6 Best Gardening Gloves For Protection Against Thorns, Splinters & Nettles! (2021 Review)

Things to Know Before Buying Gardening Gloves

Those who have been gardening for a while will know there are highs and lows to the hobby. Gardening is tough physical work, and without the right equipment, it can sometimes verge on painful.

To keep your green fingers puncture-free, a good pair of gardening gloves is a necessary staple. The right gloves can protect from brambles, dirt, and chemicals; they’ll also help prevent blisters that can develop from long periods of using tools and equipment.

Not to mention, gloves also keep your hands warm on cold, rainy days (always a plus in our somewhat grey UK climate).

There are a huge range of gardening gloves on the market, some more suitable for certain jobs than others. If you’re considering purchasing a pair, the following information might come in handy:

The Correct Gloves for Your Intended Purpose

The umbrella phrase of ‘gardening gloves’ covers under it a multitude of meanings.

You will likely need different gardening gloves depending on the task you’re doing, and these can generally be divided into four broad ‘task’ categories: weeding, rose pruning, using machinery/equipment and tackling tougher jobs.

Gloves for Weeding

If you’re pulling up weeds, you can use relatively lightweight gloves; however, you’ll still want them to have some protection in case you come across something sharp or encounter any nettles.

For weeding, gloves with spandex or elastane backs offer comfort and flexibility. These will often have leather palms which offer a bit more protection to the hands.

Bamboo gloves with rubberised protection are also great for weeding, offering good movement, protection and grip. These can be more protective than thin leather against some spiny plants.

In general, you don’t want the gloves that you use for weeding to be too bulky or thick as you won’t be able to get a good hold on the plants or be controlled in what you are pulling up.

Gloves for Rose Pruning

Rose pruning gloves need to be thicker than general weeding gloves because you know you’re going to come into contact with thorns.

Generally a good quality leather will be adequate for this, and you also want to make sure that the gloves have gauntlets (sleeves) so that your arms are protected.

Trying to prune roses without gloves with gauntlets tends to results in a lot of painful scratches up the arm which can be avoided.

You’ll likely find that specialised rose-pruning gloves are also adequate for dealing with other thorny plants, and brambles, in the garden.

Gloves for Using Machinery/Equipment

It can help to have protective gloves in the garden when using machinery or general garden equipment – for example lawnmowers, garden forks and secateurs.

Using gloves for these (and other) garden activities can help reduce the likelihood of getting blisters, as well as make it generally more comfortable. In the colder months it can also be a relief to have gloves, so as not to have to come in direct contact with cold metal tools.

Lightweight gloves are generally a good choice when using machinery/tools as you want to have good manoeuvrability and shouldn’t be putting the gloves under too much strain from friction.

Choosing gloves with good grip, be that rubber or leather, will also stop you from slipping if using tools when it’s raining.

Gloves for Tackling Tougher Jobs

If you’re trying to move a lot of brambles, you’ll want some gloves that don’t let thorns through easily.

These will tend to be made of thick leather and may well have a lining to offer more protection.

Some of the best gardening gloves for tougher jobs will also have reinforced fingertips and knuckles that can reduce wear (and potential puncturing) when picking up a lot of tough material.

Getting the Fit Right

Getting gloves that fit well can vastly improve comfort. Buying gloves that are too big generally doesn’t make them more comfortable – slipping around inside gloves can be just as uncomfortable as wearing ones that are too small.

This is why it’s important to look for gloves with good flexibility and stretch – they’ll be comfortable enough that they won’t feel too tight when they fit well.

How to Measure Your Glove Size:

1. Take a tape measure and measure your dominant hand.
2. Wrap the tape measure around your hand, below your knuckles.
3. Make a fist to ensure there will be enough space in the gloves for movement.
4. Take the measurement.

Tip: Most glove sizing is done in inches, so you may have to convert the measurement from cm to inches depending on the units of your tape measure. Some brands do their sizing by only measuring across the palm (and not the whole hand circumference), in which case you can divide your measurement by two.

Different Fabric Choices and Their Purposes

Gardening gloves can be made from a lot of different materials.

The most common are made from pigskin leather. This is durable, comfortable and thorn-proof. Goatskin leather is another good option, but this can be more expensive.

