Looking for Recommondations on Firefighter Gloves. The ones issued by my dept. are like first-basemens gloves. I've been browsing online at Protech-8's, Chiba, Fireground Commander, and so on.....Looking for some good one guys......Which do you prefer?
Well I'm sure noone would probably agree with me, but I've had a pair of Shelby FDP's that I wouldn't trade for anything out there. They just hit 3 years old back in march and they've been with me through thick and thin. Nice bang for a decent price if you want my opinion. I think theyre about 40 clams on state contract in MS.
I have a set of protech8's on my gear right now. They are probably the nicest gloves I have ever worn. My chief picked up a pair of Blaze Fighters at FDIC... so far he loves em. You can find those at thefirestore.com (glove corporation).
I currently have ProTech 8's been in service for about 1 year now, no problems and really like the dexterity.
Eska's seem to be the new hotness in gloves, not quite the dexterity of the Protech 8's and the cheapest I could find them was $110.
Firemans shield Alpha's are rumored to be a very well built glove, and at $55 per pair a good value.
That being said, I am rotating my current ProTech 8's to back up, the new set I have on order and due in about a week is the Pro Tech 8 Titan's. Cost - $70
I would say the Protech 8's are the way to go. I have had them for over a year now and have good luck with them. The thing that I like about them is that when they are wet and you pull your hand out the lining doesn't pull out with it because the fingertips are sewn into the glove. The dexterity is great also.
To answer the question though, My department issues every member with the same type of gloves from fierra fire apparatus. They are cheap but they work fine when they wear out we turn them in and get a new pair same way with nomex hoods. When I first started I bought my own gloves and hoods but now that I have a family I let the department purchase them. A member of our department can buy gloves and hoods for themselves but it's discouraged.
I use the Chiba's, the are good, the only down side would be they are a little narrow at the wrist, but the protection is very good along with the dexterity.
My back up pair are kangaroo skinned purple/blue ones. They are very comfortable, and cheap. The only down side is they can get the cruchies, if they get soaked and aren't dried correctly.
I like the Protech 8. They are a tad hard to get back on when your hands are sweaty or wet but all gloves that fit well are like that. mine are about two years old and just started to wear through the finger tips.