Gloves are an absolute must for anyone with cannabis, as many biological and chemical hazards are present in the industry. Proper PPE will protect against biological threats, like mold, and chemical dangers, like pesticides.
Employees working in the cultivation facility or trimming room may especially be at risk of mold exposure. Gloves protect the skin, while other PPE measures, like respiratory protection, can prevent throat irritation and nasal congestion.
It’s important to choose the right gloves to maintain the purity of your cannabis products while avoiding potential cross-contamination.
Keep reading to find the best gloves for trimming cannabis and learn what factors you should consider while shopping.
What to Look For When Choosing Gloves for Trimming Cannabis
Thickness
The biggest factor in determining how durable a disposable glove is its thickness. That said, thicker doesn’t necessarily mean better, as poor-quality gloves can be made with fillers that increase their thickness but make them less elastic.
Generally speaking, we recommend gloves thicker than 4.0 millimeters for good abrasion and cut resistance for your trimming cannabis tasks.
Ingredient Quality
When considering the thickness of your gloves, you’ll also need to look at the quality of the ingredients. Poor or cheap ingredients can introduce unwanted bacterial contamination to your cannabis products. They may also produce high chemical toxicity that can migrate to your products.
Glove Grade
Gloves are categorized as industrial or medical grade.
The industrial grade will provide protection from hazards like oils and chemicals but is not designed for use in medical settings with patient contact. There is room for interpretation with industrial-grade gloves as some go through food-grade testing and others do not.
Medical-grade gloves are subject to a battery of FDA-mandated testing to ensure they meet all the necessary safety standards. For example, they must be powder-free, resistant to leaks and tears, and biocompatible.
Medical or food-grade gloves are both acceptable for harvesting cannabis, though medical-grade can provide extra peace of mind.
Size
It’s not a terrible idea to buy gloves in various sizes to ensure every employee finds a comfortable fit.
Stretching out a glove that is too small can thin out the material, making it more susceptible to permeation and punctures. Small gloves can also cause hand fatigue and skin irritation from friction.
Gloves that are too big will reduce dexterity and increase the risk of accidents. In addition, they may slip off during the workday, and undetectable tears can form in the excess material.
Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are, by far, the best glove to use in the weed industry.
Nitrile is the strongest material in the glove market, with great tensile strength and excellent puncture resistance. They are form-fitting and available in powder-free styles for people with allergies. In addition, Nitrile gloves are latex-free, making them a perfect pick for people with latex sensitivities.
Let’s look closely at some of your best nitrile glove options.
1. Black Rhino Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves
The Black Rhino gloves, at 6.0 mils in thickness, are thick enough to ensure good abrasion and cut resistance for your employees in the cannabis industry.
These gloves are powder-free and 100% free of latex. In addition, they are textured to make gripping your cutting tools easier and form-fitting to help you feel like you’re not wearing gloves.
These are not medical-grade but are still worth considering in the THC and CBD industry.
2. Black Widow Powder Free Nitrile Medical Exam Gloves
These Black Widow gloves are a medical-grade and 100% latex-free option. They’re thicker than the average glove at 5.0 mils, making them great for people working with sharp tools. They are textured for confident gripping and ambidextrous.
These are one of the thickest and most durable medical nitrile gloves on the market. They are similar to the Black Rhino option above but are a bit more versatile since they’re medical grade.
3. Grape Grip Powder Free Nitrile Exam Gloves
The Grape Grip gloves are not as thick as the previous two, but because they’re accelerator-free, they’re better for people with skin allergies. In addition, they have a much lower risk of irritating sensitive skin and can be more durable than other traditional nitrole gloves.
These gloves are exam-grade and chemical-resistant. They’re powder-free and latex-free, so they might be one of the best options for people with skin sensitivities.
4. Nitra-Med Heavy Powder Free Nitrile Exam Gloves
The Nitra-Med gloves are powder-free, medical-grade gloves with a 4.7 mil thickness. They are FDA-accepted for food contact and are form-fitting for a comfortable fit. Their textured grip makes grasping your tools easy.
These gloves are great against almost all applications, making them a great all-around glove to have at your disposal.
Latex Gloves
Latex gloves can provide great protection for people looking for gloves for trimming cannabis. However, they don’t have as much tactile feedback as nitrile options. This material may be an issue if someone in your workforce has latex allergies.
That said, let’s look closer at some of the best latex options on the market.
1. Ultra-Flex Powder Free Latex Exam Gloves
The Ultra-Flex gloves have a beaded cuff, so they’re form-fitting for a comfortable fit. They are textured for confident gripping and are powder-free and medical-grade. At 5.0 mils thick, these gloves provide the thickness necessary to ensure puncture-, tear-, and contamination-free cannabis cultivation.
2. Apollo Powder Free Latex Gloves
The Apollo latex gloves are slightly less thick than the Ultra-Flex option above, but they offer the same beaded cuff and flexibility for comfort. They are cut and puncture resistant and can hold up well against some chemicals you may come into contact with in the cannabis industry.
Not All Gloves Are Created Equal
As an employee or employer in the cannabis industry, you need to invest in high-quality PPE. Whether you’re working as an extraction technician or are responsible for trimming cannabis, the right gloves will protect you from the on-job hazards.
Nitrile gloves are the clear winner, though latex is still a viable option, provided no one in the production line has allergies.
