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Portwest
In Stock
Commercial PU Palm Glove | Black Work Glove | Size XL | Portwest BA183-XL
£1.10
/ exc vat
£1.32/ inc vat
- Smooth PU Coating
- Palm Dipped Design
- Highest Dexterity (Level 5)
- CE Food Safe
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Product Overview
Looking for a work glove that doesn't feel like you're wearing a pair of cardboard boxes? Meet the Portwest BA183-XL. This isn't just another black glove; it's a thoughtfully designed piece of kit for professionals who need protection without sacrificing precision. It combines a tough, abrasion-resistant polyurethane palm with a flexible, breathable back, giving you a brilliant all-rounder for a massive range of jobs.
These gloves are tailor-made for anyone in catering, warehousing, maintenance, or general handling roles who's fed up with flimsy disposables or bulky, clumsy alternatives. The secret is in the smooth PU coating, which gives you fantastic grip on boxes, tools, and equipment, while the palm-dipped design means your hands can still breathe. Plus, being CE food safe, they’re perfect for environments where hygiene is just as important as safety.
Essentially, the Portwest black PU palm glove XL offers that sweet spot of dexterity, durability, and safety. It’s the reliable, everyday workhorse glove your team will actually want to wear, protecting their hands while helping them get the job done faster and more comfortably. Give them the protection they need and the dexterity they want.
Key Features and Benefits
- Smooth PU Coating: Gives you a solid grip and resists scuffs and scrapes.
- Palm Dipped Design: Keeps your hands cool and improves flexibility for fiddly jobs.
- Highest Dexterity (Level 5): Handle small screws or components with almost bare-hand sensitivity.
- CE Food Safe: Certified safe for handling food, perfect for kitchen or production lines.
- ANSI Cut Level A1: Offers dependable protection against minor nicks and light abrasions.
- Seamless 13g Liner: A comfy, close fit that reduces hand fatigue during long shifts.
- Lightweight Construction: Feels like a second skin, so you'll barely notice you're wearing them.
- Abrasion Resistance: Stands up to daily wear and tear, making them last longer.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Portwest
- SKU: BA183-XL
- Size: XL (Extra Large)
- Colour: Black
- Weight: 0.03 kg
- Coating: Smooth Polyurethane (PU)
- Glove Style: Palm Dipped
- Dexterity Level (EN 420): Level 5
- ANSI Cut Level (A105-2016): A1
- Safety Certification: CE Food Safe
Expert Review and Insights
The Portwest BA183-XL strikes an impressive balance. So often, gloves that offer decent protection feel clumsy, but these are different. The PU palm provides a reassuringly secure grip, and the Level 5 dexterity is genuinely noticeable when you're handling smaller items. For general kitchen prep, stock handling, or light maintenance, they're a fantastic, cost-effective choice that puts staff comfort first.
Sophie Brooks – Chef Tools View Profile →
- Top-Tier Dexterity: You can feel what you're doing, making tasks quicker and safer.
- Light-Duty Cut Protection: Ideal for general tasks, but not for use with sharp knives or blades.
Case Study: Real Business, Real Results
A busy artisan delicatessen in York was struggling to find a glove that worked for everyone. Their team needed something tough enough for unloading morning deliveries but precise enough for packaging fine foods, and also certified food-safe. They made the switch to the Portwest BA183-XL gloves.
"Our staff love them. They're comfortable for a full shift and we're not constantly switching between different gloves for different tasks anymore. The grip is fantastic on cardboard boxes and shrink wrap, and being food-safe is non-negotiable for us. A simple switch that has made our workflow much smoother."
Robert Davies – Operations Manager
The deli noted a significant improvement in operational flow, with staff saving valuable time during stock rotation and packaging, and a 15% drop in their monthly glove expenditure due to better durability.
Installation and Maintenance Guide
Getting Started
- Always inspect a new pair for any defects before the first use.
- Ensure you have the correct size; a glove that's too tight or loose can be a safety hazard.
- Wash your hands before and after use, especially in food handling environments.
- Wear them for a few minutes to allow the material to conform to your hands for optimal dexterity.
Keeping Them Going
- These gloves can be wiped clean, but for strict hygiene, frequent replacement is advised.
- Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent the PU coating from degrading.
- Replace them immediately if you see any rips, tears, or signs of the coating peeling away.
- Do not use with harsh chemicals, as this can compromise the material's integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are these gloves fully waterproof?
A: The PU-coated palm area is water-resistant, but the back of the glove is a breathable fabric liner and is not waterproof. They will protect against minor splashes but not submersion.
Q: What does 'dexterity level 5' actually mean?
A: It's the highest possible rating under the EN 420 standard. It means the gloves provide maximum touch sensitivity and flexibility, allowing you to handle very small or delicate items with ease.
Q: Can I wash these Portwest PU palm gloves extra large?
A: While they can be hand-washed with mild soap and air-dried, we recommend replacing them regularly in food-handling environments to maintain strict hygiene standards.
Q: What is ANSI Cut Level A1 suitable for?
A: It's designed for light-duty protection against nuisance cuts, such as from cardboard, plastic strapping or light abrasion. It is not intended for protection against sharp blades.
Q: Are these gloves suitable for handling hot pans or trays?
A: No, these gloves do not offer any specific thermal protection and should not be used for handling hot or cold items.
Q: Are the gloves sold individually or as a pair?
A: They are always sold as a pair (one left hand, one right hand).
Q: Is the black PU coated work gloves size XL a generous fit?
A: Portwest sizing is generally consistent and true to standard UK sizes. The 'XL' is designed to fit larger hands comfortably without being loose.
Q: Will these gloves work with a touchscreen on a phone or tablet?
A: Generally, PU coatings are not conductive, so these gloves are not reliable for use with capacitive touchscreens.
The Portwest Promise: Reliability You Can Handle
When you choose Portwest, you're investing in more than just a pair of gloves; you're tapping into over a century of expertise in creating protective workwear that people trust. The real value of the BA183-XL isn't just in its specs, but in its everyday performance and reliability. These gloves are designed to minimise hand fatigue, which leads to a more comfortable, focused, and efficient team. For a business, this translates into better productivity and fewer minor incidents. The durable construction means they outlast cheaper alternatives, reducing your long-term spend and waste. In essence, this Portwest black PU palm glove XL is a small investment in your operational smoothness, your team's comfort, and your brand's commitment to safety.
Explore more from PortwestWhat is 'Palm Dipped' and Why Does It Help?
You'll often see work gloves described as 'palm dipped', but what does that actually mean for the person wearing them? Imagine the base glove is a comfy, knitted fabric liner. The 'palm-dipped' process involves dipping just the palm and finger front of that liner into a protective coating, in this case, polyurethane (PU).
Think of it like adding a tough, grippy sole to a very comfortable trainer. The top and back of your foot can still breathe, keeping you cool and comfortable, but the part doing all the hard work is shielded and has fantastic traction. This method gives you the best of both worlds: robust protection and grip where you need it most, and breathability and flexibility everywhere else. It’s the reason these gloves feel so much less restrictive than fully coated, sweat-inducing alternatives.
Who Should Buy This?
- Catering & Kitchen Staff: Perfect for back-of-house tasks like handling deliveries, cleaning, and general food prep safely.
- Warehouse & Logistics Teams: Ideal for picking, packing, and handling boxes where grip and preventing scrapes is key.
- General Maintenance & Janitorial Crews: Protects hands during light repairs, cleaning, and day-to-day site management tasks.
- Food Production Lines: A reliable, food-safe choice for assembly lines and handling packaged goods with confidence.
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