Technical Foundation
What Is a Knit Glove?
A knit glove is a seamless glove constructed on a knitting machine from a continuous yarn — commonly cotton/polyester blends for general use, nylon for a smoother finish, or high-performance fibers (HPPE, aramid, steel-core blends) for cut resistance — with gauge referring to the number of stitches per inch of knitting needle, where a higher gauge number means a finer, thinner knit and a lower gauge number means a thicker, bulkier knit. Most knit gloves are then dipped to add a palm or full coating (nitrile, polyurethane, or latex) that adds grip and abrasion resistance without eliminating the breathability of the knit back.
Cut resistance is rated under ANSI/ISEA 105 (levels A1-A9) or EN 388, and is determined primarily by the base yarn — cotton/polyester knit provides essentially no engineered cut resistance, while HPPE or steel/glass-fiber-core yarns can reach the highest ANSI cut levels even before any coating is applied. The coating type affects grip in wet vs. dry conditions and oil resistance: nitrile handles oily/greasy parts well, polyurethane gives excellent dry-grip dexterity, and latex offers strong wet grip but less oil resistance.
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| Spec | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge | 7-18 gauge common range | Higher gauge = finer knit, better dexterity; lower gauge = thicker, more durable knit |
| Base Yarn | Cotton/poly, nylon, HPPE, aramid, steel-core blend | Determines inherent cut resistance before any coating is applied |
| Cut Level | ANSI/ISEA 105 A1-A9 or EN 388 rating | Must match or exceed the cut hazard level of the material being handled |
| Coating Type | Nitrile, polyurethane (PU), latex, none | Nitrile suits oily materials; PU suits dry dexterity work; latex suits wet-grip applications |
| Coating Coverage | Palm-dip, 3/4-dip, full-dip | More coverage adds abrasion/liquid resistance but reduces breathability |
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Applications
Where Knit Gloves Get Used
Knit gloves are specified anywhere hand protection needs to balance dexterity, grip and a defined level of cut or abrasion resistance for repetitive handling tasks.
Metal Stamping & Sheet Metal Handling
Cut-resistant knit gloves with nitrile or PU coating specified for handling parts with sharp edges.
Automotive & General Assembly
Lightweight, high-gauge PU-coated knit gloves providing dexterity for small parts assembly.
Warehousing & Order Picking
Nitrile-coated knit gloves providing grip and abrasion resistance for repetitive box and carton handling.
Glass Handling & Fabrication
High cut-level knit gloves specified where sharp glass edges present a laceration hazard.
Machine Shop & Metalworking
Cut-resistant coated knit gloves balancing dexterity for tool handling with protection from metal burrs and swarf.
FAQ
Knit Gloves Questions, Answered
What does glove gauge actually mean, and how do I choose it?
Gauge refers to the number of needles (and therefore stitches) per inch used to knit the glove — a 13 or 15 gauge glove is thinner and offers better dexterity and tactile feel for detailed work, while a 7 or 10 gauge glove is thicker, more durable, and better suited to heavier handling where dexterity matters less than durability.
How do I choose the right ANSI cut level for my application?
Match the cut level to the actual hazard: light cardboard or general handling may need no rated cut resistance at all, sheet metal or glass edges typically call for A4-A6, and handling sharp stamped metal or blades may call for A7-A9. When in doubt, a workplace cut hazard assessment (measuring actual cut resistance needed against the materials handled) is the right basis for the decision, not just habit or the highest available rating.
What's the difference between nitrile, polyurethane and latex coatings?
Nitrile coating resists oils, greases and abrasion well, making it a strong choice for handling oily metal parts. Polyurethane is thinner and offers excellent dry-condition dexterity and tactile sensitivity, popular in assembly work. Latex offers strong grip in wet conditions but less resistance to oils and solvents than nitrile, and some users have latex sensitivity to consider.
Does a coated knit glove reduce breathability compared to an uncoated one?
Yes, proportional to coverage — a palm-dip coating leaves the back of the hand as open knit for airflow, while a full-dip coating covers the entire glove and reduces breathability more, which matters for comfort in hot environments or extended wear. Choose the minimum coating coverage that still meets the grip and protection requirement of the task.
Can knit gloves be washed and reused?
Many coated knit gloves can be laundered a limited number of times before the coating degrades or the base yarn's cut-resistant fibers lose integrity — check the manufacturer's care guidance, since aggressive laundering can reduce both grip performance and rated cut resistance faster than normal wear alone.
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