What Makes A Good Garden Glove?
And why do you need a pair?
Once upon a time I didn’t think garden gloves were an important tool of the garden, let alone counted among the essentials. Oh my, how times have changed for me.
I don’t ever start on a serious bout of gardening without a pair nowadays. I may pluck a weed or two barehanded, but soon I’m putting on a sturdy pair to protect my hands from thistle and thorns. They give me confidence every time I need to pick up large piles of brush or pull a small poison ivy upstart, too. I don’t fear foliage or creep crawly fauna when wearing something between me and IT.
I find I need good garden gloves.
There are a number of qualities that have become the mark of a good garden glove.
- Fit and flexibility
- Material
Fit And Flexibility
I like to be able to get the glove on easily and once it is on, to move my fingers in the many pinching, grasping, and pulling movements that a session of weeding and clipping will produce. The cheap Natrile gloves are fine for that and they are also washable, but leave something to be desired for prickle protection.
Material
That brings me to material considerations. I prefer the strength and feel of leather. for myself and my tough demands on the gloves, I like goat leather best of all
My experience?
- Gone through and worn out cow leather gloves, cloth gloves, pig, and goat leather gloves
- Many of my gloves suffer through “mud season” and get wet from weather and watering.
- I hand-weed like crazy, especially among my fieldstone paths.
- I prune pyracantha and rose bushes
- Canadian thistles are a constant in this rural garden
So I believe I am an expert when it comes to recommending good gloves.
Summed Up
Gardeners need more than one pair of gloves for gardening. a quick easy pair of Natrile gloves that you can buy for a couple dollars in your nearby discount or bigbox store for one pair. That will take care of those which you want for when watering plants, etc.
The other is the serious pair, and I would (and do) spend a decent amount for those.
Get goat leather for its supple comfortable feel, ease of putting on, and long lasting qualities.
If you wish to have more protection from thorny pruning chores, try a long version for your third pair:
