How to Choose the Right Gloves for the Job?
How to Choose the Right Gloves for the Job?People often think that choosing a pair of gloves doesn’t require much thought—you just put them on quickly and take them off just as easily. In theory, any glove could get the job done, but in practice, the quality of the gloves can greatly affect how well your hands handle various tasks.
As the demand increases, we need gloves that are durable, flexible, and fit well, and nitrile gloves have become one of our top choices. Sometimes, the material of the gloves isn’t the most important factor; the thickness of the gloves is also a crucial aspect that influences their performance.
So, how thick should nitrile gloves be? Here’s a guide on how to choose the appropriate thickness for nitrile gloves.
Thickness of Nitrile Gloves for Different Industries
How thick should nitrile gloves be? There isn’t a definitive answer—it largely depends on the industry you work in or your specific glove requirements. Without knowing the type of work you do, it’s impossible to determine the exact gloves you need.
Here are some examples of jobs suited for different nitrile glove thicknesses:
13 Mil Nitrile Gloves
13-Mil nitrile gloves are thicker protective gloves that offer high durability and superior protection. They not only resist punctures, tears, and chemical corrosion but also provide excellent chemical and oil resistance, making them very effective when handling sharp tools. These gloves are ideal for high-risk work environments.
- Industrial
- Manufacturing
- Automotive Repair
- Chemical handling
- Others
However, due to their thickness, these gloves might reduce finger dexterity and touch sensitivity, making them less suitable for precise tasks. Long-term wear may also cause your hands to feel somewhat cumbersome.
15 Mil Nitrile Gloves
Compared to 13 Mil gloves, 15 Mil nitrile gloves are thicker and are designed for extreme environments and high-risk tasks. Although they offer more durability and protection, they sacrifice some flexibility compared to the 13 Mil gloves. These gloves are better suited for use in extreme conditions.
- Heavy-duty cleaning
- Emergency rescue
- Chemical handling
- Others
18 Mil Nitrile Gloves
18 Mil nitrile gloves are ultra-thick, specifically designed to provide the highest level of protection. They offer far greater durability and protection than regular nitrile gloves, making them ideal for high-risk work in extreme environments.
- Waste handling
- Metal processing
- Glass manufacturing
- Others
22 Mil Nitrile Gloves
At 22 Mil, nitrile gloves are even thicker than the previous ones, making them the top specification for ultra-extreme protective gloves. This thickness offers unparalleled protection, making them particularly suitable for use in high-risk work environments, such as:
- Chemical plants
- Petrochemical industry
- Mining operations
- Heavy manufacturing
- Metal processing
- Machinery manufacturing
- Construction
- Others
How Thick Are Nitrile Gloves?
Whether medical-grade or industrial-grade, nitrile gloves generally must meet the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL), which means that less than 3-4% of products in a batch can have manufacturing defects.
However, this doesn’t mean that industrial-grade gloves are of lower quality or offer less protection than medical-grade ones. In fact, industrial-grade gloves are typically thicker and more robust because they need to resist tearing, abrasion, and punctures when used with machinery.
What Are the Thickest Nitrile Gloves?
22 Mil nitrile gloves are considered the thickest standard nitrile gloves available, although they are expensive and may feel bulky.
Nitrile Glove Thickness Options and Measurement Methods
The thickness of nitrile gloves is usually measured in mils, where 1 mil = 0.001 inches. Gloves 13 Mil and thinner are considered thin. 15 Mil or 18 Mil gloves are considered medium thickness and are ideal for those who need a balance of protection and dexterity.
13 Mil or thicker nitrile gloves are exceptionally durable for household use and are ideal for heavy-duty work.
Measuring Nitrile Glove Thickness
To measure the thickness of nitrile gloves, you typically use a soft tape measure or measuring tape to measure the palm width, which is the area between the base of the thumb and the base of the pinky, or measure the overall length of the glove using a ruler, from the fingertip of the middle finger to the edge of the cuff.
Disposable Nitrile Gloves Trusted by Teams
No matter what type of nitrile gloves you and your team need to get the job done, Aibon can provide a wide range of options to let you complete the most challenging tasks with confidence. Our nitrile gloves come in any size you need, not to mention the thickness options. Feel confident choosing us; we will deliver the highest-quality nitrile gloves to you.
How to Measure Glove Sizes – Source: AIBON
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