Should leather gloves be tight or loose is a common question, and as you might have guessed, there are many opinions on this subject. When deciding which one is best for you, it’s essential to consider what type of work you do and where your glove will sit on your hand when used.
In this post, I will discuss the proper fit of a leather glove, how to tell when the glove is too tight or too loose and how to accurately measure your hand so that you can purchase the correct size leather glove on the first try.
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How Tight or Loose Should a Leather Glove Be?
Leather gloves should have a tight fit when a good grip and dexterity are required. However, leather gloves intended for winter wear are loose. They have approximately ½ inch to 1 inch of space to fit over glove liners used for insulating the hand during extremely cold temperatures.
Choosing the correct leather glove size is greatly dependent on how you plan on using the glove. Gloves intended for riding on a motorcycle should fit differently than gloves designed to keep your hands warm in a blizzard.
In most cases, leather gloves should fit snugly enough to provide warmth so that that the hands and fingers don’t feel numb but are thin enough to allow you to grip and manipulate objects.
However, leather winter gloves are not designed to be an extension of the hand. You will not be able to manipulate objects due to the thick level of padding and insulation. And the extra width will cause the winter leather glove to slide around on your hands if glove liners aren’t worn underneath.
Glove size measurements go by the palm width. If you can pull the gloves on and make a fist without extra material on the sides or feel like your hands will bust out of the seams, then the gloves fit.
Everyone’s fingers are different in length, so if the palm fits, but there is too much finger space, it means that your fingers are disproportionately short for that style of glove. In general, when the hand is inserted inside a leather glove, there should be about 1/4 inch of spacing between the edge of the finger and the tip of the glove when the hands are relaxed.
Every manufacturer has a slightly different sizing standard, and if your fingers are short for one manufacture, it may not be short for another. The best thing to do is to stick with a manufacturer that fits your needs.
How To Tell If Leather Gloves Are Too Tight?
Leather gloves with a snug fit will feel a little uncomfortable the first time they are put on, but leather stretches, and the glove should begin to conform to the shape of your hand after wearing them for about a week or two.
Leather gloves that fit snugly will be tight enough to leave marks on your hand, but they will not restrict the movement of blood flow. However, leather gloves that continue to feel uncomfortable after a few weeks and restrict finger movement and circulation are too tight. Additionally, leather gloves that are too tight are likely to split along the seams.
Will Tight Leather Gloves Stretch Over Time?
Tight leather gloves conform to the shape of the hand and will stretch over time. However, leather gloves lined with a fabric that is not flexible will prevent stretching. In most cases, if the glove is snug it will stretch, but if it’s too tight it will eventually split at the seam.
Can You Stretch Leather Gloves That Are Too Small?
Stretching finger circumference is easier than stretching finger length. Trying to lengthen the fingers ends up pulling the palms toward the fingertips because the four rows of stitching along the length of each finger usually resist stretching.
Some leathers, like elkskin, can shrink and stretch to fit with some water, but it doesn’t work well with other types of leather.
How To Tell If Leather Gloves Are Too Loose?
If you’re looking for something extra to keep your fingers nice and warm during extreme winter temperatures, leather gloves are the answer. However, not just any leather gloves will work. The leather gloves need a little bit of room in them so that you can wear glove liners underneath them.
Leather gloves designed for winter wear fit loosely to accommodate glove liners. Glove liners are worn on top of the hands and underneath the leather glove providing a layer of insulation for cold weather.
I know that it is difficult to find the right leather glove size. And people often wonder if leather gloves shrink. Leather gloves shrink under certain situations, but I have provided a detailed answer that goes into more detail on what causes leather gloves to shrink and techniques used for shrinkage. I’m sure you will find something useful in that post.
How To Measure Your Hands For Leather Gloves
The easiest way to get the proper size for your leather gloves is to go into the store and try them on. But I know that everyone does not have this option. Glove sizes are based on the palm width, so all you need to do is make a quick measurement around the palm to determine the best size for your hand.
You can get a proper fitting leather glove by following the guidelines listed below.
Getting an Accurate Hand Measurement
Tape Measure Method
Material: Tape Measure
- Lay your hand flat on the table with your palms facing upwards.
- Wrap the measuring tape around your palm slightly below the knuckles.
**Do not include the thumb**
String and Ruler Method
Use this method if you don’t have a tape measure laying around the house.
Material: Two feet of string and a measuring device
- Cut a string length of approximately 12 – 14 inches
- Place one end of the string in the center of the palm
- Lay your hand palm up, flat on a table on top of the string to prevent string movement
- Wrap the opposite end of the string around the palm and until the two pieces overlap
- Make a mark at the intersection point.
The distance from the end of the string in the palm to the overlapping point is the palm measurement.
