Your ultimate guide to seamless coated knit work gloves

Think about the different seamless safety gloves you’ve worn in your work life. Which ones were your favorite? What did they feel like? How well did they hold up on the job?

Whether you realize it or not, your answers probably have a lot to do with how the glove's materials are knit together. When it comes to seamless gloves, you may be surprised to learn that several combinations are available.

How do you know what materials will provide the best cut resistance? Abrasion resistance? Comfort? Dexterity?

Let’s navigate the world of materials as it pertains to HexArmor’s seamless lineup – the Helix® Series.

Glove yarn 101

All gloves start as fibers – either natural or synthetic – which are then either combed, melted, or engineered into yarns. Depending on the manufacturer's choice of materials, various yarns are spun together onto a spool using a yarn spinning machine.

Once the spools are created with the different yarn materials, the yarns are connected to a machine that twists and knits the gloves.

Common yarns include:

• Polyester
• Nylon
• Cotton
• Wool
• Elastane

Common engineered yarns:

• Kevlar®
• Aramid
• Dyneema®
• HPPE
• UHMWPE
• Fiberglass
• Stainless steel
• Tungsten

How the yarns are knit together controls:

• Performance
• Hand feel and comfort
• Flex
• Cost
• Thickness
• Cut resistance

Glove gauges and materials

You may sometimes hear seamless gloves referred to as a “13-gauge” or “18-gauge” glove. The term gauge simply refers to the size and type of needles used in a seamless knitting machine to produce a glove. Traditionally speaking, and depending on the yarn, the higher the gauge a glove is, the thinner, more dexterous, and comfortable the glove can be. The lower the gauge of a glove, the bulkier and less dexterous it can be.

Now that we have a basic understanding of materials, how they go from fibers to yarns, and how they are knit together, let’s take a look at the materials used in HexArmor’s Helix® Series to give you a better idea of how materials are combined and how they benefit workers.

• Nylon/elastane: The silky thermoplastic polymers of nylon are wound together with elastane, a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. Gloves with this fiber combination offer flexibility and movement while providing a high level of abrasion resistance.
• Dyneema® Diamond: Thinner than conventional fibers, Dyneema Diamond has a similar performance to gloves with fiberglass, but with a lighter, cooler, and more flexible feel. This highly abrasion-resistant knit doesn’t trap heat like other cut-resistant materials – instead, it radiates heat away from workers’ hands so that they stay comfortable and dry all day.

13-gauge

• 13-gauge HPPE/Fiberglass: Fiberglass materials break down the threat of a cutting edge. When combined with the protective cover of HPPE – a strong, composite polyethylene fiber – this knit creates a tough, mid-cut glove shell.
• 13-gauge HPPE/Fiberglass/Steel: High-performance polyethylene fibers (HPPE) and glass fiber blend combined with steel fibers provide a high-cut knit material with the toughness of steel, without compromising dexterity.
• 13-gauge Aramid/Steel: Aramid, one of the most thermally stable materials, is an incredibly strong synthetic fiber with high abrasion resistance. When combined with steel, gloves with these fibers are highly cut-resistant with a flexible feel.
• 13-gauge Aramid/Wool: The strong, synthetic, highly abrasion-resistant properties of Aramid are knit together with wool, a natural fiber that protects against both hot and cold temperatures, giving gloves flame resistance with a soft, dexterous feel.
• 13-gauge HPPE/Nylon: High-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) provides cut resistance and abrasion, and silky-smooth Nylon blend shell knitted to present low cut protection and high comfort and durability.

15-gauge

• 15G HPPE/Glass: Engineered 15-gauge high-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) provides cut and abrasion resistance, and the addition of the fiberglass blend and steel yarn provides a high-cut shell without compromising dexterity.
• 15G HPPE/Nylon: Engineered 15-gauge high-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) provides cut resistance and abrasion, while the silky-smooth thermoplastic polymers of Nylon blend shell offer low-cut protection and high comfort.

18-gauge

• 18-gauge Aramid/Steel: The 18-gauge version of this fiber combination provides gloves with mid-level cut resistance, offering a more flexible, second-skin feel than the 13-gauge blend.
• 18-gauge Nylon/Spandex: Comfort is the main component of combining a thin 18-gauge liner paired with smooth nylon and the stretch of spandex.
• 18-gauge HPPE/Nylon: Gauge thinness for dexterity. The high-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) offers low cut and abrasion resistance, and when wrapped in thermoplastic polymers like nylon, it provides increased comfort, dexterity, and breathability. This combination offers protection and comfort.
• 18-gauge HPPE/Glass: High-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) offers cut and abrasion resistance, and the addition of fiberglass provides a high-cut shell without compromising dexterity.
• 18-gauge HPPE/Steel: The high-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) provides cut and abrasion resistance. By adding stainless steel, this combination offers high cut protection while maintaining good dexterity.
• 18-gauge HPPE/Bamboo-viscose: Wearers experience noticeable comfort for their skin thanks to the bamboo-viscose. The smooth fit and high moisture absorption with a rapid action provide long-lasting comfort and high wearer acceptance. Paired with High-performance HPPE fibres, they offer a high level of protection against abrasion and cut hazards.
• 18-gauge HPPE/Tungsten:This unique, high-performing blend of HPPE provides cut protection and abrasion resistance. When combined with ultra-durable tungsten, it offers high cut protection with good dexterity for 360° A9 cut protection.

21-gauge

• 21-gauge HPPE/Nylon: 21G provides high dexterity and the thinnest knit. This combination of high-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) provides cut and abrasion resistance, wrapped in the thermoplastic polymers of Nylon, offers increased comfort, dexterity, and breathability. This unique knit combines to offer protection and ultimate comfort.
• 21-gauge HPPE/Steel: The high-performance polyethylene yarn (HPPE) provides cut and abrasion resistance. By adding stainless steel, this combination offers high cut protection while maintaining great dexterity with a 21-gauge liner.
• 21-gauge HPPE/Tungsten: Ultimate dexterity coupled with cut resistance. The 21G knit shell features a noticeably thinner knit, achieved through a combination of optimal spinning and coverage, resulting in a product with unmatched comfort and performance.

By engineering smarter, seamless combinations, HexArmor® has been able to increase protective properties while maintaining lightweight, breathable, and form-fitting seamless gloves. We’re increasing selection and comfort for workers around the globe.

Do you have questions about which glove materials are best for your application? Let us know if you need help, or click here if you're ready to start a trial. Our Solution Specialists are ready to work with you. Call 1.877.MY.ARMOR or send us a message.

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