ProTech 8 Structure/Extrication gloves

[engineeremtp]

Anybody currently using these. Sales rep had a pair with him the other day and a few of us tried these things on. They are just like extrication gloves but NFPA certified for structural use. They are priced at around $50.

[Steeda83]

if you do a search there are already a few threads on them..but yeah i use them and they're great IMO

[Engine58]

Bought a pair after seeing them down in Baltimore...Pretty good gloves...Used them on 2 fires and they worked pretty well. Couple of the guys at my firehouse went a bought them too and they love em...

[rfd599]

EngineerEMTP:

Check out the Fireground Tactics Section, there is a thread regarding structural fire gloves and these gloves are discussed by several people. I have a pair and so far I really like the dexterity and how lightweight they are.

Winter has officially begun here in Illinois (we received 15" on Friday), so I am curious to see how they perform in winter ops, but I should have some feedback shortly.

Good luck and if you need more info, refer to www.techtradellc.com or www.IllinoisFireStore.com.

Stay safe!

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[engineeremtp]

Thanks for the replies. It will be interesting to see how bearable they will be in the colder weather.

[jonnyirons2]

I bought mine yesterday, cruised into Mid-Town to get them. They are amazingly light and the dexterity is WOW! Its hard to believe that Ive been using the fire commander gloves for so long, these are really awesome.

[bacfire]

Got mine a couple weeks ago. They're great, so far. I was/am worried about the durability of the fabric parts, but I've fought three structure fires and a car fire in them with no damage. They were put to the test Tuesday night when my partner and I were briefly trapped by a third floor collapse and I had to pull several burning rafters out by hand, then crawl under the rest of them. I felt no more heat than with any all-leather glove and the Pro-Techs still look good.

My favorite thing about them is the quick drying time. Gotta hate wet soggy gloves on a cold night.

[fireman4949]

I love mine! I've had 'em a month or so and they've seen several fires.

Best gloves I've ever had. ;)




Kevin :D

[jonnyirons2]

Got mine a couple weeks ago. They're great, so far. I was/am worried about the durability of the fabric parts, but I've fought three structure fires and a car fire in them with no damage. They were put to the test Tuesday night when my partner and I were briefly trapped by a third floor collapse and I had to pull several burning rafters out by hand, then crawl under the rest of them. I felt no more heat than with any all-leather glove and the Pro-Techs still look good.

My favorite thing about them is the quick drying time. Gotta hate wet soggy gloves on a cold night.


Glad to hear that they performed and youre OK!

Stay Safe

[bacfire]

Glad to hear that they performed and youre OK!

Stay Safe


Thanks. That's the first time I've ever really considered myself in immediate peril. Don't care to do it on a regular basis, but it's nice to have a good war story for FF survival classes :)

[CaptainGonzo]

I just got a pair of the ProTech 8 gloves, but I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet. I still have the trusty old leather gloves on the glovekeeper... old habits die hard, I guess.

What I liked about the Protech 8's is the fact that they come in various sizes and, pardon the pun, "fit like a glove"! :D

[emtffcheese]

I tried on a buddy's pair and they fit VERY nicely. I like my gloves snug. My fingertips were right to the ends of the glove, but not cramped. I thought my buddy had told me this brand tends to run a little small, though I could be mistaken. My hand size is normally awkwardly between a medium and large. So I bought a size Large. These definitely don't fit quite as snug -- about 1cm of space off the end of my middle finger.

Do any of you know if these gloves will shrink that 1cm over time (with wetness/heat, etc) ? Or should I trade them in for a Medium pair?

Thanks so much

[fireman4949]

I tried on a buddy's pair and they fit VERY nicely. I like my gloves snug. My fingertips were right to the ends of the glove, but not cramped. I thought my buddy had told me this brand tends to run a little small, though I could be mistaken. My hand size is normally awkwardly between a medium and large. So I bought a size Large. These definitely don't fit quite as snug -- about 1cm of space off the end of my middle finger.

Do any of you know if these gloves will shrink that 1cm over time (with wetness/heat, etc) ? Or should I trade them in for a Medium pair?

Thanks so much

Don't be talking "shrinkage"!

I deal with that problem enough already! :o :o :o ;)

[emtffcheese]

I tried on a buddy's pair and they fit VERY nicely. I like my gloves snug. My fingertips were right to the ends of the glove, but not cramped. I thought my buddy had told me this brand tends to run a little small, though I could be mistaken. My hand size is normally awkwardly between a medium and large. So I bought a size Large. These definitely don't fit quite as snug -- about 1cm of space off the end of my middle finger.

Do any of you know if these gloves will shrink that 1cm over time (with wetness/heat, etc) ? Or should I trade them in for a Medium pair?

Thanks so much

OK, "NO SHRINKAGE"

At least that's what TechTrade (makers of Pro-Tech 8 Gloves) told me. The gloves won't shrink. Long story short, I now have the medium gloves and they fit perfectly: fingertips right up to the ends of the glove but not cramped.

Moral of the story:
If any of your fingers have ~1cm gap from your fingertip to the fingertip of the glove, then go to the next size down.

[Eng34FF]

I used mine for the first time on a real fire this weekend and loved them. No issues with protection and it was great having the extra dexterity. I still need to see how they hold up over time though. I'll also be curious how they do during winter when they get wet.

[Nine3Probie]

I've now used mine at several training burns, and they're holding up well.

The only issue (or difference...if you want to call it that) compared to traditional gloves, is that the ProTechs seem to "swell" a bit when they get wet. It does not affect dexterity any, and I've only really noticed it when taking them off and putting them on when wet.

There's also some quicker wearing of stress areas/seams on the outer fabric layer compared to the leather gloves...but I expected that.

All in all...I'm just waiting for the holidays to come to see if I get another pair as back-ups...or if I need to buy my own 2nd pair.

[Dickey]

I have a pair. They are nice for extrication or rolling hose but they give no protection for cold weather, hands get cold very easily.

[bacfire]

After posting glowing reviews on the Pro-techs, I'm sad to say that I have to retract my praise. I noticed today that the leather along one palm and little finger had split and peeled away from the underlying nomex. Even worse, there doesn't appear to be any nomex under the finger tips. The leather on one fingertip burned/cracked away and exposed the moisture barrier beneath.

The weakness seems to be that the leather on the palms and fingers is paper-thin. After only a handful of fires (and I used them only for firefighting and some overhaul, switching to utility gloves for hose-rolling, etc.), my $55 gloves are worthless. They sure were nice while they lasted, though...

[rfd599]

Bacfire:

Thank you for the honest reporting. I will be contacting Tech Trade on Wednesday letting them know your complaints. As I stated in a different thread, my only worry with these lightweight, thin gloves would be the durability. I am curious to hear about others with the same issue. Hopefully, Tech Trade will be responsive to our needs and work to further develop this product into a more durable glove.

I have only had mine in service for over a month and they haven't seen much action, but they don't appear to be having any problems.

Thank you and have a good holiday!

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[bacfire]

Would pics of the damage help? Or I can send the glove back to you if you'd like. I liked the gloves enough that I'd probably buy another pair if the leather portions were as thick as normal glove leather.

[dbriceland]

I bought these gloves about 3 months ago. They have been in 4 fires and I love them. The top of your hand around wrist is the only area that I felt any heat. We just finished the Ohio 240 class and 80% of the guys had them and loved them

[dday05]

After posting glowing reviews on the Pro-techs, I'm sad to say that I have to retract my praise. I noticed today that the leather along one palm and little finger had split and peeled away from the underlying nomex. Even worse, there doesn't appear to be any nomex under the finger tips. The leather on one fingertip burned/cracked away and exposed the moisture barrier beneath.

The weakness seems to be that the leather on the palms and fingers is paper-thin. After only a handful of fires (and I used them only for firefighting and some overhaul, switching to utility gloves for hose-rolling, etc.), my $55 gloves are worthless. They sure were nice while they lasted, though...

Considering your previous post(which I'm glad your ok) do you think your old gloves could handle the abuse you put your new gloves through? How well do you think these gloves would be for rit operations like change overs or what not?BE SAFE!

[rfd599]

Bacfire:

I would be happy to take a look at them. Please ship them back to:
Illinois Fire Store*243 E. Main*Amboy, IL 61310.

I will check them out when they arrive and forward them to Tech Trade.

Thank you and stay safe!

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[RareRamAir]

I'll be ordering a pair from IFS tomorrow. Can't wait to use them.

[rfd599]

RareRamAir:

Thank you in advance!

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[bacfire]

Considering your previous post(which I'm glad your ok) do you think your old gloves could handle the abuse you put your new gloves through? How well do you think these gloves would be for rit operations like change overs or what not?BE SAFE!

They were put to the test that day, but I inspected them closely afterwards and couldn't see any sign of damage. I had about two more working fires on them after that incident, took a couple shifts off, then was inspecting my gear prior to going back on duty when I noticed the damage. I never felt excess or unusual heat through the gloves at any time.

My uneducated analysis is that the leather dried and hardened a bit, cracked and separated along the stitching, then began to burn where it was further exposed. As I said, the leather is very thin.

To answer your question, yes I do think my old gloves could take it. I've worn a pair of low-end American Firewears (which I actually hate) for over three years and while I've not had any roofs fall on me with them, they've seen far more abuse than the Pro-Techs. The AFs look like h*ll, but they are still servicable.

I still think the Pro-techs are a fine design. The leather portions just need to be thicker. Maybe better yet, go with Kevlar palms and fingers kinda like the Chibas.

[dday05]

They were put to the test that day, but I inspected them closely afterwards and couldn't see any sign of damage. I had about two more working fires on them after that incident, took a couple shifts off, then was inspecting my gear prior to going back on duty when I noticed the damage. I never felt excess or unusual heat through the gloves at any time.



