Best A5 Cut Resistant Gloves

Best a5 cut resistant gloves: the short answer

Best a5 cut resistant gloves — Best ANSI A5 cut-resistant gloves in 2026 — the short answer For most buyers the best A5 cut resistant gloves are the Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 for the

Best ANSI A5 cut-resistant gloves in 2026 — the short answer

For most buyers the best A5 cut resistant gloves are the Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 for the strongest mix of ANSI A5 protection and dexterity, with the HexArmor Helix 3033 as the food-safe pick and the MCR Safety 92785NFS CutPro for oily grip. All seven picks below carry a genuine ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 A5 cut rating and are reviewed on WC Safety.

A5 cut resistant gloves sit in the high-protection band of the ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 scale — rated to stop between 2,200 and 2,999 grams of cutting load — which makes them the go-to choice for glass, sheet metal, food processing and other moderate-to-heavy laceration hazards. But the seven gloves that earn a genuine A5 rating range from food-safe knits to waterproof winter shells to tactical leather, and the right pick depends on coating, material and use case. This guide ranks the seven best A5 cut-resistant gloves we cover, then explains exactly when A5 is the right level. For the full category overview, start with our cut-resistant gloves complete guide.

Editorial verdict — best A5 cut-resistant gloves overall: the Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5. Its Armortex® liner delivers EN 388: 2016 level D and ANSI A5 blade-cut protection in a touchscreen-capable glove that still lets you work. For food lines, pair it with the HexArmor Helix 3033.

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7 best A5 cut-resistant gloves — full ranking

1. Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 — Best ANSI A5 cut-resistant gloves overall

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: Armortex® liner + synthetic-leather palm · Coating: carbon-infused synthetic leather · EN 388: 2016 level D

A5 cut resistant gloves rarely combine this much protection with this much feel. The Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 carries an internal Armortex® layer rated to EN 388: 2016 level D and ANSI A5 blade-cut, wrapped in a touchscreen-capable synthetic-leather palm and breathable TrekDry back. It is the pick when you need true A5 protection but still have to handle tools, fasteners and a phone — the rare A5 glove that does not feel like a gauntlet. See it on the Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 Cut-Resistant Covert Work Gloves.

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2. HexArmor Helix 3033 — Best ANSI A5 food-safe cut-resistant gloves

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: HPPE seamless knit · Coating: food-safe foam grip · Use: food processing

A5 cut resistant gloves for food handling are a narrow category, and the HexArmor Helix 3033 owns it. It delivers full ANSI A5 cut protection in a seamless HPPE knit with a food-safe coating, so it suits meat processing, deli and prep lines where blade and slicer hazards are constant. At this price it is the value entry point into genuine A5 protection. See it on the HexArmor Helix 3033 ANSI A5 Food-Safe Cut-Resistant Gloves.

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3. MCR Safety 92752S CutPro — Best lightweight ANSI A5 cut-resistant gloves

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: HPPE engineered yarn · Coating: polyurethane palm · Gauge: 13-gauge

A5 cut resistant gloves for all-day general handling should disappear on the hand, and the MCR Safety 92752S CutPro does. Its 13-gauge HPPE shell with a polyurethane palm coating hits ANSI A5 while staying thin and tactile — the everyday A5 glove for assembly, glass handling, sheet metal and parts work where you are in and out of gloves constantly. See it on the MCR Safety 92752S CutPro A5 Cut-Resistant Gloves.

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4. MCR Safety 92785NFS CutPro — Best ANSI A5 cut-resistant gloves for oily grip

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: HPPE engineered yarn · Coating: micro-foam nitrile palm · Gauge: knit

A5 cut resistant gloves meet wet and oily work in the MCR Safety 92785NFS CutPro. The micro-foam nitrile palm channels oil away from the contact surface for grip on slick parts, while the HPPE shell holds the ANSI A5 cut rating. This is the A5 pick for automotive, metal fabrication and any job where the parts are coated in fluid. See it on the MCR Safety 92785NFS CutPro A5 Micro Foam Nitrile Gloves.

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5. Ergodyne ProFlex 7040 — Best ANSI A5 food-grade cut-resistant gloves for value

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: HPPE blend knit · Coating: food-grade palm · Use: food processing

A5 cut resistant gloves rated food-grade and priced for volume describe the Ergodyne ProFlex 7040. It pairs an ANSI A5 HPPE knit with a food-grade construction, making it the sister pick to the HexArmor Helix 3033 for kitchens, butchery and packing lines. Buy it when you need certified A5 cut protection across a whole crew without a premium-glove budget. See it on the Ergodyne ProFlex 7040 ANSI A5 Food Grade Cut Resistant Gloves.

