KEEPING GLOVES ON HANDS IN SUMMER MONTHS

20/07/2022

keeping gloves on hands in summer months

KEEPING GLOVES ON HANDS IN SUMMER MONTHS

Sweating is our body’s way of lowering out temperature. And sweat glands are particularly concentrated in our hands – one square inch of skin on the palm of your hand may contain as many as three thousand tiny sweat glands!

So, when working in warm conditions, particularly when active in the summer months, our hands’ natural reaction is to produce sweat.

This can become very uncomfortable when wearing safety gloves, as the close environment only heightens the production of sweat. Rather than put up with the sticky and oppressive feeling of a wet glove, wearers prefer to remove their hand protection, and that’s when 70% of all hand injuries occur.

On the flip side, ongoing exposure to sweaty conditions can result in the skin becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.

Friction between a wet glove in contact with the skin can cause nasty irritation, and in some cases, lead to deeper damage, such as dermatitis.

SO HOW DO WE OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?

There are 2 important factors in the design of a glove which affect its comfort and wearability in warm conditions.

A LIGHTWEIGHT LINING

The gauge of a glove lining is the most important characteristic when selecting hand protection for the summer months.

The higher the gauge, the lighter the weight of the glove (i.e. thinner), the less resistance to hand movement, resulting in significantly reduced heat build-up.

Linings that include Dyneema® yarns, ensure ultimate comfort in warm weather conditions. The thinner advanced fibres in Dyneema® Diamond Technology radiate heat away from hands for all day comfort.

A THIN COATING

A thin glove coating will not hinder your dexterity, tactility or mobility in hot weather, resulting in a glove that is cooler to wear.

Selecting a palm coated glove vs a fully dipped glove will further enhance comfort, as the open back will aid breathability. Fully dipped or even ¾ dipped gloves are designed to keep liquids out – while this may have its advantages for certain activities, the glove will keep the moisture inside too, making for an uncomfortable wearer experience.