Nitrile vs Latex vs PU Coated Work Gloves: Which Coating for Which Job

Pick a work glove coating by what's on the thing you're holding. Nitrile is the usual choice for oily and greasy parts, foam latex for wet handling, polyurethane (PU) for dry, precise work, and a heavier latex string knit for rough general grip. This guide is about coated work gloves, the knit gloves with a dipped palm, not disposable exam gloves, where the nitrile vs latex gloves question has different answers.

One more thing before the coatings. Ratings like the ANSI/ISEA 105 cut level and the EN 388 code belong to the complete glove, shell and coating together. Two nitrile gloves can sit at very different cut levels, so read the label as well as the coating name.

What a palm coating does on a work glove

The knit shell gives the glove its fit and stretch. The coating is a layer of rubber or polymer on the palm and fingers that adds grip and takes the abrasion that would otherwise wear through the knit. Most coated gloves leave the back of the hand uncoated so heat and sweat can escape.

Coatings differ in how they hold on to a surface, how thin they can be applied and how they react to oil. That last property matters more than people expect. A coating that grips a dry carton well can feel like it's on ice the moment it meets a film of cutting oil.

Nitrile coated gloves: the pick for oil and grease

Nitrile (NBR) is a synthetic rubber. It resists oils, greases and abrasion, and it contains no natural rubber latex. Its strength shows up on the hundredth oily bracket of a shift, when a latex palm would be slick and a nitrile palm still holds.

Our nitrile coated gloves pair an NBR palm and finger coating with a polyethylene blend knit. They're ANSI/ISEA 105 Level A4, EN 388 4X43D and EN 407 X1XXXX, with Synapse touchscreen fingertips, in grey or orange. ISEA's example applications for A4 and A5 include metal fabrication and handling, light glass handling, HVAC and electrical work, which is where this glove tends to earn its place.

Oil resistance is a coating property. Chemical protection is a separate rating. Kiwi gloves carry no EN 374 chemical rating, so where solvents, acids or other chemicals are part of the job, use a glove rated for that hazard.

Latex coated gloves: wet grip and a lot of hand

Natural rubber latex gives strong grip and good flexibility. It comes in a few forms, and we make two of them.

Foam latex

Foam latex has a cellular texture that breathes and grips well when things get wet. Think of cartons that sat by an open dock door in the rain, or block and pipe that came off a wet truck bed. Our latex coated gloves include foam latex palm coated polyester knits in neon, orange and red, rated EN 388 2131X. The product pages list oil and grease resistance. Even so, latex as a coating family is generally less resistant to oils than nitrile, so for parts coming straight off an oiled line, nitrile is the better match.

These foam latex gloves have no ANSI/ISEA 105 cut rating and no EN 407 rating. Where your assessment calls for a cut level, the A1 PUD or A4 nitrile gloves are the rated options.

String knit latex

A string knit glove with a latex palm is the general grip glove for rough material: pallets, lumber, block, bagged product. We offer a single latex palm coated string knit and the double latex palm coated string knit, which adds a second layer of latex on the palm. Both list resistance to abrasion and oils. Both are unrated, which means no cut, puncture or heat claim.

Latex allergy is a real buying factor

Natural rubber latex can cause allergic reactions in some people. Before issuing latex coated gloves across a crew, ask whether anyone has a known latex allergy. Nitrile and PU coatings are the usual alternatives, and both are in our range.

PU coated gloves: dexterity for fine and dry work

Polyurethane goes on thin and stays flexible, so a PU coated glove is the closest thing to working bare-handed. It suits dry handling, light oil and fine work: starting a nut on a bolt, picking a single item off a shelf, peeling a label.

Kiwi's version is DexLock, an ultra-thin polyurethane dispersion (PUD) coating, which is a water-based form of PU. The PUD palm coated gloves come in four colors on seamless knits with an open back for airflow and Synapse touchscreen fingertips. All four are ANSI/ISEA 105 Level A1 and EN 407 X1XXXX. EN 388 codes vary by knit, from 4142A on the grey nylon/spandex PUD grip glove to 4121A on the neon stretch polyester.

