To help you find the best gardening gloves for your gardening needs, we tested 17 gardening gloves in our Lab and assessed them based on quality, comfort, design, durability, and value. Our top pick is the Amazing Stuff For You! Gardening Gloves for their secure and comfortable fit, good grip, and ability to hold up well during various types of yard work. Read on to learn more about our top picks and how to choose the best gardening gloves to use for your home garden. Who it isn’t for: People who want gardening gloves made of a more breathable fabric. These gardening gloves have a lot going for them, as they scored pretty high in our testing for quality, comfort, durability, design, and value. Our tester, who tends to their indoor and outdoor gardens almost daily, said these gloves “hold up well with normal (gardening) use.” They attributed this to the fit and fabric of the gloves: “(The gloves) fit securely and comfortably, thanks to the stretchy fabric. The waterproof coating protects hands from moisture and dirt, plus gives the gloves excellent grip.” This coating is also designed to protect the hand from prickly plants, while the tight fit around the wrist helps keep dirt and debris from creeping into your gloves. The gloves are made from nylon, which makes them machine-washable. However, nylon, which is a synthetic fabric, isn’t breathable, so it won’t wick away sweat that may build up while working in hotter temperatures. Still, our tester was pleased with the performance, calling them “well-made for a pretty basic style of glove” and would “recommend these gloves to anyone looking for a basic gardening glove that can handle a variety of tasks.” What’s more, you get two pairs for the price of one. Product Details:
Material: NylonSizes: Small, mediumCare: Machine-washable
Who it isn’t for: People who want waterproof gardening gloves. These affordable gardening gloves are great for people who are casual gardeners, or beginners who want to test the waters with gardening gloves before they commit to a higher-priced style. Our testing found that the West Chester Protective Gear Hi-Dexterity Gloves were just as comfortable as other more expensive models we tested. The tester said these gloves “fit very well” and felt “lightweight and breathable to wear.” This is especially good feedback considering they are made of synthetic leather, which isn’t supposed to be as breathable. As our testing went on, we did find that there is a cost to buying these budget-friendly gloves. Our tester noted that they aren’t waterproof, and while working with mulch and dirt, debris made their way into the gloves. Plus, after an hour of use, they already noticed some wear, including fraying on the fingertips. As such, our tester would recommend these gloves for “lightweight, non-messy” gardening tasks. Product Details:
Material: Mesh and synthetic leatherSizes: Small, largeCare: Hand wash
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to pay a lot for a pair of gardening gloves. Those new to gardening may be hesitant to use leather gloves since leather can be tricky to wash. However, leather gloves are actually great for gardening, as their thick construction prevents any scratches or punctures from happening while handling prickly plants. And for how well these leather gloves performed during our tests, going out of your way to carefully wash them is worth it. Our tester raved about these gloves: “Everything about these gloves says quality; from the materials used to the construction and especially to the design, these are the best of the bunch. Tough where they need to be, and more comfortable than a glove is expected to be.” These gloves were actually designed by an orthopedic hand specialist to ensure comfort as well as dexterity. These design aspects are easily seen throughout the glove, which includes lycra patches (a fabric known for its elasticity) located along the knuckles and in between the fingers to ensure easier movement. There are also silicone zones found on high-touch areas of the glove that both prevent wear and tear and provide a firmer grip. Inside, the gloves are lined with an absorbent terry cloth to help soak up sweat while working when it’s hot outside. While all of these are great features, some may be turned off by the high price. However, our tester found these to be worth the splurge, saying “I’ve literally never worn a more comfortable yet effective work glove.” Product Details:
Material: Leather, lycra, silicone, terry clothSizes: Small, medium, large, X-large, XX-largeCare: Machine-washable; hand wash recommended
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want gardening gloves that extend up their arms. People who grow roses in their garden know that tending to them can be risky business. Regular garden gloves won’t cut it when it comes to thorns, so you’ll need gloves that extend up your arm for optimal protection. These Magid gloves are made of spandex with synthetic leather sewed around high-touch areas that allow for extra protection and a greater grip. Our tester said that these thick gloves “did an excellent job protecting my hands and arms from pokes and scratches as I pruned my roses and weeded around them.” However, there were times when our tester “wasn’t careful” and thorns ended up poking through the spandex located in the arms. The arms of the gloves are loose to allow airflow, while the wrists are ruched tight to prevent any dirt or debris from entering. Despite the roomy fit, our tester found the gloves to lack breathability. After about 15 minutes of wearing them while working, our tester’s arms “got very hot, leaving my lower arms sweaty.” Regardless of these drawbacks, our tester still found these to be “high-quality, heavy duty gloves’’ that offer “excellent thorn protection.” You can expect these gloves to hit about an inch below your elbow, depending on how long your arms are. Product Details:
