How to Choose the Right Insulated Gloves for Cold-Weather and Cold-Storage Work
How to Choose the Right Insulated Gloves for Cold-Weather and Cold-Storage Work
Cold hands can be a real issue on the job. You're one minute in the freezer handling boxes or working outside on a winter morning and the next your hands are cold, your fingers are stiff, your grip is not quite what it should be and simple things start to require a lot more effort.
It's not just about the discomfort either. When your hands get cold you lose some of the dexterity and control you need to safely manipulate tools, equipment and materials. A slippery package, a dropped tool or a missed grip can very quickly become a workplace accident.
The obvious solution is to wear insulated gloves. The problem is that selecting the right pair isn't always that simple. Some gloves are quite warm but very bulky, some have excellent grip but very little protection against moisture and not every cold weather glove is going to be suitable for working inside a freezer.
The good news is that once you know what you're looking for, getting the right balance of warmth, grip and flexibility is a lot easier. Let's go through it.
Why are insulated gloves important for cold weather work?
Your hands are typically amongst the first bits of you to take the brunt of cold working conditions. If you're unloading a delivery van in the winter or working inside a cold store you're very much aware of the effect that prolonged exposure to the cold can have on your ability to carry out the most basic of tasks.
Cold affects the way your fingers move. They can become stiff, less sensitive and more difficult to control, especially when you're constantly working with materials or using tools.
Think of someone going through a whole 8 hour shift picking up frozen cartons. They need some warmth in their hands to keep them comfortable, but they also need to be able to grip them properly and move their fingers around in the gloves.
That's where insulated work gloves come in.
They help to reduce heat loss whilst still allowing the operatives to be working with the materials and equipment. Depending on the type of construction they will also provide protection from the wet, abrasion and other workplace hazards.
But don't forget that insulation on its own doesn't make a glove suitable for every cold environment. The temperature, the length of time you're exposed to it, the moisture content and the type of work you're doing all have an impact.
Who needs cold weather and insulated work gloves?
Cold weather gloves aren't just for the folk working out in the field in the middle of winter. A lot of people work in cold environments all year round.
Freezer and Cold-Storage Workers
Anyone who's ever worked in a refrigerated warehouse, a walk-in freezer or a cold store needs to think about thermal protection.
These operatives are regularly going to be working with chilled or frozen goods, moving stock and operating equipment in the cold.
A glove with an insulated liner and a good grip can make the repetitive handling a lot more bearable, especially when the packaging gets damp and slippery.
Construction and Outdoor Maintenance Workers
Construction doesn't necessarily cease when the temperature drops.
Workers still have to deal with the tools, carry the building materials, move the equipment and do the maintenance in the cold (and at times wet).
For these jobs insulation is important, just as much as flexibility. A glove that's too thick is going to make it very difficult to manipulate fasteners, to operate tools and to do any fine work.
Delivery Drivers and Warehouse Staff
Delivery people are constantly moving between the warm of the vehicle, the cold of the loading area and the outside environment throughout the day.
That constant change in temperature creates its own issues. The gloves have to be warm enough to be useful when you're outside but not so warm that they're uncomfortable when you go in.
Good grip is of course essential when you're dealing with parcels, crates and the like which may be wet from the rain, the snow or condensation.
Utilities, Agriculture and General Industrial Workers
Plumbing, agriculture, equipment maintenance and the various other industrial jobs can involve long periods of exposure to the cold and wet.
Depending on the task the operatives may require additional protection from liquids, abrasion, chemicals and sharp materials.
The key thing is to select a glove that deals with the real hazards rather than just going for the one that looks the warmest.
What should you be looking for in insulated work gloves?
Not all insulated gloves are created equal. Two pairs of gloves could be virtually indistinguishable in appearance but could perform very differently when subjected to the cold, water or slippery materials.
There are four main things to check prior to making your choice.
1. Insulation Level and Cold Protection
The first question is fairly obvious really: how cold is the working environment?
Someone doing outdoor deliveries in the cold would be likely to need a different pair of gloves to someone who's been in a commercial freezer for long periods.
Cold weather gloves typically use insulating materials (acrylic, fleece etc) to help with warmth retention.
