Why would someone wear a leather driver glove to work in, when leather palm gloves typically cost less? The answer is the improved dexterity. Leather driver gloves are thinner, offer better dexterity, and allow increased hand movement.
Below, we break down everything you need to know about leather drivers. If there is no lining, a
leather
driver is
classified as “unlined.” When a lining is involved, we refer to these as “lined
leather
gloves.” Within each section, we highlight the leather driver by the hide used in creating the
glove.
We also
break down differences in the final construction, such as different thumb options available.
Let's get you into the correct pair of leather driver gloves.
Unlined gloves are the perfect selection for anyone looking for a glove that breathes. When working
during
the hot
summer months, you’re going to want to stay cool and protected on the job. To help in this
quest, MCR
Safety
offers gloves with a mesh back for even greater comfort. An unlined leather glove also conforms more
easily
to
one’s hand. When you need a close fit, an unlined leather glove is a perfect solution. It
provides the
flexibility and tactile feel that is necessary for many everyday applications, such as material
handling and
driving
operations.
Below, we have broken down all our unlined leather gloves by the hide. Each one performs differently
based
on the
leather hides used in their construction.
Cowhide leather makes up the largest portion of MCR Safety leather work gloves. The next several leather glove categories focus on cowhide styles.
Due to the abundance of cowhide leather, unlined cowhide gloves are the most common leather work glove found in the market. When compared to other leather unlined work gloves, cowhide gloves come in at a mid-range price point level. However, you get what you pay for, and cowhide gloves rarely disappoint.
Unlined cowhide leather work gloves provide excellent abrasion-resistance and offer long-lasting durability due to the naturally tough hide. You’ll be amazed at the beating these gloves can take!
Here is a quick rundown of the benefits of grain cowhide leather:
Downsides:
We know you’re concerned about quality, as it determines the length of wear. So, here’s a
listing
of our
leather glove options from the more budget-friendly styles to our more premium leather work gloves.
We’ve also
labeled each by thumb styles, back, etc.
Here are some of our most popular cowhide glove styles:
Cowhide grain work gloves make up the largest number of products in our leather driver product group. We’ve made it easy for you to see all your options in one spot. You’ll notice some new words like grade, hem, and thread introduced in the matrix. Don’t worry; we explain all of these in our Leather Knowledge Center.
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Straight Thumb | 3220 | Premium Grade | Straight | Leather | Polyester | x | 3 |
3201 | Select Grade | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
3201IN | Select Grade | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
3203 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
3202 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
32013 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
Keystone Thumb | 3200 | Premium Grade | Keystone | Leather | Polyester | x | 3 |
3211 | Select Grade | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
3211IN | Select Grade | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
3213 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
3215 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 2 | |
32113 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
32114 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Leather | Kevlar | 3 | x | |
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
Wing Thumb | 3224 | Premium Grade | Wing | Leather | Kevlar | x | 3 |
3214 | Select Grade | Wing | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
32113DP | CV Grade (Competitive Value) - Double Palm | Wing | Cotton | Polyester | 4 | x | |
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
SPLIT BACK GRAIN COW | 3204 | Select Grade | Keystone | Leather | Kevlar | x | x |
MU3213DP | Select Grade | Keystone | Leather | Kevlar | x | x | |
32057 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Kevlar | x | x | |
3205 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
32056 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
32056DP | CV Grade (Competitive Value) - Double Palm | Wing | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
32056DP | CV Grade (Competitive Value) - Patch Palm | Wing | Cotton | Polyester | 4 | 3 |
Customers often tell us how soft our deerskin leather work gloves feel and how easily the gloves bend when performing tasks. When you’re handling tools all day at work, thin tactile gloves go a long way, and at MCR Safety, we offer top-quality deerskin glove options.
Simply put, you can't beat a nice genuine pair of deerskin leather work gloves. They are an excellent choice for any long work shift, providing soft all-day comfort. Their sensitivity to touch allows you to feel the tools in your hands while keeping your hands protected.
Please note, however, that deerskin doesn’t come from commercially raised sources, as other leathers do. They come mostly from wild game and require a more complex tanning procedure. This means it is one of the more expensive leather options on the market.
Here is a quick rundown of the benefits of deerskin leather:
Downsides:
We know you’re concerned about quality, as it determines the length of wear. So, here’s a listing of our leather glove options from the more budget-friendly styles to our more premium leather work gloves. We’ve also labeled each by thumb styles, back, etc.
Are you looking for ultra-thin leather gloves that allow you to handle delicate parts and materials, while offering strength and protection at the same time? Independent tests have proven goatskin leather to be one of the strongest hides available. The dense fiber structure and tensile strength of goatskin enable gloves made to hold up under the harshest working conditions.
