Various parameters relevant to the puncture resistance of protective clothing materials were studied. The experimental set-up was installed in an Instron testing machine. Testing was performed in a compression mode. A point was installed in a 890-newton (200-lb) load compression force cell in the movable arm of the machine, and a sample support was installed in the fixed arm in the base. The first parameter analyzed was point geometry. Three geometries were evaluated: conical, hemispheric and flat points. The effect of the diameter of the points on the results of the puncture test was also evaluated. A neoprene material with three different thicknesses (0.41 mm, 0.7 9 mm and 1.57 mm) was used as reference material. The tests were performed at various speeds of the movable arm from 10 to 500 mm/min. Results showed that the point having a hemispheric geometry gives the best reproducibility. Hemispheric geometry points were therefore used to test the puncture resistance of commercially available gloves. A classification of the gloves into four groups is proposed.