This is blog #6 in our "Truth in Safety" series, where we debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding PPE. In an industry flooded with bold claims and confusing standards, we provide the facts you need to make informed safety decisions for you and your team. No fluff, no hype – just the truth from the trusted safety experts who have your back.

If we’ve learned one thing throughout this "Truth in Safety” series – it’s that when it comes to glove safety claims, not everything is always as it seems.

You may have seen the advertising from some safety glove managers: a super-thin, 21-gauge seamless glove with a bold claim printed on the label – A9-level cut resistance. A glove so thin you see your skin through the knitted material, yet it carries the highest cut resistance claim available in North America.

The truth is, it’s nearly impossible for a glove this thin to deliver true ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 A9 protection across the entire surface of the glove, especially at the prices being advertised. So, why are some manufacturers making these claims, and what should safety managers, procurement teams, and workers know before trusting a spec sheet?

In this blog, we’re digging into the reality behind these claims:

• What it really takes to reach A9 – and why thin-gauge knits fall short
• Why ultra-thin yarns can’t carry A9-level strength
• How cost and build quality expose these unrealistic claims

First, what is gauge, and how does it affect cut resistance?

Gauge refers to the thickness of a glove’s knit material. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the glove is. For example, a 13-gauge glove is durable and thick, often good for general-purpose work, while a 21-gauge glove is incredibly thin and made for precision tasks, not heavy-duty hazards. Learn more about knit glove gauge here.

But, here’s the catch: gauge alone doesn’t determine cut-resistance. The yarns being used in the knit of the glove also plays a role.

• Lower-gauge gloves (7–13g) typically use bulkier yarns that can incorporate high-strength materials like aramid or engineered core yarns. These gloves can be built for extreme durability, but not all are. A cotton 7-gauge glove, for example, is a lower gauge but offers little to no cut resistance, so the cut resistance is very dependent on the type of yarn used on the knit + added materials.

Here’s something people may not realize: materials like Kevlar®, by itself, typically max out around A5 on the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 scale. To achieve higher cut levels – like A7, A8, and A9 – manufacturers almost always need to incorporate more expensive materials such as glass, steel, or advanced composite material blends.

All knit gauges and yarn materials have their place on the job, depending on the task. But when a 21-gauge glove claims A9-level cut protection without disclosing its material makeup, it should raise eyebrows. Because without those reinforcing materials, it’s just not possible based on what we know today.

What A9-level cut resistance actually requires under ANSI/ISEA 105-2024

The ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard defines level A9 cut resistance as the ability to withstand at least 6,000 grams of force on a straight-edge blade in a controlled TDM-100 test for at least 20 millimeters. This is the highest rating in the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard – and it’s reserved for gloves that can hold up against the most extreme cut hazards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of cut levels for some context.

A quick refresher: How to test and certify cut testing

Glove cut testing is done on a TDM-100 machine, using a straight-edge blade and a standardized test method. To earn a trustworthy ANSI/ISEA cut rating, gloves should be tested by an accredited third-party lab that follows the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard. Learn more about glove testing procedures and equipment here.

Proper third-party testing must follow the parameters outlined by the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard, including specific testing conditions and requirements like a repeatability score (R-value) to ensure consistent results.

However, meeting the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard does not require an accredited third-party testing certification. While the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard outlines how gloves should be tested, it does not mandate that testing must be done by an accredited third-party lab.

This means glove manufacturers can self-test their products in-house and still claim ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 cut ratings, without any independent verification.

Without this independent validation, there’s no way to ensure the gloves truly perform as claimed. Internal testing can be subject to bias, shortcuts, and selective reporting – like failing to disclose a repeatability score, which measures how consistent the cut rest results are across multiple trials. A low repeatability score indicates that the test results may not be reliable or repeatable. However, some manufacturers choose not to report this number, which can make their performance claims appear stronger than they actually are, especially when they’re under pressure to meet marketing demands or out-spec the competition.

HexTip: This can be the difference between quality protection and cheap PPE that won’t hold up when it matters most. At HexArmor®, we back our in-house testing with third-party validation to ensure our gloves meet ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standards and adhere to even stricter European standards.

This begs the question: If manufacturers can self-test and report with no accountability, what kinds of unrealistic claims can they make?

The impossible math of high-gauge gloves and A9 protection

By now, you might be thinking: How can a 21-gauge glove this thin possibly deliver A9-level cut protection?

