Best Nitrile Gloves | Tested & Reviewed
When it comes to being prepared for unexpected situations, having reliable protective gear is essential, and nitrile gloves are no exception. With their superior strength, chemical resistance, and tactile sensitivity, nitrile gloves are a go-to choice in various scenarios, from medical emergencies to handling potentially hazardous materials. There are many types of nitrile gloves on the market with a range of quality and prices.
This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best disposable gloves, put them to the test, and now the results are in: the overall best, a budget option, and an upgrade option. If you want to be able to protect your hands when it really matters, one of our picks will have you covered.
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Best Nitrile Gloves
CURAD Germ Shield
Textured, Durable, and Effective
Amazingly durable and flexible double-layered gloves with tear identification clearly perform better than the rest.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
What used to only be available in now-discontinued Venom Steel gloves, the dual-layer breech indicator is the main feature that pushes these gloves to the top. You get an excellent balance of dexterity and protection with the 6 mil thickness. The white color allows the green to show through whenever there is a tear, letting you know to quickly replace (or remove if you are wearing multiple layers).
Specifications
- Quantity: 50
- Sizes: One-size (fits most)
- Thickness: 6 mil (2-layer)
Once the gloves get a tear (indicated by the green color), you’ll want new ones as soon as possible. Any tear in nitrile gloves will quickly turn into total glove failure- one rip easily continues until the gloves are torn in half or have a large hole.
The one-size-fits-most fits me well, and I typically wear an XL in gloves. There was some extra webbing between my fingers, but that’s par for the course on one-size gloves for me.
With a great price and unmatched versatility, it’s easy to see why the CURAD Germ Shield Nitrile Gloves are the best.
Budget Nitrile Gloves
MedPride Nitrile Gloves
Effective, Tear-Resistant, and Inexpensive
The standard nitrile gloves at the best price work great for bulk needs.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
You’ve probably seen MedPride gloves in the doctor’s office before if you were being observant. MedPride is a huge healthcare supplier, which is good news for cost because they are manufactured in bulk.
Specifications
- Quantity: 100
- Sizes: 4 (S, M, L, XL)
- Thickness: 3.5 mil
Their cost and reliability make the gloves ideal for when you need nitrile gloves (a bunch of them). Whether you are outfitting your kits or an entire community, you’ll get the best price in bulk boxes of MedPride gloves, but still have the consistent quality that you can count on.
Just like the gloves at the doctor’s office, they are sized with options ranging from Small to Extra Large. I am shown wearing the XL (my typical glove size), and they fit well. They also work well as a second layer over another pair of gloves, whether it’s MedPride or another brand. Sacrificial second layers of gloves are a great way to quickly get rid of contaminated or compromised gloves.
If you are looking for an inexpensive solution that you can check the box with quickly, the MedPride Nitrile Exam Gloves are what you need.
Upgrade Nitrile Gloves
Venom Steel Max
Thick, Texturized, and Durable
Even thicker than our top pick, these durable gloves are best for heavy-duty applications.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Thicker than the double-layer gloves, our upgrade pick kicks it up a notch with some of the thickest disposable nitrile gloves on the market. With exceptional durability, chemical and tear resistance, these gloves will keep you covered no matter what you dish out to them.
Specifications
- Quantity: 50
- Sizes: One-size (fits most)
- Thickness: 8 mil
The textured grip is nice as well, since you do sacrifice some tactile feel with the added thickness and protection of these gloves.
If you are looking for the best of the best, get the Venom Steel Max Grip Nitrile Gloves.
Comparison Table
| Nitrile Gloves | Recommendation | Price* | Quantity | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CURAD Shield | Best Overall | $12 | 50 | 6 mil |
| Medpride | Best for Budgets | $10 | 100 | 3.5 mil |
| Venom Steel Max | Best for Durability | $18 | 50 | 8 mil |
How I Tested
Our research narrowed the field down to several types and brands of gloves that we compared: MedPride, Venom Steel, Schneider, Defender, Inspire, Gloveworks, GripProtect, TitanFlex, and more.
You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.
We considered a wide range of disposable gloves and quickly narrowed it down to nitrile. Latex, vinyl, and other glove materials can have their uses, but nitrile proved to be the best for emergency use in a wide range of situations.
I wore the gloves for practical testing for car repair, caulking, first aid, and more. This helped me determine how well they fit, their dexterity (and grip), and their practical durability. I cut the gloves up with a utility knife to see how easily they punctured and tore. Lastly, I measured their thickness with a micrometer.
We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have nitrile gloves that you swear by, let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually so we can try to get it in the next roundup and see if it will beat out our top picks.
Why Trust TruePrepper
Nitrile gloves come in handy often, whether it’s for around the house, first aid, or a CBRN survival situation. The worst-case situation is what we test for here at TruePrepper, since your life could literally depend on your equipment and supplies.