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6. Ergodyne ProFlex 7551 — Best ANSI A5 waterproof winter cut-resistant gloves

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: HPPE liner · Coating: waterproof insulated nitrile · Use: cold / wet

A5 cut resistant gloves for winter work converge on the Ergodyne ProFlex 7551. It wraps an ANSI A5 cut liner in a waterproof, insulated nitrile shell, so cold-weather crews keep full A5 protection while staying warm and dry. This is the A5 pick for outdoor utility, cold storage, recycling and any sharp-hazard job done in freezing or wet conditions. See it on the Ergodyne 7551 ProFlex Cut-Resistant Waterproof Winter Work Gloves, A5.

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7. Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit S2EC33 — Best high-dexterity ANSI A5 cut-resistant gloves

ANSI cut level: A5 · Material: HPPE + steel blend · Coating: water-based urethane palm · Gauge: 18-gauge (ANSI abrasion 4)

A5 cut resistant gloves at the dexterity ceiling describe the Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit S2EC33. An 18-gauge HPPE-and-steel knit delivers ANSI A5 cut and ANSI level 4 abrasion while staying thin enough for fine work, and the water-based urethane palm grips in dry and wet conditions. It is the A5 glove for precision tasks — metalworking, carpentry and assembly — where you refuse to trade feel for protection. See it on the Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit S2EC33 Cut-Resistant Work Gloves.

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What ANSI A5 means under ANSI/ISEA 105-2016

The A5 cut band: 2,200 to 2,999 grams

ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 grades cut resistance on the TDM-100 machine, where a blade under a known weight is drawn across the material and the grams of load needed to cut through sets the level. A5 covers 2,200 to 2,999 grams — a high-protection rating that sits two steps below the top of the nine-level scale. For the level-by-level breakdown, see our cut-resistance glove levels explained guide.

A4 vs A5 vs A6

A4 spans 1,500 to 2,199 grams, A5 spans 2,200 to 2,999 grams, and A6 starts at 3,000 grams. Moving from A4 to A5 buys roughly a 50 percent higher cut-load margin for sharper edges; moving from A5 to A6 targets severe plate and recycling hazards. Match the level to the hazard rather than over-spec'ing — our how to choose cut-resistant gloves by ANSI level guide covers the decision.

Coatings and materials at A5

An A5 rating comes from the shell yarn — HPPE, often blended with steel or glass fiber, or an aramid Armortex® liner — not from the coating. The coating (polyurethane, micro-foam nitrile, leather or insulated nitrile) sets grip, abrasion life and wet performance. That is why two A5 gloves can feel completely different in the hand.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138

OSHA 1910.138 requires employers to select hand protection from a documented hazard assessment. When that assessment finds a moderate-to-heavy laceration hazard, a correctly fitted A5 glove satisfies the standard.

Best A5 cut-resistant gloves: full side-by-side comparison

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Common questions

What does ANSI A5 mean on cut-resistant gloves?

ANSI A5 is the sixth step on the nine-level ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 cut scale (A1 through A9). A glove earns A5 when it withstands between 2,200 and 2,999 grams of cutting load on the TDM-100 test before the blade cuts through. In plain terms, A5 is a high-protection rating suited to moderate-to-heavy cut hazards. For the full scale, see our ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels explained guide.

How many grams of cut resistance does an A5 glove provide?

A5 covers 2,200 to 2,999 grams of cut resistance measured on the ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 TDM-100 machine. The band directly below it, A4, runs 1,500 to 2,199 grams, and the band above, A6, starts at 3,000 grams. So an A5 glove like the Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 sits in the upper-middle of the protection range.

When should I choose A5 cut-resistant gloves instead of A4?

Step up from A4 to A5 when the hazard involves thinner, sharper or more energetic edges — sheet metal, glass plate, sharp stamped parts and powered slicing. A4 (1,500 to 2,199 g) handles general fabrication and light metal, while A5 (2,200 to 2,999 g) buys roughly a 50 percent higher cut-load margin. Our how to choose cut-resistant gloves by ANSI level guide walks through matching the level to the task.

A5 vs A6 cut-resistant gloves — which do I need?

A5 (2,200 to 2,999 g) is the practical ceiling for most metal, glass and processing work, while A6 (3,000 to 3,999 g) targets severe hazards like heavy plate, oil and gas, and recycling. Going higher than the hazard requires usually costs dexterity for no added safety. If you only occasionally face extreme edges, an A5 glove plus task-specific A6 where needed is more comfortable than running A6 everywhere; compare the field in our best cut-resistant gloves guide.

Which A5 cut-resistant gloves are best for glass and sheet-metal handling?

