When a buyer asks for “work gloves”, the real question is almost always about the coating. The liner decides comfort and cut protection; the coating decides grip, oil resistance and how long the glove survives. Three coatings dominate the industrial market — nitrile, latex and polyurethane (PU) — and picking the wrong one costs money in two ways: gloves replaced too often, or workers taking them off. Here is how to choose.
The 30-second answer
| Property | Nitrile | Latex | PU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry grip | Good | Excellent | Very good |
| Oily / wet grip | Excellent | Poor (slippery when oiled) | Fair |
| Abrasion resistance | Very good | Good | Fair |
| Puncture / snag resistance | Best of the three | Good | Lower |
| Dexterity / tactility | Good | Good | Best (thin coating) |
| Latex allergy risk | None (synthetic) | Yes — natural rubber protein | None |
| Solvent / chemical splash | Good (check EN 374) | Fair | Poor |
| Typical unit cost | Medium | Low–medium | Low |
| Best for | Oily metal work, automotive, machining, construction | Dry handling, brick/block, gardening, warehousing | Electronics, precision assembly, inspection, packaging |
Nitrile: the default for oily, abrasive work
Nitrile is a synthetic rubber, which means no latex proteins and no allergy risk — the single biggest reason it replaced latex in many factories. It resists oils, greases and many solvents, and it holds up against abrasion and punctures far better than PU. Modern micro-foam (sandy) nitrile adds a textured surface that channels oil away, giving a secure grip on wet or oily parts, and it stays more flexible than a solid coating.
Choose nitrile when: parts are oily or greasy, sharp edges and burrs are present, gloves are worn for full shifts, or you need one glove that works across mixed tasks. Typical EN 388 result for a quality sandy nitrile glove: abrasion 4, tear 4, cut B–C.
Latex: excellent dry grip, but mind the allergy
Natural latex gives the strongest dry grip of the three — it is why bricklayers, block handlers and landscape crews still prefer a crinkled latex palm. It is comfortable, elastic and cheap. The two limits: it becomes slippery when it contacts oil, and it contains proteins that can trigger Type I latex allergy in some workers. Many European and North American buyers now specify latex-free sites as policy.
Choose latex when: the work is dry, grip on rough surfaces matters most, and your site has no latex-free rule. If any worker reports itching or rash, switch to nitrile immediately.
PU: maximum feel for precision work
Polyurethane is applied in a very thin layer, so the glove feels close to bare hands — ideal for electronics assembly, quality inspection and small-parts handling where a thick coating would slow workers down. It is also the most breathable and usually the cheapest. The trade-off is durability: PU wears through quickly on abrasive surfaces and offers little protection against oils or puncture.
Choose PU when: dexterity is the priority, surfaces are clean and dry, and gloves are treated as consumables changed frequently.
Practical selection guide
- Machining, stamping, automotive repair → sandy/micro-foam nitrile, cut C–D
- Construction, concrete block, brick → crinkled latex palm, or nitrile if oil is present
- Electronics and precision assembly → thin PU on nylon or polyester liner
- Warehousing, logistics, packaging → PU or light nitrile, abrasion 3–4
- Glass, sheet metal, recycling → nitrile with a cut-resistant (HPPE/steel) liner, cut D–E
- Food processing → nitrile, food-contact compliant, latex-free
- Oil, gas and mining → heavy nitrile with impact protection (EN 388 position 6 = P)
Two buying tips that save money
1. Measure cost per hour, not cost per pair. A pair that costs 20% more but lasts twice as long is cheaper — and reduces the glove-changing downtime that nobody budgets for.
2. Trial before you standardise. Buy 10–20 pairs of two candidate coatings, put them on the actual line for two weeks, and let the workers vote. Comfort drives compliance, and compliance drives safety.
Where Mesian fits
We knit our own liners and run our own dipping lines in Hunan — 8,000 m², 170 workers, 8 million pairs a year since 2009. That means we can tune the coating formula, texture and coverage to your job rather than selling you whatever is in the catalogue: a softer nitrile for a cold warehouse, a heavier sandy finish for oily machining, a thinner PU film for electronics. Browse our glove range or see the factory.
Not sure which coating suits your line? Tell us the material, the surface condition (dry / oily / wet) and how long gloves currently last. We will recommend a specification and send samples for a two-week trial. Request samples and a quote →
Hunan Mesian Safety Technology Co., Ltd. — nitrile sandy gloves, cut-resistant gloves (ANSI A1–A9 / EN 388 A–F) and industrial yarn. About our factory · Browse products
