When a buyer sends us a glove spec, the leather choice is usually the biggest lever on both cost and performance. Each hide has a personality. Here's the quick guide we walk buyers through.
Grain vs split — the first decision
Every hide can be used two ways. Grain leather is the smooth outer layer — stronger, smoother, more abrasion- and water-resistant, better for dexterity. Split leather is the fibrous inner layer left after the grain is removed — cheaper, more breathable, and naturally more heat-tolerant, which is why it dominates welding cuffs. Many gloves combine both: grain palm for grip and feel, split back and cuff for protection and cost.
Cowhide — the all-rounder
The workhorse. Cow grain gives a good balance of strength, comfort and price; cow split is the standard for welding gauntlets and rigger gloves. Tough, widely available, and easy to brand. If you're not sure where to start, cowhide usually is the answer. See our working glove range and welding range.
Goatskin — strength meets dexterity
Goatskin punches above its weight. It has natural lanolin, so it stays soft, and its tight fibre structure makes it unusually strong and tear-resistant for its thinness — which means high dexterity. It's the go-to for TIG welding and precision assembly where the wearer needs to feel the work. More expensive than cow, worth it where touch matters.
Buffalo — heat and abrasion
Buffalo hide is thick, dense and naturally heat- and abrasion-resistant, with a distinctive grain. It's a premium choice for heavy welding and foundry work where durability outranks finesse. Our combination welding gloves use buffalo and cow-split construction for exactly this.
Sheep / lambskin — softness and feel
Sheepskin is the softest and most supple, giving excellent fingertip sensitivity and comfort — ideal for driver gloves, assembly and inspection work. It's less abrasion-resistant than cow or buffalo, so it's chosen where comfort and dexterity beat raw toughness. See our assembly glove range.
Quick reference
| Leather | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Cowhide | General work, welding, value | Middle of the road on everything |
| Goatskin | TIG welding, precision, dexterity | Higher cost |
| Buffalo | Heavy welding, heat, abrasion | Less dexterous, premium |
| Sheep/lamb | Driver, assembly, comfort | Lower abrasion resistance |
Need this built to your spec?
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