The trade-off is thickness. A thin coat gives feel, and it also puts less material between the hand and the work. A1 is the low end of the cut scale, so where sheet metal edges or steel banding are part of the job, check what cut level your assessment calls for and look at the A4 nitrile glove.

Uncoated string knit gloves

Sometimes a coating is more glove than the job needs. Our cotton string knit glove (50002) is uncoated and unrated, made for light, dry handling where clean hands and a little abrasion cover are the goal. Without a coating it won't grip wet or oily surfaces, so keep it to dry work.

Foam latex vs nitrile vs PU: grip comparison

The grip columns describe how each coating type typically behaves. They aren't lab results. Knit gauge, coating thickness and texture can move a specific glove up or down a step.

How to read the ratings on a coated glove

The EN 388 code reads in a fixed order: abrasion (0 to 4), coup test blade cut (0 to 5), tear (0 to 4), puncture (0 to 4), then the ISO 13997 cut letter (A to F). An X means not tested or not applicable. EN 388 covers mechanical risks only.

Read that way, the codes tell a useful story. The grey PUD glove's 4142A means top abrasion (4), coup cut 1, tear 4, puncture 2 and ISO cut A. The foam latex glove's 2131X shows abrasion 2, so it trades some wear life for wet grip. The nitrile glove's 4X43D has an X in the coup position, which is normal on higher cut materials where the coup blade dulls; read the D instead. Our EN 388 guide walks through every position, and the ANSI/ISEA 105 cut level guide explains A1 to A9.

EN 407 X1XXXX means contact heat level 1 only, a threshold of 100 °C contact for at least 15 seconds. It is not flame protection, and these gloves are not flame resistant.

Glove coating checklist for buyers

OSHA's hand protection rule says selection should be based on the glove's performance "relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified" (29 CFR 1910.138(b)). Run each task through this list:

• Is the surface dry, wet or oily for most of the shift?
• Does the task need fingertip feel, or touchscreen use with gloves on?
• Does the hazard assessment call for an ANSI/ISEA 105 cut level? If so, buy a rated glove and confirm the level on the label.
• Does anyone on the crew have a latex allergy?
• Is there any chemical contact? If yes, you need a glove rated for chemicals; ours are not.
• Will the gloves be washed? Hand wash cold with mild detergent, air dry away from heat, and replace gloves saturated with oil or fuel, since washing won't restore them.

Frequently asked questions

Is nitrile or latex better for work gloves?

It depends on the surface. Nitrile is the stronger choice around oil and grease and is latex-free. Foam latex usually grips better when things are wet and stays breathable. Many crews stock both and hand out by task.

Are PU coated gloves good for oily parts?

PU handles dry work and light oil well, and its thin coat gives the best dexterity of the common coatings. For parts that are heavily oiled or greasy all shift, a nitrile coated glove is the better fit.

Is foam latex better than nitrile?

Foam latex is often better for wet grip and breathability. Nitrile is generally better for oil resistance and suits people with latex allergies. Neither coating sets the cut level on its own, so check the ANSI/ISEA 105 rating on the glove you're buying.

Do coated work gloves protect against chemicals?

Not unless the glove is rated for chemical protection, usually under EN 374. Kiwi gloves carry EN 388, and some carry ANSI/ISEA 105 and EN 407 contact heat level 1. None of them are chemical protection gloves.

Buying gloves by the case

If you're setting up a glove program for several departments, we can quote mixed coatings and sizes in one order through the quote request page. Distributors and resellers who want to carry Kiwi gloves can reach the wholesale team at sales@kiwiworkwear.com, and samples for wholesale buyers are available at our discretion.

We wrote this as general product guidance, not legal advice. The final glove choice belongs to your hazard assessment and whatever your site or state requires.