Best Work Gloves UK: Choosing the Right Gloves for Your Work Types

You’ve tried many gloves but still haven’t found the best work glove. Either they are too bulky or not strong enough for the job.

Well, that might be happening because you aren’t matching your gloves to the job. 

For example, tough cow split leather suits heavy handling, goatskin gives more feel and lighter sheepskin suits easy jobs. 

And yes, there are jobs where a leather glove is not the right answer at all.

So, if you’re a builder, construction worker, yard and warehouse staff or DIYer looking for a good pair of gloves, this article is for you.

TL;DR

• There is no single best work glove. Heavy-duty handling, assembly work and specialist tasks require different levels of protection, dexterity and durability.
• Cowhide offers strong abrasion resistance for heavy work, goatskin balances durability with dexterity, and sheepskin provides comfort and flexibility but is less durable.
• Rigger gloves are commonly used for construction and heavy-handling tasks. They typically feature a split-leather palm and a breathable fabric back, although specifications vary by product.
• For lighter tasks such as yard work, gardening or DIY, goatskin and sheepskin gloves can provide a practical balance of dexterity and protection. For workshop and assembly work, thinner goatskin or sheepskin gloves can support the handling of small components while reducing the need to remove gloves frequently.

Know Your Leather: Cowhide, Goatskin and Sheepskin

Not all leather gloves can be the right fit for your job. The best leather work gloves depend on what your needs are. 

Let’s take a look at how all three of them differ in which jobs each of them suits the best:

1. Cowhide

Search for leather gloves and the most common type that pops up is cowhide. They offer great abrasion resistance and come plenty thick for most applications where added strength is necessary. 

Though they may take a little while to break in, as they are stiffer than lighter leathers.

You would have probably noticed ‘full-grain’ and ‘split leather’ tags on cowhide gloves. During processing, a hide can be separated into different layers. The outer surface produces grain leather, while the lower layers produce split leather.

• Grain leather is the outer layer of the hide. It has a smoother surface, offers good abrasion resistance and provides some resistance to light moisture, although it is not waterproof.

• Split leather comes from the lower layers of the hide and has a more fibrous structure. It is often less expensive than grain leather, although its durability depends on the thickness, tanning and construction of the glove.

2. Goatskin

Next comes goatskin gloves. Goat has a tighter grain structure, shorter fibers and more flexibility. 

As they are thinner than cowhide, they tend to sit better and are one of the best leather work gloves for jobs that require dexterity. Goatskin can offer a strong balance of flexibility and abrasion resistance, although durability varies by hide quality, thickness and construction.

3. Sheepskin

Sheepskin gloves are the softest and lightest of the three and also the most comfortable. However, they generally provide less abrasion resistance and durability than cowhide or goatskin. 

Their flexibility makes them suitable for lighter tasks such as gardening and general DIY, rather than heavy-duty handling.

Building Sites and Heavy Handling: Rigger Gloves

If you work in extremely rough conditions, rigger gloves are what you need. They are the best work gloves for construction particularly made to handle heavy-duty work. 

Rigger gloves are made of a cow split leather palm, a fabric back, a short elastic cuff and reinforced fingers and thumb. The split leather palm gives you durability while the light fabric at the back keeps the gloves breathable. 

The padding at the palm of reinforced double palm rigger gloves lets you carry heavy weight without the edges digging into your palms. This makes it perfect for jobs such as moving bricks, timber and pallets, loading and unloading along with general site work.

Standard rigger gloves are not a substitute for specialist protection. For cut hazards, heat, chemicals or other specific risks, choose gloves tested and certified for the relevant hazard.

At SaftaBee, we stock best work gloves for construction with high-visibility riggers in three fluorescent colours and a reflective knuckle strap. You can get them in packs of 10s. 

Yards, Warehouses and Everyday Jobs: Lighter Leather

Lighter jobs like gardening, DIY or general yard work requires more dexterity than toughness. You need gloves that allow you to feel while also providing a degree of protection. 

That’s what goatskin and sheepskin gloves offer. They are the best work gloves for men working in a light environment. Because they keep your hands cooler, freer and allow them to easily flex and bend with a stretchy fabric at the back. 

Goatskin gloves are considered great for durability and can handle small nicks and cuts. While sheepskin gloves fall more on the affordable side and can be used for once-in-a-while projects. 

But both of these won’t hold up in heavy-duty work. For construction jobs and handling heavy weights, go for rigger gloves. 

Workshop and Assembly Work

Working in a workshop means general bench jobs, handling components and frequently fixing screws, bolts and other small parts. Here, the best gloves for work would be goatskin or mechanic gloves. 

Bulky or huge gloves like cowhide or rigger makes these fiddly tasks hard. You end up removing your glove again and again to pick up a tiny screw or line a bolt. 

And for these reasons, you need a glove that moves with your hand and lets you feel what you’re holding. This is where goatskin and thin sheepskin gloves do well. 

They are strong enough to handle the minor hazards of the job like splinters, scrapes and pinches. But at the same time, they allow you easy moments. 

Mechanic gloves are a popular pick for this kind of work. Check out our guide on mechanic gloves or our mechanic gloves collection to know more about them. 

When Leather Is Not Enough: Cold, Wet and Risky Jobs

The best leather work gloves are great for protecting your hands and they're very durable. But they might not be suitable for every job. 

For example, when leather gloves come in contact with damp soil or become wet, they become stiff or shrink down. Similarly, winter work needs a lined glove and a different choice (check out our guide on winter gloves to find the best option).

And risky jobs such as chainsaw work, welding and handling sharp blades or glass need safety gloves.

In the end, the glove must match the job's risk. For example, leather is better for rough, rubbing work and long wear. But coated nylon gloves are more popular for fine handling and wet or oily jobs.

SaftaBee Work Gloves Compared

At SaftaBee, we stock the best gloves for work for whatever job you’ve got on. Rigger gloves are best for heavy-duty work while goatskin and sheepskin offer dexterity for lighter jobs. 

Here are all the products at a glance:

Note: The prices listed below are subject to change. Please check out the website to confirm current prices. 

Before You Buy

Your choice of gloves should be completely based on the nature of your job. 

If you are thinking of buying leather gloves, first check which type of leather would be suitable for your job. 

Then check whether the risks of your job require any specialist gloves.

Then finally, check the size (to know more about how to measure your hand, check out our women's gardening gloves guide). 

Our collection of work gloves include gloves for all sorts of jobs. Check out our website SaftaBee to find the best fit. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which gloves are the best leather work gloves? 

There is no direct answer to this. Rather, it depends on the job. Choose cowhide for tough and rough work. Goatskin is best for jobs where you need feel and dexterity. 

2. What are rigger gloves used for? 

Heavy handling such as building, loading and yard work, with a leather palm and a fabric back. 

3. Are leather work gloves better than coated gloves? 

Not always. Leather suits rough, rubbing work and long wear. On the other hand, coated gloves often suit fine handling and wet jobs.