Best Welding Gloves – Caiman White Goatskin
Top Pick
The best welding gloves of all time, or at least until this date, are the Caiman White Goatskin. Obviously, they’re made of goatskin, but this type of leather doesn’t just offer longevity but also dependable resistance against high temperatures.
Here are the Caiman White Goatskin gloves’ key specifications are—
Key Specifications
- Goat Grain Leather Exterior
- Unlined Interior
- 12-inch Length
- 4-inch Split Leather Cuff
If you need a comfortable, reliable, supple pair of MIG or TIG welding gloves without spending a ton of money, then these Caimans are for you. These gloves use high-quality goatskin to protect your wrist and forearms, up to 12 inches from the base of your fingers, without becoming rigid from extreme heat.
These gloves do not come with any interior lining. Despite MIG welding scorching-hot arcs, heat does not penetrate the leather, giving you maximum comfort and flexibility while holding onto your welding torch or gun.
These gloves come with a 4-inch cowhide leather cuff, which adds extra heat protection while also wrapping quite comfortably about your forearms.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Incredible heat protection
- Better grip
- Long gloves with tight cuffs
Cons
- Cuffs could be more durable
These white goatskin cloves by Caiman are some of the best TIG gloves you’ll ever find, and they work beautifully while MIG welding, too!
Our reviews are unbiased, fact-based, and comprehensively researched to help you make the right buying decisions.
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A good pair of welding gloves isn’t that difficult to come by, but if you’re looking for the best of the best—e.g., long-lasting, heat-resistant, comfortable—then you’ll have to sift over a hundred pairs to find it.
Or—and this is just a suggestion—you can take a look at our list; we’ve gone over hundreds of pairs to find you the best welding gloves the market has to offer.
Top Welding Gloves Compared
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Welding Gloves – Caiman White Goatskin |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Premium - Tillman Black Onyx |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Budget - US Forge 400 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best TIG Welding Gloves - Lincoln K2981 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best MIG Welding Gloves - RAPICCA |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Stick Welding Gloves - Lincoln K2979-ALL |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Leather Welder Gloves - NTKM’s |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Small Welding Gloves - Black Stallion Revco 850 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Superior Endura-378GKTFG |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Caiman 1878-5 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Tillman Gold and Pearl |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top Welding Gloves
While testing over a hundred pairs of welding gloves, we came across plenty of noteworthy alternatives. We’ve listed and reviewed each of them below.
Best Premium - Tillman Black Onyx
Key Specifications
- Pigskin Exterior
- Cotton Foam Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Thumbstrap Reinforcement
The Tillman Black Onyx pair of welding gloves is highly regarded as being one of the best MIG and stick welding gloves on the market. They come at a premium cost, at least by welding gloves standards, but they’re more than worth the investment.
The Black Onyx’s is made of a durable, supple, and incredibly comfortable pigskin leather with a thin layer of cotton foam lining the inside. Combined, they offer extreme heat protection while allowing you to move your fingers freely without dealing with over-puffiness.
Over time, they can become rigid due to non-use, but when you slip them back on, it won’t take long for them to regain their flexibility.
Pros
- Can handle small objects
- Durable exterior
- Lots of ventilation
- Extremely comfortable
Cons
- Can become inflexible if not used frequently
The Black Onyx keeps your hands completely safe from hot welding arcs, and its dark exterior looks pretty cool.
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 probably the cheapest pair of welding gloves out there, despite having a durable top-grain cowhide exterior that rungs from the fingers all the way to the cuff 14 inches away.
There’s no way your forearms will not be protected by heated air thanks to the long cuffs, although without straps or any tightening system in place, they can slip off from time to time. They don’t while working overhead for obvious reasons.
Some customers have claimed to have had a pair of US Forge 400s for over a year, though we can only assume that they don’t use them frequently. Regardless, there’s no doubt that these welding gloves are incredibly durable.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Wide cuffs improve ventilation
- Super-durable
- Amazingly lightweight
Cons
- The cuffs could have a tightening system
At such a low cost, you’d’ think you were receiving a shoddy pair of welding gloves that last a day or so, but we’re happy to report that that’s definitely not the case.
Superior Endura-378GKTFG
Key Specifications
- Goatskin Leather Exterior
- Kevlar-Lined Interior
- 12-inch Length
- Cut and Puncture Resistant
The Superior Endura-378GKTFG is a superior pair of welding gloves for TIG welding. It keeps your fingers at a comfortable temperature while being in close quarters with the TIG arc, but they don’t do much against direct heat.
Made of real goatskin leather with an inner Kevlar lining, these gloves don’t offer the most dexterity that you’d typically look for in TIG welding gloves. Professional welders may find these two materials a bit too limiting, whereas novice will find the less-than-dexterous design a non-issue.
The Endura is available in 10 or 12-inch length, including the cuff. The drooping of these gloves due to a lack of a latch or pull-up system isn’t too bad, but it’s definitely annoying.
