Badger Claw Outfitters Leather Gloves

Written by Nick Italiano

Gloves are an essential piece of outdoor gear that do not get talked about too often. Your hands are one of the most important assets you have while working or playing in the wilderness and injuring them can definitely hamper your productivity and ultimately your ability to safely navigate survival scenarios. While we traditionally think of gloves as a way to help protect our hands from snow, ice, and frigid temperatures, they are capable of much more. A quality pair of gloves can help prevent burns when working around a fire as well as protect our hands from injury while working with or moving wood, scaling rocks, and so much more. 

I have tried a few different types of gloves over the years, from simple gardening style gloves to technical gloves made from advanced materials, but no matter what I get I gravitate back to leather gloves for both warm and cold months. Quality leather is hard to beat when it comes to durability and protection, and has a classic aesthetic that reminds me of the outdoorsman of old. 

Today we are looking at 2 pairs of gloves from Badger Claw Outfitters, and not that I want to spoil it for anybody, but these are probably among the best gloves I ever worked with! Both pairs are made from high quality materials, the design and details are well thought out, and they are both made in the USA!

About Badger Claw Outfitters

Badger Claw Outfitters is owned by John Maynard, a lifelong outdoorsman and hunter. In 2011, John founded Badger Claw Outfitters with the goal of producing high-quality handcrafted leather and waxed canvas gear. Over a decade later, John and Badger Claw Outfitters has more than accomplished that goal, making numerous outdoor soft goods from leather, waxed canvas, and nylon from his shop in Texas. Badger Claw Outfitters has a robust offering through their own website as well as a thriving OEM business where they produce quality products for other companies including some of my favorite leather sheaths for Knives by Nuge and Malone Knives.

About the Gloves

When it comes to gloves, Badger Claw does not skimp on options! Leather gloves are available in cowhide, elk skin, and bison hide. The elk skin and bison hide gloves are available in both lined and unlined options. Today, we will be looking at the lined Bison Hide gloves and the unlined cowhide gloves.

The Cowhide Gloves

The unlined cowhide gloves are a great lightweight glove option that are both comfortable and durable. They are currently offered in the classic hide yellow color or in solid black. Each pair is made in the USA and is hand finished in the Badger Claw Shop to include a grommet for easy latching to your belt or pack and treated with a proprietary blend of water replennet oil and wax to ensure durability when working in the elements. I found the sizing to be accurate, and they are generously cut to provide wrist protection. While lightweight and relatively thin, they are a bit thicker than your standard big box leather garden glove, adding more durability but not interfering with your manual dexterity. I had no issues using larger knives, small knives, hatchets, or saws while wearing the cowhide gloves. Priced between $28 and $39 these are a great option for anyone looking for a solid American made work glove that won’t break the bank!

The Bison Lined Gloves

The Bison gloves are made with the same process as the lighter cowhide gloves but are slightly thicker due to them being made of 100% American Buffalo. The liner is made from Vellux, a synthetic material made by Dupont in the 1950’s. Due to the insulating qualities of this material it has been widely used in producing soft warm blankets and it pretty much has the same effect on your hands! Wearing these gloves is like wrapping your hand in a cozy blanket, which was much appreciated through this very cold and wet winter. The lined gloves are quite a bit thicker than the unlined cowhide gloves, so you definitely have less manual dexterity, but I had no issues working with large handled knives, saws, and axes. These are currently priced at $64.95 which seems pricey, but is really a good deal for a quality hand made American Glove that will last for years. If you like the idea of bison hide but don’t need a lined winter glove these are also made without the Vellux for a few dollars less.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoy using both these gloves, and I highly recommend both. The Lined option was perfect for the cold winter while doing work outdoors or just to keep my hands warm while hiking or around town. The lighter cowhide gloves will serve me well through the warmer months, especially with camping season coming up. While both these pairs haven’t been with me, all that they’ve have both shown to be well made and durable. The stitching is well done, and the leather quality is excellent; there is definitely a night and day difference in both look and feel when compared to cheaply made mass produced gloves. 

Check out these gloves and all the other high-quality outdoor goods Badger Claw has to offer at the links below!