They say the clothes make the man (or, woman). In residential and commercial construction some clothing isn’t optional…Wait, that didn’t come out right. Some clothing is required—for regulations, for OSHA, or simply just because they will make your work easier and more enjoyably safe. We wanted to award the companies that make outstanding gloves, jackets and more—clothing that makes our job safer and easier. This is a growth area for Pro Tool Reviews, so look for more clothing reviews this year as we seek to balance out our tool reviews with the important clothing and work wear that keep our tradesmen comfortable and safe as they work.
Awards for Clothing and Work Wear
Winner: Clothing—Gloves, Cut-resistant
Ansell HyFlex 11-515 ANSI Level 4 Cut Protection Gloves
What they say: HyFlex 11-515 gloves offer a combination of cut protection and high visibility. An orange foam nitrile coated palm provides superior grip, tactility and assurance with high visibility in low-light situations, and an exclusive liner made with Hi-Viz™ DuPont™ Kevlar ® Stretch Armor yarn offers ANSI Level 4 cut protection. Additionally, Ansell proprietary INTERCEPT Technology® yarn creates improved fit and greater comfort.
What we say: If you work with glass or sheet metal, you really want these gloves. The colors may look bright, but they offer excellent contrast from the workpieces and will be easier to see in just about any lighting condition. The ANSI Level 4 rating also means that you need to apply well over three pounds of force to cut through these gloves with a straight blade.
Winner: Clothing—Gloves, Padded
Ansell ActivArmr Medium Duty Multipurpose Gloves (97-008)
What they say: ActivArmr® 97-008 Medium Duty Multipurpose gloves are engineered to meet the wide range of needs in the construction and contracting/maintenance industries. ActivArmr Medium Duty Multipurpose gloves feature reinforced ridges for palm protection, an adjustable wrist closure with pull tab and ID nameplate, and extra protection and durability across stress areas with DuPont™ Kevlar ® fibers. These gloves stand up to harsh abrasions and cuts while delivering dexterity and precision.
What we say: What you get for the price of these gloves is absolutely phenomenal. They are comfortable, virtually-cut-proof for normal tasks, and they offer a decent amount of dexterity and movement. Compared to most other work gloves on the market, we have found the Kevlar-impregnated Ansell products to be among the most usable in real-world job site applications. The ActivArmr series in particular is one of their most value-oriented durable gloves and, well, we love what we see.
Winner: Clothing—Gloves, Safety
HyFlex 11-518 Ultra Lightweight Duty Cut Resistant glove
What they say: The HyFlex® 11-518 gloves are a first-to-market ultralight cut resistant glove. A light duty 18 gauge liner provides barehand-like dexterity combined with superior ANSI Level 2 cut protection. The HyFlex 11-518 also provides ANSI Level 3 abrasion protection, a thin, tough coating for high tactility and long glove life and a D3 Pinky tailored to match natural hand contours.
What we say: The reason we like the HyFlex 11-518 gloves is because they are extremely lightweight and offer a ton of dexterity while providing some basic safety for your hands. Level 2 cut protection with this lightweight design is a big deal and I think these gloves will be popular for those working with their hands.
Winner: Clothing—Jackets
Milwaukee M12™ Cordless Red Heated Hoodie Kit
What they say: With the versatility to provide warmth on and off the jobsite during fall, winter and spring months, the new M12™ Heated Hoodies will be available in Red (2370 & 2371), Gray (2372 & 2373), Khaki (2374 & 2375) and High Visibility (2376 & 2377). Fully machine washable and dryable, the M12™ Heated Hoodies are made from a thick cotton blend that is built to withstand the toughest job site wear and tear.
What we say: We’re starting to see a lot of heated jacket products hit the market, but while everyone else is playing catch-up, Milwaukee is bringing it home with the M12 heated hoodie. It’s got a polyester thermal liner and it’s super comfortable. And the fact that it’s machine washable? Awesome.
Winner: Clothing—Jackets, High Visibility
Milwaukee M12™ Cordless High Visibility Heated Jacket
What they say: With an ANSI Class III certification, the M12™ Cordless High Visibility Heated Jacket meets or exceeds all job site and roadside construction standards to ensure user safety. Features such as a zip-in removable hood and a hidden inside pocket to facilitate custom embroidery maximize versatility for individual users and construction companies alike.
What we say: Having seen the M12 heated jackets from Milwaukee and then the new heated hoodies, it was really great to see them handle the ANSI Class III needs of construction workers. On top of that, the ability to embroider your company logo on the back makes it just that much more appealing for those looking to ramp up their compliancy workwear.
