8 Best Gardening Gloves of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
We put top-rated gloves to the test in order to find the best options for planting, weeding and daily garden chores.
Our Top Gardening Glove Picks
- Best Overall: WOHEER Leather Thorn-Proof Gardening Gloves
- Best Runner-Up: Pine Tree Tools Bamboo Gardening Gloves
- Best Value: COOLJOB Breathable Rubber Gardening Gloves
- Best Lightweight: Foxgloves Original Gardening Gloves
- Best Gauntlet: MAGID Extra-Long Thorn-Proof Gardening Gloves
- Best Leather: Wells Lamont HydraHyde Leather Gardening Gloves
- Best for Pruning: Acdyion Thorn-Proof Gauntlet Gardening Gloves
- Best Heavy-Duty: Garrett Wade Puncture-Resistant Gardening Gloves
Tested by Stacy Tornio
Stacy Tornio
Whether you're planting, pruning or weeding, good gardening gloves matter. The right pair of gloves can help keep your hands and arms free of scratches and scrapes while working with thorny plants. They can also make tasks easier and keep your nails and hands looking good throughout all the seasons. With so many health benefits of gardening, it's truly a hobby you can get into any time of year. When it comes to gardening gloves and how to choose the best ones, it's important to think about what type of gardening you'll be doing. If you do much pruning or heavier gardening work, you'll want thicker, gauntlet-style gloves in your rotation. But if you're mostly looking for gloves for easy planting and light weeding, a shorter, lightweight pair is probably all you need. Better yet, if you have the budget, get a couple of different gloves for your specific needs. Trust us, you'll be glad you did.
Stacy Tornio
How We Tested
To find the best gardening gloves, we purchased 15 top-rated pairs in a variety of price points and styles. We first tested the fit of the gloves. Within seconds of slipping your hands into a pair, you'll get that important first impression of how they look and feel overall. Of course, this can be highly personal, so we took all the gloves and had a few gardening friends try them on with us to do the "scrunch" test of bending your fingers and wrists to check for comfort. Next, we put them through some basic gardening tasks that included both simple planting and more rigorous garden weeding and cleanup. A big part of this test will still tie back to overall comfort, but they definitely got put through the motions. Finally, with so many gardening gloves claiming to be puncture- and thorn-resistant, we tested them out by handling some of the thorny shrubs in the garden. We even used an indoor cactus to see if the spikes would poke through. After each of the tests were complete on all 15 pairs we purchased, we chose the following as the best gardening gloves on the market right now.
- Stretchy
- Breathable
- Cute patterns and designs
- Not for bigger gardening jobs
It can be challenging to find garden gloves that can do it all between pruning, planting and weeding, but the WOHEER Leather Gardening Gloves didn't disappoint. They offer the perfect mix of being both cute and practical with floral microfiber fabric on the top and leather bottoms to protect your hands. These gloves are truly some of the most breathable, flexible gloves on the market. With a wide variety of designs available, you can find the perfect pair to match your personality. The only thing to be aware of is they aren't necessarily heavy-duty gloves. They will take care of most of your everyday gardening tasks, but for serious pruning jobs or thorny bushes, you'll want to look for thicker, gauntlet-style gloves.
- Sizes Available Medium and large
- Material Microfiber, leather
- Water-Resistant? No
- Machine-Washable? No
- Available in five sizes
- Good grip
- Touchscreen-compatible
- Snug fit isn't for everyone
If you're one of those people who don't like gardening gloves because they are too big and bulky, then you should check out the Pine Tree Tools Gardening Gloves. They are known for being touchscreen-friendly and for fitting snugly, so order a size up if you like gloves on the roomier side. These gloves have been a favorite among gardeners for years, and then they started becoming popular for people who fish because of their grippy bottoms. Because of their tighter fit, they allow you to do more detailed work like digging out those small weeds or transplanting seedlings.
- Sizes Available Small, medium, large, XL, 2XL
- Material Bamboo
- Water-Resistant? Yes
- Machine-Washable? No
- Thick, protective fingertips
- Flexible fabric
- Colorful designs
- Brand name across the glove
The COOLJOB Gardening Gloves will work just as hard as you do. With reinforcement at the fingertips, they are strong enough to tackle pruning and gardening clean-up but also flexible enough for detailed planting. The gloves are water-resistant, so when you're done working for the day, just hose them off and hang them up to dry. These are some of the most affordable gardening gloves on the market, and they also have cute colors and designs to choose from. This makes them a go-to choice for gardeners looking for an everyday glove.
