Garden Glove Buying Guide: Find the Perfect Pair for Every Task

Soil dries hands, causes cracking, and leaves stubborn dirt under nails. Gloves protect against soil, drying, and questionable organisms in manure and compost. They also prevent blisters from tools. But with so many choices, here's a guide to match gloves to tasks.

The best gloves fit your hands and the job. Oversized gloves reduce dexterity and cause chafing; too-small gloves restrict movement. No single pair suits all gardening activities. Here are the main types and their ideal uses.

Types of Garden Gloves

Cloth Gloves
Best for: Light planting, soil mixing, digging, raking. Some have leather/latex-reinforced palms for durability, grip, and thorn resistance. Machine washable.
Tip: They absorb water, becoming cold and clammy. Inexpensive but not durable—plan to replace regularly.

Sheepskin & Goatskin Gloves
Best for: Planting, digging, cutting, raking, shoveling. Stay supple when wet. Goatskin offers top comfort and dexterity. Some machine washable.
Tip: Sheepskin tears easily—avoid for pruning thorny plants. Not abrasion-resistant; use cowhide for stone work.

Rubber & PVC-Coated Gloves
Best for: Mud and prickly plants. Sacrifice dexterity for protection. Some reach the elbow.
Tip: If allergic to rubber, choose PVC.

Cowhide & Pigskin Gloves
Best for: Handling wood/rocks, planting trees/shrubs, operating power equipment. Most durable leather option.
Tip: Some lined with fleece/wool for winter.

Neoprene & Nitrile Gloves
Best for: Chemicals—greases, oils, herbicides, pesticides, caustics.
Tip: Ensure gloves are rated for your specific chemicals.

Sizing Guide

For best fit, try before buying. Make a fist—check for pinching or bulky seams. If trying isn't possible, measure around knuckles (excluding thumb):

• 6½–7¼ inches: Small
• 7½–7¾ inches: Medium
• 8–8¾ inches: Large
• 9–9¾ inches: X-Large
• 10–10¾ inches: XX-Large
• 11–11¾ inches: XXX-Large

Caring for Garden Gloves

• Knock off dirt daily.
• Store indoors to stay dry.
• Soak cloth/rubber gloves to remove caked mud.
• Wipe leather gloves with a rag to prevent stiffening.
• Lay leather gloves flat or hang by clothespins to maintain shape.