How to Choose the Best Disposable Gloves

What you Need to Know Before Buying Disposable Gloves

How you will be using disposable gloves is the most thing to consider before purchasing. Depending on the task in hand and what we desire in a glove, our needs shift. But there are some underlying qualities that all disposable gloves should have that ensure you are always protected to get the job done. 

Glove Material

When looking for a glove that best suites your needs, check the material of the glove first. Making sure that the glove has textured ridges if you need some grip for the task, or smooth for food preparation or applying hair dye. Some gloves come ‘powdered’, which just means a cornstarch powder has been added to the inside of the glove to improve grip and sweating.

Also, being aware of whether the glove contains latex or other harmful chemicals is very important. Latex is a very common allergy for many wearers and can also be transferred by contact to others who may be allergic as well. BPA is also something out for. BPA is an industrial chemical that can seep into foods and surfaces. It is unsafe for consumption and easy to check for with labels on the packaging like the ones below. 

• Poly (PE or Polyethylene) Disposable Gloves

• Eco-Friendly Alternative: Compostable Bio-Plastic Disposable Gloves
  

• Latex Disposable Gloves
  

• Neoprene Disposable Gloves
  

• Vinyl Disposable Gloves

• Eco Friendly Alternative: Bio-based Vinyl Disposable Gloves
  

• Nitrile Disposable Gloves

• Eco-Friendly Alternative: Biodegradable Nitrile Gloves

Glove Fit

This is one of the most important parts of a good glove. Having the proper fit ensures that you have the proper protection and level of comfort desired.


If the gloves fit too tight it is easy for the pressure to create tears in the material and make it very uncomfortable for you to wear for long durations. If the fit is too loose, contaminants could enter the glove easily or the glove could come off completely. It is easy to just grab a box of gloves off the shelf without thinking twice about looking at the size. Refer to the size chart below to make sure next time you reach for your disposable gloves; you have the best fit. 

Glove Types & Styles

There are so many options out there for style of disposable gloves. Besides the material and the fit, the style of glove ensures you have the right tools for the job. Let’s take a look at the traditional styles and their uses in the graphic below. It should be noted that the diagram does not include 100% biodegradable gloves, like Eco Gloves, since they are a very new technology.

After taking a brief look at the graph it is easy to see what style of glove is best suited for each task. Again, make sure you have the proper fit for whichever style you choose to ensure comfort and safety. 

Glove Thickness - Mil vs MM

Depending on the job at hand, you will need either an ultra-thin lightweight glove such as a Poly glove or something offering more protection and thickness such as a Neoprene glove. For daily tasks, many choose a standard glove such as a nitrile glove for its thickness. It is still lightweight, but offers a bit more of a snug fit than Poly gloves. Something to keep in mind is that, while a glove might be thicker, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it offers more protection. It is important to pay attention to the quality of the materials used and the fit before using any type of disposable glove, especially if you are planning to work with potentially hazardous materials. 

Different Glove Colors

Up until recently, a colored glove usually indicted it was Latex-Free. White gloves were usually the Latex gloves so that medical examiners knew which gloves to use when examining a patient with an allergy. But nowadays, gloves come in many colors! While some prefer the coloring on gloves, it is still an additive in the gloves that could cause a reaction in some people. Even white gloves have been dyed! Colored glove users argue that the coloring allows the imperfections, punctures, or tears to be seen more easily. Overall, it is a personal preference and has no effect on the protection of the glove.

Glove Quality - AQL

As was previously mentioned above, the quality of the glove is what really matters. A glove could have everything you are looking for, but the manufacturing quality is just too low. This is dangerous in the long run. Yes, you may save a couple extra dollars, but the risk of coming in contact with possible hazards or contaminants is greatly increased. Make sure you are always choosing quality over quantity. All of the points above would be rendered meaningless if the quality was subpar. Make sure you do adequate research on reputable brands to make sure you always have the protection you need. There is also the inflation test that was mentioned in our previous blog post (HERE insert link). This allows you to test the quality of your disposable gloves on the spot.

Choose Biodegradable & Compostable

Read our guide to compostable disposable gloves, and our guide to biodegradable compostable gloves. We all think of how we will use a product and what quality we want during our usage. But many of consumers fail to think about the effects that product has once it leaves them. Choosing a good glove for you is easy once you know what you are looking for. Choosing a quality glove that will help, not hinder, our environment once it has been used should be easy too. Here at Eco Gloves, we tried to think of the ‘after’. We wanted something that was plant based, compostable, and just as durable as traditional gloves. So when asked what makes a good glove, it should be everything you are looking for and everything the environment is looking for too. 

Protect Your Health & Environment

Good gloves are easy to come by, you just have to know what you are looking for. Knowing what material, fit, and color you need to get the job done, matched with the quality and compostable elements of the gloves will make any task much more enjoyable. Make sure to read more of our blog to learn more information about the different type of disposable gloves as well as picking which one of those gloves is best for you. We have so much information, it will make your next glove buying experience a breeze!