For gardeners who wear gloves, there is no perfect pair. There are gloves for wet work, gloves for abrasive work, gloves for delicate work... But we all have our favorites. I'm still quite partial to Foxgloves, myself. I am also grateful for my heavy-weight gloves every spring and fall. But I've been trying more of the wonder fabrics coming on the market. Here are 4 gloves recommended by me and some of my fellow gardeners.
1. Foxgloves
Marie Iannotti
Foxgloves look too elegant or silly to be tough enough to garden in, but prepare to be surprised. These gloves were designed by a landscape architect/professional horticulturist who wanted a garden glove that wasn't bulky or clumsy and had some durability. They feel soft, but are also extremely durable and abrasion resistant. The tight knitting is supposed to keep dirt from getting through the fabric onto your hands, even when wet. I have found that when wet, some discoloring will soak through. But in general, they protect my hands and nails far better than any other glove I have tried.
2. Goatskin Classic Garden Gloves
These aren't the classic cloth gloves that rip the first time you use them. These gloves are made of lanolin-treated goatskin. The lanolin makes them very subtle and they basically mold to your hand. Lanolin also makes them water repellent. The goatskin is extremely durable and they're surprisingly dextrous. Again, they tend to be a bit warm to work in for any length of time, but they do feel good on your hands. Hand washable.3. Nitrile Gloves
Flexible and durable. I like rubber mud gloves for really mucky work, but I have to admit these nitrile gloves are much easier to work in. The basic glove is a nylon knit, which fits snugly but offers a great deal of flexibility. The palm and fingers are coated with nitrile, which is some kind synthetic latex that's stronger and more puncture resistant than rubber. The nitrile is just a thin coating and it doesn't subtract from the gloves flexibility. Although the back is breathable knit, they're a little warm to work in all day, but for really dirty work or if you like to dig with your fingers, these are tough little customers. 5 unisex sizes and 4 colors. Machine washable.4. Waterproof Workgloves
Photo: © West County Gardener®. Used with Permission.
West County winter waterproof gloves are like a cross between ski mittens and garden gloves. They keep you dry and warm, yet the nylon stretch mesh back side keeps them from being stiff and inflexible. Your hands won’t get over heated and sweaty either, thanks to what they call a 2-way moisture management membrane. The glove feels substantial and well made. They aren't an all-purpose glove, but pair has held up well to washing and drying as well as the abuse of doing things they weren’t designed for, like pruning roses and carrying bricks. The added cushioning makes me reach for them whenever I’m about to do something especially rough.
