Gardening Gloves

Written on November 4, 2009 at 7:43 am, by Justin W. Hancock

I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of wearing gloves in the garden. I know I should to protect my hands from blisters, cuts, etc., but I’ve never really gotten in the habit.

But this year I received a couple of samples that intrigued me. The first is the West Country Landscape glove. It caught my attention because it’s partially made from recycled soda bottles and also features Kevlar, which I recognize from television as being a product that some police body armor is made from. If it can stop a bullet, I’d think it could keep me from getting blisters. And it did.

The second glove I’ve only just received (this photo actually shows them sitting on my desk here at BHG headquarters). It’s the Cool Mud glove. I find this one fascinating because it contains an aloe additive and is supposed to moisturize my hands as I work in it. As gross as my hands can get after spending a day planting, pruning, and various other landscape tasks, I welcome the opportunity to keep them somewhat soft and clean.

I’d love to hear from you… Do you wear gloves while gardening? If so, do you have a favorite kind? Share your comments here!

2 Responses to “Gardening Gloves”

1. November 8, 2009 at 12:18 pm, by Vera Campbell

   Justin, yes, I learned to wear gloves a long time ago. They sure save wear and tear on your hands, esp. as you age. I used to just buy the cotton variety gloves, but all too often the index fingers would come out of those. I’ve also bought the ladies sized leather work gloves and they work very well. My favorites are now from Home Depot. They are a nylon type stretch with a solid palm. I’m sorry that I do not remember the brand, but they are relatively inexpensive – something like 4.99 per pair. I’ve washed mine repeatedly and they have put in a full year of total garden work and are still in good shape.

   Your new samples look interesting, esp. the first pair. Being made from recycled plastic tells me they should be long lasting and the index finger should last the life of the glove. Comfort and fit are important too.

   Thanks for the article.

   v. campbell

2. November 14, 2009 at 11:10 am, by Crazykaos

   I don’t. I know I should, and frequently will try. Mostly without success. Sometimes I start out with gloves only to take them off because I can’t properly weed or grip with gloves. There are exceptions. I try, but sometimes fail to use gloves when pruning Mesquite and Palo Verde trees (both VERY thorny)
   As gross as it might sound, I love the feeling of fresh dirt on my hands.