile, individually packed in pairs, and approved for surgical use.

  • Minimum AQL for surgical grade gloves is 1.5

Chemo Gloves

Chemotherapy-approved medical grade gloves must meet ASTM Standard D6978-05, which entails rigorously testing against nine specific chemotherapy drugs for assured permeation resistance.

Glove Sizes

Wrap a measuring tape around the widest part of your dominant hand, just below the knuckle and excluding your thumb

We offer a wide range of sizes, from XS all the way up to XXXL.

  • 5.5-6 inches (14-15.2 cm) = Extra Small
  • 6.5-7 inches (16.5-17.8 cm) = Small
  • 7.5-8 inches (19.1-20.3 cm) = Medium
  • 8.5-9 inches (21.6-22.9 cm) = Large
  • 9.5-10 inches (24.1-25.4 cm) = Extra Large
  • 10.5-11 inches (26.7-27.9 cm) = Double Extra Large

Cuff Length

Cuff length is measured from the tip of the middle finger to the cuff’s end.

  • Standard Cuff is 9-9.5” (22.9-24.1 cm). Long cuff is 11-12” (27.9-30.5 cm).

Packaging

  • Available in 7 sizes including XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
  • Boxes generally contain 50 to 300 ambidextrous gloves that can fit either hand.
  • standard packaging includes 100 gloves per box, with 10 boxes in each case.

Thickness and Strength

MIL is the standard unit of measurement for glove thickness.

  • 1MIL = 1/1000th of an inch, or approximately 0.0254 mm
  • Thickness is measured at three specific areas: the finger, palm, and cuff

Tensile strength is the amount of force in MPA (pounds per square inch) needed to stretch a medical glove until the breaking point

  • The greater the MPA value, the more durable the glove.
  • Glove material with the highest MPA value in descending order: latex, chloroprene, nitrile, and vinyl.

Elongation measures glove thickness and indicates how much a glove can stretch before breaking.

  • For example, if a 1-inch sample stretches to 7 inches before breaking, it has a 600% elongation rate.
  • Higher numbers signify better performance, with latex leading the pack, followed by nitrile, chloroprene, and then vinyl.

AQL

The AcceptableQuality Level (AQL) is a key industry standard that measures the average percentage of defective gloves in a sampled batch. A lower AQL indicates a higher-quality product with fewer defects.

Tensile Strength is the amount of force in MPA (pounds per square inch) needed to stretch a medical glove until the breaking point

  • The greater the MPA value, the more durable the glove
  • Glove material with the highest MPA value in descending order: latex, chloroprene, nitrile, and vinyl.

Color

Popular glove color codes by industry

Applications & Industries

EMS and Fire

High-risk scenarios call for thicker gloves with long cuffs

  • Medical (Exam) Grade gloves approved for use with NFPA standards, and chemotherapy drugs.
  • Preferred thicknesses are 6, 7, 8, and 15 mil
  • Nitrile or Latex

Jails, Police, and Detention

  • Nitrile in any thicknesses
  • Preferred color is black

Medical Labs and Clinics

  • Medical (Exam) Grade gloves
  • Preferred thicknesses are 6, 7, 8, and 15 mil
  • Preferred thinner gloves for dexterity

Food Industry

  • FDA Approved Nitrile gloves
  • Material options are Nitrile, Polyethylene, and Vinyl
  • Preferred thicknesses are 4 or 5 mil
  • Preferred color: clear and blue

Gloves Terminology

AQL level: Acceptable Quality Level

High-risk scenarios call for thicker gloves with long cuffs

  • Random water testing to determine pinhole defect rate
  • The lower the AQL level, the better
  • 2.5 is the minimum AQL for medical gloves, 4.5 for industrial gloves

MIL: unit of measure for the thickness of gloves

  • 1/1000th of an inch
  • 3 measurements: finger, palm, and cuff

Glove Weight: Since thickness can vary throughout the glove, weight can be a more reliable indicator of the amount of material (m.g.)

Plasticizers: Chemical components added to nitrile or vinyl gloves to improve elongation and overall fit

Powder Free: Powder removed through a chemical washing process called chlorination process. Limited Powdered Latex Gloves are available for easier donning.

Textured Finish: Gives you a better grip and can be found on fingers (usually more textured) or the whole glove. Good for wet applications.

Diamond Textured: Gloves with a raised diamond shaped texture throughout the exterior surface of the glove. This provides 60% more surface area to channel away liquids for a firmer grip.

Glove Color: You may choose to color code by material to quickly identify latex versus nitrile or by department to avoid contamination.

Donning: The act of putting on a glove. Nitrile gloves have a lower resistance to friction than latex gloves, making them easier to don and remove. In addition, finishes are added during the manufacturing process to improve donning.

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