When you wear goatskin, you’ll love the ultra-thin feel, along with the natural lanolin that softens one’s skin. MCR Safety’s unlined goatskin work gloves are so thin that they are often mentioned as the best skin-tight leather gloves you’ll find. Plus, these gloves come in at a mid-range price point and are not as expensive as elkskin or deerskin leather gloves.
Known to many as a thin leather glove, here is a quick rundown of the benefits of goatskin leather:
Downsides:
We know you’re concerned about quality, as it determines the length of wear. So, here’s a listing of our leather glove options from the more budget-friendly styles to our more premium leather work gloves. We’ve also labeled each by thumb styles, back, etc.
Here are some of our most popular goatskin glove styles:
Below are all of our grain goatskin drivers in one spot.
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Straight Thumb | 3601 | Premium Grade | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 3 |
3603 | Select Grade | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 3 | |
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
Keystone Thumb | 3611 | Premium Grade | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 3 |
3613 | Select Grade | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 3 | |
36133 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | x | |
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
Wing Thumb | MU3624G | Premium Grade | Wing | Leather | Kevlar | 3 | 3 |
MU3624 | Premium Grade | Wing | Leather | Kevlar | 3 | 3 | |
MU3644 | Premium Grade | Wing | Leather | Kevlar | 3 | 3 |
Are you looking for an economical
leather work
glove? Pigskin gloves may be just what you’ll want to wear.
Don’t let their low-cost fool you into thinking they’re low-quality. MCR Safety’s
pigskin leather
gloves are multi-faceted, offering exceptional durability, breathability, and water-resistance. If
you look at the
image above, you can see the porous texture; this texture makes pigskin the most breathable leather
glove
you’ll find. It is this same texture characteristic that also keeps pigskin gloves flexible
after frequent
contact with water. For example, those who work in maintenance and need a glove that holds up to
moisture will find
pigskin driver gloves don’t stiffen up after contact with moisture and maintain their
top-quality performance
for more extended periods.
Here is a quick rundown of the benefits of pigskin leather:
Downsides:
We know you’re concerned about quality, as it determines the length of wear. So, here’s a
listing of our
leather glove options from the more budget-friendly styles to our more premium leather work gloves.
We’ve also
labeled each by thumb styles, back, etc.
Here are some of our most popular pigskin glove styles.
Below are all of our grain pigskin drivers in one spot.
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Straight Thumb | 3410 | Premium Grade | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | x | x |
3400 | Select Grade | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 3 | |
3402 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Straight | Cotton | Polyester | x | x | |
|
Style # | Grade | Thumb | Hem | Thread |
ANSI Abrasion |
ANSI Puncture |
Keystone Thumb | 3411 | Premium Grade | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | x | x |
3420 | Select Grade | Keystone | Leather | Polyester | x | x | |
3401 | Select Grade | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | 3 | 3 | |
3405 | CV Grade (Competitive Value) | Keystone | Cotton | Polyester | x | x |
MCR Safety introduced buffalo leather
gloves in
2019. They share many of the same characteristics as cowhide, yet
with some additional enhancements. One of those enhancements is most definitely the cost; however,
there are a
handful of other benefits.
Here is a quick rundown of the benefits of buffalo leather:
Downsides:
We carry only one buffalo leather driver at this time. Click the image below to learn more about it.
Most of our
Mechanics style
gloves
and
Tactile
leather gloves
feature synthetic leather. So, they might not be called
official leather drivers, but they are extremely comfortable. The four styles shown above feature a
super stretch
material in the knuckle region, offering wearers a higher degree of dexterity than standard leather
driver
gloves.
What is synthetic leather? The first substitute for natural leather started in the 19th century with
the development
of Nitrocellulose and collodion. In the 20th
century,
DuPont™ patented Fabrikoid, which was primarily used in upholstery and book bindings.
Today, there are
three fundamental kinds of synthetic leather fabrics:
polyurethane (PU) leather,
polyvinyl
chloride (PVC)
leather, and microfiber leather.
Each of these is treated to resemble and feel like
real leather.
Since the early to mid-2000s’, MCR Safety has been offering synthetic leather work gloves.
With increased
pressure put on the overall leather supply chain in 2008, mostly due to numerous tannery closures,
MCR Safety
decided it was necessary to offer our customers additional synthetic leather work glove options.
Artificial leather
has innumerable advantages over real leather. Some of the benefits of synthetic leather include:
Keep in mind: synthetic leather is not recommended for welding, where heat and open flames are present.