Material: Spandex, synthetic leatherSizes: Small, medium, largeCare: Machine-washable
Who it isn’t for: People who want more stylish gardening gloves. Breathability is one of the most important factors to consider when buying gardening gloves. If your gloves aren’t made of a breathable fabric, your hand will get hot. Not only that, but if the material is rigid enough, it could cause blisters. Even though these gloves are made from synthetic materials, which are generally not supposed to be the most breathable, our tester found them lightweight enough to offer “good breathability.” This can be attributed to the mesh spandex, which can be found primarily on the front of the gloves. The underside, which includes the fingers and palm area, are padded with synthetic leather for protection. These garden gloves boast extra features not often found in other pairs of its kind. First, they have an adjustable wrist strap that can be tightened up when dealing directly with dirt. Second, the fingertips are compatible with touch screens, which, if you are following directions while gardening, will prove quite useful. Third, they are machine-washable for easy care. Overall, our tester found these gloves to hold up well during normal gardening tasks and believed them to be durable enough to handle more labor-intensive yard tasks, including digging holes, raking, and using power tools. Product Details:
Material: Spandex, synthetic leatherSizes: Small, medium, large, and extra largeCare: Machine-washable
Who it isn’t for: People who want gardening gloves that won’t show wear and tear after initial use. Gardening gloves, while incredibly useful, can get uncomfortably quickly if the fit is incorrect or the material is incompatible with the type of work you’re doing. These bamboo gloves not only fit super well on our tester, but also felt comfortable for the entire hour that they were used to do garden work. This is achieved largely thanks to the bamboo fabric. Bamboo is a natural fabric that is breathable, strong, soft, and is capable of wicking away moisture from the body. All of these components make it a great fabric for gardening gloves. These gloves also have a foam latex coating on the palm that is waterproof, offering greater protection for messier gardening tasks. These garden gloves felt so good to wear that our tester described them as having “a second skin,” and compared to other garden gloves they’ve worn in the past, these were one of the most comfortable they’ve ever worn. “The thin bamboo fabric felt cooling and was just the right amount of stretchy to fit securely but not squeeze too much,” they said. One thing our tester didn’t like was that after their first time using the gloves, they noticed more wear than with other gloves they tested. These gloves come in three colors, including purple, blue, and teal green, and three sizes, including small, medium, and large. Product Details:
Material: Bamboo, foam latexSizes: Small, medium, largeCare: Machine-washable
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to buy gardening gloves in bulk. Although these are technically gloves for automotive work, we wanted to put them to the test to see if they could be useful for gardening. Turns out, they definitely are. Our tester said the Ansell Hyflex gloves were their “favorite out of all the gloves tested.” What made these gloves so great was the fit, comfort, and overall value of the product. “These gloves are incredibly comfortable, fit my hand perfectly, and didn’t make my hands sweat,” they said. The gloves felt so great to wear that our tester said they felt “as if I weren’t wearing gloves.” The gloves are made of nylon and have been coated with an anti-slip plastic material that is also waterproof, so the gloves were still able to adequately protect our tester’s hands while weeding and working with damp soil. Our tester was also impressed with the lack of wear and tear after first use, which led them to believe that it would take them a while to get through their box of twelve. Although buying in bulk may deter buyers, our tester found this deal to be worth the cost, especially considering they could be used for other handy home work, including crafting. Product Details:
Material: Nylon, polyurethaneSizes: XX small, X small, small, medium, large, X large, XX largeCare: Not listed
Our Testing Process
We tested 17 gardening gloves in our Lab, assessing them on quality, comfort, design, durability, and value. First, we had our testers wear each of the gloves for 30 minutes while doing gardening tasks such as repotting a plant or weeding. We did this to measure dexterity, or how easy it was to be able to move your hand in the glove while working. We also measured comfort, including the feel of the inside of the glove, and breathability, noting whether or not it became too hot overtime. For the gloves that were also advertised as waterproof, we had our testers work with watering tools, such as watering cans or hoses, and wet materials, such as wet soil, to assess the gloves’ resistance to water. We also did a separate test for gloves that were designed to protect against thorns by having them work with prickly plants to see if the material protected from scratches and punctures. If gloves came with any special features, such as compatibility with touch screens or a better grip, we tested those too. At the end we asked our testers, who are all home gardeners, if they felt the performance was a good value for the money, and if they would recommend it to fellow gardener friends. We used all this information to come up with the best gardening gloves.
