Best Nitrile Gloves for Prepping

When it comes to prepping and 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 for preppers in various scenarios, from medical emergencies to handling potentially hazardous materials. Still, 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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Contents (Jump to a Section)

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Venom Steel has made a name for itself over the years, but its nitrile and latex gloves are products by Medline Industries, a large healthcare supplier here in the US. So, it’s not a startup that came out of the woodwork- these gloves are the premium product of tried-and-true healthcare gloves since 1966.

The double-layer design of the gloves really contributes to how well they work. They stretch easily and are tough to puncture, but show when they have a tear because the white inner layer will show instead of the black outer layer. You won’t see many of these tears but redundancies are always good.

Here is how they measure up:

• 100-pack
• 6 mil thickness
• Double-layer with white underlayer for easy breach identification

With a great price and unmatched versatility- it’s easy to see why the Venom Steel Industrial Nitrile Gloves are the best.

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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.

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.

Here is how the gloves measure up:

• 100-pack
• 3.5 mil thickness
• S-XL size options

If you are looking for an inexpensive solution that you can check the box with quickly, the MedPride Nitrile Exam Gloves is what you need.

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Thicker than the Venom Steel 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.

The textured grip is nice as well since you do sacrifice some tactile feel with the added thickness and protection of these gloves.

Here are the full details:

• 50-pack
• 8 mil thickness
• Diamond textured grip
• High-vis orange

If you are looking for the best of the best, get the Venom Steel Max Grip Nitrile Gloves.

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Everything We Recommend

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The Gloves We Compared

Our research narrowed the field down to several types and brands of gloves that we compared: MedPride, Venom Steel, Schneider, Defender, Inspire, Gloveworks, GripProtect, 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 narrowed it down to nitrile quickly. 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.

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 round and see if it will beat out our top picks.

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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 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.

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What to Look For

The best PPE gloves have several important features to look for:

1. Value
2. Tear Resistance
3. Comfort & Fit
4. Flexibility
5. 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 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 they 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.

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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.

For this reason, 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 and 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)

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The Final Word

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.

Here are a few other guides and reviews our subscribers have found helpful:

We presented quite a lot of information, but as always: if you have any questions let us know and we would be happy to help. Our research and testing found the Venom Steel Nitrile Gloves to be the best option given their value, tear resistance, comfort/fit, flexibility, and durability.

Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.

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