Best Stick Welding Gloves: Lincoln K2979-ALL
If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 pair for both MIG and stick welding, the K2979-ALL made of high-grade leather and cotton lining is for you.
Here are the key features of the Lincoln gloves—
- Split Cowhide Leather Exterior
- Cotton-Lined Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Reinforced Leather Seams
Lincoln Electric has a wide range of welding gloves for sale, but when you need to stick weld, the K2979-ALL is the most dependable pair.
They’re a bit too short for our liking (only 14 inches), but they’re also incredibly budget-friendly and comfortable.
These gloves aren’t made to withstand extreme heat in workshops, but instead, they’re focused on protecting your wrist and digits from the high temperatures of welding arcs.
The cotton lining boosts ventilation so your wrists are sweating gallons.
With Kevlar stitching and reinforced leather seams, these gloves can last for many months before experiencing the slightest hint of wear.
Pros
- Incredibly durable
- 5-inch cuff
- Cotton sock lining improves comfort
- Flexible
Cons
- Could be longer
Even though these are the best overall stick welding gloves, they’ll come in handy for MIG welding projects as well.
Our expert reviewed articles are fact-based, unbiased, and rigorously researched to help you make right buying decisions.
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So, did you know that welding can produce a 10,000 plus-degree arc? And also, that human hands aren’t designed to withstand heat over 212 degrees without melting? Wear welding gloves!
If you’re not sure which pair to pick up for stick welding, we’ve got a list containing some of the best stick welding gloves available today.
We’ve researched over 30 pairs and found these welding gloves to be the most dependable.
Top Stick Welding Gloves Compared
Here’s a comparison between Top Stick Welding Gloves:
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Stick Welding Gloves – Lincoln K2979-ALL |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Premium - Tillman Black Onyx |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Budget - US Forge 400 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Black Stallion Revco 850 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Caiman 1878-5 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Miller 263343 |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top Stick Welding Gloves
Here are six of the top stick welding gloves alternatives if the Lincoln doesn’t suit you.
Best Premium - Tillman Black Onyx
Key Specifications
- Pigskin Exterior
- Cotton Foam Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Thumbstrap Reinforcement
The Tillman Black Onyx is often cited as being one of the most dependable stick and MIG welding gloves on the market.
Though its price tag is pretty high, at least by welding glove standards, it’s definitely worth the extra investment.
The Black Onyx’s exterior is made of pigskin that is unbelievable supple.
Lifting tiny metal plates or other small objects is simple, allowing you to fine-tune your stick welder to your exact specifications without removing the gloves beforehand.
Some users have noted that these gloves can become rigid over time due to prolonged non-use periods. However, they’ll soon regain their flexibility when worn again.
Pros
- Easily grabs objects
- Durable exterior
- Plenty of ventilation
- Extremely comfortable
Cons
- Can become inflexible if not used frequently
The Tillman Black Onyx doesn’t just keep your hands safe from the super-hot arcs of MIG and stick welding, but they’re one of the snazziest pairs of gloves. We think so, anyway.
Best Budget- US Forge 400
Key Specifications
- Top-Grain Cowhide Exterior
- Cotton Interior
- 14-inch Length
- 0.8-pound Design
The US Forge 400 is an awfully inexpensive pair of stick welding gloves that certainly do not feel cheap in any way.
Its cotton interior is coated with a top-grain cowhide exterior that’s not only durable but surprisingly flexible.
They measure in at 14 inches long, so they can’t be a bit on the short-side for long-limbed users.
However, the glove provides heat-resistant protection against high temperatures from arcs and plasma cutters.
Some customers have enjoyed using these gloves for more than a year, so despite its low cost, the quality of its design is definitely not in question.
Plus, after looking at the locked stitching they used to keep the gloves together, we can safely say that nothing is cheap about this product, except for its price.
Pros
- Comfortable to wear
- Wide, open cuffs improve ventilation
- Super-durable
- Amazingly lightweight
Cons
- The cuffs could be tighter
It’s shocking how incredibly dependable these gloves are when stick welding, considering the super-cheap cost.
Black Stallion Revco 850
Key Specifications
- Elkskin Exterior
- DuPont Nomex Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Reversed Grain Palm
The Revco 850 is one of the most eye-pleasing pair of welding gloves out there, if you’re not into the black exterior of the Lincoln Onyx.
Looks aside, these gloves are reliable against the super-hot temperatures of stick and MIG welding arcs.
