Best Latex-free and Thorn-Proof Gardening Gloves
Updated: Mar. 25, 2024
The best gardening gloves make the work more enjoyable, protecting you from cuts, scrapes, bites and whatever else is lurking in your garden.
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Buying Gardening Gloves
I’ve bought and used dozens of different kinds of garden gloves. One thing I’ve learned is one type doesn’t do it all. I own several pairs for different types of gardening.
When buying my gardening gloves, I consider:
- Purpose: Gloves that are great for trimming roses won’t work well for weeding. And gloves for weeding often aren’t the best choice for potting up seedlings.
- Size: I look for gloves that come in different sizes — small, medium, and large. “One size fits all” are usually too big for me.
- Cost: Like everyone, I’m looking for a good price but recognize the cheapest option is seldom the best.
- Material: I prefer heavier gloves for trimming to be made of a non-puncture material like leather. I like other gloves to be machine washable and not too hot to wear in summer.
Best for General Use
I like gloves with a latex covering on the palms and fingertips and a breathable fabric on the other side. The latex provides a good grip when weeding or digging, and also keeps my hands dry. You can often buy these gloves in packs of several pairs so you’ll have extra on hand if they get wet and you need a dry pair.
Best for Pruning Roses
When pruning roses, I wear leather gloves that come up almost to my elbows. The tough leather protects my hands and forearms from thorns so I can concentrate on what I’m doing. These gloves would work for pruning anything with thorns, including blackberries and raspberries.
Best for Winter Gardening
Sometimes in the winter, I need a good pair of leather work gloves that will keep my hands warm and protected. I wear this type of glove when I’m picking up small limbs, raking leaves or even shoveling snow. They’re also good for any type of sawing. Find more of our top picks for winter work gloves.
Best for Cut Resistance
When I’m doing something in the garden that requires a sharp knife, or working with any kind of metal with sharp edges, I like to wear cut resistant gloves. I first discovered these when I was looking for cut resistant gloves to use in the kitchen. I was delighted to learn they have them for outdoor work, too.
Best for General Use Without Latex
Another favorite brand of mine is Mud. These are great if you can’t wear anything with latex. The nitrile covering keeps hands dry while weeding or planting, and they range in size from extra-small to large. They even have gloves for kids who might want to help out in the garden.
Best Summer Work Gloves
In summer, when I’m doing heavy work that calls for an all-leather glove but don’t want my hands to sweat, I reach for Ethel gloves. These are machine washable, and the fingertips allow you to use your smartphone without removing the glove.
I once lost a pair of Ethel gloves in the garden and found them a year later in my compost pile. With a quick wash, they were as good as new.
Best for Light Gardening
For light garden work, like cutting flowers for bouquets or harvesting vegetables, a lightweight glove like these Foxgloves will protect your hands. Because they’re longer than many other gardening gloves, they’ll protect your wrists as well. The inventor of Foxgloves tells a fun story about buying used ladies’ gloves from the 1950s for gardening, then making these in much the same way.
Best Disposable Gloves
Sometimes the best gloves for gardening are disposable. I wear these latex-free gloves whenever I’m potting up plants, sowing seeds, and even weeding if I know I’m not going to run into thorns. They keep my hands clean. Although they aren’t puncture proof, I’m less likely to get cuts or scrapes.
Originally Published: March 08, 2023
