It’s been said some of the best vehicle recovery “tools” you have are your own two hands. While protecting your rig is important, protecting your hands when rigging and using a winch is crucial. Whether using steel or even synthetic rope, having a good set of winch rigging gloves is a must-have for anyone using winch line.
Another Layer of Protection
Talk to any vehicle recovery trainer and they’ll tell you to wear gloves when working with a winch. They provide another layer of protection between the winch line and your bare hands. Perhaps the question is why wouldn’t you wear rigging gloves? In fact, at Factor 55 and our sister company, Warn Industries, we won’t touch a winch line without them on.
What To Look for In Winch Rigging Gloves
Not any set of gloves will suffice for winch rigging duty. Winch rigging gloves should have a sturdy palm made from leather or leather-like material, offering substantial abrasion resistance. Our Factor 55 Roper X Gloves, which we’ve been working on for some time now, have been spec’d specifically for winch rigging duty. They’re handcrafted by the master leather workers at Sullivan Glove Co. in Bend, Oregon and made from tough 4 oz American Elk and Buffalo leather. They’re built to last and will protect your hands specifically while rigging up winch line.
Get The Right Fit
Getting winch gloves that fit right is important. Gloves that are too big won’t conform to hands or individual fingers, making it hard to perform precise movements during the rigging process. Gloves that are too small will be uncomfortable and you won’t want to wear them.
Gloves that fit correctly allow for movement and dexterity, two crucial aspects while rigging and winching. The Factor 55 Roper X Gloves have a triangular cutout on the wrist collar for more room to fit your hands into the gloves, and they help keep the gloves securely on your hands. These gloves also have a black snap to keep them on securely. We have a fit guide on our website to ensure you get the right gloves that fit you, whether in S, M, L, or XL sizes.
Winch Rigging Gloves Aren’t Just for Steel Rope
For decades, people rigging steel winch line have worn gloves, and for good reason. If you’ve ever handled steel winch rope, you’ll know it can develop sharp barbs, sometimes called fishhooks, that can easily cut your hands. But it’s not just steel rope that demands glove use. While synthetic rope won’t develop the barbs like steel rope, it can still cause injury due to rope burn. Additionally, small objects, such as splinters, glass, or burrs, can get hung up in synthetic rope and potentially injure hands.
Keep Your Winch Gloves at The Ready
It only takes a few seconds to put gloves on, but you need to remember to have them. Keep your gloves in your rig’s glove box (it’s almost like that’s what it was intended for!), center console, or in your recovery kit so you’ll always have them. The Factor 55 Roper X Gloves even have a slot to hang gloves on a carabiner when not in use.
While safety isn’t always the most exciting topic, it must be the top priority. One of the simplest things you can do is get a good set of winch rigging gloves and remember to put them on. Your hands—two of your most important tools—will thank you.