Cut, Coating & Gauge, in Plain English

Spec sheets are dense with shorthand. Here’s what the common terms actually mean.

Gauge

The fineness of the knit, given as a number like 10G, 13G, or 15G — stitches per inch. Higher gauge means a thinner, more dexterous glove; lower gauge means thicker and more rugged.

Shell / liner

The knitted glove itself, before any coating. The fiber blend (e.g. HPPE, steel, glass, spandex) is what sets the cut resistance.

Coating

A layer applied to the palm or whole glove for grip and durability. PU is thin and dexterous for fine work; nitrile resists oil and abrasion; latex grips in wet/cold; PVC dots add grip to light knits. Palm-coated leaves the back breathable; fully coated seals the whole glove.

ANSI cut level

The ANSI/ISEA 105 rating, A1–A9, for how much cutting load the material takes before failing. See our ANSI cut levels guide.

EN388

The European mechanical-risk code for abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, TDM cut, and impact. See our EN388 guide.

ISEA-138

The back-of-hand impact rating, Levels 1–3. Separate from cut. See our impact protection guide.

TPR

Thermoplastic rubber — the molded guards on the back of impact gloves that absorb knocks and crush.

Cuff

How the glove closes at the wrist: knit (elasticated, most common), safety (a stiff flap on leather gloves), or extended (longer, for forearm coverage).

Dexterity

How well you can feel and manipulate small objects in the glove. It trades off against thickness and protection — the reason over-speccing cut or gauge has a real cost.

Not sure which of these your job actually needs? Tell us the task and we’ll translate it into a spec — and send a free sample to prove it.