1. Wondergrip Insulated Waterproof
Working in the garden isn’t limited to sunny days with lemonade at the ready. I’m most grateful to have a good pair of gloves on wet, cold, and nasty days.
For that, you need something that’s going to keep your hands warm even when they’re wet, and a pair that isn’t about to fall apart in those conditions. This selection on our list is pretty awesome for that kind of work.
Wondergrip insulated waterproof work gloves can take a beating, and they’ll make it through an entire workday without needing to be swapped for a fresh pair. These orange looped fabric gloves are available in a range of sizes, from small to double-extra-large.
The grip is pretty great too – I’ve never felt like any tools were about to fall from my grip with these on. They’re double-dipped in natural rubber latex, with a ridged texture on the palms and fingers.
Wondergrip Insulated Waterproof
If I had any issue, it’s that it was difficult to do anything requiring fine dexterity while wearing these.
Pick up a pair now, from Gardener’s Supply Company.
2. Miracle Fiber Rose Pruning
I’m a bit of a masochist in the garden because I love pruning roses bare-handed.
“Here, little rose bush,” I’ll say with a sharp pair of snips at the ready. “I’m not going to hurt you, I’m just going to remove a little bit of this… and that… oh, and that there, too, see? It’s not so bad.”
But enough about my embarrassing rose garden habits.
Not everybody wants to get pricked and stabbed while pruning their roses, or heaven forbid something even more prickly and obnoxious (I’m looking at you, barberry). This quality pair of manmade suede gloves provides an impressive combination of protection and tactile feel.
When I used these they were a coworker’s fresh backup pair. We were working on an estate with an extensive rose collection, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more thankful to have a specialized set of gardening gloves with me.
But, for the record? I think it’s good to talk to the floral inhabitants of your garden when you’ve got some pruners or shears in hand.
Give it a shot next time you’re out there; I swear you get pricked a whole lot less when you explain what you’re doing to your roses.
Miracle Fiber Rose Pruning
In rust and moss green, made of “miracle” breathable suede and composed of nylon and polyurethane, these 15.5-inch elbow-length gloves are available in women’s sizes extra-small to extra-large.
Plus, they have padded palms, they’re machine washable, and they can be tumble-dried in your machine as well, on low heat.
Find the perfect fit now at Gardener’s Supply Company.
3. Heavy-Duty Cut and Puncture Resistant
I rarely use this type of glove in my work, but when I do, there’s no piece of protective gear I’m happier to have. These work gloves are perfect for heavy-duty cleanup, or when clearing brush and piles of prickly, pokey debris.
This is one of the sturdier options I’ve used and it’s a godsend when dealing with cleanup tasks.
I’ve grabbed onto jagged pieces of glass and rusty nails with no issue – but just for the record, I am not recommending you grab these things! I’m sure that with a hard enough grip, you’ll get stabbed. These resist cuts and punctures, but they’re not totally impervious to damage.
What these do better than any others I’ve used is protect your hands while you’re grabbing and sifting through debris or cleaning out a new garden bed and you aren’t sure what’s inside.
If you find something that’s prickly or sharp, these gloves let you know it’s there while providing protection from injury.
Heavy-Duty Cut and Puncture Resistant
Made with two layers of a high-tech cut-resistant fabric to protect your palms and fingers, plus a third layer for added structural stability, these black and blue gloves have an adjustable wrist closure, and the palm side has a tacky texture for extra grip.
Find them in a range of sizes, available from Garrett Wade.
4. Cut-Resistant with Touchscreen Capability
While we’re already on the theme of protection from stabs and scrapes, let’s take a look at this cut-resistant pair.
The Tuffalene® fiber cut protection here is phenomenal when you’re less than articulate with pruners. But don’t scoff even if you are – I am too, and I’ve earned quite a few “Jaws”–worthy scars in my day.
Do you guys remember that scene in “Jaws,” when Quint and Hooper are comparing their scars? Just think about Quint saying Hooper’s name with me. Hoopeeer. Love it.
Anyway, back to these gardening gloves. They’re flexible enough to give you the dexterity needed for more articulate work while protecting your hands from accidental snips. If you’re wearing these, you’re less likely to lose the tip of a finger.
Cut-Resistant with Touchscreen Capability
Touchscreen capable on the thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers, these are great for those times when you need to quickly snap a picture or answer a call. And a nitrile coating on the gray fabric provides superior grip even when wet.
Available in men’s sizes medium, large, and extra-large, find them now at Gardener’s Supply Co.
5. The Vermonter
Let’s take a second to appreciate a glove with such a simple and direct name. But then again… what does it mean?