How to Shop for Gardening Gloves
Material
Choosing the right material for your garden gloves is dependent on your personal preferences and the tasks at hand. If you detest your hands getting hot while wearing any kind of gloves, it’s best to choose a natural, breathable fabric such as bamboo or cotton. Synthetic materials, such as nylon or spandex, will cause your hands to heat up more than they would while wearing natural fabrics. Whether you choose a natural or breathable fabric, know that these thinner materials won’t protect you as well against prickly plants, such as roses. If you work with particularly rough or prickly plants, get leather gloves—the thick material will protect you from scratches and punctures to the skin. If you have rose bushes, it’s highly recommended to get garden gloves that go up the arm, so you can protect that area of your body from being poked. Synthetic leather works well too, and is also more waterproof than regular leather. If you do messier garden work that involves water, you must get waterproof gloves. Synthetic materials are more water-resistant than natural fabrics, with the exception of rubber. Look for gloves that are rubber or have a plastic coating, such as polyurethane.
Fit
Fit is also super important when choosing the right gardening gloves. Gardening gloves that are too small will limit your range of motion in your hands, while gardening gloves that are too large will make you feel like you’re not getting a good enough grip on what you’re doing. Both of these will be uncomfortable and prevent you from being able to be present, and enjoy, your gardening. To figure out the best fit, it’s best to measure out the size of your hand first. To do this, look at the brand’s sizing before you start. They may have their own way of measuring for their gloves. If the brand doesn’t have their own way of measuring, you can do so by measuring the length of the top of your middle finger to your palm, then the width of the base of your palm. Take those measurements and consult the brand’s size chart.
More Gardening Gloves to Consider
StoneBreaker Rancher Gloves: Although our tester said these are “a solid option for dealing with thorny plants and heavy-duty tasks,” they didn’t like how they weren’t waterproof or breathable to wear. Cooljob Gardening Gloves: These gardening gloves got “an A+ for fit and comfort,” with our tester saying they were “the most true to size of any other gloves” that they tested. However, they were so thin that they didn’t offer protection from thorns.
Questions You Might Ask
Are gardening gloves really necessary for gardening?
Not absolutely necessary, but they’re still a pretty good idea because they will protect your hands from getting dirty and your skin from being scratched and punctured by plants. If you’ve ever been through the struggle of getting dirt out from under your fingernails, then you can imagine how beneficial gardening gloves can be. Plus, getting scratches and punctures while gardening will make your gardening experience, which should be enjoyable and peaceful, uncomfortable and painful. Gardening can actually be good for your mental health, so it’s best to use protection tools, such as gloves, so you can get the most out of the experience. However, if you are using chemicals to treat your garden, such as pesticides, you must wear gardening gloves.
Can I put my gardening gloves in the washing machine?
It depends on the gloves. Many are machine-washable, and if so, make sure to read the manufacturer’s washing instructions. Considering how dirty they will be compared to the rest of your wardrobe, it may be best to wash them separately from your other clothes. Those that aren’t machine-washable should be hand washed with mild detergent and then air dried. Leather gloves require a little extra effort. If your leather gloves have stains, tend to those first with a microfiber cloth and a solution that is made up of equal parts water and distilled vinegar. If you have mud stains, wait until those are completely dry and use a soft bristle brush to remove the debris before spot treating. Then, mix soap designed for leather goods, such as Castile or saddle soap, with warm water and clean the gloves. Use a separate microfiber towel with water to brush the soap away. After that, let them air dry on a towel away from direct sunlight.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. We researched the best gardening gloves and tested 17 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on quality, comfort, durability, design, and value.
What Is Real Simple Selects?
Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. If that’s the case, we test the product just like we test anything we buy, but we also disclose that we received it for free to be as transparent with you as possible. Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.
