A good pair of leather gloves should last at least a decade, but you'll know if they're in need of replacement after just a year or two. That's because while they may protect your hands from the heat, cold, oil, cuts, and wear and tear that comes with a hard day's work, they won't do much to protect you from glue burns, pressure point blisters, or the seemingly innocuous pain of having a seam catch your thumb at just the wrong place. We hear about the importance of investing in quality work gloves all the time—but when it comes to buying one for yourself, there are so many options that it can be difficult to know where to start. While there are dozens of different leathers used in leatherworking (and hundreds more synthetics), we've selected what we consider to be some of the best natural split leathers that are out there. The kind we've chosen for these gloves is made from "shoulder split" cowhide—that means that it's been separated from its original skin by getting cut along the shoulders and down the spine. This process allows for more flexibility (i.e., movement) than hides made from other parts of the animal like stomachs or backs. The 14-inch glove with extra-long 7.5-inch sleeves is made of premium quality material, and has a protective rating of up to 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. It provides superior protection for hand and forearms, even in extreme welding environments. Its extra long design allows it to be tucked into a pocket or sleeve when not in use. The glove is designed to protect against hot coals, open flames, grinding debris, welding sparks, hot kitchen ware, hot cooking steam and sharp objects. It is effective even in extreme environments and can withstand the most extreme heat protection situations. The glove is perfect for stick welding (SMAW), mig welding (GMAW), flux core welding (FCAW), forging gloves or other high temperature applications. It also works well for general purpose use such as gardening, animal handling, hammering hot rivets, painting and more. Whether working at the forge, grill or barbecue, whether outdoors or at home or anywhere else in the house, whether men or women use it, it’s kind to you and our environment!