Welding is an integral part of our lives. Welders help construct our buildings, maintain and build roads and bridges, and do other vital public works.
Because welding requires high temperatures to permanently connect steel and iron parts, professional welders need high-quality gloves to protect them from hot metal and sparks. Their equipment must be safe and durable, as well as reliable.
Perhaps, the essential piece of equipment for a welder is their welding gloves.
High-quality welding gloves not only need to protect the user, but they should be able to withstand extreme conditions. If the welder cannot trust the gloves they wear, they will be too concerned with injuries to be able to provide the quality of work that is required.
They also need to be comfortable for the user. Some welding gloves provide fewer benefits than others. To help welders do their best job, here is our review of the best welding gloves.
Review contents
Best Welding Gloves
What are the best welding gloves?
There are a few things to consider when purchasing the best welding gloves. The first is the material. Leather is the most popular choice because it is durable and provides good protection against heat.
However, synthetic materials such as Kevlar or Nomex are also available and may be better for some welders.
The second consideration is the size of the glove. Choosing a size that fits snugly but is not too tight is essential. If the glove is too loose, it will not provide adequate protection. It will be uncomfortable to wear if it is too close and could restrict movement.
The third consideration is the type of welding being done. Arc welding requires different gloves than oxy-fuel welding or plasma cutting. Make sure to purchase gloves that are designed for the specific type of welding being done.
Finally, consider the price of the gloves. Welding gloves can range in price from around $20 to $100 or more, depending on the features and quality desired.
Compare prices and reviews to find the best value for your needs.
Read Next – Essential Welding Gear You Need To Buy Before You Begin Your Projects
What are the different types of welding gloves?
There are four main types of welding gloves:
- Heavy-duty gloves: These are made from thick, durable materials designed for heavy-duty welding applications. They provide the highest protection from heat, sparks, and welding-related dangers.
- Medium-duty gloves: These are made from lighter-weight materials and are ideal for medium-duty welding applications. They protect from heat, sparks, and other dangers associated with welding.
- Light-duty gloves: These gloves are made from lightweight materials and are best suited for light-duty welding applications or for use in areas where skill is more important than protection. They offer the least protection from heat, sparks, and welding-related dangers.
- Heat-resistant gloves are highly resistant to heat, making them ideal for high-heat welding applications. However, they offer less protection from sparks and other dangers associated with welding than the different types of gloves listed above.
What are the features of a suitable welding glove?
When it comes to welding gloves, there are a few key features to look for that will ensure you have a good pair.
Firstly, the gloves should be made from a durable and heat-resistant material. This is important as it will protect your hands from the intense heat generated when welding. Secondly, the gloves should fit snugly and be comfortable to wear.
This is important as it will prevent them from slipping off or becoming uncomfortable during use.
Finally, the gloves should provide a good grip so that you can securely hold onto your tools and materials.
WELDING GLOVES by US Safe Sparks
Our first pair of welding gloves is brought to us by US Safe Sparks.
These leather welding gloves can be used for many other tasks besides welding. Constructed of leather with kevlar stitching, they have several safety features built-in.
Heat resistance is, of course, the number one requirement for welding gloves. These Safe Sparks welding gloves claim heat resistance up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not only is that sufficient heat protection for welding, but also for use around campfires, by blacksmiths, metal fabrication, soldering, and around BBQ grills.
Safe Sparks welding gloves also protect wrists and forearms with long sleeves covering both arm areas. The sleeves pro welding protection and garden use, wood cutting, stone cutting, and around steam.
Welding in the rain is not a problem for Safe Sparks gloves. Shocks can be hazardous when using electric welding tools in damp or rainy conditions, but these gloves provide insulation against electric shocks.
An inner cotton lining makes these gloves comfortable for extended use—the reinforced palm construction cushions hands against sharp edges and objects.
If these gloves have a drawback, they are only available in one size, extra large.
