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Even those of us who like to get our hands in the soil have times when a pair of gloves is essential.
No one wants freezing fingers while gardening on cold and damp days, and a good pair of thorn proof gloves can also save our hands from nettles and spiny shrubs.
From lightweight to heavy duty wear, we wanted to find the best gloves to protect our hands, but also be versatile enough to help us through a wide variety of tasks.
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When testing tough garden gloves, we looked for the products which provided the ultimate protection from thorns and thistles while remaining comfortable and versatile.
One of our Best Buys had thick (yet comfortable) leather which didn't let a single thorn in, no matter how tightly we squeezed our handful of cuttings. Another Best Buy, a gauntlet-style pair, protected the wrists and forearms while fitting remarkably well around the fingers.
Which? members can log in now to see the full results and which are our Best Buys. If you’re not a member, join Which? to get instant access.
Product name | Comfort | How easy to take on and off | Stiffness when dried | Breathability | Protection when pruning thorny shrubs | Protection from nettles, thistles and brambles | Dexterity | Protection from wet and dirt | Overall score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bradleys Floral English Leather & Linen | |||||||||
Briers All Rounder | |||||||||
Briers Professional | |||||||||
Gold Leaf Dry Touch Gloves | |||||||||
Gold Leaf Tough Touch Gloves | |||||||||
Gold Leaf Winter Touch | |||||||||
Kent & Stowe Premium Comfort Gloves |
OVERALL RATING Ignores price, based on: comfort (ease of taking on and off, stiffness when dried and breathability) 27%; protection when pruning thorny shrubs, nettles, brambles and thistles 25%; dexterity (tying twine, weeding out seedlings, opening and closing secateurs) 21%; protection from wet and dirt 21%; protection when digging 6%.
For a less cumbersome wear, or for undertaking less heavy-duty garden tasks, a pair of lightweight garden gloves can provide protection while feeling like you're wearing no gloves at all.
We donned three Best Buys that did just that. One pair fit like a second skin and gave fantastic defence from dirt while providing excellent grip. Another cheap and cheerful pair featured a latex covering and gave the wearer a great level of feeling while remaining protective.
Which? members can log in now to see the full results and which are our Best Buys. If you’re not a member, join Which? to get instant access.
Product name | Comfort | Durability | Protection from dirt and water | Ease of weeding | Ease of handling seeds | Hard physical work | Pulling nettles | Overall score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Briers All Seasons Gardener | ||||||||
Briers Seed & Weed | ||||||||
Gold Leaf Dry Touch | ||||||||
Gold Leaf Soft Touch | ||||||||
RHS Tough Tips Gloves | ||||||||
Showa 341 Advanced Grip | ||||||||
Showa Floreo 370 |
The more stars the better. SCORE does not include price and is based on: comfort, including how easy it is to get the gloves on and off, sweatiness and stiffness (20%); durability, including wear and tear, and washability (15%); weeding (15%); protection from dirt and water (10%); deadheading (10%); hard physical work and pulling nettles (10%); dexterity, including writing labels (10%) and handling small seeds (10%).
Pay £36.75 for the first year and get the garden you want for less
Get this offerWe can probably all think of occasions when we need a stout pair of gloves in the garden, but how tough do they need to be?
Prune your shrubs with Best Buy secateurs