I’m Sean Gold, the founder of TruePrepper, with an Emergency Management degree and Hazmat Technician Certification. While in the Air Force as an Emergency Manager (3E9XX), we often used nitrile gloves in real-world Hazmat response incidents and exercises. I learned the importance of double-layering to quickly get rid of contamination and how important dependable gloves are.
Nitrile vs. Latex
Both nitrile and latex disposable gloves are leagues better than their vinyl counterpart, but there are still considerations to be had between the two.
For starters, approximately 1% of the population has a latex allergy, which makes latex gloves a non-starter for them. This climbs even higher to 8% for healthcare workers, as continued exposure can increase your chance of developing an allergy. This is a considerable drawback for latex gloves, as you don’t want to complicate emergencies with allergy considerations.
Nitrile gloves also have an edge when it comes to chemical resistance, puncture resistance, and shelf life. They react to far fewer chemicals than latex and do not degrade over time.
They also have a great tactile feel and sensitivity. This makes them good for precision tasks despite their durability.
Even between nitrile glove models, there are a lot of options with layered features, textured grips, and different thicknesses available.
What to Look For
The best PPE gloves have several important features to look for:
- Value
- Tear Resistance
- Comfort & Fit
- Flexibility
- Durability
When you get the right blend of these, you can find gloves that you can rely on for a wide range of situations, ranging from first aid to radiation events and everything in between. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the protective gloves that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something as simple as gloves shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. Luckily, they are mass-produced, and none of the gloves we compared or tested were price-gouging.
You never want to spend too much money on one thing when it comes to gear- especially if it is meant to be disposable. It’s better to diversify your PPE gear to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Tear Resistance
Tear resistance is typically measured using standardized testing methods, such as the ASTM D624 or ASTM D412 test standards. These tests evaluate the force required to tear a material sample under controlled conditions.
In general, nitrile gloves tend to have higher tear resistance compared to latex and vinyl gloves. Nitrile gloves are known for their excellent puncture and tear resistance, which makes them more durable and less prone to tearing during use. They provide reliable protection against sharp objects and rough surfaces.
Latex gloves offer moderate tear resistance but are generally not as durable as nitrile gloves. Latex is a naturally occurring material derived from rubber, and while it provides decent tear resistance, it may be more susceptible to punctures and tears compared to nitrile.
Vinyl gloves, on the other hand, have lower tear resistance compared to both latex and nitrile gloves. Vinyl is a thinner and less elastic material, which can make it more prone to tearing, especially during more demanding tasks or situations that require greater durability.
The tear resistance of all gloves can be affected by manufacturing quality and glove thickness as well.
Comfort & Fit
Some brands offer one-size-fits-most gloves, which can be great when multiple people are sharing the same batch of gloves.
Otherwise, it is almost always better to get sized gloves as close to your standard hand size for the best fit. A good fit with any type of glove improves tactile sensitivity, comfort, grip, and durability. Large gloves can bind and have loose material to catch and tear. Small gloves can overstretch, being prone to tearing as well.
With limited size options, getting your glove fit is pretty easy to guess correctly if you’ve worn any type of sized work gloves before.
Flexibility
The elasticity of the glove material (combined with how thick they are) results in the gloves’ flexibility. A flexible glove offers a better tactile feel and comfort, and it can be more forgiving if you are using a smaller size.
Durability
While nitrile gloves have proven to be the most durable disposable gloves on numerous fronts, the specific brand and type of glove also affect durability. Double layers and thicker materials are typically used by brands to provide more durability in a wider range of situations.
The Curad’s double layer particularly impressed. It did not just improve stretch and durability, but it also helped functionality since the green layer was smooth and the white layer was slightly texturized.
Who Needs Nitrile Gloves?
Everyone can use nitrile gloves since they are useful for all sorts of things, from first aid to food prep. Keeping your hands protected from chemicals and contamination will always be important.
They could fit into a wide variety of prepping categories, including first aid, hygiene, and sanitation. We ended up putting them in the ‘Protection’ category, where the other PPE gear has a home. We consider them an auto-include in a variety of kits.
You’ll find nitrile gloves as an essential item in:
If you end up with extras, you’ll always find a use for them around the house or in the garage.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best nitrile gloves is useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Rego, A., et al. (1999). In-use barrier integrity of gloves: Latex and nitrile superior to vinyl. American Journal of Infection Control. Volume 27. Issue 5. Pages 405 – 410. (Source)
Patel, H., et al. (2004). Puncture resistance and stiffness of nitrile and latex dental examination gloves. British Dental Journal. Volume 196. Pages 695 – 700. (Source)
Yew, G., et al. (2019). Emerging crosslinking techniques for glove manufacturers with improved nitrile glove properties and reduced allergic risks. Materials Today Communications. Volume 19. Pages 39 – 50. (Source)
Conclusion
Nitrile gloves are an often-overlooked part of preparedness and first aid kits. They aren’t flashy, but they get the job done, as long as you have some that will keep up.
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