BEETRO Welding Gloves, Cow Leather Forge/Mig/Stick Welder Heat/Fire Resistant, Mitts for Oven/Grill/Fireplace/Furnace/Stove/Pot Holder/Tig Welder/Wood Burner/BBQ/Animal handling glove with Soft Lining, 1 Pair
TOPDC 16 Inches, Top Cowhide Mig/Stick Welding Gloves Heat Resistant, Fireproof Gloves, Mitts for Forge/Grill/BBQ/Stove/Oven/Fireplace/Welder/Baking/Gardening/Animal Handling Large, Black
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US Forge 400 Welding Gloves
Our second pair of welding gloves come to us from US Forge. Like most welding gloves, they are made of leather with locked stitching. The leather these gloves are constructed with
feels slightly more supple than other gloves we’ve tested. That can make a big difference if a feel and grip are needed on a project.
Here are a few notable features of US Forge 400 Welding Gloves
These gloves are designed to protect extremely hot objects, up to and including molten metal. They also protect the wearer against UV rays, which can be just as dangerous as high-temperature objects.
Long-term agility is enhanced by using pliable, soft, top-grain leather.
Fingers and palms are designed with reinforced frictional areas that provide more excellent grip and more comfortable, less taxing, long-term holding of materials during work.
Blacksmiths prefer US Forge gloves because of their exceptional resistance to extreme heat, sparks, and sharp edges inherent in smithing.
Durability is excellent. Some users have used US Forge gloves for years with no discernable loss of protection or pliability.
Drake Off Road Tools 400 Welding Gloves Lined Leather, Blue - 14"
RAPICCA Welding Gloves 16 Inches,932℉,Heat Resistant Leather Forge/Mig/Stick Welding Gloves Heat/Fire Resistant, Mitts for Oven/Grill/Fireplace/Furnace/Stove/Pot Holder/BBQ/Animal Handling-Blue
Read Next – Lincoln Electric VIKING 3350 Black Welding Helmet Review
Lincoln Electric KH641 Leather Welding Gloves
Lincoln Electric is a well-known, longtime manufacturer of welding equipment. I find it surprising that these gloves aren’t high quality.
They have the usual features in welding gloves: leather construction, cloth lining, flame resistance, and lock-stitched seams. The relative lack of heat protection is the most disappointing about these gloves.
The Lincoln Electric gloves are adequate for welding use. You can grip a torch, stick, or piece of metal with them. However, they don’t provide much protection when employed for other tasks such as baking, campfires, or any other job where a temperature above 400 degrees is encountered.
KH641 welding gloves are 13 ½ inches long and are constructed with added protection against sparks and grindings.
Of the gloves reviewed so far, these don’t compare favorably. Since they primarily protect hands and forearms from extreme heat, they don’t handle the task very well.
Lincoln Electric Unisex Cuffed Gray Commercial Welding Gloves, Grey, One Size Pack of 2 US
$18.98 in stock
Lincoln Electric Grain Leather TIG Welding Gloves | High Dexterity | Large | K2981-L
Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Glove
Here is a second Lincoln Electric welding glove. Appearance-wise, they beat the other reviewed welding gloves easily. Instead of light blue or gray gloves, these gloves sport two-tone construction
with stenciled flames on the back. According to the product description from Lincoln Electric, these gloves have “a sense of style.” I can’t imagine too
Many welding professionals look for that feature when they purchase protective gloves. On the plus side, Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick welding gloves are well-made. Here are a few of their parts:
The inside is sock-lined for greater comfort. The stitching construction is kevlar, with welted seams. They are solid and durable. Durability is increased through the use of an additional thumb pad.
The thumb is designed to be straight instead of curved, as is the case with other welding gloves. As a result, sensitivity is increased, making them safer to use.
Like other welding gloves, the Traditional MIG/Stick gloves are versatile. They can be used for garden work (especially pulling thorny bushes), loading and stoking wood stoves, and different welding applications.
Although these gloves are a little more stylish than other welding gloves, they aren’t any better. Like the previously reviewed Lincoln Electric product, they are not very high quality. They aren’t very comfortable, don’t protect against extreme heat very well, and the sock lining is prone to falling out of the glove. I expected better products from Lincoln Electric than this.
Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves | 14" Lined Leather | Kevlar Stitching | K2979-ALL
$19.89 in stock
Lincoln Electric Heavy Duty MIG/Stick Welding Gloves | Heat Resistant & Durabilty | Large | K4082-L
Miller 263343 Arc Armor MIG/Stick Welding Glove
Right off the bat, it’s easy to see that this pair of welding gloves is a step above what has been reviewed so far. The Miller 263343 welding gloves cost a bit more, but in this case, you get what you pay for.
These gloves are extremely well constructed, durable, protective, and surprisingly sensitive.
They share the same leather material, kevlar stitching, and wool lining as our other reviewed gloves, but the comparisons end there.
The lining is thicker than in other welding gloves, making the Miller 263343’s very comfortable for any welding.
Yes, they are designed mainly for MIG and stick welding, but they are also comfortable for more heat-intensive arc welding and oxy-welding chores.
Here are a few of the many excellent features found in the Miller 263343 Arc Armor welding gloves:
Thick outer and lining construction makes for more excellent, safer work, no matter what type of welding your task requires. The palms are reinforced with additional patches, extending the glove’s life and making them more comfortable to use.
Even with increased insulation inside, these gloves have excellent dexterity and feel. Even when welding with a 3/16 size stick, there was no problem controlling the bead.
The quality of the construction is excellent. In addition to all their other attributes, these gloves will last a long time. Some wearers suggest wetting, then fitting these gloves to attain the best, tightest fit possible.
Unlike other welding gloves, which are available in only one size, when ordered through the Miller website, these gloves can be ordered in more than one size.
Miller 263343 Arc Armor MIG/Stick Welding Glove Large
Miller Electric MIG/Stick Welding Gloves,Stick,PR, Large (263339)
Final Verdict
Overall, the Miller 263343 welding gloves score significantly higher than their closest competitor, the US Safe Sparks welding gloves. The Safe Sparks gloves are also good quality and cost a little less than the Miller 263343s, but they fall short regarding overall quality.
Third place goes to the US Forge 400 welding gloves. For a relatively low price, they are suitable quality welding gloves.
Miller 263343 Arc Armor MIG/Stick welding gloves are the best in this price range. They are well-constructed, durable, comfortable, well-lined, sensitive to touch, and available in various sizes.
They might be a little more expensive than the other gloves reviewed here, but paying more isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the task they’re designed for.
When you purchase Miller 263343 welding gloves, you won’t be disappointed.
Read Next – What To Look For In The Best Welding Helmet
Miller 263343 Arc Armor MIG/Stick Welding Glove Large
Miller Electric MIG/Stick Welding Gloves,Stick,PR, Large (263339)
Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves | 14" Lined Leather | Kevlar Stitching | K2979-ALL
$19.89 in stock
Lincoln Electric Heavy Duty MIG/Stick Welding Gloves | Heat Resistant & Durabilty | Large | K4082-L
Lincoln Electric Unisex Cuffed Gray Commercial Welding Gloves, Grey, One Size Pack of 2 US
$18.98 in stock
Lincoln Electric Grain Leather TIG Welding Gloves | High Dexterity | Large | K2981-L
Drake Off Road Tools 400 Welding Gloves Lined Leather, Blue - 14"
RAPICCA Welding Gloves 16 Inches,932℉,Heat Resistant Leather Forge/Mig/Stick Welding Gloves Heat/Fire Resistant, Mitts for Oven/Grill/Fireplace/Furnace/Stove/Pot Holder/BBQ/Animal Handling-Blue
BEETRO Welding Gloves, Cow Leather Forge/Mig/Stick Welder Heat/Fire Resistant, Mitts for Oven/Grill/Fireplace/Furnace/Stove/Pot Holder/Tig Welder/Wood Burner/BBQ/Animal handling glove with Soft Lining, 1 Pair
