Holding a small screw asks something different of your gloves than moving sheet material. And the same glove feels different outdoors in the cold than in a warm workshop. Milwaukee therefore offers several designs for grip, freedom of movement, cut protection and specific tasks, rather than one work glove for everything. Below, we match specific Milwaukee models to familiar tasks, explaining the differences you notice while working.
The Milwaukee work gloves collection also includes cut-resistant sleeves. For dry assembly work, for example, Hi-Dex Cut B is a logical starting point. Fully dipped Cut A comes into its own when handling wet, oily materials. The protection level required still depends on your work and the materials you handle.
From your task to a suitable glove
The models below have been selected using Milwaukee’s glove guide and product information. They give you a concrete starting point. Different gloves may be needed within the same trade: precision assembly in a dry workshop calls for something different from moving sharp or oily components.
| Your work | Suitable Milwaukee model | Why this model? |
|---|---|---|
| Assembling small components in a dry workshop | Hi-Dex Cut B | The thin 18-gauge knit and PU palm let you feel small screws and components. Hi-Dex Cut C or D offers the same fine construction with a different level of cut resistance. |
| Gripping rough materials and tools firmly during dry work | DemoX Work Gloves | ARMORTEX reinforcements on the palm and fingertips address wear during demanding use. For sharp sheet edges, a Cut E or High Cut F model is a more targeted choice. |
| Handling sharp metal components or sheet material | Cut E Gloves | The combination of cut resistance E and a double nitrile layer suits handling sharp objects. High Cut F is an alternative when cut resistance F is needed and you want a thin glove. |
| Gripping wet or oily materials | Fully Dipped Cut A Work Gloves | A smooth nitrile layer covers the whole hand; the extra foam nitrile layer on the palm and thumb provides grip. This model suits material handling in production, plumbing and transport, for example. |
| Making hands more visible during tasks such as wiring and pipework | Hi-Vis Cut C Gloves | The fluorescent material stands out while the thin PU palm stays flexible. Milwaukee lists applications including wire stripping and working on pipes. |
| Working outdoors in the cold while also needing cut protection | Winter Cut C Gloves | Insulation and a double latex coating over three-quarters of the glove combine warmth with grip and cut resistance C. Winter Demolition Gloves are another option for more palm padding. |
| Handling materials where the back of your hand or fingers may suffer impacts | Impact Pro Cut C Gloves | Impact-absorbing material on the back of the hand and fingers complements the cut protection. Impact Pro Cut E is the version for work that also requires higher cut resistance. |
| Holding tools when pressure on the palm feels uncomfortable | Pad Pro Work Gloves | Foam padding in the palm adds comfort during tool work. Pad Pro Cut D adds cut protection; the padding does not replace measures to control vibration. |
| Maintenance involving substances that require chemical protection | Chemical Gloves Grip | This is the long, 350 mm version with a double nitrile coating. Whether it suits a cleaner or another chemical depends on its tested resistance to that substance. |
| Fine maintenance work in a garage using a disposable glove | Nitrile Disposable Gloves Grip | The thin design with a diamond texture provides feel for small components and grip on greasy surfaces. Its chemical protection differs from that of the long Chemical Gloves Grip. |
| Working with a chainsaw | Chain Saw Gloves | This design was developed specifically for chainsaw protection. Ordinary Cut E and High Cut F gloves are not a substitute. |
Hi-Dex Cut B for precision assembly, C and D for different cut risks
With small fasteners, you want to feel what you are holding. Hi-Dex Cut B is a good first choice: its fine 18-gauge knit and thin PU palm keep the glove flexible. The reinforcement between the thumb and index finger helps where you often grip components.
If that same precise work also requires greater cut resistance, Hi-Dex Cut C and Hi-Dex Cut D are the corresponding alternatives. The difference here is not a completely different type of glove. You retain the fine construction but choose the cut resistance your work requires. For wet or oily materials, the nitrile-coated design below is a more practical starting point.
Cut E and High Cut F for sharp materials
For handling sharp metal components, Cut E Gloves are a specific model in the cut-resistant range. The double nitrile layer combines cut resistance with abrasion resistance and grip on oily surfaces. That is a different priority from the emphasis on fingertip sensitivity in Hi-Dex Cut B.
High Cut F, also called Hi-Dex cut F on the Milwaukee website, combines cut resistance F with a thin 18-gauge knit. This design is useful when you need high cut resistance while still being able to handle small components. Neither model makes sharp edges harmless. Where sheet material may also contact your forearms, Cut C or Cut E sleeves complement the gloves.
Cut A to F: cut resistance is one part of the choice
Under EN 388, the letter A to F indicates cut resistance according to the TDM test. F is the highest class within that test. This does not automatically make a Cut F glove the most comfortable choice for every task: grip, fit, cold and fingertip sensitivity remain important.
Milwaukee offers these different combinations across several families. The standard Cut gloves have a nitrile coating. Hi-Dex combines cut protection with a fine 18-gauge knit and PU coating. Impact Pro adds protection on the back of the hand and fingers. Looking only at the letter in a model name is therefore not enough to compare two gloves.
The other characters in EN 388 describe other tested properties, such as resistance to abrasion, tearing and puncture. An X means that no test result is indicated for that part. It is not a zero score. The marking always belongs to the particular design; a similar name does not automatically mean the same performance.
