Wells Lamont Retail Group >> Glove Guide >> Leather Guide

Every type of leather has characteristics that make it better suited for different jobs.
Learn about each of our seven leather varieties (with 8x magnified photos) to help you
choose the right type of glove for your job.top

Grain Deerskin
Prized for its flexibility, softness and insulating ability, deerskin is surprisingly strong and moisture resistant. Because deer are not raised for commercial use, quality and consistency may vary.

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Split Deerskin
The most flexible of all work glove leathers, deersplit is not as widely available as grain because of the small hide size and the fact that deer raised in warm climates do not produce thick enough hides. Because it tends to be thinner, it is an excellent choice for insulated gloves.

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Grain Elkskin
Very similar to grain deerskin, elkskin can frequently have a distinctive “pebbled” appearance, characterized by small bumps on the surface. Elkskin can come in very thick hides, which increases its insulation effectiveness and wearability.

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Grain Cowhide
A good all-around work glove leather, grain cowhide is the most commonly used grain leather because of its broad availability. The side shown here reflects uniformity, both in color and surface – a hallmark of this leather.

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Grain Goatskin
Densely packed fibers allow this leather to be thin, while still retaining much of its strength. Since the hides can be very small, quality typically varies, as a single pair of gloves can contain side, shoulder and belly parts.

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Split Cowhide
The most used, cost effective and versatile of work glove leathers. The pearl side split shown here clearly shows high fiber density responsible for this leather’s high abrasion resistance and strength.

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Grain Pigskin
Pigskin is unmatched for its abrasion resistance, and breathability (note distinctive hair follicles that contribute to this). Tanned correctly, this leather is very flexible, as well as moisture and puncture resistant.

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Common Work Glove Leather Physical Performance Characteristics:table
Leather Type Abrasion
Resistance		 Puncture
Resistance		 Tensile
Strength		 Breathability Flexibility Tactile
Sensivity		 Insulation
Ability		 Mosture
Resistance		 Relative
Cost
Grain Pigskin Best High Good Best High High Low Best Low
Grain Cowhide High Best High Fair Good Good Good Fair Mid-range
Split Cowhide High Best High Fair Fair Fair Good Fair Low
Grain Deerskin Fair Fair Best Fair High High Best Better High
Split Deerskin Fair Fair Fair High Best Best Good Good Mid-range
Grain Goatskin High High High Fair High High Low Good Mid-range
Grain Elkskin Fair Fair High Fair High Good High Better High
Machine Washable Slightly Slightly Same Same More More Same Most High
Leather Less Less

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