Leather will grow more flexible after long-term use, so whilst leather gloves may feel a little restricted at first, they soon become more supple.

For lighter tasks, cotton gloves will do the trick. These are affordable and comfortable, but they don’t offer the same protection against thorns as leather gloves. They are suitable for weeding jobs where there are no thorns or stinging plants.

There are a couple of other lightweight fabrics that it’s good to look out for, especially for the back of gardening gloves.

• Bamboo is a breathable, comfortable and sustainable fabric which helps wick moisture away from hands.
• A polyester/Lycra blend also offers comfort and is easy to care for.
• Another good option, for the whole glove, or for the palm, is latex. This is lightweight and also wear and tear resistant. Plus, it makes it easy to grip garden tools. Latex is a good alternative if you’re uncomfortable using leather, but it’s not suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies.

If you’re going to be applying pesticide to your garden, a pair of latex or neoprene coated gloves are the best option. These are non absorbent, therefore preventing your hands from coming into contact with the chemicals.

Reinforced Fingertips

The fingertips are often subject to the most wear, so the best gardening gloves often come with reinforced fingertips. This also gives you an extra layer of padding against thorns.

The downside to reinforced fingertips is they tend to reduce your mobility, so they’re not as suitable for delicate and more precise tasks like planting seeds by hand.

Some gardening gloves also have knuckle and wrist reinforcements. These too will reduce flexibility when it comes to delicate jobs, but they are a must-have for heavy duty work.

Breathability and Ventilation

Working in gloves without adequate breathability will cause your hands to get sweaty and uncomfortable. This isn’t fun for anyone, but can be particularly agitating for anyone suffering from eczema or other skin complaints.

Gloves made from breathable fabrics stop moisture from getting trapped in the gloves.

Natural fabrics tend to be more breathable, so gloves made from cotton, leather, bamboo, and linen will breathe well.

Synthetic fabrics don’t tend to be as breathable because they contain plastic polymers. 100% polyester doesn’t breathe well, but if it has a looser weave, or is combined with a natural (and therefore more breathable fibre), it can offer more breathability.

You need to consider not only the outside material of the gloves, but the lining fabric. If the shell of the gloves are breathable but the lining has a high polyester content, moisture won’t be able to escape easily.

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Gardening Gloves FAQs

Should you wear gloves while gardening?

Gardening gloves not only keep your hands clean, they also protect against thorns, sharp objects and harsh chemicals.

Whilst you might not definitely need gloves for like garden weeding, it can be a lot more comfortable to wear them – especially in case you come across an unexpected nettle.

When pruning roses, using tools and clearing brambles, you’ll almost definitely want to wear gloves. Rose-pruning gloves protect your arms and forearms from thorns, making the job a lot more manageable.

Wearing gloves whilst using tools in the garden can reduce the chance of getting blisters, and can also make holding metal tools, or those without soft grips, generally more comfortable.

Clearing brambles can also be an agonising job without the right gloves. Wearing protective gloves can make it more pleasant and therefore quicker to do as well.

How do you maintain gardening gloves?

This depends on what your gloves are made from. Most non-leather gardening gloves can be soaked in a bowl of lukewarm water after use to dislodge any mud, then left to air dry. Don’t be tempted to dry your gloves on the radiator, as this can change their shape.

If you have leather gloves, avoid getting them wet. Instead, brush off as much dirt as you can and apply a leather conditioner to keep them in good shape.

Some gardening gloves can be cleaned in the washing machine, but you should check with the manufacturer on how best to clean your gloves.

How do I keep my leather gardening gloves soft?

Softening your leather garden gloves will prolong their lifespan and make them a lot more comfortable to wear. Increased flexibility will give you better grip when handling tools, and treating your leather gloves can also help them be water resistant.

Remove any dirt from your gloves using a soft cleaning brush. Apply saddle soap or traditional leather cleaner to your gloves, working in soft circular motions with a cloth.

Once your gloves are clean, applying boot oil or leather balm. You may find this easier to do if you are wearing the gloves. Liberally apply the oil or balm all over the gloves, then remove the gloves and leave them in a clean and dry space.

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