Hand-stitched with heavy-duty nylon thread in Randolph, Vermont, this is the pair of garden gloves you’ll look for excuses to wear. These are made from the best quality goatskin leather, durable and comfortable like no others that I’ve worn.
I used a pair for about six months and took them to the job site and the campsite. They’re excellent for any type of outdoor work and seem to get better at their job with added wear and tear. It’s a good chunk of change to spend on these bad boys, but man, it’s worth every penny.
The Vermonter
I’m ashamed to say that I lost my pair while hiking last summer and haven’t replaced them yet. For me the grief is still too near. I can’t consider replacing them yet. Ten gold stars to every reader who got that “Lord of the Rings” reference.
Available in sizes ranging from extra-small to double-extra-large, find your next pair now at Gardener’s Supply Company.
6. Floral Infusion
As far as style goes, these win the game.
I have to say that I personally haven’t used them, but my wife provided a review and says these are her favorite among all the gardening gloves she’s ever tried.
She loves how this pair fits her hands well, and is resistant to dampness in the morning hours when everything is coated with dew.
She’s been using the same pair for almost three years so they’ve got stellar durability, and she loves how easy they are to take off and put back on.
I asked her what the biggest selling point was and she said, “I love how I can pick up the little worms I find and never feel like I’m squishing them.” That’s a direct quote, folks.
Floral Infusion
With a purple, orange, red, and green floral pattern, these have reinforced fingertips, a nitrile coating, and a spandex liner. Ladies’ one size fits all, they’re available from Burpee.
7. Knitted Bamboo
I used this pair a few years ago when I was working part-time as a garden vendor at some big box store.
They were given to me by the Burpee guys who replenished the vegetable plant stock, so I have to give a little shout-out to these guys whose names I forget.
They really cared about the work they did and weren’t hesitant to go out of their way to make customers happy. Their attitude alone made me a Burpee fan!
Knitted Bamboo – Green
These foam-coated bamboo knit blend gloves handled two seasons of constantly rotating plastic trays, watering plants, and stacking metal tabletops. And they were ready for more… except I left them at the store and never saw them again. (Are you sensing a pattern here?)
One size fits all with an adjustable wrist closure. These are available from Burpee in green or fuchsia.
8. John Deere Split Cowhide Leather
I think I got this pair for free maybe six years ago. My first thought was, “Eh, John Deere can make a tractor, but can they make a gardening glove?”
The answer is yes, yes they can, and it’s a glove good enough to include here in this roundup!
My only complaint is the Deere logo on the back, as obviously branded products aren’t usually my first choice. But that’s a pretty minor complaint to have, isn’t it? These are strong and durable, providing a great feel from day one.
Yellow split cowhide – often referred to as suede– with a shirred elastic wrist, these gloves are double-stitched for extra durability.
They feature a polyurethane-reinforced tractor tread thumb saddle, and fourchettes connecting the front and back of the fingers for extra nimbleness.
I don’t think I ever used mine for any fine work like sorting or sowing seeds, but they did their job (and then some) for every other project I had to tackle.
John Deere Split Cowhide Leather
I forget when I eventually wore through them, but I do remember being pretty upset when I did, knowing they would be missed!
Available in men’s medium or large on Amazon.
A similar gray and pink pair in women’s size small/medium is also available, from Tractor Supply Co.
9. COREGROUND Leather Safety
This is the last pair of gardening gloves I purchased most recently. I got them about a year ago and wish I had them for the coming season.
I wore holes through them a month or two after their first use – the holes appeared in the seam of the thumb on each hand. But until then, despite what they may lack in durable construction – and be sure to see my extra note on this below – these gloves were perfect for my needs.
They kept my hands warm even when wet unless it was REALLY cold out, they provided good protection and “feel” for projects requiring some dexterity, and they looked nice while doing it all. The only downside here is that they wore through too quickly for me.
I will note that I was opening bags of rock salt and working in the cold and snow, and that very probably stressed the material and made it wear through before its time.
COREGROUND Leather Safety
With a gunn cut design and keystone thumb for extra freedom of movement, COREGROUND even covers these with a full satisfaction guarantee for 90 days after purchase.
Available in brown or black split cowhide in sizes ranging from small to extra-large, find these gloves now on Amazon.
Stocking up? They’re also available for purchase in a three-pack.
10. Gloryfox Breathable and Waterproof with Claws
This is one of the weirdest types of gloves I’ve ever used.
A landscaping cohort and I were gifted one pair each from the garden center we frequented.
