Portwest Work Gloves

Frequently Asked Questions

They grade how much force a blade needs to cut through the glove under the ANSI/ISEA 105 test, from A1 at the low end to A9 at the top. A2 and A3 suit light handling of cardboard and small parts. A4 to A6 cover sheet metal, glass and sharp-edged materials. A7 and above are for heavy blade and metal work. Match the level to the sharpest edge you handle.

Often, though less than it used to. Higher cut levels need tougher yarns or more layers, which can add thickness. Modern engineered yarns keep high-level gloves thinner than older designs. Choose the level your task requires rather than the highest available, and you keep the most feel.

Nitrile grips in oily and wet conditions and resists abrasion, which suits mechanical and outdoor work. PU is thinner and gives more fingertip feel for dry precision tasks such as assembly and electronics. Sandy and double-dipped finishes add grip on oily parts at the cost of some dexterity.

Protecting the back of the hand and knuckles from crushing and pinch-point injuries, with padded or molded guards over the top of the glove. They are standard in oil and gas, construction and heavy equipment work, where hands get caught between loads. Impact protection is rated separately from cut resistance. See our oil and gas range.

Cut resistance measures slicing from a blade drawn across the fabric, while puncture resistance measures a point pushing straight through. A needle, wire or sharp point can pass between cut-resistant fibers, so the two are tested and rated separately. If needles or wire are the hazard, choose a glove rated for puncture specifically.

Leather gauntlets with a long cuff for stick and MIG welding, where spatter and heat are heavy, and thinner leather gloves for TIG, where you need feel on the filler rod. The cuff protects your wrist from falling spatter. Pair them with leather footwear built for the same work. See our welding boots range.

Many are, in 12-packs as well as single pairs, which suits crews and anyone who goes through gloves quickly. The product title states the pack size. Buying the same model in bulk also keeps the cut level consistent across a crew.

Yes. Portwest is one part of the range, and our wider gloves collection includes other workwear brands. See the full work gloves collection, or browse the rest of the Portwest range.

Portwest Work Gloves

Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do ANSI cut levels A1 to A9 mean?

Does a higher cut level make a glove less dexterous?

Nitrile or PU coating?

What are impact gloves for?

How is puncture resistance different from cut resistance?

What welding gloves do I need?

Are these sold in bulk?

Do you carry gloves from other brands?