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Say No To Allergic Reactions With The Best Nitrile Gloves

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Last Updated: May 14, 2024, 9:07 a.m.

But thankfully, nitrile gloves are a miraculous alternative. They offer impeccable flexibility, comfort, and even higher puncture resistance than latex. Plus, there’s no risk of allergies, which is why they’ve grown massively popular recently. But how do you pick the right pair? Don’t worry, here’s a well-researched list of our favorite nitrile gloves of 2024.

For years, latex gloves have reigned supreme as an ideal choice of glove material to protect your hands from germs and harmful substances, especially in medical jobs. They offer complete protection without sacrificing any flexibility or mobility, but they have one weakness — the material latex itself. Some people are allergic to it, which makes it impossible for doctors, nurses, and all types of healthcare workers to wear these gloves for long hours as it can lead to serious symptoms like hives, itchiness, irritation, and even a potentially life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.

Buying Guide: Nitrile Gloves

Since 1988, over 1,700 cases of latex allergy have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with many more left unreported. That number may seem small, but it’s still significant, especially since one of the allergic reactions is anaphylaxis, which can cause throat swelling, breathing difficulties, and even death. This is why latex gloves have been largely replaced by safer alternatives like nitrile gloves, which offer the same utility and benefits with no risk of an allergic reaction since they’re latex-free. But not all nitrile gloves are created equal. Depending on their quality, they can differ in how well they fit your hands, their durability, color, finishing, and size. Keeping all of these distinctions in mind, here’s a buying guide to help you navigate the nitrile gloves market like a pro!

Medical vs. Industrial Grade

Nitrile gloves aren’t only used by healthcare workers. A large proportion of them are also used by industrial workers. The first step is to differentiate between the two so that you can buy a pair according to your particular use.

Industrial grade

Nitrile gloves have many uses in industrial settings. Most commonly, they’re used by workers to protect their hands from harmful chemicals and solvents. Many industries, including automotive, food, lab work, and pharmaceuticals, require chemical handling, and industrial grade nitrile gloves are a must-have. For such uses, industrial grade gloves have a much higher resistance to piercing and chemical reactions unlike medical grade gloves, which makes them ideal for protection against such harmful substances.

Medical grade

Medical grade nitrile gloves (simply known as medical gloves) are specially designed to be more comfortable for all-day use. They also have maximum protection against contact with environmental contaminants, germs, and blood-borne pathogens. You’ll often see dentists and healthcare workers wearing these gloves, as well as bio-lab technicians. Medical grade nitrile gloves need to abide by particular quality standards and follow strict production guidelines that are set by the FDA. This ensures that each pair has enough strength to keep medical workers safe from various threats and hazards. They’re generally more flexible than industrial grade gloves, so make sure you purchase a pair from a suitable category depending on your particular needs.

Thickness and Protection Level

You can tell a lot about a pair of nitrile gloves by their thickness. The thicker they are, the better chemical resistance they’ll offer. So, if you’re a lab technician or if you plan on handling chemicals or acids at work, you need the thickest gloves out there. The thickness range is generally 2 to 15 millimeters, so buy a pair that’s on the higher side for better protection. General purpose gloves maintain a thickness of around 4 millimeters. Keep in mind that the extra level of safety comes at a tradeoff for flexibility and sensitivity, which is why surgeons and medical workers often choose thinner gloves. This brings us to the factor of touch sensitivity.

Touch Sensitivity

Healthcare workers, especially surgeons, should stick to thinner nitrile gloves since they offer an enhanced level of touch sensitivity. The thicker your gloves, the less you’ll feel the sensations of touching something. It also reduces your hand’s mobility, since thinner gloves naturally have more flexibility to them. For surgeons, this lack of tactile feedback can take a toll on their precision. For optimal performance, they need to clearly feel a scalpel in their hand and they need to be able to experience a sufficient level of flexibility so they can maneuver their tools accurately. If you’re a healthcare worker, it makes a lot of sense to trade thickness for additional dexterity and touch sensitivity since you won’t be dealing with any hazardous chemicals or toxic substances.

Nitrile Gloves Size

No matter how high-quality or premium your gloves are, they are of no use if they don’t fit your hands. A well-fitted glove can highly enhance your comfort level, grip, and touch sensitivity. You’ll find nitrile gloves in many different sizes, and almost every listing on the internet is accompanied by a detailed size chart with a dedicated section for males and females. They are available in a range of 6 to 12 inches, 6 inches being small and 12 inches being extra large. An oversized glove would simply have too many crevices and folds which aren’t ideal in any application, while an undersized glove will limit your dexterity. We recommend measuring your hands carefully, jotting down your measurements, and placing an order with a precise size match to get the best possible user experience out of your nitrile gloves.