For dry glass and sheet metal, a thin A5 knit with a grippy palm wins on feel — the MCR Safety 92752S CutPro or the high-dexterity Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit S2EC33. If the panels are oily, switch to the micro-foam nitrile MCR Safety 92785NFS CutPro for grip.

What are the best A5 cut-resistant gloves for food processing?

Choose a food-safe A5 glove: the HexArmor Helix 3033 or the value-priced Ergodyne ProFlex 7040. Both pair ANSI A5 cut protection with a food-grade build for meat processing, deli slicing and prep, where blade and slicer contact is constant.

Which A5 gloves work best on oily or wet parts?

Coating drives wet grip, not cut level. The micro-foam nitrile palm on the MCR Safety 92785NFS CutPro channels oil away for grip on slick parts, and the waterproof Ergodyne ProFlex 7551 adds insulation for cold-and-wet work. A polyurethane-palm A5 glove is better kept to dry handling.

What materials give a glove an A5 cut rating?

A5 cut resistance comes from high-performance yarns — HPPE (high-performance polyethylene), often blended with steel or glass fiber, and in tactical gloves an Armortex® aramid liner. The Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit S2EC33 uses HPPE plus steel, while the Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 uses an Armortex liner. The coating adds grip and abrasion life but is not what sets the cut level.

Are A5 cut-resistant gloves cut-proof?

No glove is cut-proof. ANSI A5 means high resistance to slicing cuts within a defined load range, not immunity — a powered blade or enough force will still cut through. A5 also rates slicing, not puncture: for hypodermic or thorn hazards you need a separately rated glove. See our ANSI/ISEA 138 hand-protection reference for how cut, puncture and impact ratings differ.

How is the A5 cut level tested under ANSI/ISEA 105-2016?

ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 uses the TDM-100 machine: a straight blade under a known weight makes a single pass across the glove material, and the grams of load needed to cut through at 20 mm of travel sets the level. The 2016 revision replaced the old five-level scale with nine levels (A1 to A9) for finer resolution, which is why you see A5 rather than the legacy 'Level 4'. The full method is covered in our cut levels explained guide.

What is the most dexterous A5 cut-resistant glove?

The 18-gauge Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit S2EC33 is the dexterity leader here — its thin HPPE-and-steel knit keeps A5 protection while staying tactile for fine work. The Mechanix Wear Pursuit D5 is the most dexterous leather-palm A5 option if you also want touchscreen use.

Do A5 cut-resistant gloves protect against punctures and needles?

Not necessarily. The ANSI A5 cut rating measures blade slicing only. Needle and puncture protection is rated separately, and many A5 knits offer little needle resistance. If sharps or hypodermics are the hazard, choose a needle-rated glove instead — compare options in our best needle-resistant gloves guide.

Are A5 cut gloves enough, or should I go to A6 or higher?

For the large majority of metal fabrication, glass, automotive and food work, A5 (2,200 to 2,999 g) is the right balance of protection and feel. Move to A6 through A9 only when you face heavy plate, energized blades or recycling-line hazards that exceed 3,000 g. Over-spec'ing the cut level mainly costs dexterity; see the broader range in our best impact-resistant gloves guide when impact is also a factor.

How do I size A5 cut-resistant gloves correctly?

A cut glove only protects where it actually covers the hand, so fit matters: it should be snug with no loose palm material and full fingertip coverage. A glove that bunches leaves gaps the blade can find. Most A5 lines run S to XXL; if you are between sizes in a thin knit like the MCR Safety 92752S CutPro, size to your true measurement. Browse size spreads in the cut-resistant gloves collection.

Which A5 cut-resistant gloves are best for cold or winter work?

The Ergodyne ProFlex 7551 is the standout: it keeps a full ANSI A5 cut liner inside a waterproof, insulated nitrile shell for outdoor utility, cold storage and recycling. A bare A5 knit leaves hands cold and wet, so for freezing sharp-hazard work an insulated A5 glove is the correct choice.

Sources. Requirements referenced here come from OSHA 29 CFR 1910 and the NIOSH recommendations. Where a consensus standard governs, the ANSI document is named in the text.

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Why trust WC Safety

WC Safety is an independent, affiliate-supported review site. It is not a retailer: it holds no inventory, takes no orders, and earns only from qualifying purchases through clearly marked links — which never changes what a product is rated to do. Standards language is taken from the regulation text directly, and ratings are reported as the manufacturer publishes them. We run no laboratory and perform no testing of our own. Where published sources disagree, we say so and plan on the conservative figure rather than the flattering one.

Our methodology

Figures come from the regulation and the published specification, in that order. Derated numbers are calculated, not estimated. Nothing here is presented as a measured result, because we measure nothing.

Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers and regulators publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed August 2026.