Pros
- High-quality goatskin exterior
- Sharp objects won’t poke holes into the goatskin
- Reinforced with Kevlar stitching
- Comfortable
Cons
- Could be more dexterous
These gloves work like a charm for light-duty TIG welding jobs. We wouldn’t recommend using them for MIG or stick welding.
Caiman 1878-5
Key Specifications
- Deerskin Exterior
- FR Cotton Fleece Interior
- 21-inch Length
- Boarhide Pull-Ups
The Caiman 1878-5 is a pair of deerskin welding made for stick and MIG welding. Inside of each glove is a comfortable layer of cotton fleece, which protects your hands against extreme heat coming from welding arcs, though it can get uncomfortably hot in there.
From cuff to the tip of the fingers, the 1878-5 comes it at 21 inches in length, making them one of the longest pairs of welding gloves available. They’re comfortably tight at the cuffs and keep your forearms protected at all times from the heat.
You can thank the tightness of the cuffs to the boarhide leather pull-up straps. They can be adjusted at any time to ensure that you complete your welding job with minimal effort. However, they are the weakest part of the gloves, and its Kevlar stitching can become undone with excessive tugging.
Pros
- Supple deerhide material
- Extra cotton protection
- Easy pull-up straps
- Does not impair dexterity
Cons
- Straps’ stitching could be better
Durable and flexible—the 1878-5 by Caiman will last for several months of stick and MIG punishment.
Tillman Gold and Pearl
Key Specifications
- Cowhide Leather Exterior
- Cotton Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Kevlar Stitching
The Tilman Gold and Pearl is a fitting name for these gold-and-pearl welding gloves. They look pretty fancy for welding gloves, and they’re also incredibly durable. You can use them for protecting your hands while MIG and TIG welding, and they also come in handy for setting up a barbecue pit.
Made almost completely out of cowhide leather, these gloves remain reasonably supple at all times without warping in shape for several months. The cotton interior serves as an additional safety measure to block extreme heat from penetrating the leather exterior.
The Kevlar stitching is some of the best we’ve seen, ensuring that the gloves remain as intact as possible for longer.
Pros
- Great heat protection
- Long cuffs
- Palm and finger protection
- Dexterous
Cons
- Could come with a glide pad
The fancy white-and-pearl White and Pearl from Tilman are an exquisite pair of MIG welding gloves that look as good as they work.
Best TIG Welding Gloves
If you’re searching for the best possible TIG welding gloves, it’s the Lincoln K2981.
Below are the K2981’s key specifications—
Key Specifications
- Grain and Split Leather Exterior
- Unlined Interior
- 10-inch Length
- Reinforced Kevlar Seams
With an outer shell made of split leather, these gloves maintain their shape while also providing a suppleness unparalleled by other TIG welding gloves available.
They provide extra dexterity to ensure your work comes out as beautiful as possible without the awkwardness of puffy interior linings.
The leather is designed to withstand cuts and punctures, so handling sharp objects should be an issue. That is, unless the workpiece is heated, then you may want to let it cool down a bit before picking it up with these gloves.
With Kevlar stitching at the seams, these gloves will stay in one whole piece for longer with minimal fraying at the stitches.
You can enjoy several more months of hand protection if you sport these gloves durinbg TIG welding.
Pros
- Longer-lasting materials
- dexterous
- Heat-resistant materials
- Comfortable
Cons
- Gloves could be longer
The K2981 is the most fantastic pair of TIG welding gloves you’ll ever come across. They could be a bit longer, but its lightweight build and flexibility are unmatched by any of its competition.
Best MIG Welding Gloves
The RAPICCA Leather Forge Welding Gloves snatches the label of the best MIG welding gloves from many of its name-brand competitors.
These are the RAPICCA’s key specifications at a glance—
Key Specifications
- Cowhide Leather Exterior
- Cotton Lining
- 16-inch Length
- Double-Layer Kevlar Padding
Unlike most MIG welding gloves you’ll encounter, the RAPICCA comes in at a super-long 16 inches to protect more of your forearms from the extreme temperatures of MIG arcs. This isn’t a shock, really, since they are also made for forging.
The superior grade of cowhide leather and a comfortable cotton interior offers the most flexibility that a MIG welding glove can have. The problem is that the cotton tends to detach from the gloves and adhere to your hands in little puffy balls.
The palm-side of these gloves are protected by a double-layer Kevlar padding that serves as a comfortable rest pad and glide pad.
Pros
- Amazing durability
- Withstands temperatures 900+°F
- Long cuffs
- Flexible fingers
Cons
- Cotton interior could be better
Whether you MIG weld, need to handle hot barbecue grills or are into forging your own metal-based art, the RAPICCA welding gloves will keep your fingers safe and sound.
Best Stick Welding Gloves
The Lincoln K2979-ALL is an excellent 2-in-1 welding gloves that works best at protecting your hands from hot stick welding arcs.
