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Get your glove on: 7 great gloves for firefighters

Fire gloves have come a long way from the stiff fits that allowed you to pick up nothing more than a Halligan

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It’s a great time to be in the fire service with the amount of technology that we have available to make our job easier and keep us safe. In the world of PPE alone, there have been advances in turnout materials plus SCBA that are lighter and have integrated thermal imagers. Another piece of our gear that’s often overlooked but that has also seen great improvements over the years is our gloves. We may put the gloves on last, but they are at the top of our list of protective gear.

Think about an older pair of gloves you had in your career. Did they allow for awesome dexterity, or was a Halligan the only thing you could pick up while wearing them? How about the liners – they never came out, right? And did they dry quickly? I doubt it.

Fortunately, the gloves of today have solved a number of these problems, and there are some great options on the market.

These gloves meet NFPA 1971, but at a price point where they can be used and abused in training and easily replaced. They are constructed from cowhide and feature moisture-wicking liners that provide protection from both moisture and bloodborne pathogens.
The Dragon Fire Alpha X2S is an NFPA-certified glove that offers an improved fit over other models. The glove also has a stitched liner that will resist pullout when removing your hand when the glove is wet. The glove also has a thermal protective performance (TPP) rating that exceeds the NFPA requirement.
The Cestus Fire Attack Glove is an ergonomically cut, NFPA-certified turnout glove. The gloves feature Porelle liners designed to manage moisture for a dry feel, plus a patented nine-layer palm material for durability and cut resistance. They also have integrated silicone protection on the back of the fingers.
These quality pigskin gloves feature a different material and fit from the cowhide choices. They also feature a longer cuff than gauntlet-style gloves. This can be an important option depending on the style of the sleeves and cuffs of your turnout coat.
These gloves are constructed of Kangaroo leather for a soft but durable fit. The gloves have a digital kangaroo grip pattern on the palm to keep tools from slipping, and great abrasion and tear resistance. The back of your hand is protected by impact protection padding with a reflective stripe.
Gloves are meant for more than just firefighting. This pair of gloves from Hex Armor will protect your hands from cuts and scrapes, and provide the grip you need for handling tolls during an auto extrication incident. The gloves also have bright colors to improve visibility and a neoprene cuff to seal out debris. The gloves also have an OSHA-compliant bloodborne pathogen barrier sewn in, so you won’t need a set of undergloves in case of contact with blood or other fluids.
Water and rope rescue incidents demand a glove that provides protection while offering superior grip and dexterity. The cut-resistant H2O SX Swift Water glove has a tacky, rubber-like palm surface. The gloves will work in water environment to provide grip and limited thermal protection in colder water.
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Andrew Beck is a firefighter/EMT and shift training officer with the Mandan City (N.D.) Fire Department. Beck is a live burn instructor and teaches thermal imaging and fire dynamics across N.D. He is also the Mountain Operations manager at Huff Hills Ski Area, where he leads the outside operations teams. Beck has a background in crew resource management and has completed research on how people and organizations operate in stressful environments. Beck was previously a staff member for the Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System.