MCR Safety offers a wide assortment of synthetic leather styles:
We’ve broken down each unlined leather and synthetic leather glove options above. However, we know many of you prepare wearing lined leather work gloves. Well, we aim to please, so let us move on to our lined leather driver options.
Across this section, we highlight all leather driver styles lined with a basic liner. These are gloves that are primarily offered to prevent chafing, provide additional comfort, and provide moderate heat and cold protection. For a more in-depth look at lined leather gloves that help keep the heat in, check out our Winter Lined Leather Glove protection page.
Linings are the materials located inside leather gloves that serve a multitude of purposes.
First, a
nice fleece
lining means all-day comfort for those who use their hands a lot. This fleece comfort can also
provide protection
and cushion from the tools and objects used in many industries. Second, and often forgotten
about,
is the assistance
a lining can offer with donning and doffing gloves. Third, and perhaps most importantly, a
lining
prevents
chafing.
Here is a recap of the benefits that general-purpose linings offer users:
A jersey fleece-lined leather glove is one of the most common lined leather work gloves you’ll find in our product lineup. This general-purpose liner is lightweight and provides natural wicking, keeping moisture off the skin. However, one downside to general-purpose liners is that they offer zero cut-protection. MCR Safety does offer over 15 total leather glove styles with cut protection. Check them out here.
To summarize, you’ll find cut-resistant liners that offer cut protection, jersey liners for moderate heat protection, and, of course, winter linings for protection from the cold. Here is a quick rundown of liner found in leather work gloves:
The high-loft matte fiber of a thermosock lining keeps hands warm in cold environments.
Recognized as one of the leading materials for insulation, Thinsulate™ keeps hands warm in extreme temperatures.
Made of cotton or a cotton blend, pile linings provide a soft cushioning material inside a glove.
Interlocking cotton knit fabric helps keep gloves lightweight and flexible.
This single-knit cotton fabric known for its elasticity and soft feel offers comfort at an economical price point.
The soft, cotton fleece material provides users with extra warmth and reduces chafing.
Often used as insulation from the cold and heat, foam linings create an air barrier that offers wearers protection and provides a cushioning effect.
5X stronger than steel, a DuPont® Kevlar® liner is versatile and offers users both cut- and thermal heat-protection properties.
MCR Safety’s very own HPPE cut-resistant material, Hypermax provides users with a highly cut-resistant and comfortable liner.
Boasting Nature's best insulating property, wool dries quickly, too.
Keep in mind that we also cover thermal-lined gloves more in-depth on our Winter Leather Work Glove page.
As noted above, goatskin work gloves are the perfect selection when you require both dexterity and a tough glove. When you add in a cut-resistant liner, you turn a tough glove into the ultimate protection!
Here are some of our most popular lined goatskin glove styles with cut-resistance:
Cowhide gloves provide the highest strength, meaning
they’re highly puncture-resistant and
abrasion-resistant.
Adding a lining ensures this tough leather glove is comfortable for wearing, too.
We know you’re concerned about quality, as it determines the length of wear. So, here’s
a
listing of our
leather glove options from the more budget-friendly styles to our more premium leather work gloves.
We’ve also
labeled each by thumb styles, back, etc.
Here are some of our most popular lined cowhide glove styles:
Pigskin gloves are ideal around wet conditions and
will not
stiffen when they come into contact with
moisture.
However, in environments that are both wet and cold, that’s a whole new ballgame. Pigskin does
not
offer much
insulation protection, though this same downside makes it a great option if you’re looking to
keep
your hands
cool. But if you want to trap some heat and keep your hands warm in a pigskin glove, consider adding
an
insulated
liner.
Here are some of our most popular pigskin glove styles with fleece lining:
What could make a deerskin even more comfortable than its already buttery soft feel? Well, add in a red fleece lining, and you’ve got your answer. Check out our 3555, made with split leather back.
Whether it’s an unlined or lined leather work glove, MCR Safety has a plethora of options and
styles to
wear.
Our collection of leather driver gloves addresses multiple buying factors, ranging from durability
to
breathability
to tactile sensitivity and abrasion-resistance. Our full range of leather gloves includes various
hides
to
address
all these concerns and more. We aim to offer you one of the most extensive selections on the market,
ensuring you
can carry out the job at hand.
As you read over all of the information above, you may have realized that a leather driver glove is
not
what
you
need for your application. If that is the case, we invite you to check out our other types of
leather
work
gloves by
clicking either of the images below. You may have also realized that we used a lot of jargon
you’re
not all
that familiar with and don’t understand. If that is the case, be sure to check out the Leather
Glove
Knowledge
Center, linked at the bottom of the page.
Click one of the links below to learn more about that topic.