Nitrile Gloves Color

You might not know this, but in the context of medical gloves, color choices aren’t just a fashion statement or an aesthetic preference. Dark and light colors have real-world practical implications, such as oil and dirt being less prominent on black gloves, making them ideal for industrial use. Dentists and surgeons usually wear white or blue gloves, while black nitrile gloves are rarely seen in any hospital, clinic, or healthcare institution. That’s because black nitrile gloves are generally used for automotive work or applications that involve oil and other pollutants that can easily make the gloves dirty.

Nitrile Gloves Finishing

Aside from changes in thickness, you should also pay attention to the finishing and patterns on the outer layer of your nitrile gloves. The greater the texture on a glove’s palm and fingers, the stronger grip you can expect out of it. In most gloves, a diamond pattern is the most common texture. It can enhance traction in both dry and wet conditions. The inside of most nitrile gloves is finished with a chlorinated layer which makes it easier to remove or slip on a pair thanks to reduced adhesion. But it mostly depends on whether you’re buying powder-free gloves. If so, they’ll probably have a polymer or chlorinated finish on them. This way, you won’t have to deal with that rubber dust or powder dirt when you take them off. Powdered options are more suitable for all-day use with long hours of work since they’re better at absorbing moisture and water, which is especially helpful if you have sweaty palms. Keep these factors in mind when you’re choosing a pair of gloves depending on your particular purpose for buying them.

Top Picks

Best Overall: 1st Choice Nitrile Gloves
Most Versatile: Old South Trading Nitrile Gloves
Best Coverage: Raxwell Nitrile Gloves
Most Comfortable: Safeguard Nitrile Gloves
Latex Free: Med Pride Nitrile Gloves
Most Affordable: Comfy Package Nitrile Gloves
Best Black Gloves: Gripprotect Nitrile Gloves
Best Thickness: Sas Safety Nitrile Gloves

Reviews

Best Overall

1st Choice Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Exceptional versatility for confidence without compromise Crafted from high-quality nitrile materials Latex-free and allergen-friendly	Limited reusability due to single-use design

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Most Versatile

Old South Trading Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Provide reliable protection Enhanced grip and sensitivity Versatile for medical and non-medical uses	Intended for single-use

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Best Coverage

Raxwell Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Easy to wear Comfortable but durable Touch-screen compatible	Can rip if used too often

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Most Comfortable

Safeguard Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
FDA-compliant for food service use High mobility for hands and fingers Very comfortable to wear	More expensive than other options

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Latex Free

Med Pride Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Very skin-friendly and safe to use Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee Provides sufficiently high protection	May rip when pulling on

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Most Affordable

Comfy Package Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Comfortable for all-day use Very thin and light Affordable yet high quality	May tear easily

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Best Black Gloves

Gripprotect Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Ideal choice for industrial use Food-grade and chemo-rated Textured fingers for improved grip	May be prone to ripping

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Best Thickness

Sas Safety Nitrile Gloves

Pros	Cons
Perfect blend of dexterity and strength Comfortable to wear Textured for enhanced grip Excellent chemical resistance	Slightly high price tag

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FAQs

How thick should my nitrile gloves be?

That depends on the situations you’ll be using them in. If you need higher protection against hazardous chemicals for long periods and need better tear resistance, you’re better off with a thickness of at least 6 to 8 millimeters. Food-grade gloves can be as thin as 2 millimeters, while general-purpose gloves are usually 4 millimeters thick.

What is the difference between blue and purple nitrile gloves?

Color differences in medical nitrile gloves make them identifiable for various uses. Blue gloves are usually worn during medical examinations, while purple ones are commonly used for chemotherapy.

When should I not wear nitrile gloves?

If you’re going to handle dangerous materials for extended periods then nitrile gloves might not be the safest choice. These materials include ketones, aromatic solvents, concentrated acids, highly corrosive chemicals, acetates, and any other powerful hazardous chemical.

How many times can I use and re-use my nitrile gloves?

Nitrile gloves are disposable, and they come in large packs of 100 or 1000 gloves per box. They’re supposed to be used only once and disposed of. Reusing them can pose risks to your health and safety.