When it comes to gardening, you often have to get your hands dirty. It's all part of the job, but no need to fret -- there are convenient tools to make the job easier, with gardening gloves being chief among them. In this article, we will explore these "handy" essentials by providing you with the best gardening gloves our team could dig up. We were especially fond of the bright and colorful gloves from COOLJOB that are perfect for smaller hands, built from strong materials, and can handle most DIY tasks. Read on to explore all of our amazing picks!
Our Top Picks For Gardening Gloves
The Best Gardening Gloves
Best Overall
These gloves are breathable and lightweight, making them exceptionally comfortable on your skin. They’re made using flexible rubber in bright red and mint green to keep your hands dry and cool. Also, the gloves have thickened fingertips, which helps to protect the nails and hand. Moreover, the flexible and long cuffs help keep debris and dirt out.
They are versatile and durable as they are made using soft and sturdy latex coating – ultimately helping dim down hand fatigue.
Pros
- They’re versatile – can be used for gardening as well as other DIY tasks
- They’re comfortable, breathable, and durable
- They’re perfect for women
Cons
- The rubber on the glove can be a bit sticky
Runner Up
The Slarmor long gardening gloves for women/men come from cowhide, a material with a fine surface and a delicate feel often used to create high-end footwear and handbags. The extended cowhide leather cuff protects the forearms from cuts and scratches, while the long pruning gloves enable painless and hassle-free work in the garden. Additionally, they have effective anti-bite action. The gloves are meticulously sewn and are Gunn cut, and the keystone thumb design gives comfort and flexibility. Ergonomic thumbs make instrument gripping easier, and you can easily handle thorny roses, ivy, blackberries, cactus, and other thorn plants when wearing these thorn-proof professional gloves.
Pros
- Feature a keystone thumb design
- Reinforced palm patch
- Easily put on/off and breathable
Cons
- Not machine washable
Honorable Mention
These premium deerskin leather hand gloves are designed to be naturally comfortable, soft, and flexible. In addition to having good abrasion resistance, these gloves are made using skin-friendly materials and also moisture-wicking layers, which help keep the hands sweat-free. Also, they have a double foam padded palm patch, however, because of the deerskin leather, the palm is still breathable, soft and shields the hands from abrasion when working on flowers, mowing the lawn, and gardening.
Compared with other items in the market, the glove is more comfortable, wearable, and quite reliable. It’s a one-size-fits-all pair and boasts its elastic design pretty well!
Pros
- It’s comfortable, soft, and flexible
- It’s waterproof
- You don’t have to worry about the sizes with this one – it has an elastic design that fits all sizes
Cons
- Not for large male hands
Also Consider
The G&F garden gloves are designed to be soft, comfortable, and efficient while out in the field. The gloves are made using a hundred percent cotton and have some flower print with a knit wrist. The gloves are sold in three distinct pairs of red, green, and blue for easy separation. Moreover, these are designed using skin-friendly materials and moisture wick layers that help maintain the cleanliness of your hands. It also has double foam padding, which makes it easy to work in.
Pros
- They’re durable, long-lasting gloves – double padded
- Comfortable on the hands
Cons
- It has a chemical odor
- They’re double padded and that makes them less breathable
For women looking to improve their gardening skills, the HAUSHOF garden gloves are a perfect choice. These gloves are so light and thin that you can feel what your hands are up to. These features and more make it easy to handle delicate and tiny seedlings. The gloves are nitrile coated, which helps stave off the sting and bite of insects commonly found in vegetation. Also, the nitrile coating helps cover a knitted base with an expanded fitted cuff, which gives it added protection while shielding the plant from soil and plants from soaking up the material.
Another unique feature of this glove is the wrist closure which helps keep the glove snuggly fitted. The gloves are also breathable, which means your hands will remain calm while you work.
Pros
- Nitrile coating for preventing insect bites
- Perfect for women – thanks to the colorful prints
- They come with a wrist closure for a good fit
Cons
- Not suitable for men
These gloves are available in both male and female sizes and come in two distinct designs: green for males and pink for women. The G & F gloves are made using stretchable spandex on the pink and green parts of the gloves, which makes them easy to stretch and absorb sweat. With the premium quality synthetic leather, you will enjoy the best thorn resistance while working in your yard.
Enjoy premium comfort, efficiency, and long-lasting use of these unique gloves!
Pros
- The extra-long banded cuff gives premium protection for the arm and wrist against thorns
- Offers optimum comfort and breathability
Cons
- They are not thorn proof
Pine Tree’s gardening gloves are specially designed to give you maximum comfort even while engaged in the most rigorous garden works. It is made using breathable bamboo, which helps absorb sweat and keeps your hands warm in winter and cool in winter. Another outstanding feature of this glove is that they are a perfect fit, and they have bare hand sensitivity, which makes them touchscreen-friendly. You no longer need to worry about taking off your gloves before using your phones, tablets and other devices.
This unique glove is durable, eco-friendly and long-lasting, making it the perfect companion for your gardening needs for a long time.
Pros
- They’re very breathable
- They’re a good fit, are durable, and provide comfortable hand protection
Cons
- These gloves are not meant for people with long fingers – could be a bit tight on the thumb and index
With the HANDLANDY rose to prune gloves, you will forget that you have thorns, neither will you bother yourself about poison ivy or oak. Also, you will get premium protection from sharp bushes as these gloves will shield your entire forearm from nasty bugs and thorns. Also, the palm and fingertip areas come with extra padding, which gives them better protection.
The gloves come with good breathability because of the porous texture of the hides, and they dry soft when they get wet, which helps keep the hands comfortable and relaxed. These gloves are durable and robust as they are made using good quality pigskin leather, making them puncture and wear resistance.
Pros
- Built with reinforced protection
- They have a breathable design
- They’re strongly made – durable gloves
- They are very comfortable on the hands
Cons
- A bit too large for average/small hands
Gardening Gloves: A Buying Guide
With several models and makes of garden gloves out there, you may struggle to find that one pair that can cater to all your needs. It’s always a good idea to get your hands on a pair that will not only help you with your gardening tasks and yard work, such as pulling weeds and sowing seeds, but with the rest of the household tasks too!
Selecting the best gardening gloves to protect your hands will depend on factors such as cost, the project, and so on.
What Are the Different Types of Gardening Gloves Out There?
Cloth gardening gloves
These are easily among the most inexpensive gardening gloves out there. They are made using cotton or knit jersey and are also machine washable. The core purpose of these gloves is to keep the user’s hands clean, but they don’t offer much protection for the hands. These types of gardening gloves are best for light work outside.
Leather gardening gloves
Leather gloves are the most expensive option, but they are designed to be waterproof and protect your hands better from cuts, thorns, and scrapes. Leather work gloves also require some special maintenance to keep them in optimal shape, but the additional protection they provide is well worth the effort. We are big fans of leather gardening gloves and cannot recommend them enough.
Rubber-coated gardening gloves
These gardening gloves rank among the best for shielding the hands when working with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. These gloves will work to keep your hands dry. Note that hands may get quite sweaty and hot in them, and if you are someone with a latex allergy, you ought to avoid using them.
Nitrile gardening gloves
These garden glove types are made using synthetic rubber materials, making it easy to shield the hands from scrapes and cuts. The gloves are also designed to be flexible and breathable.
Factors To Consider Before Buying Gardening Gloves
Here are a few vital things to consider before you buy your garden gloves:
Material
All gardening gloves are not designed the same way. Before you buy a pair, you need to pay close attention to the type of material used in making it. A basic rule of thumb is to make your purchase based on what you want to use it for. The materials can affect the design, thickness, versatility, and flexibility of your gardening gloves.
Durability
One significant factor you must never ignore before choosing gardening gloves is the level of comfort and durability they offer. Buying an uncomfortable pair of garden gloves will make it unpleasant for you to use them regularly. But if you focus more on getting a comfortable pair, you may not get the most durable pair.
Having said this, you need to find a pair of gardening gloves that have a balance of durability and comfort. Cotton gardening gloves are a good choice in comfort, but they won’t give you the type of protection you need. Also, leather gardening gloves will deliver the best level of protection against cuts and nicks, especially if you are pruning roses or other thorny plants. You may even want to consider getting a pair of gloves that are certified to be puncture-resistant.
Strong fingertips
Work gloves made with reinforced tip materials are the best option for gardeners seeking extra levels of protection from severe garden threats and thorns. This should be your core focus if your garden tasks involve rocky and sandy soils. There is also the danger of cutting the glove’s tips ends when pruning plants.
The best gardening gloves often come with an extra layer of material on the fingertips – it just works as added protection. Apart from their prolonged life, the extra layer will give you more protection from sharp objects such as broken glasses, rusty nails, and stinging insects.
Fit
The glove’s fit is another thing you should prioritize because it affects the level of convenience required to carry out your gardening activities. Ensure there isn’t too much space between your fingers because it will make it hard to grasp or hold things with your fingers.
Most manufacturers have specifically designed unisex gloves for both men and women. You can go for them if you want a quick fix. These gloves are designed to fit both big and small hands.
Wrist grip
Although this may not seem like the most crucial feature out there, ensure to check the wrist closure; with a comfortable glove around your wrist, you will be less likely to be exposed to debris finding its way into your gardening gloves. Ideally, it would help if you bought gloves that have elastic and loop closure around the wrist.
Maintenance Tips for Gardening Gloves
Although it may seem like overkill to take care of your gloves, there’s a need to keep them with care if you want them to last. Maintaining your gloves shouldn’t be too difficult – as long as you’re washing them regularly after your gardening activities, you’re good. Also, don’t forget to take into consideration the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance and washing.
Leather gardening gloves may take a little extra care to keep them in tip-top shape. This video from Scott Head will help you learn all the tips and tricks to keep your gloves in excellent condition.
People Also Asked
How do I choose the right size of gardening gloves?
To choose the right size of gardening gloves, measure the circumference of your hand around the widest part, typically across your knuckles. Then, consult the manufacturer's sizing chart to match your measurement with the appropriate glove size for a snug yet comfortable fit.
Are there breathable options for gardening gloves to prevent sweaty hands?
Yes, breathable gardening gloves made from materials like bamboo, mesh, or lightweight synthetic fabrics allow air circulation, reducing sweat buildup and keeping hands cooler and more comfortable during extended use in warm weather.
What materials are gardening gloves typically made from?
Gardening gloves are typically made from a variety of materials including leather, synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester, rubber, and latex. Each material offers different levels of protection, durability, and flexibility to suit various gardening tasks and preferences.
Are there waterproof gardening gloves available for working in wet conditions?
Yes, there are waterproof gardening gloves designed specifically for working in wet conditions, typically made from materials like rubber or latex coated with waterproofing agents, ensuring hands stay dry and protected while gardening in damp or rainy environments.
