Wednesday 26 April 2017

Hand Safety In The Wild -Fits Like a Glove

I always find it interesting when watching knife field tests, survival how-to's, bushcrafting and etc videos or when reading blogs how very few people actually demonstrate, much less emphasize the best practice of glove use while handling knives. Even in your basic 3 minute out-of-the-box knife review do you rarely see the presenter mention handle ergonomics in relation to use with gloves.

I tend to think this is primarily due to both fundamental lack of appreciation of the benefits gloves can provide and the time of year most people tend to make their videos. In the wild, a small, seemingly innocent scrape or cut can quickly turn nasty with infection and add discomfort and invariably the need for medical care. I know of many seasoned back country enthusiasts, extreme campers, and avid hikers who spend endless amounts of research (and money) on all the best foot wear, hard/soft shells, etc. but who still can't see the value in a good pair of gloves for manual tasks. One common problem often tends to be that gloves are perceived for cold weather protection only. Insulated gloves are bulky, lead to diminished dexterity and make your hands sweat in the summer or during physical activity so they are avoided. But like anything else, having the right tool/equipment for the task can make all the difference.

With the abundance of gloves presently available commercially, there are quite a few makes and styles that are, in my opinion, extremely comfortable. With the vast array of synthetic and natural materials and improved stitching and manufacturing, today's gloves are lightweight, durable and a must for anyone who regularly handles edged tools in the wild. I think there are pros and cons to any single type of glove, like there is with any knife, so ultimately I think it boils down to personal preference.

That being said, there are however some basic advantages that all gloves afford when handling a knife:

  • They can prevent/minimize cuts. Many gloves these days come made with good cut resistant materials such as kevlar and are surprisingly thin.
  • They protect the hands and fingers from coming into direct contact with metal components of your knife (the blade, parts of the tang exposed in the handle, etc) in extreme cold temperatures which otherwise may cause contact freezing with the exposed skin. Even with knives that have fully enclosed tangs in materials such as Kraton or rubber, should you need to choke-up (or use a deep finger choil) on larger knives i.e. for whittling, you are faced with skin to metal contact without gloves.
  • Similar to the previous point, gloves act as a barrier between your hands/fingers and any sharp or rough edges during hard use tasks like chopping, thus preventing "hot-spots" which can in turn lead to blisters. 
  • They provide cushion against sustained-impact tasks that over time could lead to a condition known as Reynaud's (aka "white finger") syndrome.
  • Depending on the palm material, you can get better purchase on your knife's handle due to the material filling the grooves on textured grips. Gloves also afford a more comfortable grip on larger handles that would feel too big in the naked hand.
  • They protect against splinters from the wood you are working with or gathering afterwards.
Personally, my favourites are a pair of BDG Goatskin Driver gloves. They are kevlar lined which puts them at ANSI Cut Resistance level 4 and are as soft as a pair of gloves could be. They are also extremely affordable at around $16 a pair.


They are thick enough for adequate hand protection during common knife handling task, but thin enough to maintain modest fine motor skills at the same time. I prefer the goatskin due to its supple, long wear characteristics. They maintain good grip traction when wet and they are well suited for close fitting construction. I wear them whenever handling my knives or axe without exception whenever I in the back country or away from fairly immediate medical care. This includes when sharpening or striking a ferro rod to light a fire. Like anything else, you get use to them over time. It's simply not worth the risk of getting cut -or worse. 

Survival requires that we learn, practice and engage in life saving skills. There is no guarantee that in an unplanned survival scenario that you may have gloves or any other essential piece of kit, but in every other situation leading up to that, you do have a choice, and the opportunity to ingrain good habits and how you protect yourself now may determine your effectiveness later on at a time when it counts most.

I'd be interested in your thoughts and comments about hand safety in the wild -or this post in general. What other advice would you give? What real life examples can you share? Be sure to leave your feedback in the comments below -I'd love to hear from you!