And this is probably a good time to suggest you visit your locally owned garden centers as frequently as you can, if only because they can provide top-notch, attentive service with a personal touch!
I was not a huge fan of these for my typical tasks, but my coworker raved about them – and ended up taking my pair home with him as well.
But I have to say that what these gloves do, they do very well. I used mine for planting annuals and clearing way too many weeds from far too many garden beds. They are awesome for scooping out some soil to plant little annuals and the claws tear out weeds like nobody’s business.
Overall, for me, it was simply too much glove.
The attached claws might not provide the utility you’re looking for when switching tasks, and if you’re anything like me I’d say there’s a strong chance you might lose a claw or two if you opt to pop them off. I went back to my favorite style – it’s coming up soon, I promise!
But for my coworker? He loves these things, and I’m pretty sure he went to sleep with them on after the first time he wore them. They may not be my favorite, but this pair immediately came to mind when I was putting together this roundup, and they may be your perfect pair too.
Gloryfox Breathable and Waterproof with Claws
Made of a rubber latex-coated cotton and linen knit, these are waterproof, flexible, and breathable.
The detachable claws come to a point that’s perfect for digging with four fingers on each hand. One size fits all.
Available on Amazon in multipacks of two or four pairs, you can choose gloves that are all purple, all aqua blue, or mix and match with one or two pairs in each color.
11. MSUPSAV Thorn Proof
It’s gloves like these that make me wanna say, “Treat yo’ self!”
This is a pair my aunt swears by. She hasn’t had them for long, but she’s obsessed with them, and I admit that when it comes to style these gloves really sell me.
When I saw them during my last visit I was instantly enthralled, and wished I had a piece of clothing in every article that shared this sunny yellow sunflower print.
A pink and orange rose pattern is also available, as well as a blue and yellow tulip pattern.
My aunt promises these are the most comfortable and protective gloves she’s used, and she’s got a couple of my lifetimes under her belt. She says they’re comfortable on day one, and let her hands feel the roses she’s pruning without crushing anything.
She’s never had a single rose thorn stab her with these on, and told me she once used them to move a snapping turtle out of her yard.
That’s as good an endorsement as you can get, isn’t it?
MSUPSAV Thorn Proof
With yellow premium pigskin leather fingers and palms, the patterned backs and cuffs are made of canvas.
A five-millimeter-thick layer of foam padding in the palms provides extra cushioning and vibration reduction – an added plus if you’re wearing these to mow or work with power tools.
These are also touchscreen-capable, with a black coating on the index fingers, middle fingers, and thumbs.
Available on Amazon in women’s size small, medium, large, or extra-large, MSUPSAV recommends that men simply go up a size from what might typically suit them, and a detailed sizing chart is available with measuring instructions.
12. Wells Lamont Cold Weather Latex Grips
One day in January last year I forgot to bring my gloves to work, but an on-site arborist kept an extra pair in his work truck. This is what he gave me, and I’m just going to say that I might’ve forgotten to give them back at the end of the day…
My initial revulsion at wearing another man’s work gloves was almost immediately forgotten due to the undeniable quality of the ones I was wearing.
Gardening is a calling that doesn’t care what season it is, and it often beckons at times that require your presence in cold, wet, miserable conditions. If that’s the case, you’d be wise to keep a pair of these at hand.
My favorite gloves are synthetic, remember? This pair is just that, and they have consistently provided the best experience in cold weather.
They’ve got excellent grip, keep my hands warm in any condition (or bearable, if it’s really awful outside), and are durable as you could expect for something that costs as much as a cup of really nice coffee.
Wells Lamont Cold Weather Latex Grips
They’re just great, and while I’m thinking of the arborist I got my first pair from? I might just buy a pair for each member of his crew for Christmas. Or maybe I’ll just buy six pairs for myself, I don’t know yet…
These black and gray winter-weight gloves are made of acrylic knit coated with latex. Two-packs in sizes ranging from medium to extra-large are available on Amazon.
13. Golden Scute Winter Work
Another top pick that I’ve never worn, but these are the favorite of a trusted friend. His name is Bob, and he does a lot more hardscaping than I do, but this pair can stand up to the beating of laying flagstone or pavers, and wielding a breaking bar.
My friend Bob has many talents, and he swears by the Golden Scute waterproof thermal work gloves for any landscape and gardening task when the temperatures are less than friendly.
He says they’re comfortable to wear and his hands stay warm through the entire chilly morning (he keeps a second pair in his truck to wear after lunch). He’s been able to plant spring pansies with them on and was never worried about damaging the flowers.