But don't assume that a thicker glove necessarily provides any better protection.
The glove's construction, materials, fit and the temperature range it's intended for all have an impact on its performance.
You might also come across EN 511 which is the European standard for the assessment of protective gloves against the cold.
It considers three properties:
- Convective cold resistance: how well the glove resists the loss of heat to the surrounding cold air.
- Contact cold resistance: How well it limits heat transfer when in contact with cold surfaces.
- Water penetration: whether the glove resists water penetration under the test conditions specified.
These ratings can be of use when you're comparing products, they don't tell you how long a worker can safely stay in a freezer though.
Always bear in mind the actual operating temperature, the length of exposure and the manufacturer's recommendations.
2. Waterproofing and Moisture Resistance
Cold is one thing. Cold and wet hands are a completely different problem.
Moisture can be a problem in terms of keeping warm and comfortable, especially when you're working with wet cartons, snow on the equipment or materials that have been exposed to condensation.
That's why it's so important to understand the difference between water resistant and waterproof gloves.
Water resistant gloves are designed to resist some moisture, they won't necessarily stop water getting in after a long period of exposure.
Waterproof gloves are designed to prevent water ingress under the specified conditions of use.
For those workers who are dealing with damp packaging or who on occasion will be working in light rain, water resistance would be acceptable.
But if the job is one that involves a lot of contact with wet surfaces, snow or liquids then a waterproof design may be more appropriate.
Pay attention to the coating and cuff design as well. A glove can have a waterproof coating over the hand and yet still have water getting in through the wrist.
3. Grip in Wet, Icy or Slippery Conditions
Here's something you can easily miss. A glove can keep your hands warm and still be a very bad glove if you can't actually hold on to anything.
Imagine trying to lift a smooth plastic container covered in a layer of condensation. If the glove's palm isn't providing sufficient grip then that container is going to slide right off.
Cold weather gloves use different coatings and surface textures to enhance grip.
Coating or grip type What to consider
Nitrile Available in textured and foam finishes, including designs suited to oily or wet handling
Natural rubber latex Often provides a strong grip on dry and wet surfaces, depending on its finish
Polyurethane Can offer flexibility and tactile control, with performance depending on the coating design
Rough or textured finish Helps improve traction when handling certain slippery materials
Don't go on the coating alone. The surface texture, the thickness and the overall glove construction all have an impact on how it performs.
For wet or icy conditions it's worth trying a few of the options out with the actual materials that you're going to be working with.
4. Liners, Comfort and Dexterity
This is where the choice of insulated gloves becomes a balancing act.
You want sufficient insulation to protect your hands from the cold, but you don't want it so thick that you've got a struggle to move your fingers.
Some of the insulated gloves have fixed acrylic or fleece linings. Others have removable liners which obviously makes cleaning and drying a lot easier.
The correct choice is down to how the gloves are going to be used.
If your operatives are regularly picking up small items, adjusting machinery or handling packaging then finger movement is of particular importance.
Ask yourself a few practical questions:
- Are the workers able to comfortably grip the tools they're using?
- Can they pick up smaller items without struggling?
- Do the gloves fit properly (i.e. securely) without impeding movement?
- Will the workers be able to wear them for the required period?
- Does the liner remain in place when the glove is removed?
A comfortable, properly fitted glove is far more likely to be worn consistently than one that feels awkward or restrictive.
The Common Mistake: Choosing Gloves That Are Too Bulky
When the temps start to drop it's very tempting to go for the thick insulated gloves.
More insulation = more protection, surely?
Not necessarily.
A large bulky glove can make it very difficult to control tools, operate equipment or handle smaller materials. The worker may find it very difficult to get a good grip or may have to remove the glove in order to carry out a task that requires a more precise grip.
And that creates another problem as their hands are now exposed to the cold.
Think of a builder trying to pick up a screw or fiddle with a small fitting whilst wearing a pair of massive winter gloves. A fairly simple job can quickly become a right pain in the arse.
The better approach is to match the insulation level to the temperature and the amount of hand movement required.
For some jobs, a flexible insulated glove is going to be a far more practical choice than a heavy-duty one.
