HomeHOWHow To Make Garden Gloves Waterproof

How To Make Garden Gloves Waterproof

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the Amazing Stuff For You! Gardening Gloves. During our testing, we found these gloves to hold up well during a variety of gardening tasks and were impressively comfortable, durable, and a great value for the price. Plus, they are machine-washable.

Our Testing Process

We first tested 17 gardening gloves in our Lab, assessing them on quality, comfort, design, durability, and value. First, we wore each of the gloves for 30 minutes while doing gardening tasks such as repotting a plant or weeding. We measured how easy it was to move our hands in the gloves, as well as overall comfort and breathability.

For the gloves that were also advertised as waterproof, we worked with watering tools, such as watering cans or garden hoses, and wet materials, such as wet soil, to assess the gloves’ resistance to water. We also did a separate test for gloves that were designed to protect against thorns by working with prickly plants to see if the material protected from scratches and punctures. If gloves came with any special features, such as compatibility with touch screens or a better grip, we tested those too. At the end we evaluated if the performance was a good value for the money, and if we would recommend it to fellow gardeners.

In addition to Lab testing, we also assessed the gardening gloves over six months in real-world conditions. For waterproof gloves, we made sure to spend time doing wet gardening or yard work. We also evaluated the comfort of the gardening gloves, taking note of feel, breathability, thickness, and dexterity, as well as any irritation. To provide accurate data in real-world conditions, we completed at least 30 minutes straight of gardening or pruning work for heavy-duty glove models.

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Throughout this testing we also considered each pair of glove’s design, accounting for both functional and aesthetic components of their appearance. If there were any added features, like grip pads, extended cuffs, or touchscreen compatibility, we evaluated their effectiveness and value. Following these trials, we noted the gloves’ durability, looking for ripped seams, cracks, punctures, shrinking, or odors.

How to Shop for Gardening Gloves Like a Pro

Material and Protection

“The material of the glove is key when it comes to comfort,” says Kostovick. Choosing the right material for your gardening gloves is dependent on your personal preferences and the tasks at hand. If you detest your hands getting hot while wearing any kind of gloves, “you’ll want to look for one that offers breathability, like nylon, nitrile, or cotton,” says Kostovick. “I personally have had more luck with nylon and nitrile gloves keeping their shape versus cotton. The cotton gloves seem to stretch out a bit more over time, especially around the wrist, which then allows lots of dirt to collect on the inside of the glove.”

Synthetic materials, such as spandex or synthetic leather, will cause your hands to heat more than they would with natural fabrics. Whether you choose a natural or breathable fabric, know that these thinner materials won’t protect you as well against prickly plants, such as roses. If you work with particularly rough or prickly plants, get leather gloves—the thick material will protect you from scratches and punctures to the skin. “For chores like pruning blackberries or roses, I recommend a leather or heavy-canvas glove,” says Kostovick. “Many of the heavier-duty gloves also offer a longer cuff to protect your arms as well.”

Size and Fit

Fit is also super important when choosing the right gardening gloves. Gardening gloves that are too small will limit your range of motion in your hands, while gardening gloves that are too large will make you feel like you’re not getting a good enough grip on what you’re doing. Both of these will be uncomfortable and prevent you from being able to enjoy your gardening.

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“You’ll want your gloves tight enough so you have good dexterity, but not too tight that when you make a fist, your fingers get squeezed,” says Kostovick. “Look for gloves that offer grip support of some sort. Without it, plants can easily slip through your gloved fingers and you’ll lack the exactness of control that you’d like when dealing with delicate plants. You’ll want the material to be thin enough that it doesn’t feel clumsy when handling plants.”

Waterproofing

For those tackling wet or muddy gardening jobs, opt for a waterproof glove. Synthetic materials like rubber, nitrile, and polyurethane can prevent water from soaking through to your hand, keeping you comfortable and dry no matter the task at hand. Synthetic materials are more water-resistant than natural fabrics, except for rubber. Look for gloves that are rubber or have a plastic coating, such as polyurethane.

Waterproof gardening gloves also have the added benefit of protecting you from potentially harmful substances.

More Gardening Gloves to Consider

StoneBreaker Rancher Gloves: Although these are a solid option for dealing with thorny plants and heavy-duty tasks, we didn’t like how they weren’t waterproof or breathable to wear.

Cooljob Gardening Gloves: These garden gloves had an impressive fit and comfort, and were the most true to size of any other gloves that we tested. However, they were so thin that they didn’t offer protection from thorns.

Questions You Might Ask

Should you wear gloves when gardening?

Gardening gloves aren’t absolutely necessary, but they’re still a pretty good idea to protect your hands from dirt and your skin from being scratched and punctured by plants—even if you’re gardening in a small space. If you’ve ever been through the struggle of getting dirt out from under your fingernails, then you can imagine how beneficial gardening gloves can be. Plus, getting scratches and punctures while gardening will make your gardening experience, which should be enjoyable and peaceful, uncomfortable and painful. Gardening can be good for your mental health, so it’s best to use protection tools, such as gloves, so you can get the most out of the experience. However, if you are using chemicals to treat your garden, such as pesticides, you must wear gardening gloves.

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Can you wash gardening gloves?

It depends on the gloves. “Some gloves are able to be tossed into the washing machine, while others may be best suited for hand washing/air drying,” says Kostovick. “Best to always follow manufacturers directions. I toss my cotton and nylon gloves in a cool washer, but always air dry as they can shrink in the dryer.”

Leather gloves require a little extra effort. If your leather gloves have stains, tend to those first with a microfiber cloth and a solution that is made up of equal parts water and distilled vinegar. If you have mud stains, wait until those are completely dry, and use a soft bristle brush to remove the debris before spot-treating. Then, mix soap designed for leather goods, such as Castile or saddle soap, with warm water and clean the gloves. Use a separate microfiber towel with water to brush the soap away. After that, let them air dry on a towel away from direct sunlight.

What are the best gloves for weeding?

The best gardening gloves for weeding are thick and durable enough to protect you from pricks and scratches. We recommend leather, nylon, spandex, or polyurethane-coated gloves, as they create a protective barrier between you and the prickly task at hand. For even more protection, you can opt for gloves that extend above the wrist, like the Magid Professional Rose Pruning Gardening Gloves.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. We researched the best gardening gloves and tested 17 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on quality, comfort, durability, design, and value. We also spoke to Allison Vallin Kostovick, an expert gardener and creator of the gardening blog Finch + Folly for her expert insight.

What Is Real Simple Selects?

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.

Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.

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