Dry glove comparison

[crofrog]

I’ve been a bit obsessive about dry gloves lately and have purchased a huge swath of them to figure out what I like.

I really dislike black gloves so not too many of those were considered in this list. These are all gloves I’ve got sitting in front of me although I’ve not dived them all.

The glove I’ve got the most time diving is the Alphatec 87-208 Heavyweight Orange Latex glove. This glove is part of the same family as the 87-118s that are the default Kubi gloves. My wife, and friends have been using this almost exclusively for years with refrigiwear cold protection glove liners. In a few hundred cumulative dives we’ve ripped 1 glove on a light monkey canister. They work and seal fine on Kubi, Santi or SiTech rings and offer good dexterity, but when you start sizing up to put thicker glove liners in like the Santi Heated, Hestra Heli, refrigiwear thinsulate you start getting some extra material around the ends of the fingers. Thus, prompting this quest / ADHD rabbit hole.

Some macro thoughts on material:

Latex is stretchy and feels less likely to rip than nitrile and because of the stretchiness can be a tighter than an equivalent nitrile or PVC glove.
Anything that is "knit cotton" or "knit with a seam" (supported) is going to require a more complicated install on Kubi or Santi style rings.

Manufacture	model	Material	Color	thickness	Liner	Texture	Notes
Ansell	Alphatec 88-394	Latex	Natural Latex	20mil	Unlined	Diamonds on palm
Ansell	Alphatec 87-208	Latex	Orange	28.7mil	Flocked	Diamonds on palm	This is what I've been using to replace the 81-118s because I do not line black gloves
Ansell	Alphatec 87-118	Latex	Black	31.5mil	Flocked	Diamonds on palm	The traditional G17k marigolds
Ansell	Alphatec 23-200	PVC	Blue	79mil	Knit Cotton	Rough Texture
Ansell	Alphatec 08-354	Neoprene	Green	55mil	Knit Cotton with a seam	Sandpaper
Ansell	Alphatec 87-029	Latex	Blue	50mil	Knit Cotton	Crinkle
Ansell	Alphatec 62-401	Latex	Blue	53mil	Knit Cotton with a seam	Rough Crinkle
Showa	737	Nitrile	Green	22mil	Unlined	Rough
Showa	717	Nitrile	Green	11mil	Unlined	Rough
Showa	727	Nitrile	Green	15mil	Unlined	Rough
Showa	CHM	Neoprene / latex	yellow/blue	26mil	Flocked	Zig Zags

Because of image limits I'll break it up over multiple posts below:

 

[crofrog]

Alphatech 87-208



Impressions should be the default choice for most people in most situations. Easy to install on all ring systems, durable, only downside is a bit of extra material in the fingers. We have a few hundred dives on them.

 

[crofrog]

Alphatec 87-118:

Basically, the same as the 87-208s only very slightly thicker, but black. Default glove that comes with Kubi rings. No issues in a 100ish dives prior to switching to the orange ones. Only had 8.5's laying around so no photos on the hand

 

[crofrog]

Alphatech 23-200:

The fingers are fatter for a given length making them easier to fit gloves under. However, they have a cotton knit lining that requires some annoying techniques to seal on Kubi’s / Smart Rings. I’ve had a wet hand a few times figuring it out. Currently what I’m using.

Much thicker than the 87 series, but the stiffness of the material makes it harder for it to get caught in the gate of a double ender or bolt snap and easier to pull out when you do which makes them a bit easier to dive in some respects. Still feel like I’ve got reasonably good dexterity, but it is harder to feel which piece of equipment you’re grabbing, if say you have a spg and a stage clipped to the waist dring.

 

[crofrog]

Now for the ones I’ve not dived:

Alphatec 88-394:

Much thinner, very stretchy with great dexterity, probably good for photography or people who need the most fine-motor skills while not planning to touch things too much.

Little to no extra material at the fingers

 

[crofrog]

Alphatec 08-354

Is knit with a seam, fingers seem long. Would be hard to get to seal on a kubi or santi style ring. Doesn’t really pull out of the double ender easily if clipped by accident.

 

[crofrog]

Alphatec 87-029

Nice texture has a knit liner would have similar issues to other knit gloves on kubi/santi style. Fits well without a bunch of extra finger length and pulls out of the double ender easily if accidently clipped.

 

[crofrog]

Alphatec 62-401

Felt a little tight compared to others. Required more force to close hand. Double ender came off easily when accidently clipped without a lot of extra finger length.

 

[crofrog]

Showa 737
The unlined nitrile gloves slide onto the glove liner with much less work, doesn’t have a lot of stretch, fits well, and pops out of the gate easily.

 

[crofrog]

727:

Fits well, very similar to the 737 but with a bit better dexterity.

Showa 717:

Mostly the same as the as the 737, but is the thinnest glove, only available in an 11 so not able to comment on fit.

CHM:

Interesting Latex/Neoprene construction feels like it should have very good dexterity but can’t comment on fit because I only have in size 8.5.