What are Glove Liners?

Glove liners are thin, supple gloves that are worn inside regular gloves. They can be designed to provide an extra layer of protection against injury, to absorb perspiration, and to increase the warmth of the gloves. Some provide extra padding to cushion the hand and protect it from bruising. Fireplace gloves and oven gloves protect hands from heat.

Anyone who has worn rubber gloves for protection while doing household chores knows how sweaty and uncomfortable the wearer’s hands can become in a very short time. Heavier rubber gloves for outdoor work cause the same problem. Glove liners are the best solution. Thin cotton linings which can be frequently laundered are a good choice.

People who play sports like golf or racquetball often wear gloves to improve their grip. Sometimes very thin glove liners are worn as well, primarily to absorb perspiration. The best of these linings are made from a wicking fabric that draws moisture away from the skin. People who engage in aerobic activities in cold weather often choose glove liners with wicking properties. That way, moisture will be wicked away from the hands when the wearer’s body temperature is elevated from exercise, but heat will still be retained.

Most glove liners are worn to provide additional warmth. Silk, wool, polypropolene, and thermalite polyester liners are available. Some of these linings are designed to be worn alone when temperatures are moderate and inside other gloves in very cold conditions. The material can be quite slippery, so the liner should be provided with grips on the palms if it will be worn alone when driving.

Some glove liners come with their own heat source. One type has a pocket, usually positioned on the back of the hand, that holds a heat pack. The preheated heat pack doesn’t stay warm indefinitely, but it retains warmth for a long time. Another type is heated by a battery and is usually made from a heating textile containing bundles of soft carbon microfibers. The battery is generally positioned on the wrist. A third type uses a vehicle battery to provide heat. They aren’t very portable, because they have to be plugged in to an automobile, motorcycle, all terrain vehicle, and so on to work, but they are very warm.

Fit is very important for effective glove liners. The liner’s fingers should be slightly longer than the wearer’s fingers. The material should not be stretched tightly across the palm or the back of the hand. However, the liner should fit snugly, so that all the skin on the wearer’s hand is in contact with it.