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You may be feeling a bit overwhelmed when you think about all the personal protective equipment you should be working with whenever you are operating a chainsaw. Chaps, goggles, face mask, gloves, steel toed work boots – it is all so much!
But, chainsaws are definitely one of the most dangerous power tools you could ever work with, so while it may be a hassle, it is all worth it.
Read on to learn more about chainsaw gloves in particular and the ways they can keep you safe when operating a chainsaw.
Comparison Chart of the Best Chainsaw Gloves
Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Ringers Gloves R-313  | Best Overall | |
Superior 385CS Lumberworks  | Runner-up | |
Husqvarna 579380210  | Best for the Money | |
Stihl Carver High Performance Workwear Gloves  | Best Stihl Chainsaw Gloves | |
Youngstown Glove 09-9083-10  | Best Kevlar Chainsaw Gloves |
Should You Wear Gloves When Using a Chainsaw?
The short answer is yes, absolutely. The long answer is that wearing gloves is an important component of proper chainsaw use and safety. Your hands are the part of your body that come into closest contact not just with your saw, but also whatever your saw is cutting.
It is a simple mistake to put out a hand to stabilize a piece of wood, and then have your chainsaw slice into it by accident. Gloves will prevent some of these accidents from happening and that's why we recommend that you always wear gloves when using a chainsaw.
What Should I Look For When Buying Chainsaw Gloves?
Here are the qualities that define a good pair of chainsaw gloves:
Protection
This one is obvious – you are going to want chainsaw gloves that will protect you. That means investing in gloves made of high quality material that will stop your chainsaw blade immediately before it is able to do much damage.
Fit
Your gloves are not going to be able to protect you if they do not fit you correctly. If your gloves are too small, they will prevent your freedom of movement, and if they are too large, they will slip off more easily and leave your hands exposed and vulnerable.
Durability
Depending on how often you use your chainsaw, you may be using these gloves for extended periods of time. Make sure you find yourself a pair of gloves that can go the distance for you over the course of multiple chainsaw projects.
Quick Take: Best Chainsaw Gloves
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best chainsaw gloves:
Review of the Best Chainsaw Gloves
Here is a comprehensive list of the absolute best chainsaw gloves available:
Best Overall:
Ringers Gloves R 313
PROS
CONS
Our Review
These gloves tend to run on the smaller side, so it might be a good idea to order a size larger than you would typically expect yourself to need. They are well designed, including an elastic cuff to prevent them from filling up with lots of wood chips while you are making your cuts.
Additionally, they are versatile – users report they are great for use not just with chainsaw work, but also in gardening, when doing automotive repairs, and even for handling hot light bulbs! And it does not hurt that they are also easy to clean.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
One of the most common complaints with chainsaw gloves is that they often rip on all of the typical stress points. Not with these gloves! Ringers has included reinforced stitching in those areas so these gloves can go the distance.
Runner-up:
Superior 385CS Lumberworks Chainsaw Gloves
PROS
CONS
Our Review
These gloves will run on the larger side, so it may be advised for users to order a size smaller than they initially think they will require.
The palms on these bad boys are made of goatskin leather, which will reduce overall vibration from your chainsaw and boost user safety in the process.
And if that is not enough to convince you that these gloves are the real deal, they also contain eight layers of Kevlar lining. Let’s see your saw try and cut through that! The rest of the glove is made of nylon and Lycra that is also water resistant.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The wrist cuffs on these gloves are extremely well designed. They have Velcro straps, which not only provide support and an additional level of protection for users, but can also be adjusted to fit all wrist sizes.
Best for the Money:
Husqvarna 579380210
PROS
CONS
Our Review
These gloves are some of the most comfortable gloves available on the market today. Their backs are made of stretchable spandex fabric which molds itself to your hand. But do not think they do not also provide sufficient protection – users report that these gloves rip far less easily than some of their competitor brands.
Plus, Husqvarna is thoughtful enough to provide a reinforced layer of protection on your trigger finger, also known as the finger which is always closest to the saw blade. Users also say that these gloves are good at keeping their fingers warm when it is cold out.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Obviously, when it comes to chainsaw gloves, you do not want to compromise quality in order to get a lower price. But with these Husqvarna gloves, you can get both! They are a true steal of a deal.
