When I first started gardening many, many moons ago, I always used to garden bare-handed. It gave me a genuine sense of connection with the earth and the gardening process. It wasn’t long, though, before coworkers in my old IT 9-5 job were giving my dirt-stained hands and nails the look of horror. It looked like I’d clawed my way from an underground tunnel to make the 9 a.m. catch-up meeting. So, unless you want hands like a 100-year-old caveman/woman, at some point, gardening gloves will become a necessity.
The problem with looking for gardening gloves is that thousands of poor-quality gardening gloves are out there. Waving their crazy patterns and chintz at you to get your attention. It seems that manufacturers prioritise hideous fashion or motifs over substance, and this is where most complaints originate. Gardening glove reviews are often lacking in any detail online and seem to change almost weekly. Believe me when I say I’ve tried the cheapest to some of the most expensive out there, and there are plenty of duds you need to steer clear of.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share my tried-and-tested recommendations alongside the current bestselling garden gloves on Amazon that actually deliver on their promises. This page contains affiliate links (see full details here). If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Before we dig into the Best gardening gloves it’s worthwhile giving you four pearls of wisdom to make you a glove choosing sensei. If I can give you any advice, it is this, my friends:
Before we dig into the best gardening gloves available, here are four pearls of wisdom to make you a glove-choosing sensei:
1. Fit is Everything – A poorly fitting glove is worse than no glove at all. It’ll slip, bunch up, cause blisters, and generally make gardening miserable.
2. Match the Glove to the Task – You wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to plant seeds, so don’t use heavy-duty gloves for delicate work.
3. Quality Over Quantity – One excellent pair will outlast ten cheap ones and save you money in the long run.
4. Consider Your Climate – What works in balmy Cornwall might not suit the harsh winds of Scotland.
Understanding the different types of gardening gloves can save you a lot of head scratching. When you’re a beginner, you think all gardening gloves must be the same? Then you are on your third pair, wondering why they are not suitable, and then realise that there are MANY different types to choose from.
Each of my recommendations for the best gardening gloves covers each type of gardening glove, but below is a handy list to help you if you’re new to choosing gardening gloves.
| Glove Type | Best For | Protection Level | Dexterity | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrile Coated | General gardening, planting | Medium | High | Medium-High |
| Leather | Pruning, thorny plants | High | Medium | High |
| Rubber/Latex | Wet work, cleaning | Medium | Low | Medium |
| Cotton | Light weeding, harvesting | Low | High | Low |
| Synthetic Leather | Multi-purpose | Medium-High | Medium-High | Medium |
| Gauntlet Style | Rose pruning, brambles | Very High | Low-Medium | High |
After 30 years of non-stop gardening, here are my best gardening gloves and glove types that will last the distance. With these gardening gloves, you will be able to tackle all aspects of gardening. From Rose Pruning, Show Garden Planting, Heavy Landscaping and Cold Winter tidying. I have tried and tested these gloves to give you my best thoughts. So let’s take a look at the best gloves for gardening.
First, my go-to glove type is leather gloves, particularly anything created by Gold Leaf. Gold Leaf was started because they saw a gap in the market for well-fitted and high-quality gardening gloves, particularly for ladies. Peter designed these gloves 16 years ago, and they have been endorsed not only by the RHS but also by numerous gardening professionals.
Gold leaf has a number of glove options, but the one type that I go to is their Tough Touch gloves.
Why? Because they are amazing for pruning, particularly thorny plants like Roses or Pyracantha bushes. Now usually with tough or heavy-duty gloves, I find them to be baggy, heavy and awkward to lift or pick things up with. The Gold Leaf Tough Touch are the complete opposite. They fit really snugly to your hands, and because of their high-quality leather construction, they will, over time, mould to your hands the more you use them.
I’ve got really small hands. There, I’ve said it. No shame. The Gold Leaf collection comes in either ladies’ or gentlemen’s. I use ladies. There are no silly patterns or pink logos. Just a bright yellow, easy-to-spot pair of high-quality gloves. However, the gloves can tolerate a 20% size difference in hands, so they provide a nice, snug fit. The gloves are brilliant for thorns, pruning and more intricate tasks. Especially if you want to be able to move plants and pick things with ease. You probably don’t want to use them for collecting leaves or other more mundane tasks. They’re too good for that. See the winter gloves below for that!
