What is a Hybrid Glove?

Sometimes, you need gloves that are sturdy. Other times, you need gloves that are flexible. And you need gloves that are comfortable every time. 

What if you didn’t have to choose? 

Rather than choosing between the classic nitrile, vinyl, and latex, it’s now possible to stock up on hybrid gloves. Here’s why your team might consider them

What is a Hybrid Glove?

A hybrid glove is any type of glove combining various common glove materials, such as nitrile, vinyl, and latex. This usually consists of a majority of one material with a smaller percentage of another. 

By making gloves this way, manufacturers are able to deliver the best features of a certain material while mitigating some of the downsides. For example, nitrile is highly durable, but this durability can also make nitrile gloves uncomfortable. A manufacturer might create a hybrid nitrile glove to reintroduce comfortable stretchiness that wearers want, something that more closely resembles the flexibility of, say, a latex glove. 

This can allow the manufacturer to provide more flexibility in a nitrile glove without compromising on other features to get there, like the thickness of the glove. This allows the glove to keep most of its puncture resistance while making it more comfortable for the wearer. 

Why Would You Choose Hybrid Gloves?

You know those times when you need a glove to do more than one thing? Hybrid gloves are a great candidate. 

Unlike a regular set of nitrile, vinyl, or latex gloves, hybrid gloves can give you many of the benefits of the component materials. That gives you a glove that’s altogether more functional, more comfortable, and better to use. 

When Would You Need a Hybrid Glove?

Not everyone needs hybrid gloves--it depends on what you need the glove to do. If you’re doing heavy industrial work, for example, you need a glove that’s durable first, and nitrile gloves are your safest bet. On the other hand, if you’re in the food industry and frequently take gloves on and off, you need the ease and economic benefit of a good old fashioned vinyl glove. 

However, in cases where you need your gloves to do a little bit of everything, a hybrid glove is a good choice. For example, if you’re a doctor, you might need durability for handling medical instruments along with the flexibility to handle those instruments with precision. The same thing goes for tattoo artists. 

Before you buy hybrid gloves, think about what qualities are most important for you in a glove. That will ensure you choose the perfect glove for the job, whether it’s a hybrid glove or a specific material. 

How to Choose the Perfect Hybrid Glove

If you think hybrid gloves are the right choice for your team, you need to think about two things: purpose and fit. 

The job your glove is used for is the first deciding factor in material, and that applies to hybrid gloves too. Some jobs need sturdiness. Some need chemical resistance. Some just need a basic sanitary layer. Different materials (and different hybrids of materials) will give you different benefits for a given job, so think about the job in question. 

You also need to consider how the gloves fit. This is directly related to the material and their relative usefulness for a given task. 

Vinyl, for example, tends to fit looser than other materials, so it’s easy to take on and off, but it’s not terribly sturdy. This makes vinyl and vinyl hybrids a good choice for industries that have a lot of glove turnover without the need for major protection, like the food industry. 

On the other hand, if you’re a healthcare professional, you need a glove that fits snugly so that you don’t sacrifice dexterity. 

Things to Consider with Hybrid Gloves

Always pay attention to the combination of materials you’re using. Remember, hybrid gloves bring the best and worst qualities of their component parts, depending on the components and percentage of each material. 

For example, any glove that contains latex, including a hybrid glove, is not an allergen-friendly glove. You have to worry about allergic skin reactions as soon as latex comes into the picture. 

With vinyl, the material is comfortable but not all that puncture-resistant. Depending on what they’re mixed with, a glove that’s partially vinyl may not be as durable. 

Nitrile offers impressive durability--after all, it’s made of rubber. However, nitrile’s durability comes with a trade-off for comfort and flexibility. 

If in doubt, ask your team. Figure out what’s most important to them in a glove and use that to dictate your buying decisions. 

Find the Perfect Hybrid Gloves for Your Whole Team

Whether you need hybrid gloves, nitrile gloves, latex gloves, or vinyl gloves, we have the gloves your whole team can count on to get the job done. When essential workers across the country need great gloves, they turn to us--including industry leaders like Johns Hopkins Hospital.