Remember the warmest glove isn't necessarily the safest glove. The right glove will provide adequate cold protection whilst still allowing the worker to carry out the job safely.
SHOWA® Insulated Gloves Worth Considering
At ECO MDS Associates we supply SHOWA® protective gloves for a wide variety of industrial and workplace applications including cold weather handling, refrigeration and the very demanding wet environments.
Here are four insulated gloves to consider if you're looking at some protection for your team.
SHOWA® TEMRES® 282: Insulated Protection for Freezer and Refrigeration Work
The SHOWA® TEMRES® 282 has thermal insulation and a fully coated polyurethane shell which is designed to be moisture resistant yet still breathable.
It's got an insulated acrylic liner and a thin fleece lining to help keep it warm, a rough fingertip grip to assist with handling in the wet. It's designed to stay flexible right down to -58f, though of course whether it's suitable in practice will depend on the exposure and the job you're doing.
It's a practical option when you want workers to be protected from the cold and the wet without necessarily losing too much finger movement.
Good for: refrigeration work, cold storage handling, maintenance and any job involving wet materials.
SHOWA® 477: Insulated Grip for Wet and Oily Handling
The SHOWA® 477 utilises a combination of thermal insulation, full nitrile coating and a foam nitrile palm to help the operator maintain their grip in cold, wet or oily conditions.
Its insulated acrylic liner will help to retain the warmth and the flexible construction will allow for hand movement during the repetitive tasks.
This is particularly useful when the operatives are regularly handling cartons, tools and equipment which may become slick in different conditions.
Good for: cold storage, receiving and dispatch, industrial maintenance and the handling of wet or oily materials.
SHOWA® ATLAS® 490: Cold Protection with Chemical Resistance
Some cold environments involve more than just cold. The workers may also be handling cleaning solutions, liquids or other substances which would require additional protection.
The SHOWA® ATLAS® 490 has a triple dipped PVC coating with an insulated acrylic liner and an extended cuff.
Its rough grip finish is for good handling in wet conditions and the glove is designed to provide protection for the specified chemical applications.
It's worth considering where both thermal insulation and chemical resistance are required (provided of course you've checked the glove's chemical compatibility).
Good for: cold climate cleaning, wet industrial work and certain chemical handling applications.
SHOWA® 495: Insulated Protection with a Removable Liner
The SHOWA® 495 provides cold protection via a triple dipped PVC coating and a removable acrylic liner.
The removable liner is of particular use where you need to clean or dry the gloves between uses.
Its rough grip surface is ideal for wet or oily applications and the extended cuff gives you extra coverage past the wrist.
For workplaces in the cold with some wet work involved it's another option to consider.
Good for: cold storage maintenance, industrial cleaning and the handling of wet materials where a removable liner is an advantage.
Product specs, suitability and availability can all change. Always check the most up to date manufacturer datasheet, relevant ratings and your own workplace risk assessment prior to ordering.
A Few Things to Check Before Ordering
Even once you've got your shortlist there are a few practical checks you could make.
First consider the working temperature and the length of time the operatives will be exposed to it. A glove that's suitable for a short period of time working outdoors may well be inadequate for someone working in a freezer for longer periods.
Next the materials themselves. Frozen cartons, wet tools, oily bits and chemical containers all have very different grip and protection requirements.
Finally, get the sizing right. Gloves that are too tight will restrict movement and reduce the insulating space around the fingers. Gloves that are too loose make it difficult to handle tools and materials.
Wherever possible, have a small number of staff try the gloves in the course of their normal duties prior to placing a larger order.
And of course, insulated gloves are only one element of cold weather safety. Appropriate clothing, warming breaks, dry replacement gloves and the right workplace procedures are all equally important when it comes to managing cold exposure.
Get Your Team Winter-Ready
Cold weather work doesn't have to mean stiff fingers, slippery materials and uncomfortable gloves.
The correct insulated glove will be warm enough for the conditions, have a good grip and allow the worker to handle the tools and materials with confidence.
Whether you're working in a chilled warehouse, doing outdoor deliveries or spending the long winter months on a construction site, the right protection makes a real difference.
At ECO MDS Associates, we have SHOWA® insulated gloves for a variety of cold weather and industrial applications.
