Latex or Nitrile: Finding the Glove That Fits the Job

By Aimee. Posted on September 24, 2020

Why the need for disposable gloves?

Whether it’s prepping food in the kitchen, wrenching bolts in an auto shop, or handing sensitive chemicals in a lab, proper hand protection plays a critical role in job effectiveness as well as workplace health and safety . As such, for many industries, disposable gloves have become an essential item in any worker’s tool kit.

With the current ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the number of industries that now require hand protection for workers have substantially increased even further. Disposable gloves are now also seeing more widespread use by the general public in day to day interactions as well, as people look for protection to shield themselves and their families from the threat of Covid-19.

Fortunately for consumers, there are currently many types of disposable gloves available to choose from when looking for gloves. Conversely, the wide range of different glove types can be intimidating for the uninitiated. Modern disposable gloves are made from a number of different material types. The two most well known and most commonly used material types are latex and nitrile. Yet, what is the difference between these two kinds of gloves? Better yet, does the difference really matter when choosing gloves?

In this guide, we take a more in depth look at these two different material types. We will also look at how these differences in material affect glove performance. With this information, we hope to provide you all you need to know for you to choose the right gloves for your needs.

Latex Gloves

Among the different types of disposable and medical gloves on the market, latex is the oldest and most used common type on the market. Latex is derived from natural rubber. Latex gloves were first developed in 1894 by Dr. Halstead William Stewart Halsted, the first surgeon in chief of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, to protect his staff from surgical chemicals. Since then latex has the industry standard for disposable gloves, particularly within the medical field.

Latex gloves have many benefits. Since they are made of natural rubber, latex gloves are biodegradable. They are also more comfortable than other types of disposable gloves. Latex gloves are also more form-fitting to one’s hands, giving latex its distinctive “second skin” feeling. Moreover, this form-fitting factor also means that latex gloves are very flexible while still allowing for good touch sensitivity. Touch sensitivity is an important factor for fields that require precise hands-on work.

On the other hand (no pun intended), latex gloves have certain drawbacks to consider. While they are great at protecting hands from dirt and most general contaminants up to body fluids, latex gloves offer less protection against petroleum products and other chemical solvents. The biggest drawback of latex gloves however, is their likelihood to cause an allergic reaction for those with latex allergies. In fact, the risk of reactions for people with latex allergies has led to latex being gradually phased out for other alternative types of disposable gloves, particularly nitrile based ones.

Nitrile Gloves

Compared to latex, nitrile rubber is the new kid on the block. Nitrile was developed as an alternative to latex meant to address some of latex’s drawbacks. For starters nitrile is made of a synthetic rubber, reducing the risk of allergic reactions and making them more suitable for those with a latex allergy. Furthermore, nitrile gloves are more resistant to punctures and chemicals that would otherwise destroy latex gloves. When they do tear, nitrile gloves tear in a manner that is easier to tell than latex gloves.

On the flip side, nitrile gloves are typically stiffer than latex ones. This means that while they are more durable, they suffer from less dexterity. Nitrile gloves are also not biodegradable as they are not natural rubber based. The biggest drawback to nitrile gloves compared to latex is their cost. Nitrile gloves are more expensive to produce than latex ones, although over time this price gap has gotten smaller thanks to advances in nitrile manufacturing processes.

Which Glove is the Right Glove for Me?

Let’s recap what we know about these two material types for disposable gloves:

Latex is more form fitting, has better dexterity, better touch sensitivity, and is biodegradable. However, latex has a greater risk of causing an allergic reaction for certain users and is not chemical resistant as nitrile.

Nitrile is more durable than latex, and is more resistant to chemicals and tears. Nitrile also poses a smaller risk of allergic reactions as it is made of synthetic rubber. However, nitrile gloves are stiffer and less flexible than latex gloves while being more expensive.

Now comes the million dollar question: Which glove is the right one for me? The answer: It depends on what you plan on doing with the gloves! If you plan on doing light to moderate duty work that does not involve heavy use of chemicals, and you do not have a latex allergy, you might consider latex gloves. On the other hand if you have a latex allergy, intend on doing heavier duty work that might include the use of chemicals, or if you simply prefer a thicker more durable glove in general, then nitrile may be the choice for you.

Let’s Get Shopping

Now that you are versed in the different types of disposable gloves, click here to begin shopping through our wide selection of nitrile and latex gloves for the right pair for you!