Best Stihl Chainsaw Gloves:
Stihl Carver High Performance Workwear Gloves
PROS
CONS
Our Review
These gloves are reinforced with soft foam pads to reduce overall vibration from your saw, and decrease user fatigue as a result.
They are extra large, meaning they will be a great option for users with big hands who may not be able to find other chainsaw gloves that will fit them properly.
The wrist cuff on these gloves is multi ply, which makes them much more durable and long lasting than other glove brands. And finally, despite their larger size and reinforced areas for safety, many users report that these gloves are pretty easy to manipulate.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Stihl seems to be the only chainsaw glove manufacturer that has actually figured this out – it is more comfortable for users to have extra padding on the knuckles of their gloves, because that is the part of their hand that is most likely to bump up against the edges of their saw.
Best Kevlar Chainsaw Gloves:
Youngstown Glove 09 9083 10
PROS
CONS
Our Review
These are definitely some of the most comfortable gloves on this list. Users report that they are able to wear them all day, and as a consequence they are often sought out for work beyond just using a chainsaw, such as demolition work, construction projects, working on cars, firefighting, extrication work, and even something as commonplace as riding your bike or grooming your cat!
Also, unlike many other chainsaw brands, the right hand glove and the left hand glove have equal levels of protection. Most chainsaw gloves tend to reinforce only the left hand glove.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This product is one of the only glove options on this list that intentionally designed their gloves with bright colors – these gloves in particular come in bright green, which will easily differentiate them from the rest of your chainsaw gear.
Advantages of Investing in Quality Chainsaw Gloves
As mentioned before, you do not really want to skimp when it comes to quality for a tool intended to keep your hands safe. Here is what separates quality gloves from the rest of the pack:
Wrist Cuff
Wrist cuff design is particularly important when using protective gloves for chainsaw work. Finding yourself a pair of gloves with a tight wrist can make a huge difference in terms of keeping out wood chips and sawdust.
Design Details
Reinforced trigger fingers, thicker stitching on stress points, ventilation on the sides of your fingers, and a lot of other small details may not seem like much, but you can really tell the difference when you use gloves that have these intentional designs.
Material
We will get into this a bit more in the next section, but you really do need to pay attention to what material your gloves are made of. Make sure it will keep you protected and also increase the grip you can have on your saw.
Types of Chainsaw Gloves – Material Overview
As promised, here is an overview of the different chainsaw glove materials and rundown of their advantages and disadvantages:
Kevlar
You may recognize “Kevlar” as being associated with bulletproof vests – yes, this is the same Kevlar! It is a tough material amde of many layers, allowing it to withstand more than most materials.
Kevlar prevents cuts from chainsaws as easily as it prevents bullets from guns, making it an essential safety material.
Foam Padding
Obviously, your chainsaw will rip right through foam, so this material is not necessarily designed to prevent cutting.
But, the best cuts are the ones that never happen in the first place, and with the way these pads can reduce the vibration from your saw, the likelihood of your hands numbing up and causing an accident is much less.
Leather
Leather is really the gold standard when it comes to chainsaw gloves. It is by far the most comfortable option, especially once it is broken in.
Leather also has a huge advantage of being one of least slippery materials for chainsaw gloves, reducing accidents while still being comfortable.e
Conclusion
Chainsaw gloves really are not an option – they should absolutely be a requirement any time you intend to operate a chainsaw. But make sure you are working with quality gloves. Not just any glove will do.
Invest in gloves made of the right materials and that are durable enough to go the distance and stand up to your saw. We guarantee that you will be in a good place with any of the glove options from our list here.
People Also Ask
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions concerning chainsaw gloves:
How Are Gloves Rated?
Chainsaw gloves are rated on the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) cut level scale, which runs from 1 to 9. The higher the number on the scale, the more likely the glove is to provide you with greater protection.
How to Clean Chainsaw Gloves?
You can clean chainsaw gloves by throwing them in the washing machine (just make sure it is on a dark load so that your other clothes are not stained). They should be air dried to prevent cracking and other damage from the dryer heat.