Knitted and Dipped Are Two Stages, Not Opposites
The terms "knitted" and "dipped" describe two stages of the same manufacturing process rather than two competing products. A knitted glove is the seamless liner knitted from yarn - cotton, nylon, polyester or HPPE. A dipped glove is that same liner with a coating applied over the palm and fingers. Most work gloves are both knitted and dipped, so the question is not which one to buy but what liner and coating combination fits the task.
Understanding this clarifies the whole glove category. You choose a liner for comfort, cut resistance and dexterity, then choose a coating for grip, oil resistance and durability.
What Gauge Means for Dexterity
Gauge measures the knitting density - the number of needles per inch on the knitting machine. It ranges roughly from 7-gauge (coarse, thick, durable) to 18-gauge (fine, thin, dexterous).
| Gauge | Characteristics | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 7-10 gauge | Coarse, thick, durable | Heavy handling, cold work |
| 13 gauge | Balanced, comfortable | General handling |
| 15-18 gauge | Fine, thin, dexterous | Precision, electronics |
Lower gauge gloves are thicker and more durable but less dexterous; higher gauge gloves are thinner and more sensitive but less durable. The right gauge balances protection against the precision the task requires.
How the Coating Defines the Glove
The coating is what turns a knitted liner into a task-specific glove. PU offers the best dexterity and dry grip, nitrile offers oil and chemical resistance, latex offers wet grip and elasticity, and PVC offers low-cost grip and abrasion. The coating can cover just the palm (palm-coated) or the whole glove (fully coated), depending on the protection needed.
For most work, a palm-coated glove is the right balance - protection and grip where it is needed, with the breathability and comfort of the exposed liner on the back of the hand.
Choosing Liner and Coating Together
- General handling - 13-gauge nylon liner with PU or nitrile palm coating.
- Precision work - 15 to 18-gauge liner with PU coating.
- Oily work - 13-gauge liner with nitrile foam coating.
- Cut-risk work - 13-gauge HPPE liner with PU or nitrile coating.
- Heavy or cold work - 7 to 10-gauge liner, often with full coating.
The combination of liner and coating is what determines the glove's personality. A 13-gauge HPPE liner with PU coating is a precision cut-resistant glove; the same liner with nitrile foam is an oily-environment cut glove.
How Expedition Safety Builds the Right Combination
Expedition Safety produces knitted liners in multiple gauges and applies PU, nitrile, latex and PVC coatings to build a full range of task-specific gloves. We help distributors choose the right liner-and-coating combination for each customer, so they stock a coherent range that covers precision, general, oily and cut-risk work from one certified factory.
Reading a Glove Specification
A work glove is really two decisions: the liner and the coating. The liner spec tells you the yarn and gauge, which determine comfort, cut resistance and dexterity. The coating spec tells you the compound (PU, nitrile, latex, PVC) and coverage (palm or full), which determine grip and protection. Reading both together is how you understand what a glove actually is, beyond its photo.
When you can read a glove spec fluently, you can compare gloves across suppliers on equal terms and explain to a customer exactly why one glove suits their task better than another.
Proven Liner-and-Coating Combinations
- 13-gauge nylon + PU palm - the general handling workhorse.
- 13-gauge HPPE + nitrile foam - cut protection in oily environments.
- 15-18 gauge + PU - precision and electronics.
- 7-10 gauge + full coating - heavy, cold or wet work.
These combinations cover most industrial demand, and stocking them from one factory keeps your range coherent and your freight efficient.
Build the Right Glove Range
Tell us your customers' tasks, and we will recommend the right liner and coating combinations.
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