The Search Begins
So last week, I’m up on the ladder trying to fix a service drop connection for my neighbor. Halfway through, my beat-up old gloves give up the ghost – the rubber just split clean open, nearly took a header off the ladder. That was it. Needed new lineman gloves, stat. Budget was tight though, couldn’t justify spending hundreds. My mission became clear: find good ones without emptying my wallet.
Digging Through Options
First stop? Online. Man, the sheer number almost made me quit. Started scouring forums, review sites, even comments sections on tool shops. Focused on guys actually doing line work, not fancy pros with company cards. Kept seeing a few names pop up again and again for decent quality at reasonable prices:
- Honeywell Salisbury 77 Series: People swore by these, especially for the price point. Kept hearing “workhorse”.
- Magen Elastopro Lineman Gloves: Lots of buzz about comfort and flexibility. Sounded good for long days.
- Shock Shield 40 Series: Budget kings apparently. Mixed reviews, but some solid praise for the money.
Poked around local electrical supply houses too. Talked to the counter guys. They confirmed online chatter – the Salisbury and Magen options were solid bets. Cringed at the price tags on the premium names like Salisbury 720s though. Beautiful gloves, but nope, way over budget.
The Purchase & First Impressions
Pulled the trigger on a pair of Salisbury 7716s and a pair of the Magen Elastopro Linemans. Wanted to try them head-to-head. Here’s the skinny:
- Salisbury 7716s ($40-ish): Felt thick right out the package. Stiff at first, needed some breaking in. Grip texture felt secure. Heavy duty vibe.
- Magen Elastopro ($50-ish): Felt crazy light and flexible immediately. Almost like a second skin. Softer rubber texture.
First thought on the Magens: “Are these actually protective?” They felt almost too comfy and thin! The Salisburys felt like tanks in comparison.
Putting Them to Work
Used both on different days doing actual line work – mostly service upgrades and replacing weathered insulators.
Okay, the Salisburys:
- Took a solid day or two of use to really soften up and feel less rigid.
- Grip is beastly. Felt planted, solid. Zero worries about tools slipping.
- Good protection against scrapes and snags. Felt secure working with conductors.
- Sweaty hands? Yeah, ventilation isn’t their strong suit on hot days.
Now the Magens:
- Comfort was instant. Forget break-in period. Move your hand, the glove moves.
- Tacky grip, super sensitive feel. Awesome for handling small hardware like cotter pins.
- Much better airflow, noticeably cooler.
- Questioned the durability initially on sharp edges. Used them carefully, so far so good.
- Felt a bit less… armored? Maybe just mental after the tank-like Salisburys.
The Verdict After Real Use
So, how much for good lineman gloves without spending too much?
Honestly? If you want max durability and grip and don’t mind breaking them in or sacrificing a little breathability, the Salisbury 7716s are a killer deal. Tanks. My go-to for heavy stuff now.
If all-day comfort and dexterity are your jam, and you mostly work on lower voltage service stuff, the Magen Elastopros are a revelation for the price. They’re my new favorite for quick meter jobs and service changes.
Total spent? Less than $100 for both pairs. That’s a huge win. Learned you don’t need the $200+ fancy names for solid, everyday protection. Gotta try ’em yourself and see what feels right in your hands, but these two are definitely worth every penny.
