The leather market today is filled with different types of leather gloves. So much that many buyers are often faced with a ‘decision paralysis’ when choosing what kind of leather products to purchase.
To save you time and shave labor, in this article, I have crafted an informative comparison of the different types of leather for making gloves. Read on to learn how to compare and contrast between these leather gloves. Thus increase your chances of making an informed decision on your next leather glove shopping.
Different types of leather gloves and their uses
Leather is generally sourced from the hinds or skins of animals. However, not all leather is the same, as the sources and procurement process vary.
So, it is no wonder that leather gloves will also vary widely in quality, comfort, and other aspects. Below, you’ll find some common leather gloves discussed, along with their respective leather compositions.
CowHides Leather Gloves
Cow hides are the oldest and most popular type of leather used in making protective gloves. The reason for this isn’t too far-fetched. Cattle are relatively easy to rear on a large scale compared to other animals (i.e. Horses, Buffaloes). This makes their Hinds low-cost, cheaper, and easily accessible.
Leather gloves from Cowhides are generally durable, non-abrasive, and highly heat-resistant. The Heat protection Cowhides provides makes it a competitive candidate for some of the best leather for winter gloves. It offers more warmth during this cold period than goatskin and pigskin leather gloves.
Cowhide leather gloves provide a good level of thickness that is well appreciated in farming (i.e., beekeeping), construction, and other industries. It provides additional grip and sufficient cover for workers against injuries from machine operation.
Goatskin Leather Gloves
Goatskins are considered one of the most durable leathers in the world. Some of the traditional leather artifacts are, in fact, made from goatskin.
Goatskin Leather Gloves ranks top as the strongest type of leather for glove making. It is much more abrasive and tougher than cowhide. However, the natural lanolin in goat skin ensures that goat leather gloves are soft, pliable, and watertight.
Goatskin leather gloves provide improved protection from harsh weather, hazards, sparks, cuts, etc. People who do a lot of manual work rank goatskin leather high on the work glove grade.
Pigskin Leather Gloves
Pigskins are porous by nature. They contain tiny holes that make their leather soft and breathable. Pigskin leather gloves provide users with unmatched comfort and pristine satisfaction. Furthermore, they are known to withstand moisture better without becoming stiff. They also enable cleaning pigskin gloves with ease.
Pigskin leather gloves excel in works and industries where much movement is necessary. It is popularly used in stick and MIG welding.
Pigskin gloves accommodate seamless movement and flexibility without compromising on safety and durability.
Deerskin Leather Gloves
Deerskin is similar to pigskin because they both create soft leather. They are also porous and similarly flexible. Deerskin offers some of the best industry-standard leather gloves with relative strength and durability. However, the manufacturing process can be tedious.
Deerskin gloves are expensive and comparatively scarce to find. Nonetheless, they remain a great option for creating safe and comfortable leather gloves. They are commonly used in welding.
Sheepskin Leather Gloves
Sheepskin leather gloves are lightweight, soft, and durable. While they do not qualify as some of the best leather work gloves, they are incredibly favorite in the fashion industry. They are used in making coats, gloves, and jackets.
Sheepskin is very smooth to the touch and becomes softer with time. Like goatskin, the lanolin present in sheepskin also gives a self-cleansing quality to leather gloves.
Buffalo leather Gloves
Buffalo’s leathers are extremely strong and durable. It slightly edges above cowhides in strength and flexibility. The unmatched thickness of buffalo leather makes them very resistant to tear. It’s also breathable, which helps to maintain temperatures during cold and hot weather.
Buffalo leather gloves are among the best gloves to work with. Their rigidity and strength make buffalo gloves adaptable to heavy use over a long period. And when the leather glove in question is top grain, its efficiency and durability skyrocket!
Full Grain leather gloves vs. Split leather gloves
Full-grain leather gloves are obtained from the outer part of the hind. This is the area that has the highest level of exposure to the outside world. It is the toughest and most durable part of any animal skin. Many luxury Bridle leather gloves are made with full-grain leather.
Where the skin is cut from an animal’s body also plays a part in its quality. Leather cuts from the neck and belly will be less durable than those cut from the shoulder and side part.
Split leather gloves, on the other hand, are derived from the internal part of the hind. This area is devoid of any natural grains. Split Leather is usually less durable than their exterior counterpart.
While Split leather might not be the ideal glove leather material, it offers an economic advantage. They are relatively cheaper and can be a more cost-effective choice to create gloves for light and short use.
Side Split leather from the ribs is generally more durable than shoulder and belly splits.
What is cabretta leather made from?
Cabretta leather is made from the skin of sheep that grows hair rather than wool. They are more durable than other sheepskins and are used to make gloves and upper shoes.
Final Words
In theory, all animals can produce leather at different levels and capacities. All Leather gloves offer a distinct feel that separates them from other types of leather. You need to know which leather glove fits your requirements and stick with it.
For example, Buffon leather work gloves are strong and thick. This makes them good for heavy-duty jobs. Conversely, sheepskins produce soft and lightweight leathers suitable for clothing. The different stitch patterns and cuffs on leather gloves make it even easier to make a choice.