Bob is a pro and a stellar landscaper, so if he says this is a good gardening glove to wear, I trust this assessment and I think you’ll also be pleased.
Golden Scute Winter Work
Touchscreen capable with a 15-gauge knit elastic polyester shell and a 10-gauge acrylic fleece liner, these are coated in black nitrile with microfoam for a good grip.
With superior abrasion resistance, excellent tear resistance, and decent puncture resistance, these gloves are a go-to for freezer storage operators, landscapers, and others who work in the cold.
Available sizes range from 7 to 10 (or small to extra-large) and a size guide is available. Choose a two-pack or six-pack in orange, blue, or yellow now on Amazon.
14. CHARGUY Long Sleeve
This is another option I haven’t used, but it comes with a glowing recommendation from a trustworthy source: Gardener’s Path’s very own Allison Sidhu! Or as she would prefer that I write here, “my very rash-prone editor.”
She says this pair is very comfortable to wear and provides ample protection, staying up on her arms – as well as her husband’s arms when he needed a pair for weeding the foundation beds! – and that they never grew too warm or clammy to use in the summertime.
Ever try working in gardening gloves that hold in heat and moisture? It’s terrible in the hot summer humidity of southeastern Pennsylvania, and enough to make any gardener crack under the pressure and stomp back into the house to watch “The Cardassians Meet the Jetsons.”
Yeah, it’s so unpleasant it’ll make you watch something that doesn’t even (and never should) exist.
This pair performs well and checks all the boxes, providing excellent grip with some cut and scratch resistance for protection from thorny weeds, no breaking in required.
Suitable for a wide range of gardening tasks, if you’re pulling out poison ivy and need added arm protection, this will become your go-to pair. And they’re machine washable.
Charles and Guy Dupont, the gardeners behind Charguy Enterprises, came up with these as a way to protect themselves from the usual scratches, scrapes, cuts, and rashes endured while working out in the yard, or tending vegetables in their small garden in the Northeast.
CHARGUY Long Sleeve
These extra-long shoulder-length gloves, measuring 24 inches in total, feature a 13-gauge polyester sleeve with black nitrile-coated palms and fingers.
A unique feature, in addition to having a knit elastic enclosure band at the ends to keep them up on your arms, they also include an extra-long elasticized band at the wrists for a secure fit.
One size fits all, these also come with a full satisfaction guarantee from CHARGUY. They’re available in green on gray on Amazon.
15. ATG MaxiFlex Ultimate Seamless Knit
Okay, readers, we’ve reached it: This is my favorite, the best I’ve ever used.
I love this pair of gardening gloves so much that I bought 12 pairs to keep in storage so I know I’ll always have a pair ready whenever I need them. This is not a joke.
These black and gray knit gloves are thin, they fit extremely well, and yet they provide the perfect level of protection for all but the hardiest gardening duties.
I’ve exterminated Aralia spinosa with these gloves on, hefted flagstone, thrown fertilizer and grass seed, and planted pansies in wet Decembers. They dry out quickly if you get them wet, and are very resistant to wear and tear.
Remember when I said I don’t like gloves in general? I stand by this statement, but – BUT – sometimes I find reasons to wear these gloves. They feel that good and perform that well.
This is genuinely an amazing pair of gloves, and I hope someone at the ATG company reads this and says “Hey, this guy is great, let’s send him a couple more pairs for being a faithful wearer.”
I think I have like half a dozen gloves that are all torn up after extensive use but I just can’t get rid of them, I cherish these so much.
Seriously, I can’t stress it enough: If you buy a single pair of gloves for the gardening season ahead – or for your gardening friends who are eagerly awaiting a holiday gift! – make it a set of these. I will stake my entire reputation on people loving this glove as much as I do.
You heard it here first, folks: Matt’s entire reputation is relying on people loving this pair of gardening gloves. Feel free to fire away in the comments – but not before you try these!
The ATG company has engineered the heck out of what makes a good glove – we’re talking patented AIRtech®, DURAtech®, ERGOtech®, GRIPtech®, and HandCare®.
Breathable, durable, and touchscreen compatible with an optimized grip, the shape of these nitrile-coated gloves, made from high-performance yarns and fibers, is even designed to mimic your typical “hand at rest” for reduced fatigue and even better comfort.
ATG MaxiFlex Ultimate Seamless Knit
Reinforced between the thumb and index finger, and just padded enough for extra comfort through repetitive tasks, I think you’re really going to love these gloves.
Available in a very broad range of sizes from 5 (double-extra-small) to 12 (triple-extra-large). Pick up a single pair, or a pack of three or 12 pairs, now on Amazon.