Here’s the truth – it probably can’t.

As it stands now, a 21-gauge glove is engineered specifically for precision and dexterity, not for withstanding the kind of force an A9 rating requires. The science behind this claim simply does not add up.

"From what I've seen in the PPE industry, a lot of competitors are claiming 21G A9 cut resistance, but when it comes to consistently achieving an A9 score, we just aren't seeing the supporting data.
- Bryant Roos, Product Developer at HexArmor

To achieve true A9-level cut protection (withstand over 6000 grams of force), a glove typically needs thicker yarns, stronger materials (such as aramid or steel), and a denier construction. Denier refers to a unit of measurement that indicates the thickness or weight of a yarn. That level of protection across the entire glove, not just a reinforced patch, isn’t realistic in a glove that thin.

And here’s where cost comes in. High-performance materials like premium-grade steel, high-denier aramid blends, or ultra-dense metals like tungsten are expensive, and they don’t show up in bargain-priced gloves. So when you see a 21-gauge glove claiming A9 protection and priced like a general-purpose knit, it’s worth asking: what’s really inside?

There are several other factors that need to be considered in the manufacturing process of these gloves. Some manufacturers may try to boost cut resistance in ultra-thin gloves by twisting multiple strands of steel together – and although there’s not a required limit of steel in gloves, the quality of the glove deteriorates if you overpack the yarns with steel:

• The glove becomes uncomfortable and stiff, sacrificing dexterity.
• There’s less room for flexible fibers like spandex or nylon, so the glove loses shape memory, stretches out, and fits poorly over time.
• And even when steel is used, if it’s low-quality, too thin, or not used in high enough quantities, it won’t deliver meaningful protection.

All in all, some gloves may use low-grade stainless steel or just trace amounts to hit a marketing spec, and many avoid premium materials like tungsten altogether due to cost.

Don’t just take our word for it. We put all of these so-called A9 21-gauge gloves to the test in our HexLab and the results speak for themselves. Despite the A9 label, the highest cut score the gloves achieved during the test was an average of A6.

Watch the video here:

This finding suggests that these gloves contain little to no steel, fiberglass, or other high-cut resistance fibers in the quantities needed to achieve A9 protection.

In other words, the materials don’t match the marketing hype.

When you see a 21-gauge glove claiming A9, it’s worth asking tough questions:

• Has the glove been tested by a third-party lab, or are you relying on the manufacturer’s word?
• Is that protection truly distributed across the entire glove?
• What materials are being used to achieve it, and do they make sense for the glove gauge and intended use?
• If this technology were truly possible, wouldn’t the leaders in the industry already be doing it? (The top 3 glove manufacturers in the world only offer 21g at level A6)

Even with access to some of the most advanced material innovations globally, achieving true A9 protection in a 21-gauge glove isn’t something we've seen yet... or seen verified.

That’s why bold claims in this space deserve a closer look. The laws of physics still apply, and so do the limits of today’s materials and glove construction. If the data isn’t clear and the performance seems too good to be true, it’s worth asking more questions.

HexArmor® can help

At the end of the day, the safety of workers depends on gear you can trust – and flashy claims aren’t enough.

A 21-gauge glove that claims A9-level protection should raise red flags for any safety professional – the science, materials, and real-world performance doesn’t add up. It’s important to ask for clarity, submit the glove to third-party testing, and make decisions based on facts, not marketing. We promise it’s worth the expense. HexLabs can help too, we do live testing no tricks, no gimmicks just the facts while you watch live.

At HexArmor, we’re committed to truth in safety, which is why we put our gloves through rigorous internal testing and verify results with independent, third-party labs. When we say a glove can handle extreme hazards, we’ve got the data to prove it.

While today’s technology makes a true 21-gauge A9 glove nearly impossible, we’re not giving up on innovation. Our HexLab team is actively pushing the boundaries of material science, with plans to develop solutions that could redefine what's possible in cut resistance – all without compromising safety.

Ready to see the difference? Reach out to our Solution Specialists team, call 1.877.MY ARMOR, or send us a message.

Check out the other blogs in our "Truth in Safety" series:

• Read now: Chromium in safety gloves: What you should watch out for
• Read now: Graphene in safety gloves: Strength or marketing hype?
• Read now: The true cost of cheap safety gear vs. quality protection
• Read now: REACH compliance in safety gloves
• Read now: Exposing the truth: How faulty safety gloves put workers at risk