Perfect for: Rose pruning, Pyracantha trimming, bramble clearing, heavy-duty pruning, cactus handling
Price Point: £21-28 per pair (premium positioning)
Now, the name of these gloves may not be immediately apparent for gardening, but believe me, they are perfect for planting and delicate work. You probably wouldn’t know they even existed. I know many professional gardeners who rave about these gloves whilst also keeping them a best-kept secret. In fact, I only found out about them from a friend at Chelsea Flower Show who took pity when my gloves went missing and passed me a pair hidden in their rucksack with a secretive nod.
I use these elasticated snug-fit gloves when planting, show garden work where detail is key, dividing seedlings and also general tidying up. They are the best all-rounder for gardening. They are really cost-effective and come in a variety of sizes. They are not waterproof, thermal or heavy-duty, nor do they pretend to be. These are your everyday ‘save my hands from abuse’ gloves.
These gloves are great for delicate work and come in packs of 10, making them ideal to leave one in the shed, greenhouse, van, or garage. As you will often find yourself misplacing your gardening gloves so it a good idea to spread these pairs around.
I tend to rinse my clothes, and they dry really quickly. They are not machine washable and will only last a limited amount of time, as they are thin—perhaps a couple of months, depending on how frequently you use them. It’s then time to replace them. So I tend to keep mine for non-heavy-duty work so I’m not wasting them.
Price Point: £8-15 for 10-pack (excellent value)
Perfect for: Planting seedlings, transplanting, general maintenance, show garden work, precision tasks
Winter can be the cruellest month for gardeners‘ hands. It’s cold and usually wet, and it seems that everything is twice as heavy to move or takes twice the effort. However, the garden waits for no one, and there are often tidying and other chores that need to be done. That’s where winter insulated gloves come in as a godsend. You wrap up the rest of your body in colder months, so why not your precious hands? I’ve always chosen Briers winter insulated gloves as they keep the cold out brilliantly.
These gloves are rubberised and have a thick fleece inner glove. They warm up really quickly and make mundane tasks like sweeping up leaves for leaf mould or moving containers far easier. The rubberised palm provides a great grip on wet or cold items, making gardening chores easier and more comfortable.
The drawback to all this heat and grip is that they are often not breathable. Meaning your hands will sweat, and because of the thickness, dexterity is an issue. I believe you can’t have it every which way and given you’re only going to be doing short bursts of gardening when it’s cold they meet the brief really well. I can wear these for a couple of hours before escaping back into the warmth and letting my hands breathe a bit.
Price Point: £12-25 per pair (varies by insulation level)
Perfect For: Winter tidying, leaf clearing, wet weather gardening, cold-weather maintenance
The fourth pair in the list are Heavy Duty Clip Gloves made by Treadstone. Sometimes, as a gardener, you’re going to have to lift and shift rubble, paving, stone or other heavy, sharp objects. You really don’t want to be subjecting your hands to that without protection unless you have hands like shovels that are Teflon coated. Here, I introduce the Heavy Duty Ultimate. (Cue Tron movie soundtrack).
I’ve always disliked heavy-duty gardening gloves because they always feel ultra-baggy and awkward to wear. The Treadstone Ultimate gloves are entirely different, which is why I really like them. They are a stretch fit, so they reduce the issues with other baggy gloves. Not only do they fit better, but they are tear-resistant, meaning that sharp stone, metal or other garden scraps won’t tear through them like I’ve done many times with other gloves.
The thing I really like about these gloves is the ‘Terminator-style’ rubber pads on the knuckles and fingers. Many a time, I’ve struck or scraped my knuckles with heavy-duty gardening. It looks like I’ve been in a cage fight since then, not with these gloves.
They also come with a clip, so when you’ve finished using them, you can clip them onto a belt or back together. Which helps with the problem of ‘where did I put my gloves?’. This is a really nice feature.
These are not everyday gloves, but rather ones I use for specific, heavy-duty tasks, such as lifting & turning compost or moving stone. I rinse them clean afterwards and air-dry them, just like my PU gloves. I wouldn’t machine wash either of them, as this may damage them.
Perfect For: Stone work, heavy lifting, construction tasks, compost turning
Price Range: £15-22 per pair (professional quality)
These COOLJOB gloves have taken Amazon by storm, with over 14,000 five-star reviews and more than 5,000 pairs sold in the past month alone. They feature a lightweight nitrile coating that provides excellent grip whilst maintaining breathability. They are an upgraded version of the latex or PU gloves shown above in this guide, so if you find those a bit too flimsy, especially if lifting up pavers or doing hard landscaping, then these bridge the gap between those.
I’ve used them a few times on Garden Rescue and show gardens and they are brilliant, mainly because they are touch screen compatible when having to take a phone call or check a plant type online. The only reason I don’t always wear them is the price; with these thin latex-style gloves, I often lose them as I put them down. But thats more my bad than anything wrong with them and the fact I’m gardening out and about 24/7.
Best For: General gardening, planting, light pruning, container gardening
Price Range: £12-18 for six pairs
These distinctive, colourful rubberised gloves offer a unique latex crinkle coating that provides exceptional grip in both dry and wet conditions. The 13-gauge seamless nylon liner feels like a second skin, as it is a super-tight fit. Not the best for larger hands as my gardening friends tell me they can feel a bit like they are stopping the blood flow to your hands!
These are great gloves for all-rounders, which don’t break the bank, making them a great buy for rough and tough gardening. They are useful for rough surfaces, hard pruning, leaf clearing, soil shifting and planting. I find these the jack-of-all-trades gloves if you don’t need to do any delicate work and you don’t mind your gloves feeling a bit heavy when you wear them.
Best For: Wet gardening tasks, handling tools, multi-purpose outdoor work
Price Range: £15-22 for three pairs
Now here’s a contender for the Gold Leaf crown, HANDLANDY super thick rose pruning gloves. For serious gardeners tackling thorny plants, these pigskin leather gauntlets extend protection well up the forearm. They’re consistently rated as the best rose pruning gloves available.
These gauntlet gloves are fantastic when pruning beasts such as large climbing roses or having to put your hands into brambles to dig out the crowns. They have super long gauntlet sleeves, which protect even up to your elbow, which is sometimes necessary when hard pruning out-of-control thorny plants or Berberis bushes!
My only niggle with them is the colour. They are a neutral beige colour, which, with my pair, marked quite quickly and also were a bit tricky to spot compared to the other brightly coloured gloves. Maybe thats just my issue, though, of being a bit absent-minded where I put my gloves down!
Best For: Rose pruning, handling brambles, heavy-duty pruning, cactus care
Price Range: £25-35 per pair
So far, we’ve covered two premium thorn-proof leather gloves for the discerning gardener. But what if you just need a pair of cheap and cheerful gloves to rip out some old spiky plants, and you know you’re not going to need to be using them for deadheading roses every week? If that sounds like you, then these ITC leather gloves are the clear winner for value and protection in the garden.
These goatskin leather gloves, featuring a spandex backing, offer the perfect balance of protection and some flexibility. The added cushioning and Velcro wrist strap make them ideal for extended use as they don’t fall off easily.
I’ll be honest, they are not the most beautiful or the most elegant of fits, but for brutal rough work, they are nearly impenetrable from thorns and barbs when gardening. These will protect your hands from nettles, rose thorns and all sorts of spiky gardening work. I found they weren’t the nicest fit on my hands, but if I was lifting paving slabs or had to shove rose prunings into the recycling bin, they did the job absolutely brilliantly. Cheap as chips and up for the dirtiest of tasks!
Best For: Construction work, heavy lifting, stone work, general landscaping
Price Range: £18-28 per pair
| Size | Hand Length (cm) | Hand Width (cm) | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS/6 | 15.5-16.5 | 7.0-7.5 | Very small hands |
| S/7 | 16.5-17.5 | 7.5-8.0 | Small hands |
| M/8 | 17.5-18.5 | 8.0-8.5 | Average hands (Most Common) |
| L/9 | 18.5-19.5 | 8.5-9.0 | Large hands |
| XL/10 | 19.5-20.5 | 9.0-9.5 | Very large hands |
| Feature | Standard Rubber | Neoprene | Double-Latex Coated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Resistance | Excellent | Outstanding | Very Good |
| Breathability | Poor | Good | Fair |
| Durability | Good | Excellent | Very Good |
| Flexibility | Fair | Very Good | Good |
| Best Use | Heavy wet work | Extended water tasks | General wet gardening |
Recommended: COOLJOB Gloves for the best balance of protection and flexibility.
Modern cut-resistant gloves use advanced materials like HPPE (High Performance Polyethylene) to provide incredible protection whilst maintaining flexibility.
When You Need Them:
When applying fertilisers, pesticides, or other garden chemicals, standard gloves simply aren’t adequate protection.
Essential Features:
| Leather Type | Durability | Breathability | Water Resistance | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowhide | Excellent | Good | Poor | Fair |
| Goatskin | Very Good | Excellent | Fair | Very Good |
| Pigskin | Good | Outstanding | Good | Excellent |
| Synthetic | Good | Fair | Very Good | Good |
Professional Insight: Pigskin offers the best breathability due to its naturally porous structure, making it ideal for extended wear in warm weather.
Every gardener faces this dilemma at some point: should you slip on those trusty gardening gloves or embrace the earth with bare hands? It’s a decision that goes far beyond mere preference, touching on comfort, safety, and that all-important connection with your plants.
There’s something wonderfully reassuring about sliding your hands into a good pair of gardening gloves before tackling that overgrown rose bush or wrestling with brambles. Your hands become armoured against the garden’s more aggressive inhabitants. Those thorns that seem to have a personal vendetta, the rough bark that can leave your palms looking like you’ve been sandpapering, and the countless sharp edges that lurk amongst even the most innocent-looking plants.
Beyond protection, quality gloves transform your gardening experience into something far more comfortable. They cushion your palms against tool handles during those marathon weeding sessions and provide the kind of support that means you can garden longer without your hands staging a rebellion. There’s also the undeniable hygiene factor; whilst getting your hands dirty is part of gardening’s charm, gloves create a barrier between your skin and potentially nasty soil-dwelling bacteria or chemicals that might have found their way into your garden paradise.
For those plagued by plant allergies, gloves can be absolute lifesavers, preventing that maddening itch from poison ivy or the welts that some people develop from handling certain bulbs or saps. Modern gloves have also become remarkably sophisticated, with textured grips that actually enhance your ability to grasp tools and handle plants more securely than sweaty, slippery bare hands ever could.
However, gloves aren’t without their frustrations. Anyone who has ever tried to sow tiny seeds while wearing thick gardening gloves will understand the exasperation of reduced tactile sensitivity. There’s something almost meditative about feeling the texture of soil between your fingers, sensing exactly how moist the earth is, or gently handling delicate seedlings with the precise touch that only bare skin can provide.
Weather presents another challenge entirely. On sweltering summer days, gloves can transform your hands into their own personal saunas, trapping heat and moisture until you’re constantly aware of the clammy discomfort. Even supposedly breathable gloves can leave you feeling like you’re wearing miniature greenhouses, particularly during intensive tasks that get your heart rate up.
The practicalities of glove ownership can be surprisingly irksome, too. Finding the perfect fit often feels like searching for the holy grail. Some gloves are too loose and will slide about, causing blisters, while others are too tight, restricting movement and becoming uncomfortable within minutes. Quality gloves represent a genuine investment, and maintaining them properly requires regular cleaning and eventual replacement, adding another layer of garden maintenance to consider.
The truth is that the best approach often involves flexibility rather than dogma. Many experienced gardeners develop a nuanced relationship with their gloves, reaching for lightweight, close-fitting pairs when handling roses or clearing brambles, going bare-handed for delicate planting work, and switching to heavy-duty protection when dealing with rough materials or power tools.
The key lies in building a small collection that serves different purposes rather than searching for one perfect pair. This way, you can garden like the ninja you aspire to be – fully protected when tackling the garden’s challenges, yet sensitive enough to nurture the tiniest seedling, all whilst keeping your hands presentable enough for that evening’s social commitments. After all, there’s no shame in wanting hands that look garden-capable rather than battle-scarred!
Q: How often should I replace my garden gloves? A: Quality leather gloves can last 2-3 years with proper care. Synthetic gloves typically need replacing every 6-12 months, depending on use intensity.
Q: Can I put garden gloves in the washing machine? A: Only synthetic and some treated cotton gloves. Never machine-wash leather gloves, as it will damage the material and remove natural oils.
Q: What’s the difference between men’s and women’s garden gloves? A: Primarily sizing and sometimes colour choices. Many quality manufacturers offer unisex designs that accommodate the full range of hand sizes.
Q: Are expensive garden gloves really worth it? A: For regular gardeners, yes. Premium gloves offer better protection, comfort, and longevity, making them more cost-effective over time.
Q: How do I know if my gloves fit properly? A: You should be able to make a fist comfortably, touch your thumb to fingertips, and grip objects securely without the gloves shifting or bunching.
Q: What should I do if I’m allergic to latex? A: Choose nitrile-coated or synthetic materials. Always check product descriptions and avoid natural rubber latex coatings.
Suitable For:
Limitations:
Justified For:
Premium Advantages:
Ready to transform your gardening skills beyond basic maintenance? Garden Ninja’s expertly crafted online courses will fast-track your development from keen amateur to skilled garden designer in months rather than years. Starting at just £29, you’ll gain access to professional garden design expertise from BBC Garden Rescue’s Lee Burkhill, delivered at a fraction of traditional horticultural education costs.
Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans: In this online gardening course, I’ll walk you through 30 fantastic garden designs, explaining the logic behind the layout, the plant choices, and take-home tips for applying them in your own garden.
Learn how to transform and design your own garden with Lee Burkhills crash course in garden design. Over 5 hours Lee will teach you how to design your own dream garden. Featuring practical design examples, planting ideas and video guides. Learn how to design your garden in one weekend!
Garden Design for Beginners Online Course: If you want to make the career jump to becoming a garden designer or to learn how to design your own garden, this is the beginner course for you. Join me, Lee Burkhill, an award-winning garden designer, as I train you in the art of beautiful garden design.
What makes Garden Ninja courses so effective:
Gardening is one of the most enriching activities you can undertake. The more you garden, the more you want to be outside. It’s an addictive hobby/job/passion. It is essential to take care of your hands, and I hope that my years of experience in providing this glove guide are helpful.
Yes, some people may prefer to garden with their bare hands, which is perfectly fine. If you prefer neater and safer hands, gloves are the way to go. Sizing is everything with gloves, along with investing in a decent pair that will last you. In our throw-away world, it’s essential to be aware of our carbon footprint and influence as gardeners.
Got some gardening gloves you just can’t live without that you want to share? You can Tweet, Facebook or Instagram me. You can also follow me on YouTube, where I’ve got plenty of garden guide vlogs.
Happy gardening!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
JOIN THE NINJAS
Be the first in line for new Guides, Discount codes and Offers
Hi Lee,
After seeing your great video & notes on the gardening gloves at first I thought they were quite expensive but after reading many of the reviews I dived in and bought the Gold Leaf Soft touch gloves. They arrived today and I’m pleased with the quality of them.
I also bought a pack of ten PU /Latex Coated Work Gloves but it took a while searching for them. I propose to use them for everyday garden work in spring & summer.
Thanks for that publication, it was worthwhile and also something I had never seen other gardeners appraise before. Well done!
I bought landscaping gloves specifically to load, found, and cargo for music concerts. These are light, breathable, fit well and have a secure fit, which I’m very proud of. I’ve got used them several times thus far and they are holding up fine as is that the main guideline to safeguard my hands.
I love the spirit of this garden thank you to you