I tested top-selling gardening gloves – the £3 winning pair were perfect for pruning bushes
WHILE gardening is an enjoyable past-time for many, it can really take a toll on your hands.
That is where a good pair of gardening gloves in.
The best pairs can protect your mitts from the elements and any scratchy plants, helping you keep your garden in tip-top shape for summer.
Many pairs have individual features such as waterproofing, added grip, cushioning, and some are even made using more breathable fabrics.
Lynsey Hope tried a range of best-sellers. Here, she shares her verdict.
Homebase Soft-Grip Gardening Gloves
- £3, homebase.com
A great price, these gloves are quite strong and are made with a stretchable fabric so you get a comfy fit.
They weren’t the best for tackling brambles as I could feel some scratches through the material.
You can’t put them in the washing machine and have to clean with a damp cloth, but they came up fine after use.
The coating is 100% latex, which makes them excellent protection from germs and easy to clean.
Fit for purpose: 7/10
Value: 6/10
Overall score: 6/10
Verve Latex Dipped Gardening Goves
- £3.50, diy.com
Good quality I felt these offered excellent protection against thorns and brambles in the garden, even roses.
The back of the material was quite breathable and they had knitted cuffs which made them comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
The fit was comfortable and I thought they were good value for money.
The coating is latex and whilst they are not machine washable, they cleaned up well with a damp cloth.
I’d definitely buy again.
Fit for purpose: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Overall score: 10/10
House Beautiful Gardening Gloves
- £4, homebase.com
These gloves were super soft and stretchy and were one of the most comfortable pairs to wear.
They have a sandy nitrile coated palm, which made them anti-slip, and the elasticated cuff was pretty efficient at keeping dirt and debris out during use.
I found them especially useful for tasks requiring a bit more dexterity. But, there were gloves which were just as good as these for less money so I’m not sure they were best in terms of value.
Fit for purpose: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Overall score: 8/10
The Kew Gardens Seeding and Weeding Gloves
- £2, tesco.com
A great value glove for delicate tasks around the garden.
They are designed for lighter use and more delicate jobs but won’t withstand more heavy use.
These are made with a nitrile palm with a polyester back and cuff.
But, they weren’t the most comfy to wear and were quite a snug fit.
One bonus is that these are also machine washable under 30 degrees which many others weren’t.
Fit for purpose: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Overall score: 7/10
Draper Expert Premium Leather Gardening Gloves
- £8.99, amazon.co.uk
Strong, thick and comfortable to wear, these offered excellent protection against thorns and brambles and I thought they were good value for money.
While these were the most expensive in our test, they were hard wearing and I’d expect them to stand the test of time, making them potentially better value.
Because they are quite heavy duty, my hands did get quite hot while wearing these, but it’s not like we’ve had enough hot weather to worry about that too much.
They were a little bit loose on me, so a bit of debris did get inside during use which wasn’t ideal.
Overall, good quality but not the most practical.
Fit for purpose: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Overall score: 8/10
Rolson Heavy Duty Suede Gardening Gloves
£3.50, bmstores.co.uk
Hard-wearing and durable, these gloves would be great for a whole range of gardening tasks, protecting you from thorny bushes while not being too hot.
They were a comfy fit and had an elasticated cuff which provided support for the wrist and stopped grime getting on your hands inside.
If I’d been testing blind, I would have thought these cost a lot more than £3.50 and thought they were great value for money.
They can’t go in the washing machine but wiped up well after use.
Fit for purpose: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Overall score: 9/10
Fashion Nitrile Coated Fashion Gardening Gloves
- £1.50, bmstores.co.uk
These gloves are cheap, but are sure not cheerful.
They had a rubber-coated and waterproof palm but they felt more like washing up gloves than gardening gloves.
They did have a decent grip and felt reasonably comfy.
The different designs were nice too and the price is amazing, but I just don’t think they’d hold up in the garden for too long, so not great value for money long-term.
Fit for purpose: 2/10
Value: 3/10
Overall score: 2/10
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