Of all the essential equipment that a gardener should have, there are few things higher up the list than a reliable set of gardening gloves. Indeed, a well-chosen pair of gardening gloves will last you over many years, becoming increasingly comfortable. So which should you buy?
How to choose gardening gloves
Lightweight gardening gloves
For lighter duties like potting and planting, you can get away with lightweight gardening gloves made of polyester or cotton. Thinner gloves also give you more dexterity.
Heavy-duty gardening gloves
For tougher jobs like shifting rubble or clearing brambles, you’ll want a sturdier pair. If you regularly prune, you’re best off erring on the side of caution and picking up a heavy-duty pair of gardening gloves that are thornproof. These are most likely to be made of leather.
You may also want to choose a waterproof option for gardening in damp weather.
What to consider
You may want to look for gloves with:
- Breathable backs
- Leather/reinforced palms
- Elasticated cuffs
- Thornproof materials
- Waterproof materials
- Stylish design
- Extra grip if you spend a lot of time with a wheelbarrow or garden tools
- Extra-long gauntlet-style cuffs if you’re working in short sleeves or want extra protection
For more essential garden wear, take a look at our selection of the best wellington boots.
The best gardening gloves in 2024
Best for everyday gardening jobs
Burgon & Ball Love The Glove
Burgon & Ball's Love The Glove range is a classic for seasoned gardeners, as it offers eye-catching style with practical design and a fairly inexpensive price tag.
You can choose between a selection of stylish colours and patterns, as well as fabrics like tweed and denim. They're also great for gifting. What's not to love?
Sicilian lemon cotton gloves
For light gardening jobs and everyday tasks, you can't go wrong with this pack. The gloves are made with soft cotton for breathability, and there are PVC dots for grip across the palm. We also love the Sicilian lemon print for cheerful style.
Spear & Jackson Gardening Gloves
If you’re looking for expert credentials on a pair of gardening gloves, you can’t beat the folks at Kew Gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens’s horticultural team advised and collaborated in the making of these gloves from Spear & Jackson.
Everything about these gloves shouts no-fuss practicality, from the ripstrap cuffs to the elastane backs. They’re also available in pink and blue.
Best leather gardening gloves
Garden Trading natural suede gardening gloves
Buy from Garden Trading (£16.00)
For a simple, high-quality design, try Garden Trading's suede gloves. They also come in black, and you can buy the gauntlet version with longer cuffs in black or natural.
Lined leather gardening gloves
With the elasticated wrists, these leather gardening gloves should be easy to put on and take off. They're made with soft cowhide and include a reinforced suede palm for extra grip and protection. There's also a warm lining to keep you snug on chilly days.
Briers Lined Leather Gardening Gloves
Another pair from Briers, these ones made of cream-coloured hind leather and aimed squarely at the gardening market. This is another pair that look like they’ll happily take battering over many long years in the garden, and will become more comfy along the way. They’re also fleece-lined, to give you that extra warmth.
Best gauntlets and long gardening gloves
Briers Ultimate Golden Leather Gauntlets
For tough jobs, try this smart pair from Briers. They're made with leather, and have reinforced palms and thorn-resistant cuffs for extra protection.
The Little Boys Room Personalised Denim Gauntlet Gloves
If you’re thinking of Christmas presents for any green-fingered gents you know, take a look at this fun set of long-length denim gardening gloves from The Little Boys Room.
You can request a personalised message that will be emblazoned across the arm of one of the gloves - make it count! We’ve picked out the gauntlet-style pair, but you can also get these in a smaller standard size.
Tough Touch Gloves
Another great choice for a gauntlet is this pair of striking gloves. They're made with leather, which the makers have treated to be water resistant, so they should keep you dry when working in damp conditions.
Best waterproof gardening gloves
Gold leaf winter touch gloves
Gold Leaf is a market leader in gardening gloves, each pair in its line is designed in a variation on the brand’s signature yellow and black colours. We particularly like the Winter Touch Gloves, which are made of a quality deerskin leather that will mould itself to the shape of your hands.
A perfect choice for those who want assured quality and comfort - especially as they’re endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Best thornproof gardening gloves
Showa Grip Master Gloves
If you’re in search of gloves that will give you a sturdy grip, these are the best on our list. These gloves from Showa are made of polyester, but with nitrile-coated latex that will tack to surfaces better than leather or cotton. They also have a waterproof coating to keep your hands dry in poor weather.
These are unlikely to be the most pleasant-feeling of gloves, but synthetic fabric is made of a breathable mesh that will prevent your hands getting too clammy. Savvy gardeners will have a pair of these as well as a more all-purpose pair.
Briers Reinforced Rigger Gloves
Rigger gloves aren’t strictly - or at least exclusively - for the garden: they are used throughout the construction industry for handling rough and abrasive materials.
This pair from well-known garden brand Briers are ideal for those tougher jobs in the garden, and will keep your hands free of any nasty shocks if you’re clearing brambles. The palms are made of leather, while the ventilated mesh backs will prevent your hands from getting too hot.
Best gloves for grip and support
ReliefGrip Bionic Gardening Gloves
If you suffer from arthritis, or any similar issues where handling things needs a little extra support, take a look at Bionic’s gardening gloves.
They’re a bit eccentric-looking, but they’ve been designed by an orthopaedic hand surgeon to offer your hands as much assistance as possible with your gardening.
Each finger is coated with silicone for extra grip, and there’s a velcro wristband for added support. We’ve linked to the men’s medium size below, but these also come in men’s large and women’s small and large sizes.
Looking for more gardening clothing and accessories? See our 'what to wear' page, which covers everything from jackets and overalls to clogs and sunhats.