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Please use the Blog area of the Southcombe Brothers website to discuss and post comments about our gloves. We'll be using this area to report back as we continue to develop new areas of glove making.

About Southcombe Brothers
Building on their unique blend of expertise, experience and market knowledge, Southcombe Brothers Ltd goes from strength to strength in the fire glove market.

Fire gloves from Southcombe Brothers are made from PYROHIDE® - a soft, buttery leather that gives complete protection against fire, acids, alkalis and water. FIREMASTER® gloves with PYROHIDE® will not crack or warp under extreme heat conditions. PYROHIDE® also repels chemicals, liquids and heat - then dries soft and supple. This revolutionary leather, together with top-end design and construction, means that Southcombe Brothers have become major players in the international protective glove market.

PYROHIDE® was invented while Southcombe Brothers were developing gloves to extremely high standards for the British Military. Most water-resistant leathers have a coating painted on, which gives a waxy, stiff finish and can also disguise poor quality leather. PYROHIDE® has the technology added at the tanning stage which ensures the leather stays in its most natural state. It is the first and best quality leather, soft and buttery, but with amazing protective qualities.

From humble beginnings in the 1840’s to the forefront of technical glove construction today, Southcombe Brothers has remained true to its local West Country roots. A family-run business, managing director David Southcombe is the 5th generation of Southcombes to take the helm. Despite the slow decline of British manufacturing, Southcombe Brothers still manages to employ many local people in its Somerset tannery, machine rooms and warehouse. “We started making gloves for the fire services in 1996, at the launch of the EN659 standard,” says David Southcombe. “Since then we have worked hand-in-hand with the fire service, military and police to develop and perfect our glove ranges.”

Certified to both EN659:2003 as well as NFPA 1971: 2007, the combination of PYROHIDE® and premium, high-end materials such as Kevlar®, Nomex® and Crosstech® membranes means that the quality of the gloves is unparalleled. Southcombe Brothers now supply over 75% of UK brigades with their structural fire-fighting glove as well as partnering ICP winners Bristol Uniforms. “In each case, every fire-fighter who used these gloves, loved them,” says Ian Moses, PPE Manager, Grampian Fire Brigade. “The glove fitted beautifully, the quality was excellent, they were able to handle equipment with ease, keep the glove clean without the leather drying out and getting stiff and more importantly, the protection offered was superb.” Because the gloves are so easy to wear, they are removed less often, meaning hand injuries are significantly reduced.

Travelling abroad and exhibiting at major shows abroad has led to Southcombe Brothers positive international profile. At this exciting time in the protective glove market, Southcombe Brothers are leading the way.