TPE Injection Gloves vs Dipped Gloves: Full Comparison

TPE Injection Gloves vs Dipped Gloves: Full Comparison

If you're sourcing work gloves for retail, industrial supply, or branded OEM programs, two popular "value-to-performance" choices often come up: TPE injection molded gloves and dipped gloves (knit liners coated with nitrile/latex/PU). They can look similar at a glance-both are designed for grip and protection-but they behave very differently on the job.

This guide breaks down the differences clearly so you can pick the right glove type for your market, usage scenario, and cost target.

1) What Are TPE Injection Molded Gloves?

TPE injection gloves are made by injecting thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) into a mold to form the glove-often as a one-piece construction (or with minimal assembly). The result is a consistent, molded grip pattern, good tear resistance for light tasks, and easy mass production.

Typical selling points

Consistent shape and grip pattern (stable quality)

Fast production once tooling is ready

Easy to clean (many designs can be rinsed/wiped)

Competitive cost for large volumes

Common use cases

Light-duty handling

Warehouse picking

Assembly support tasks

DIY / household / garden light work

Promotional or entry-level industrial programs

 

2) What Are Dipped Gloves?

Dipped gloves start with a knit liner (polyester/nylon/HPPE/cotton blends, etc.). The liner is then dipped into a coating such as nitrile, latex, or PU, creating a coated palm (or full coating) for grip and protection.

Typical selling points

Strong comfort and breathability (thanks to the liner)

Wide performance range (oil grip, abrasion, cut resistance, etc.)

Better dexterity for many industrial tasks

Many coating/liner combinations for different markets

Common use cases

General industrial work

Automotive & maintenance

Logistics & warehousing

Construction and hardware

Oily environments (nitrile)

High dexterity assembly (PU)

 

3) Head-to-Head Comparison (Buyer-Friendly)

Quick decision summary

Choose TPE injection gloves if you want simple, durable molded grip, easy cleaning, and strong consistency for light-duty tasks at an aggressive price.

Choose dipped gloves if you need comfort + breathability + task-specific performance (oil grip, abrasion, cut options, touchscreen add-ons, etc.).

 

4) Performance Comparison Table

Factor	TPE Injection Molded Gloves	Dipped Gloves (Nitrile/Latex/PU)
Construction	Molded TPE body	Knit liner + coated palm/full dip
Fit & Comfort	Medium (depends on mold)	Usually better (liner conforms to hand)
Breathability	Often lower	Often higher (especially palm-dipped)
Dexterity	Good for light tasks	Often better for precision work
Grip (dry)	Good (patterned TPE)	Good to excellent (depends on coating texture)
Grip (oily)	Moderate (varies by pattern)	Excellent with nitrile foam/sandy finishes
Abrasion resistance	Medium	Medium to high (depends on coating)
Cut resistance options	Limited	Wide range (can use HPPE/aramid liners)
Chemical/oil resistance	Limited-moderate	Strong with nitrile; varies by coating
Price structure	Tooling + low unit cost at volume	Flexible, many price tiers
OEM flexibility	Mold pattern, logo, color (tool-dependent)	Very flexible: liner, gauge, coating, finishing

 

 

5) Grip: Dry vs Oily vs Wet Conditions

TPE Injection Gloves

Dry grip: typically solid due to raised patterns and high-friction TPE surface.

Wet/oily grip: depends heavily on pattern design (channels, grooves, multi-direction texture). Some models perform well; others can slip if the surface is too smooth.

 

Dipped Gloves

Nitrile dipped: best overall for oil/grease and industrial maintenance.

Latex dipped: strong wet grip and "tacky" feel, popular for construction and handling.

PU dipped: great for dry grip and dexterity, not ideal for heavy oil.

Sourcing tip: If the job site includes oils, many buyers default to nitrile dipped because performance is more predictable across environments.

 

6) Comfort & Sweat Management

If users wear gloves for hours, comfort drives repeat purchases.

TPE injection gloves can feel warmer because many designs have less airflow.

Dipped gloves usually win on comfort because the knit back breathes, and the liner "moves" with the hand.

Practical result:

Short tasks / quick handling → TPE works fine

Long shifts / high-frequency movement → dipped gloves often get better feedback

 

 

7) Durability & Wear Life

TPE injection gloves: durable for light abrasion and repeated handling; molded structure can resist tearing in certain areas, but may wear faster in high-friction industrial use depending on compound and thickness.

Dipped gloves: durability ranges widely. A high-quality nitrile coating can deliver strong abrasion resistance, while thin PU is made for dexterity and may wear faster.

Rule of thumb:

For "rougher" workplaces, nitrile dipped often outlasts entry-level molded gloves.

For "light-duty and cost-sensitive" programs, TPE injection is attractive.

 

8) Protection Options: Cut, Impact, Heat

This is where dipped gloves have a bigger design space:

Need cut resistance? Use HPPE liner + nitrile/PU coating.

Need impact protection? Add TPR on back-of-hand (common on dipped glove platforms).

Need heat resistance? Dipped gloves are not the main choice; you'd shift to aramid/leather/heat-certified solutions.

TPE injection gloves are typically positioned for general purpose rather than certified high-protection tasks.

9) Cost, MOQ, and OEM Customization

TPE Injection Gloves: Tooling-led OEM

You can customize:

Mold pattern (grip texture)

Logo in mold

Color and material hardness

Packaging and labeling

Considerations

Requires tooling development

Best economics at larger volume

 

Dipped Gloves: Configuration-led OEM

You can customize quickly:

Liner material (poly/nylon/HPPE)

Gauge (thinner for dexterity, thicker for durability)

Coating type and finish (smooth/foam/sandy/crinkle)

Cuff style, printing, private label packaging

Considerations

Very flexible for small-to-mid SKUs

Easier to launch multiple variants for different customers

 

10) Which One Should You Sell?

Choose TPE Injection Gloves if your buyers want:

Entry-level to mid-level grip glove

Easy-to-clean handling glove

Strong consistency and stable output

Aggressive price points for promotions / retail programs

 

Choose Dipped Gloves if your buyers want:

Long-wear comfort and breathability

Better dexterity for daily use

Clear performance in oil/wet environments (especially nitrile)

Options for cut resistance / industrial compliance programs

 

11) Recommended "Best Fit" by Industry

Warehouse / Logistics: Dipped (nitrile or PU) for comfort; TPE for light picking or quick tasks

Automotive / Maintenance: Nitrile dipped (oil grip)

Construction / Hardware: Latex or nitrile dipped for grip and abrasion

Retail / DIY: TPE injection gloves for value; PU dipped for premium "feel"

Light Assembly: PU dipped for dexterity; TPE for general handling

 

12) Buyer Checklist (Fast Decision)

Before choosing, confirm these 6 points:

Is the environment oily/wet?

Is long-wear comfort a priority?

Are you targeting cut/impact variants?

What's the price band (entry / mid / premium)?

Do you need fast customization without tooling?

How many SKUs do you plan to launch?

 

If you answer "yes" to oil + comfort + multiple performance SKUs, dipped gloves will usually win. If you're focusing on a single hero SKU with consistent grip at a sharp price, TPE injection is strong.

 

OEM Note

We support both TPE injection molded glove programs (mold development + mass production) and dipped glove OEM (liner/coating customization). If you tell us your target application and price, we can recommend the most cost-effective structure and provide samples.