StoneBreaker Work Gloves | Review
Work Gloves for Every Job
Why StoneBreaker?
I saw a commercial the other day where a guy was riding his lawn tractor and wearing long sleeves, eye protection and gloves. Really? Manufacturers are required to have anyone demonstrating their products wear the full regalia but, seriously, who dons all of that to cut the grass. Don’t get me wrong, PPE is important.
The main reason most folks don’t wear PPE is because it is cumbersome. Many companies have endeavored to overcome this obstacle; one company that has succeeded is StoneBreaker who makes gloves that are, “Fit to Work” and “All Grip. No Slip”. They offer 13 different kinds of gloves grouped by Trades, Classics, Yard, Auto and Garden.
Overall Features
All of the products boast:
- Patent pending construction that gives a snug fit that improves dexterity and holds its shape
- High-quality leathers and breathable synthetics deliver real protection, all-day comfort and longer glove life
- Double stitched seams to protect against rips and tears
- 20% stronger thread to withstand tough use
- Extra padding is needed the most for serious, targeted protection without the bulk
- Extended cuffs, superior Velcro closures, or both, giving added coverage and seal
Machine Washable
A couple of the gloves are machine washable – Kickdown, Nailbender.
The folks at StoneBreaker were kind enough to send me eight pairs of gloves. I don’t have the space and you probably don’t have the patience to read about all of the nuances so, here are my, and other professionals impressions.
Let’s start with the brand promise of “Fit to Work”. They have size chart of their site where you print out the chart and match against your hand. If you are between two different sizes, they recommend the smaller one. As I was going to be having others review as well, I opted for the larger size.
I spent half of a day with a landscape crew that put the gloves to the test. Since I only had one pair of each style we tried out a few types that might not be designed specifically for the application but, no one seemed to mind. They tried out the Demo, Landscape Pro, Horseman and Rancher.
The crew was installing large boulders for a hardscape edge surrounding a patio; they had to trench it out with shovels, spud bars and hatchets. They all reported a good grip, increased comfort and decreased impact on their hands; this was more evident when using the front loader to haul the rocks to the site.
One issue was with the Horseman was the cinch strap. Once it was tightened so that dirt and debris doesn’t get in, it did pose a safety issue as it could get hung up on machinery. The added padding came into play as they were wedging smaller rocks underneath to level the tops and more than once the ground gave out and the rock came down on their hands. No injuries occurred.
It was in the mid-40’s so, breathability wasn’t much of an issue but, warmth was. Even during breaks they kept the gloves on.
Here are the specs:
Landscape Pro: $27.99
Rugged cowhide palm with reinforcing leather patches is surrounded by a breathable shell that combines to provide extra protection and comfort where it is needed. It also features a hex nut reinforced hole/grommet that is designed to solve the problem of the disappearing glove due to separation, falling out of a pocket, etc. You can hang them together easily or use a carabineer to clip them to your belt loops, tool box, etc.
The Horseman: $27.99
The highest quality North American deer skin to maximize fit and protection while making them very comfortable pair.
The Rancher: $24.99
Cowhide to maximize protection and durability while giving you the comfort of deer skin.
The Demo: $27.49
Split cowhide shell, seamless shock-absorbing padding, and reinforcing leather patches all provide extra protection for serious, targeted protection.
My Pick: MasterSmith
With the pick of the litter, I gravitated towards the MasterSmith. They provided the best fit and were the most comfortable while featuring multiple padding and added leather patches. The back is made of a breathable spandex that has two-way stretch qualities. This provides a "snap back" effect after you put it on and ultimately holds up better to day to day wear than some other choices (4 way stretch, etc.).
Installing continuous foam insulation in my basement rafters I was easily able to measure cut and nail the pieces up. Gloves, for that? Yes, the joists are original rough-hewn timbers from 1900 and, without the gloves, I got countless splinters and cuts from stray wires and nails.
Also, they were a welcome addition when using a pole saw. The repetitive rope pulling was less taxing on my hands and they provided a sure grip on the pole so there was less adjusting and it reduced fatigue.
MasterSmith: $32.49
Knuckle protection, Seamless Shock-Absorbing Padding, and Extra Leather patches provide advanced protection and comfort where your hands need it most for serious, targeted protection.
Overall, these are great gloves and thanks to the folks at StoneBreaker, I won’t be buying any gloves for a long time.
To purchase on Amazon.com: CLICK HERE
For more information from StoneBreaker: CLICK HERE
PRICES ARE VALID AT TIME OF POST.