- Sizes Available Small, medium, large
- Material Knitted base with rubber coating
- Water-Resistant? Yes
- Machine-Washable? Yes
- Soft and flexible
- Long cuffs
- Stretchy
- Thin overall
Love the feeling of soil on your fingers but don't want it under your fingernails? Thes Foxgloves Original Gardening Gloves are the closest you're going to get to wearing nothing. They are soft, fit close to the skin and have a feeling of luxury. At first, they feel similar to a fine glove, and you might wonder if they're even a gardening glove. But as you put them to the test, you'll soon see they're water-resistant and durable. These are not gloves to do tasks like pruning or heavy weeding, but you will love them for planting and other detailed work.
- Sizes Available Small, medium, large
- Material Nylon spandex
- Water-Resistant? Yes
- Machine-Washable? No
- Extra-long forearm
- Reinforced areas for extra protection
- Nice design details
- Slightly stiff
When it’s time to prune, clean out your garden or dig into those thorny, spiky plants, the MAGID Extra-Long Gardening Gloves are the gloves you want to pull out. A lot of bigger, longer gloves are bulky, but the spandex worked into the design gives them an extra level of comfort and flexibility. They are truly durable gloves with synthetic suede, and they've been reinforced in several spots, including the knuckles and fingertips. These gloves deserve a spot in your garden supplies and should last for years to come.
- Sizes Available XS, small, medium, large
- Material Synthetic suede, spandex and leather
- Water-Resistant? No
- Machine-Washable? No
- Soft leather palm
- Adjustable wrist closure
- Flexible, spandex back
- Lighter color will show dirt
The Wells Lamont HydraHyde Gardening Gloves offer comparable quality to those priced twice as high, featuring the unique HydraHyde soft leather on the underside and flexible spandex on the back. An adjustable wrist closure ensures a snug fit for gardening tasks, while extra padding on the palms and knuckles enhances durability.
- Sizes Available Small, medium, large
- Material Leather and spandex
- Water-Resistant? Yes
- Machine-Washable? No
- Soft, comfortable leather
- Bright yellow color
- Flexibility in wrist
- A bit bulky for simple tasks
These vibrant yellow gloves not only catch the eye with their bright color but also surprise with their soft and supple leather. Comfortable to wear, they promise durability across many gardening seasons. Ideal for pruning and cleanup, these gloves offer excellent protection for both hands and arms, ensuring a safe and productive gardening experience.
- Sizes Available XS, small, medium, large, XL
- Material Leather
- Water-Resistant? No
- Machine-Washable? No
- Extremely sturdy
- Stretchy
- Excellent quality
- Expensive
- A bit stiff overall
These premium gloves are a worthwhile investment, standing as the highest-priced option on the list. Yet, you'll know your hands are well protected. Whether you're tending to rosebushes, cacti or any other thorny vegetation, you can trust the safety these gloves provide. Equipped with adjustable wrist straps, they offer the perfect fit for any user, allowing size customization for optimal comfort and protection. If you want a protective glove without the bulk, these gloves are an excellent choice for superior hand safety in the garden.
- Sizes Available Small, medium, large, XL
- Material Puncture-resistant fabric
- Water-Resistant? Yes
- Machine-Washable? No
What to Consider When Buying Gardening Gloves
- Size and Fit: The size and fit of your gardening gloves can be a personal preference whether you like your gloves to truly "fit like a glove" or be loose, but think about how you will be using them to ensure they'll work for you. Most companies will provide a size chart to reference when buying, so be sure to check the measurements. If reviews of the gloves say they fit tight and you're not a fan of that, definitely size up.
- Material and Protection: If you want to be able to hose down your gloves or throw them in the wash, look for vinyl or cloth options, as opposed to leather. If you need that extra protection from your daily gardening chores, opt for a thicker material. You might have to wash it by hand, but it'll give you what you need.
- Comfort and Design: You want your garden gloves to be flexible and easy for you to move your fingers around. Also, pay attention to other design details like whether they are tight at the wrist or have extra padding on the palm. Based on your needs, this can be really important.
- Waterproofness: Gardening can be both messy and muddy. Look for gloves that can hold up to all weather conditions or that you can easily wash.
Stacy Tornio
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should you wear gloves when gardening? Sometimes you truly want to feel the coolness of the soil between your fingers, so you'll opt out of gloves entirely. But there's nearly always a case to be made for gardening gloves for certain jobs. For instance, pruning or weeding are both good reasons to wear gloves.
- Can you wash gardening gloves? While many gardening gloves are made of materials like leather, you can still wash most of them by hand. Wash by hand with a gentle mixture of soap and water, and then hang them outside in the sunshine to dry.