These are the Lincoln’s key specifications—
Key Specifications
- Split Cowhide Leather Exterior
- Cotton-Lined Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Reinforced Leather Seams
These are Lincoln’s most popular stick welding gloves for a number of very good reasons. Although they’re a bit on the short side—14 inches from the end to end—they’re not only incredibly comfortable but also surprisingly cheap.
The cowhide leather exterior doesn’t do much at stopping ambient heat, but they work exceptionally well at blocking concentrated arcs from scorching your skin. The cotton-lined interior does an excellent job of blocking any heat that pierces the leather exterior.
Each part of the K2979-ALL is attached by superior Kevlar stitching to give these gloves extra durability, though they can fray when exposed to direct heat.
Pros
- Incredibly durable
- Decent 5-inch cuff
- Cotton lining adds comfort
- Flexible
Cons
- Could be longer
Made for both stick and MIG welding, the Lincoln K2979-ALL is a highly versatile and dependable pair of welding gloves.
Best Leather Welder Gloves
The overall best leather welder gloves that can also come in handy while BBQ-ing or gardening, is the black-and-grey welding gloves by NTKM.
Below, you’ll find then NTKM’s key specs—
Key Specifications
- Cowhide Leather Exterior
- Cotton Interior
- 16-inch Length
- Soft Canvas Cuffs
The entire length of these gloves is made of supple, durable split cowhide leather that adds protection against extreme heat as well as rough, sharp objects. The cotton liner insulates your hands while also collecting sweat, which can make them smell pretty bad after a couple of hours of use.
The cuffs are made of a cotton canvas that adds softness and comfort while leaning on your forearms. They’ll allow you to continue working for extended periods without your worktable or workpiece digging into your skin.
The thumb slots are reinforced with Kevlar stitching, which keeps them intact for longer while also adding much-needed flexibility.
Pros
- Cut and puncture resistant
- Multiple sizes
- Thick cowhide leather exterior
- Great value for cost
Cons
- Could be more heat resistant
These super-versatile gloves will come in handy while MIG and stick welding, as well as a-million-and-one other uses.
Best Small Welding Gloves
Last up is the Black Stallion Revco 850 which is available in small sizes for those with smaller wrists and fingers.
Here’s an overview of the Revco 850’s key specs—
Key Specifications
- Elkskin Exterior
- DuPont Nomex Interior
- 14-inch Length
- Reversed Grain Palm
The white and cream color combination is refreshing after looking at an overwhelming number of single-color gloves.
But apart from the looks, the Revco 850 is a super-dependable pair of welding gloves made for stick and MIG welding, though they could come in handy during TIG welding.
These gloves come with an elkskin leather exterior and Nomex fiber lining, which, combined, do not impair flexibility and finger functionality.
Even though they are incredibly resistant to heat, they’re not shrink-proof; after several months of extended welding, the fingers can become uncomfortably small.
However, while still in their prime, the Revco 850 are incredibly flexible, and the reversed grain palm enhances gripping power to lift and move metal objects easily.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Great gripping power
- Flexible design
- Minimal fraying
Cons
- Fingers can shrink with age
Whether you have itty-bitty hands or larger ones, a correctly-sized pair of Revco 850s will keep your digits intact while performing any welding technique.
FAQs
In general, TIG welding gloves do not come with a cotton interior. This is done purposely to prevent the gloves from limiting the range of movement of your palms and fingers, which allows you to perform more intricate TIG welding designs. As for stick and MIG welding gloves, they need an extra layer of protection to protect your wrists and forearms from the scorching-hot arcs. Since stick and MIG welding aren’t super-fine intricate welding methods, reduced dexterity isn’t a huge problem.
The most widely used material is cowhide leather, due to its inexpensive cost and ultra-heat-resistance properties. However, specialty leathers like pigskin, elkskin, goatskin, and kidskin all work extremely well at enhancing dexterity while also protecting your skin from ambient heat. They can cost a bit more than cowhide, but they can generally withstand more punishment.
The average lifespan of a pair of welding gloves is anywhere between five and eight months, though you can push it to the 12-month mark if you don’t weld frequently. Welding gloves can shrink, curl, become permanently rigid, or have failing parts—e.g., frayed stitching—over time, so make sure you choose the best pair of welding gloves for your most-preferred method of welding to replace your old pair.
Basically, you can use welding gloves for any project that involves working with heated materials or sharp objects, though they’ll definitely come in handy for gardening chores and handling outdoor equipment. Make sure you wash your gloves with cold water and mild detergent after each use; otherwise, you run the risk of contaminating your welding workpiece with dirt, food, or soot.
Summary
In this guide, we’ve told you which is our pick of the overall best welding gloves—the Caiman White Goatskin if you’ve already forgotten.
We’ve also included a number of different top-performing gloves for several categories, including MIG welding, stick welding, and TIG welding.
If you’re not sure which pair of welding gloves to get, we can help you in the comments section.
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
