It wasn’t long after I sent one of the PTR staff a picture of a big splinter under my fingernail that he brought me a fine pair of Klein Tools Journeyman Leather Utility Gloves. I don’t think he was concerned about me so much as he wanted to avoid receiving more disturbing pictures. In any event, it’s remarkable that those of us who make a living building, installing, and creating don’t take better care of our hands. I suppose we think that a few years of wear and tear make them resistant to pain. That’s true to a certain extent but we still need to take care of things that take care of us, so I pulled on the Journeyman Gloves and got to work.
First Impressions
The Journeyman is a sharp-looking, brown color-schemed glove with an open cuff, Durahide palm, and leather index and middle fingers. They just look like great work gloves.
A few sections of the back are made of an elastic material that makes the gloves easy to get on and off. It was readily apparent when I tried the gloves on why this stretchable element is needed – the snug fit. In fact, some reviewers claimed that the gloves run a size small.
I don’t think that’s the case so much as the multi-purpose Journeyman are meant to protect their inhabitants while also allowing a maximum amount of dexterity. We’ve all had those gloves that fit so loosely that we can only grasp large objects and end up taking the gloves off – and exposing our hands – to do small and medium tasks. A snug fit allows you to perform finer work, so I didn’t let that dissuade me from using the gloves.
I Believe In A Thing Called Glove
There’s no shortage of hand-unfriendly sharp points and edges on the jobsite in the form of wire, can edges, and just about everything else. But lately, as I’ve installed an 800 amp meter bank in a long-neglected building going through a total refurbishment, it’s been the old rafters that have had my number. I suppose there’s sometimes a fine line between being tough and being downright stupid, so although my hands could probably take the punishment, I thought that I could work more efficiently if I wasn’t preoccupied with the big splinters and other dangers.
Almost immediately, the Klein Tools Journeyman Leather Utility Gloves showed themselves to strike the right balance between protective capability and dexterity. You still need to be able to feel your work even when you’re safeguarded from its hazards. While wearing the Journeyman, I was able to ream and run conduit, cut wire, pull big 500s and 600s, and many more tasks. The gloves were absolutely great for this work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hit the sharp edge of the can, got a splinter under a nail, or been poked in the palm with wire – it’s terrible, quite frankly. With these gloves, I was able to work without the mental impediment of impending pain!
The Bottom Line
The Klein Tools Journeyman Leather Utility Gloves are the perfect work glove for all but the finest of tasks when it comes to standard work for electricians. The snug fit is a benefit of the Journeyman. I still can’t wear any type of glove to splice wires or twist wire nuts but then again, those aren’t the places where the danger of injury lurks. For medium to big work, and even some smaller work, these are the gloves to wear.
These aren’t linesman gloves, though, and don’t carry as much protection as some of the heavier duty gloves out there. They’re best suited for work where you’re concerned about splinters and pokes. There’s some cut resistance here, but not the kind of protection you’ll want when working around heavy machinery.
I can easily recommend these gloves to fellow electricians and really any tradesman who needs to protect his hands without compromising dexterity. They handily beat any other glove I’ve worn. At just $25, you’ll have durable protection for a long time. Just keep in mind that gloves are consumables, so expect them to wear out over time.
Klein Tools Journeyman Leather Utility Gloves Features
- Durable and comfortable
- Open cuff for quick on/off
- Durahide palm and leather first fingers for durability
- Stretch back for extra comfort and flexibility
Klein Tools Journeyman Leather Utility Gloves Specifications
- Item number: Klein 40228 (Size XL reviewed) Klein 40226 – (Size M)
- Klein 40227 – (Size L)
- Weight: 0.10 lbs
- Application: Multi-purpose
- Color: Brown
- Contains Latex: No
- Gender: Unisex
- Glove Type: Utility
- Heat Resistant: No
- Insulated: No
- Kevlar Stitching: No
- Knuckle Strap Protection: No
- Leather Palm: Yes
- Machine Washable: No
- Material: Leather
- Non-Slip Grip: Yes
- Reflective: No
- Reinforced Palm/Palm Pad: No
- Safety Cuff: No
- Sub Brand: Journeyman
- Thumb Patch: No
- Type: Utility
- Price: $25.00