To answer your question, yes I do think my old gloves could take it. I've worn a pair of low-end American Firewears (which I actually hate) for over three years and while I've not had any roofs fall on me with them, they've seen far more abuse than the Pro-Techs. The AFs look like h*ll, but they are still servicable.

I still think the Pro-techs are a fine design. The leather portions just need to be thicker. Maybe better yet, go with Kevlar palms and fingers kinda like the Chibas.

All that matters is that you made it all ok. And we'll always have our trusty back ups!! BE SAFE

[Nick SBFD 6]

Can the short cuff version of these be used on coats without the "wristlets" in the cuff? My department issued me a pair of XL Long cuffs, but they are a little too big and they bunch up on my coat cuffs. I think a Short Cuff in Large would do the trick.

-Nick

[BLSboy]

Has anybody used a pair of these?
http://www.mutualaidsupplies.com/product_pages/1157411540.shtml
I have a pair on order, but with the fire volume we have seen since I joined my new Dept, (ZERO) I cant realy report on how well they will hold up

[FrFtr28]

I have a pair of the ProTech long cuffs with velcro straps. After wearing them at one fire I cut the straps off, and so did the other guys who have them. So far they seem to be holding up just fine, I even punched out a window and didn't rip them.

[Ack8236]

I've been using a pair of these for a few months now, and I like them. The dexterity is much better than typical "fire" gloves. They are lighter and seem to be pretty durable so far. There is still one thing I don't like. After working with them and taking your hands out, it is still hard to get your hands back in. The liner wants to turn inside out when you take your hands out, same as most other gloves I've used. I would still definitely recommend them though.

[jonnyirons2]

First good job in them yesterday. Was first due OV 2nd floor Tenement, went in the window from the fire escape and did a quick search then in the misdt of things ended up putting my hand into the seat of a burning chair :-) So now I have burned stuff all over the gloves. Ill take pics if someone tells me how to post them.

[fireman605]

Ive had a pair of the first Pro-tech gloves for a little over a year now and i love them. They've been used quite a bit from out messing around pumping, to reloading hose, to 4 actual structure fires and 6 live burns. I noticed on the pinky on one hand and then 3rd finger on the other hand have some rips where the first layer has torn back. I didnt notice it on our last burn they felt just fine but i will try to get some pictures to post. Im actually looking at getting some TITANS any input on those yet?

[fireman605]

Here is a picture of where my gloves have ripped, not sure what happened but they ripped.
<a href="http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f6/slow_redcivic/?action=view&current=glove.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f6/slow_redcivic/glove.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[jasper45]

I know this topic has been talked about at great length, and with much debate. I have worn the Pro-techs, and will say they are good gloves, but they are not durable.
I much prefer these gloves made by Southcombe Brothers.

http://www.southcombe.co.uk/prodmainimg111.jpeg


They have as much dexterity and comfort as the Pro-Techs, yet are significantly more durable.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that you're wasting your money with Pro-Tech, you just may be spending more of it with replacement pairs.

[LeatherHed4Life]

I know this topic has been talked about at great length, and with much debate. I have worn the Pro-techs, and will say they are good gloves, but they are not durable.
I much prefer these gloves made by Southcombe Brothers.

http://www.southcombe.co.uk/prodmainimg111.jpeg


They have as much dexterity and comfort as the Pro-Techs, yet are significantly more durable.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that you're wasting your money with Pro-Tech, you just may be spending more of it with replacement pairs.

the southcombes are awesome. We stopped by the TECHTRADE booth at the baltimore fire expo and they are testing an all Kangaroo leather PRO-TECH 8
that will be released sometime this year that is supposed to be comparable to the southcombes but cheaper

[erik3911]

After posting glowing reviews on the Pro-techs, I'm sad to say that I have to retract my praise. I noticed today that the leather along one palm and little finger had split and peeled away from the underlying nomex. Even worse, there doesn't appear to be any nomex under the finger tips. The leather on one fingertip burned/cracked away and exposed the moisture barrier beneath.

The weakness seems to be that the leather on the palms and fingers is paper-thin. After only a handful of fires (and I used them only for firefighting and some overhaul, switching to utility gloves for hose-rolling, etc.), my $55 gloves are worthless. They sure were nice while they lasted, though...

Same thing here, the palms and fingertips began to fail after about 2 months of use. I upgraded to the pro-tec 8 titans, they are said to be more durable.

[MassFireGuy]

Are we all talking about the Titans or the originals? Has anyone tried the titans yet?

[THEFIRENUT]

Are we all talking about the Titans or the originals? Has anyone tried the titans yet?


Just recieved mine (Titans) last week so I only have one "structure fire" use out of them. So far, so good. Dexterity was fantastic. Donning and Doffing while wet was no problem. They fit a little snug, but next size up would be too large. The snug fit may be a plus, but won't know until I have more use out of them. So far, they beat all the other structural gloves that I have used. Time will tell if they hold up.

[erik3911]

Are we all talking about the Titans or the originals? Has anyone tried the titans yet?

My original post was on the ols style, I have the Titans but haven't really tested them out yet.