Tool Review: Milwaukee Tools SmartSwipe work gloves

Milwaukee Tools Performance Glove with SmartSwipe are part of the new breed of “tough-meets-tech” for the trades.

Job site rugged, these gloves have some kind of Hogwarts-type fabric that makes it touch screen compatible.

They’re shovel compatible too. At the same time. Let’s solve the mystery, shall we?

I’m making the call on “tough” here based on Milwaukee’s reputation for heavy duty and my experience with similarly designed and built gloves. And that these cost 10 bucks, which is hardly believable considering what you get.

Loading lumber? Check. Moving boxes of cabinets from January to inside? Check. Shoveling snow or digging holes? Check and also check.

I wouldn’t roof a house with them, the fingers will likely be worn through in a day or two from the shingles’ texture. They’re fabric, not chain mail.

But for the day-to-day—and the inevitable oddball stuff of old house remodeling—they got the job done. And even though they have hook and loop wrist closures, I don’t use them. I just fold the tops of the gloves down as shown and tear the label off (as not shown).

As for the SmartSwipe, it works. I can’t believe it and don’t know how, but it works. Cool!

I didn’t try it in every scenario by any stretch. We’re digging snow in March as I write this, not post holes for building a fence (see video) in August. But with dry gloves and a dry screen it worked on an iPhone 6+. I could type—not quickly—but I could jot a text, take and swipe photos and then do the little things some more ungainly gloves prohibit: Like zip and unzip the pocket where I keep the phone. Unlike some stockier gloves I own, the fabric is flexible and moves with your hand. Good stuff.

On a tablet, all this would be even easier.

They’re not so tactile that you can tie your shoes (at least I couldn’t; maybe I’m just uncoordinated) but they managed the shovel just fine, make jumping into a cold truck or pushing the snow off the windshield that much easier and that’s what I’m looking for.

They’re snowball-fight-with-your-best-buddy suitable, too. Golly, being a dad is just the stuff sometimes!

Want more info or to buy Milwaukee Tools Performance Glove with SmartSwipe, click it dude. For 10-bucks, it’ll be tough to go wrong. TEXT ME!

(Watch my scintillating video on how to dig a hole here. Muddy, yet lyrical prose like “you want a hole, not a bowl” and “dirt chisel” abounds as all the sweat inside my body tries to leave it.)

Note: We partnered with The Home Depot to produce this blog. The information, how-to and tool advice are 100% MyFixitUpLife. Now let’s hit it. To learn more about or buy these Milwaukee Tools SmartSwipe gloves smash the link.