The 850 is made of a fine elkskin leather with heat-resistant Nomex fiber lining that doesn’t impair finger and palm functions.
However, there is a major problem with shrinkage; after several months of heavy use, the fingers can shrink to uncomfortable or even unusable sizes. Whether it’s the lining or not, we can’t tell, but that’s just the way it is.
While they’re still in tip-top shape, these gloves are flexible enough to let your individual fingers grip objects and turn dials without getting in the way.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Does not tighten up like cowhide
- Flexible materials
- Minimal fraying
Cons
- Fingers can curl and shrink over time
Though not perfect, the Revco 850 will keep your wrist protected at all times while welding and cutting metal.
Caiman 1878-5
Key Specifications
- Deerskin Exterior
- FR Cotton Fleece Interior
- 21-inch Length
- Boarhide Pull-Ups
The Caiman 1878-5 is a fantastic pair of deerskin welding gloves. The gloves are lined with cushiony FR cotton fleece that can be somewhat hot when worn but add a ton of protection against high temperatures.
These gloves, from cuff to the edge of the middle finger, measure in at 21 inches, making them suitable for large welders with long limbs.
They’re also incredibly comfortable from the wrist up to the forearm without constricting.
One of the 1878-5’s unique features is its boarhide leather pull-ups, which allow you to comfortably readjust the gloves while worn without directly tugging on the cuffs.
These pull-ups, however, are the weakest point of the gloves, despite its Kevlar stitching.
Pros
- Durable, supple deerhide exterior
- Easy-breathe cotton fleece inner lining
- Easy pull-ups straps
- Does not impair dexterity
Cons
- Pull-ups’ stitching could be better
Comfortable, durable, flexible, and ventilated—everything you need from a pair of welding gloves comes in the 1878-5.
Miller 263343
Key Specifications
- Pigskin Leather Exterior
- Cottom Foam Interior
- 13-inch Length
- Pre-Curved Fingers
The Miller 263343 is another fantastic pair of arc and MIG welding gloves. Made by the infamous Miller brand, you know you’re getting a high-quality product for your investment.
Miller uses pigskin premium leather to coat these gloves’ exterior.
Pigskin offers flexibility that many synthetic materials can’t replicate, and with the pre-curved finger design, you don’t lose an atom of dexterity for handling the stick holder or turning dials.
One major issue we have with these gloves is the length. At just 13 inches long and with a wide opening, many customers and we have experienced droopy gloves.
This issue doesn’t occur when welding overhead, though, so there’s the silver lining.
Pros
- Durable design
- Super-flexible and grippy
- Heat-resistant
- Stitches last longer
Cons
- Could be longer
Apart from the stubbiness of these gloves, the 263343 maintains premium-quality design and flexibility that Miller is so well-known for.
FAQs
We have to address some important questions that many customers have brought up.
Stick and MIG welding gloves are generally considered to be one and the same, and you certainly use stick welding gloves to keep your wrist safe while TIG welding. Stick and MIG welding are rougher forms of welding that produce higher-temperature arcs. You’ll find stick welding gloves to be puffier and much more heat resistant as opposed to gloves made to protect TIG welders.
It varies from person to person. Some swear by pigskin leather while others feel that elkskin is a lot more supple. However, the fact is that cowhide is the most widely used material, mainly because it’s much more easily accessible by manufacturers and, therefore, less expensive to manufacture. You’ll have to give different materials a try to see which one works best in your situation.
Yes, you can, as we stated in a previous answer. However, because of the extra bulk of the inner lining and exterior material, stick welding gloves can significantly impair how users hold a TIG gun, thereby affecting the quality of the weld. That said, it won’t hurt to have the added protection of the extra pads of stick welding gloves when TIG welding thinner sheets.
The average lifespan of welding gloves can be anywhere from one to three months, though frequent welders may go through a dozen pair every year. It depends on how frequent you weld, how much heat is produced, and how well you store the gloves. Some customers have used the same pair of gloves for a year or longer, though we suspect that they aren’t welders by trade.
Summary
The best stick welding gloves, in our opinion, is the Lincoln-made K2979-ALL, though our list provides alternatives made of different materials and have different lengths.
After long hours of researching more than 30 welding gloves made to protect users while stick welding, we hope you found the pair you were looking for on this list.
If you’re still on the fence, we’d be glad to assist you in the comments section.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
