• Home
  • About BlueSheepdog
    • Index
    • Privacy Policy
    • Online Resources
  • Police Training Articles
    • Field Training Officer
    • Firearms Training Articles
    • General Training Articles
    • Officer Safety Training Articles
  • Gear Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Gun Reviews
    • Flashlight Reviews
    • Knife Reviews & Information on Knives
    • Review Policy
  • Blog

Blue Sheepdog

Police Gear Reviews, Training and Officer Safety Tips.

You are here: Home / Ares Cut Resistant Gloves Review

Ares Cut Resistant Gloves Review

Ares gloves

(Note: PPSS Group donated two pairs of the Ares cut resistant gloves to be given away to the BlueSheepdog.com readers.  Scroll to the bottom of the article for the entry form.)

PPSS Group recently sent me a pair of their Ares cut resistant gloves to review. I don’t think they knew I was going to try to destroy them with a bunch of knives, but that is exactly what I set out to do. More on that in a minute. (scroll down for the video)

The Ares gloves are made from a variety of synthetic materials with the real protection coming from the Cut-Tex PRO lining. Cut-Tex PRO is made from several fibers, including an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Cut-Tex PRO is comfortable enough that PPSS makes all sorts of clothing out of it, including boxer shorts, hoodies and jackets.

The palm side of the gloves has a non-slip grip pad sewn into them (double stitched), while the back uses lightweight black nylon. A Velcro adjustment strap allows for easy donning and doffing of the gloves.

Ares gloves review photos

Like all cut resistant gloves, the Ares is thick and you do lose some fine dexterity while wearing them. I have tried different kinds of cut resistant gloves, which have used Kevlar, Spectra and other fibers to provide protection against sharp edges.

In my opinion, none of them are comfortable enough for constant wearing, and I don’t like wearing any of them for standard prisoner searches. However, if I am dealing with a known risk for razor blades, knives or needles, I will gladly put them on.

I imagine the best use for cut resistant gloves is when doing contraband searches in a jail or when searching a car. In these scenarios, there is a pretty good chance of running into something sharp, and these gloves can prevent a trip to the hospital for stitches and pathogen exposure treatment. Neither are fun.

Cut-Tex PRO

A look at the Cut-Tex PRO, which is used as the protective layer in the Ares cut-resistant gloves.

PPSS Group is based in the United Kingdom and follows the European standard BS EN 388:2003 for measuring cut resistance. The Ares gloves are rated as “Level 5” for blade cut resistance. This is the highest level measurable in the European standard. If I understand the standard correctly, level 5 is about 20 times more resistant than a level 1 glove.

For readers in the USA, there are different standards for measuring cut resistance through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). According to ANSI, the European standards are similar though not exactly the same.

cut resistant gloves

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has a different system for measuring stabbing resistance. The NIJ standards are the ones most frequently encountered by law enforcement officers, but there is not an accurate conversion from the European cut resistance standard to the NIJ stabbing standard as they measure completely different things.

So, what good is a review of cut-resistant gloves if I don’t pull out a knife (or four) and try to cut through them? Well, that is exactly what I did. See the Ares glove video below.

As you can see in the video, I took multiple swipes at these gloves with different knives and the gloves did very well. The knives I used were:

  • a generic utility knife using razor blades
  • Blackhawk! Be Wharned (my regular carry knife)
  • Kershaw Compound (brand new)
  • CRKT Triumph (plain edge, brand new)

I took multiple swipes at the gloves using each one of the knives. I used each knife to cut the palm side and the backside of the gloves. All of the knives cut through the palm grip and non-protective nylon material easily. On the palm side, none of the knives penetrated the Cut-Tex PRO material. On the backside, the first three knives failed to penetrate the protective lining.

CRKT Triumph

The final knife (the CRKT Triumph) did manage to break through the Cut-Tex PRO lining from the backside of the glove. But, I cannot consider the gloves to be a failure: let me put the test into perspective.

Like bullet-resistant vests, cut resistant gloves provide protection, not invulnerability. All forms of protection can be overcome, and doing the test I did was a bit like firing a rifle at a concealable vest – it wasn’t entirely fair:

  • The integrity of the glove had already been damaged by seven prior attempts to cut through it.
  • I was using a lot of force behind the knife, which is not likely to be encountered in typical use.
  • I had to cut three times in the same spot to get any penetration.
  • The glove was laying on a fairly rigid surface without the natural “give” in the hand.

My takeaway on the torture test? The gloves withstood more than can reasonably be expected of them. When the “failure” was encountered, it was in a small location and only after much abuse.

I think the Ares cut resistant gloves are a quality item that offers a lot of protection. When viewed as a tool, not a magic solution, they are definitely worth the purchase. You can find the gloves at the PPSS Group’s website.

Thanks to all of those who signed up for the giveaway.  The two winners were selected, and the gloves are enroute from PPSS to them now!

Note: A special thank you to Robert Kaiser, the CEO of PPSS Group. Robert was kind enough to swap e-mails with me, further explaining their cut resistant gloves and other products. PPSS is not an advertiser at BlueSheepdog.com.

Ares cut resistant gloves

PPSS Group gloves

Ares gloves

Ares gloves review

In Stock Right Now

Handgun Ammo

Rifle Ammo

Guns

Today’s Most Read

  • Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review
    Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review
  • Diamondback DB9 Review
    Diamondback DB9 Review
  • Best 1-4x Scope Guide: Our Recommendations for Affordable Optics that Won't Break the Bank
    Best 1-4x Scope Guide: Our Recommendations for Affordable Optics that Won't Break the Bank
  • .308 Sniper Ammo: One Sniper's View [Updated]
    .308 Sniper Ammo: One Sniper's View [Updated]
  • International Driver's License: Legit or Scam?
    International Driver's License: Legit or Scam?
  • SIG P229 E2 Review
    SIG P229 E2 Review
  • Ameriglo Agent Night Sights Review
    Ameriglo Agent Night Sights Review
  • Carlson's Tactical Breacher Muzzle Brake
    Carlson's Tactical Breacher Muzzle Brake
  • Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Holster Guide
    Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Holster Guide
  • The Ten Deadly Errors
    The Ten Deadly Errors

BlueSheepdog.com is dedicated to providing no nonsense police gear reviews, law enforcement information, officer safety tips and more. Founded by a cop and written by cops, BSD is independently owned and operated.

Popular Posts

•Best Bail Out Bag for Police
•No Guns for Police at Disney World
•ETS Glock 42 and Glock 43 Magazines •LAPD's New Backup Guns
•Broken Recruits: Common Field Training Problems and Solutions
•Police Knives - Training & Reviews
•Six Things That Can Save Your Life

Copyright © 2023 · BlueSheepdog.com

BlueSheepdog.com is a for-profit website. I do not charge readers a dime to access the information I provide. Some of the links on this page and site are affiliate links to companies like Amazon and Palmetto State Armory. These links take you to the products mentioned in the article. Should you decide to purchase something from one of those companies, I make a small commission.