Another bamboo option, these don’t include the handy wrist closure like the aforementioned pair from Burpee.
And I haven’t tried these myself. But again, they come with the glowing – if a bit reluctant? – endorsement of my editor. Let me explain…
Allison says this is a pair of gloves that she’s misplaced or considered tossing in the trash more times than she can count. She’s bought others to try to replace these. But they just keep coming back, and they must qualify as a favorite for that reason.
Gardeners used to tougher work gloves made of leather may slip these on and think to themselves, “Heh, these are sure to give up in five minutes.” But the truth is, based on hands-on testing, they’ve hung on and withstood the tests of time, enduring a variety of gardening tasks.
With a grippy, textured rubber coating on the palms and fingers, reinforced fingertips, and an elastic wristband, these lightweight gloves fall into the “unobtrusive” category, and they’re super breathable and comfortable, available in a range of sizes.
They made it through a cross-country move, used to dig into various hot-weather patio plantings and a number of potted succulents in southern California before being put to task in various diverse gardening activities in southeastern Pennsylvania in all kinds of weather.
Having said that, these will get wet easily. But that’s not the point with these gloves, and they dry pretty quickly.
They’re touchscreen friendly too, fine for finer tasks when you need to be able to feel what your fingers are doing. And they come with a full satisfaction guarantee from Pine Tree Tools.
A wrist-length bamboo option in green and black, these aren’t the gloves Allison gets out for tougher jobs like ripping spine-covered yard-tall weeds from the edges of the landscape – usually.
But they have remained blemish-free, without a tear, through over four years of gardening to date.
This was a shock to Allison as well, but she checked the receipt.
And as for considering trashing them, per the aforementioned perhaps “reluctant” recommendation, that’s namely because she often finds herself tangling with poison ivy these days.
Though she is seemingly immune, at least so far, despite her proclivity for getting every other botanically-fueled form of contact dermatitis known to gardeners, she wouldn’t want those itch-inducing urushiol oils that may have transferred to her gloves to get on anything – or anyone – else.
A longer, arm-protective option like the pair from Charguy recommended above would make a better pick for this type of task overall!
Pine Tree Tools Bamboo
But despite the possible urushiol contamination, she keeps using ‘em anyway. She buys others meant for tougher jobs, or tries a pair with a pretty pattern, and then pulls these out instead. Maybe they won’t truly last forever, but they won’t seem to quit.
And if you purchase a pair, you can even throw them in the washing machine if you like.
Pick the right size for you and read customer reviews now on Amazon.
17. ForPro Disposable Nitrile
Hey, not every job demands maximum stabby protection. Maybe you need a reliable set of garden gloves for handling fertilizers, both granular and liquid, and for applying the pesticides you have to use.
Or maybe you’ve been wondering what you can use to pull out poison ivy, in addition to wearing long-sleeved protective clothing and a coat of IvyX skin protectant (available on Amazon, if you could use some…), that you can toss after the job is through?
I’m a devotee of saying “waste not, want not” in daily practice. But I have no hesitation using disposable gloves when handling anything potentially harmful that may stick around on my gloves, whether it be chemical or organic – and when I do, I’m using this exact kind.
These powder-free latex-free gloves fit easily with a variety of sizes available, are resistant to tearing and punctures, and the nitrile is four millimeters thick so I’m never worried about crappy-quality latex that might tear right when I least want it to.
That’s right, I said crappy. I’m being real with you guys, and I might’ve said the other word but decided this one gets the job done. Like these gloves.
ForPro Disposable Nitrile
I keep a box of these in my car and in my house to have at the ready for any situation that might warrant their use. Choosing latex-free nitrile gloves also means those with a latex allergy can use them.
Black, blue, white, or indigo ForPro disposable nitrile gloves in 100-count boxes are available in small, medium, large, or extra-large on Amazon.
Get in Gear with the Best Gloves
I’ve admitted my general qualms with gloves in general. But I think you can see, now that you’ve made it to the end of this roundup, that I’ve worked my way through many pairs.
It’s the best ones that stand out in my mind, that I return to or even purchase in bulk when a well-used pair wears out or is misplaced.
Sometimes you just need a good pair of gardening gloves! While some are best-suited to tough or cold-weather work, others are more breathable or allow for the manual dexterity required in completing certain tasks. Try one or try ‘em all – these top picks won’t let you down.
I’ll say again that I love the MaxiFlex Ultimates above all the rest. Which type will you choose? Do you have a favorite that we missed? Share in the comments below!
And for more gardening gear recommendations, check out these guides next:
