How to Choose the Best Chainsaw Gloves For You
The very first thing that you should consider when working with any power tool is safety. When beginning work with a chainsaw, safety is even more important.
You should always ensure that you are wearing the proper gear before you even pick up your saw and that includes having proper gloves.
Top Choice:
- Comfortable and highly dexterous
- Eight-layer lining of specific chain-arrest
- Water-repellant, smooth, grain goatskin leather palms have built in anti-vibration reinforcement
There are many companies that make chainsaw gloves, so there are lots of options to choose from.
Sometimes finding the right option for you can be tricky, but not to worry, we have done some research and are here to tell you all about the different types of gloves you can choose from as well as show you some of our top picks for the best chainsaw gloves.
Let’s get started!
Buyer’s Guide
There are several main elements that you should consider when choosing your gloves including material, style, safety ratings, and personal comfort.
Materials
As you can probably guess, most chainsaw gloves are made out of tough materials such as leather and kevlar, but not all gloves are created equal.
Most gloves are made of multiple materials such as leather and nylon on the outside and kevlar on the inside.
Leather is a good material to look for because it is durable, flexible, and tear-resistant. You will notice that most of these gloves are made with goatskin leather.
hey use goatskin because it is tough, but it is also supple, making the gloves more comfortable and offering better dexterity, the importance of which we will discuss in a minute.
Kevlar is the other really popular material, for obvious reasons. Since it is tough, cut resistant, and extremely durable, this is a good material to look for. Some gloves are even sewn together with kevlar thread, making them even more durable.
Other materials you will see a lot include neoprene, nylon, and lycra or spandex. These materials are used because they are flexible, breathable, and often water-resistant.
Style
Although there are multiple color options available, that is not the style we are talking about. We’re talking about the style of the gloves in reference to how they will perform for your work.
You should consider the type of work you are doing as well as the environment you will be working in. One design feature that is unique to chainsaw gloves is that the left hand is often more protected than the right.
This is because chainsaws are designed for right-handed people, so your left hand is closer to the blade. This extra protection can be great, but if you are using your gloves for more than just chainsaw work, you may want more balanced protection.
Safety Ratings
When you dig around in the product descriptions of most of these gloves you will find statements like ANSI, ISEA, and EN certifications.
Those certifications mean that the gloves meet certain safety regulations for things like cut and puncture resistance.
These regulations are a bit too long to detail here, but just know that gloves with these certifications have gone through rigorous testing for safety, putting them a step above brands that do not have these certifications listed.
Personal Comfort
Although we chose to list personal comfort last on our list of considerations, it is far from the least important element. Your comfort is paramount to you being able to work properly and safely. When deciding on comfort, consider these elements:
Fit and Dexterity: Your gloves should fit snugly, but still allow you proper dexterity. If your gloves are too tight they could reduce circulation in your hands which will cause discomfort and numbness.
If they are too loose they could shift around, decreasing your grip on the saw, which could be disastrous. Choose gloves that fit comfortably and still allow full movement of your fingers.
Grip: Make sure that the material on the palms of your gloves provides the proper amount of grip, for both dry and wet weather. Finger mobility also aids your grip, so keep that in mind for your proper fit.
Breathability and Water Resistance: Making sure that your hands stay dry is paramount. Damp skin can easily become irritated.
If you are working in hot weather, make sure you choose something with breathable materials so that your hands do not sweat too much. If you work in damp or snowy weather, be sure to look for water-resistant materials.
Anti-Vibration: Anyone who has ever used a chainsaw, or any power tool, for long periods knows that vibration can cause serious fatigue.
Although no pair of gloves is going to eliminate vibration completely, some are designed to decrease vibration which will add to your comfort.
Our Picks
Okay, now that you know what to look for, check out our picks for the best chainsaw gloves and see if one of these will work for you.
Superior 385CS Lumberworks Chainsaw Gloves
Superior offers several great features on these gloves. The palms are made from goatskin leather, meaning they are flexible, durable, and water-resistant.
The backs of the gloves are made from lycra and nylon, so they are breathable and flexible. These gloves offer enhanced dexterity as well as built-in anti-vibration layers to protect your hands from excessive vibration.
The big selling point on these gloves is that extra protection on the left hand that we talked about. The left-hand glove has eight layers of kevlar fibers built-in to stop chainsaw blades.
When the blade of the saw cuts through the outer material, the kevlar fibers are pulled into the chainsaw blade, jamming up the works and stopping the blade.
These gloves come in three different sizes, Medium, Large, and X-Large. They also have elastic wristbands with adjustable velcro straps to improve the fit and keep out debris.
Some users mention that these gloves do run big and they are a little pricey, so make sure you try them on before purchasing.
Pros
Cons
- Meets the EN 381:1999 Class 0 for chainsaw gloves
- Water resistant, smooth, grain goatskin leather palms have built in anti-vibration reinforcement
- Elasticized hook & loop wrists improve comfort and keep out debris
Youngstown General Utility Kevlar Lined Work Gloves
These are a great choice for those who want to do more than just chainsaw work and need equal protection for both hands. Youngstown designed these gloves to be extremely durable and offer serious cut and puncture protection.
The lining of these gloves is completely made out of kevlar, meaning you have equal protection over the front and back of your hands as well as between your fingers. The outer layer is made out of synthetic leather, offering even more protection.
You will find grip reinforcements on both palms and insides of all the fingers, giving you the hold you need for even the toughest jobs.
The thumbs have a little extra feature, a terry cloth patch so that you can easily wipe sweat or debris from your eyes and brow. There is also an adjustable velcro strap on the wrist to ensure a snug fit.
When you think of kevlar gloves, you probably think heavy-duty, and you would be right. Because these gloves are so thick for protection, they can also be a bit stiff at first.
Some users also found that they ran small. Thankfully, they are available in six sizes, so you are sure to find one that works for you.
Pros
Cons
- A cut resistant performance work glove that is completely lined throughout with Kevlar fiber by DuPont
- Every inch of this glove (top, palm, side of fingers) is lined with DuPont Kevlar fiber for increased cut and puncture resistance
- The outer glove is a heavy duty performance glove featuring non-slip reinforcement on the palm, fingers and thumb for lasting grip and durability
Vgo Chainsaw Gloves
Vgo pretty much ticked all the boxes for chainsaw glove requirements with these gloves. The palms are made from goatskin leather, so durable and flexible.
The backs are made from highly visible bright orange spandex, so breathable and stretchy for optimum comfort. The wristband is neoprene, for a comfortable close fit.
These gloves offer extra protection with chainsaw stopper patches on the back of the left hand as well as PVC patches on the palms for better grip. There are also neoprene patches across the backs of the knuckles for more mobility.
One little added feature is that the index finger and thumb are smartphone compatible, so you will not have to fight to get your gloves off just to answer a call. These are also a very budget-friendly option, which is always a plus.
On the downside, these gloves are not water-resistant, so if you work in a wet environment, these may not be the ones for you. They also run small, so be sure to check the sizing chart.
Pros
Cons
- Ideal for chainsaw working, logging, forest working, metalworking, power tools operating, DIY, and multi-purpose works.
- CHAINSAW STOPPER PATCH - Chainsaw stopper fabric patches inside the back of the left hand, for extra cut resistance and protection to the EN381-7 standard, class 1.20 m/s;
- PALM & BACK & CUFF - High visibility orange stretch spandex back also provides exceptionally dexterity and breathability. Premium Goatskin leather palm provides comfort and dexterity for all-day wear; Textured PVC palm patches offer extra durability. Neoprene cuff, hook and loop closure ensures a firm fitting
Husqvarna Functional Saw Protection Gloves
Husqvarna is a trusted name when it comes to heavy-duty equipment, so it would only make sense that they would make heavy-duty gloves as well.
With goatskin leather palms, you know you can expect good dexterity and protection as well as a good grip. The back of the left hand also offers extra cut-resistant protection.
The backs of these gloves are stretchy spandex for even more mobility. They are also breathable, so you will not have to worry about your hands getting too sweaty.
These also come in that shocking Husqvarna orange, so you will never have to worry about misplacing them.
Unlike the other brands we have mentioned, these gloves run bigger, so keep that in mind when ordering. They are also not water-resistant.
Pros
Cons
- Cut resistant in left hand
- Spandex fabric back
- Goatskin palm
Conclusion
Nobody is perfect and that includes chainsaw glove manufacturers. There is not one pair of chainsaw gloves that we can proclaim as perfect or the absolute best.
Thankfully, there are so many options that you can find the option that is perfect for you. Simply combine our tips with your needs and you are sure to find a great pair.
Remember, that your safety is paramount. Never compromise when it comes to choosing the right equipment, your life could depend on it.