PU, nitrile or latex: why the coating matters
For dry work, the PU palm of Hi-Dex and Hi-Vis models is comfortable when you need plenty of feel. For wet or oily material handling, Fully Dipped Cut A is a specific alternative. Milwaukee lists production, plumbing and the automotive and transport sectors among the applications for this model.
The smooth nitrile layer surrounds the whole hand; a second foam nitrile layer on the palm and thumb supports grip. This clearly distinguishes the design from a glove with only a coated palm. Its cut resistance remains A. With sharp, oily parts, Cut E is therefore a different consideration, while chemicals call for the relevant tested chemical resistance.
The Winter Cut family uses latex and a warm lining. The range includes different cut ratings and cold-protection performance. A winter glove is therefore not automatically waterproof, and the term ‘winter’ does not say at what temperature everyone will find it comfortable.
Hi-Vis Cut C when your hands need to stand out
Hi-Vis Cut C combines fluorescent material with a thin PU palm. Milwaukee lists wire stripping and working on pipes as applications. This gives you not just a conspicuous glove, but also the feel and dexterity that this work requires. The nitrile reinforcement between the thumb and fingers protects an area that takes considerable wear.
Impact Pro, DemoX and Pad Pro: different reinforcements
For material handling where the back of your hand or fingers may suffer impacts, Impact Pro Cut C is a more targeted model than a standard Cut glove. The impact-absorbing parts sit on the back of the hand and fingers; the palm has a nitrile coating. Impact Pro Cut E combines this with cut resistance E. Impact DemoX also combines back-of-hand and finger protection with reinforced palms and fingertips. This distinguishes these designs from standard DemoX, which has an ARMORTEX-reinforced palm and a TPR knuckle patch, among other features.
If pressure in your palm is the main discomfort during tool work, Pad Pro is a closer fit for that need. Its foam padding is intended to add comfort; Milwaukee lists drilling, grinding and sanding among the applications. Pad Pro Cut D combines palm padding with cut protection. Padding is not the same as a demonstrated reduction in your exposure to vibration.
If you prefer leather, you can compare hybrid leather and leather gloves. The hybrid design combines leather in the palm with synthetic material on the back of the hand. The leather version uses goatskin and has a reinforced palm. Performance and Flex focus more on freedom of movement: Flex, for example, has a textile back and soft synthetic leather in the palm.
Winter gloves for outdoor work
Winter Cut C is a practical model for cold outdoor work that also requires cut protection. The insulation keeps the hand warmer and the double latex coating covers three-quarters of the glove. That coverage improves water resistance without making the entire glove waterproof.
If you mainly want a warm model with more padding when gripping, Winter Demolition Gloves are an alternative. They have a double acrylic lining, padded palm and fingertips, and a water- and windproof layer on the palm. The name “demolition” does not automatically make this the right choice for sharp metal debris; its cut protection differs from Winter Cut C.
Under EN 511, protection against contact cold and convective cold are assessed separately, among other properties. The winter models do not all have the same results. If you work outdoors for long periods, your other layers also matter. The Milwaukee heated clothing collection includes heated designs for your upper body.
Chemical protection and disposable gloves
Chemical Gloves Grip, called Chemisch bestendige werkhandschoenen in Dutch, is the long, 350 mm design with a double nitrile coating. It extends further over the forearm. Milwaukee specifies EN ISO 374-1 Type A with the chemical letters JKLMNO for this model. Nitrile Disposable Gloves Grip are the thin disposable design for tasks including fine maintenance in a garage. They have a diamond texture for grip, are 0.2 mm thick and carry Type B with KPT. These are different products, not simply reusable and disposable versions of the same protection.
Which of the two suits your work depends on the substance you handle and the corresponding resistance data. ‘Nitrile’ or ‘chemical resistant’ alone does not fully answer that question. A glove that grips well on an oily surface is not thereby suitable for every oil, cleaner or solvent.
Forearms and specialist tasks also matter
When moving sheet material, sharp edges may also contact your forearm. Cut-resistant Cut C and Cut E sleeves come in 40 and 45 cm lengths. They have a tapered shape, elastic and a thumb loop to maintain coverage at the hand. You will find these sleeves alongside Milwaukee hand and arm protection.
For a chainsaw, the specific model is Chain Saw Gloves, called Milwaukee Kettingzaag handschoenen in Dutch. It provides dedicated chainsaw protection. This serves a different function from an ordinary cut-resistant glove for handling materials. A higher Cut letter does not turn a standard work glove into a chainsaw glove.
Practical questions
Can I use a touchscreen with Milwaukee gloves?
Yes, for example with the SMARTSWIPE fingertips of Hi-Dex Cut B and Fully Dipped Cut A. On Winter Demolition Gloves, touchscreen operation is at the index-finger knuckle. The part you use to operate the screen therefore differs by model.
Can I wash my Milwaukee work gloves?
According to Milwaukee, Hi-Dex Cut B and C can be washed at 40 degrees. For Winter Cut C and Winter Demolition Gloves, Milwaukee specifies no washing. One wash programme for all work gloves is therefore not a good starting point; nitrile disposable gloves are for single use.
Further reading
Compare the designs and cut-resistant sleeves.
Milwaukee tool lanyards and accessories
Working at height? Compare the connection between tool, attachment and lanyard too.
Inside Milwaukee safety footwear
The construction and differences that matter on the work floor alongside your hand protection.