Latex or vinyl? Gloves, that is.

[northwind]

So... I've started wearing gloves more and more when working on the bike- partly to keep my hands clean, partly to stop carrying mud and cack from one part onto another, and onto tools, and door handles, and generally all over everything. Never used to, but they're great. I've tried vinyl and latex, both seem to have their advantages and disadvantages- latex is sometimes a little restrictive and can be very sweaty, and powderless gloves are a pain to get on (I use powderless as, well, I don't want to get talcum powder in my engine!) but they have really good feel and grip. Vinyl I think is easier to get on with but things feel a bit odd through them, not hard to pick stuff up etc but I think they're a bit more intrusive.

So... I just wondered what other people use? I'm fed up buying boxes for £7 from Halfords and B&Q when they can be had for peanuts from suppliers so I figure I might as well get a big box now...

I got a box of 100 pairs of latex ones for £2 from our local Friday market.

Seems to do the job, no talc or anything. Give it a go, if you've got one?

(I'd recommend not following my path and buying an assortment of phallic fresh veg and some WD40 at the same time though, that just looks odd by anyones standards.)

[tigersaw]

Neither - use Nitrile.
I suffer from dermatitis (though now under control) so have been using gloves for a long time, I get them provided by work and I buy them by the 1000 for home, (though I'm only on my second batch).
I was advised against latex by the hospital, told me they are not good for your hands in prolongued contact. I also have vinyl for quick 5 minute jobs, but the problem with them is that they don't fit snug, no elasticity.

I'd advise everyone to wear gloves when working with oily stuff, my dermatitis became so chronic I could not work, had to have hospital treatment and probably will be applying pescription creams to my hands for the rest of my days.

[northwind]

Ah, thanks Tigersaw, much appreciated. To be honest it's the non-snug-ness of the vinyl ones I quite like, but it does have its disadvantages. I might get a box to try out, never used those before...

I believe Nitrile are the best for working on bikes/cars

Quite honestly, this is the first box I saw, and have bought.

They do the job quite fine. But, things always do until you find something better.

[rictus01]

Blue food handler one's from mackro, cheap and work well, think they are vinyl, but not sure.

Cheers Mark.

I use powderless latex, and it does get sweaty... to get them off and reuse them for quick jobs I blow them up and whip my hand out quick, works a treat. Plus I get them free off my brother....

I use the powderless latex ones too. I suffer with a form of eczema on my hands and so far have had no problems using them. They're pretty good in terms of tactility (is that even a word? ) when working on stuff too, and I have no problems getting them on / off.

[Stu]

Are the Petrol statioon ones for diesel Vinyl then?