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Good work gloves protect laboring hands from discomfort and injury, though not all projects pose the same risks. After over 30 hours of testing 14 pairs of work gloves, we evaluated each for fit, flexibility, grip, cut and puncture resistance, water resistance, and cold protection to find the best options for various tasks.
Choosing the right gloves for work can be tough, as many are task specific. The Ironclad Ranchworx working gloves were our top pick for general hand protection in various conditions. They fit well; feature durable materials with reinforced stress points; and shielded our hands from scrapes, cuts, puncture wounds, and blisters during testing.
When you need to wear work gloves, consider the features you need. For building a new deck, heavy-duty construction gloves protect against cuts and splinters, while insulation and water resistance are important. Whatever your project, we have the right work gloves for you.
- BEST OVERALL FOR MEN: Ironclad Ranchworx Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST OVERALL FOR WOMEN: Ironclad Tuff Chix Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Wells Lamont 1164 HydraHyde Leather Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR HOT WEATHER: Youngstown Glove Co. Hybrid Plus Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR COLD WEATHER: Ergodyne ProFlex 850 Freezer Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WATERPROOF: Wells Lamont Waterproof Winter Grip Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST LEATHER: Magid T-Rex Flex Series TRX818 Leather Impact Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST TOUCH-SCREEN TIPS: Custom Leathercraft Flex Grip Handyman Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR MECHANICS: Mechanix Wear M-Pact Gray Work Gloves
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR GARDENING: Skydeer Deerskin Suede Ladies Gardening Gloves
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 14 |
| Time spent testing | 30 hours |
| Tests performed | 6 |
| Price range | $8 to $35 |
Our Top Picks
The work gloves we chose had to be durable enough to resist tearing during the work they were designed to do. We also paid attention to fit and comfort. Check out our findings below.
Best Overall for Men
Ironclad Ranchworx Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Goatskin leather, nylon, Kevlar, terry cloth, rubber
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: S to 3XL
What We Like
- Quality construction with finger-top inserts
- Rubber-reinforced knuckles
- No inner finger seams
- Comfortable fit
What We Don’t Like
- On the pricey side
These Ironclad Ranchworx work gloves were impressive right out of the package. They come with a lot of extras, including multiple rows of overstitching for durability. They fit well, although the fingers seemed slightly narrow compared with other gloves of the same size. We found them especially comfortable due to their lack of inner seams through the fingertips.
We really liked the Kevlar strip sewn in the web between the index finger and the thumb—it’s a stressor spot on work gloves, especially when they’re used for gripping and pulling. The Ranchworx gloves didn’t stretch or tear. We also appreciated the rubber-reinforced knuckle and finger-top insets that offered impact and scrape protection for our knuckles. The black terry cloth strips on the back of the thumbs came in handy for wiping away forehead sweat as we conducted our tests in temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Get the Ironclad Ranchworx work gloves at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Best Overall for Women
Ironclad Tuff Chix Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Synthetic leather, nylon, suede, terry cloth
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: XS to XL
What We Like
- Reinforced seams to prevent damage during heavy-duty use
- Leather palms for durability
- Absorbent terry cloth thumb strip for user-friendliness
- Breathable fabric
What We Don’t Like
- Inner finger seams may cause irritation
Ironclad’s Tuff Chix gloves are designed for smaller hands and don’t offer knuckle guards or Kevlar strips. However, they provide a padded leather palm and an absorbent terry cloth thumb strip to wipe away sweat on hot days. Plus, the breathable nylon fabric on the back kept our hands from getting sweaty.
The Tuff Chix ran pretty much true to size, but we weren’t thrilled with the inside finger seams, which were slightly irritating. We found the gloves well suited to performing outdoor tasks like raking, mowing, digging with a shovel, and hammering. They held up well and didn’t stretch out or tear, although they’re not suitable for pruning plants such as roses because the backs of the gloves (and side finger gussets) are fabric, allowing the thorns to poke right through. We rate them as moderate-duty work gloves.
Get the Ironclad Tuff Chix work gloves at Amazon or Ironclad.
Best Bang for the Buck
Wells Lamont 1164 HydraHyde Leather Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 4.5/5; Functionality 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Cowhide
- Water-resistant? Yes
- Sizes: M to XXL
What We Like
- Budget-friendly price
- Excellent hand protection
- Durable cowhide construction
- HydraHyde resists water and stays supple
What We Don’t Like
- Fingers fit on the short side
Good leather gloves remain popular for their durability and comfort, which only improves with wear. Wells Lamont HydraHyde 100 percent grain cowhide leather work gloves offer water resistance, reinforced palms, and double stitching at stress points around the thumb and index finger for extended wear. These gloves feel like they are built to last for years but sell for less than many of the trendy synthetic and hybrid work gloves.
We used them in the yard, hand pulling thorny blackberry canes before splitting and stacking firewood. Despite a slightly short finger fit and a misaligned wrist strap, they provided solid protection against thorns and splinters along with a secure grip. In our water resistance test, water beaded on the surface for about 15 seconds before seeping through. After a minute, the gloves were wet, but our hands stayed dry. They’re not fully waterproof, but they’re good leather gloves for working in damp weather nonetheless.
Get the Wells Lamont 1164 work gloves at Amazon, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, or Rural King.
Best for Hot Weather
Youngstown Glove Co. Hybrid Plus Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Goatskin, nylon
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: S to XXL
What We Like
- Perfect fit and flexibility
- Breathable fabric back keeps hands cool
- Comfortable reinforced leather palm and fingers
- Great for summer yard work
What We Don’t Like
- Not water-resistant
- Some thorns penetrated the leather
The Youngstown Glove Company’s Hybrid Plus work gloves feature reinforced goatskin leather on the palm and a breathable polyester/nylon blend on the back, offering both durability and comfort during our late summer yard cleanup. The slip-fit cuff made them easy to pull on and off, and they were light enough to carry in a back pocket.
The fit was extremely comfortable, with smooth inner seams and free movement. We appreciated the quilted palm and padded knuckles, as well as the reinforced fingertips and stress points for added durability without extra bulk. The gloves allowed us to easily and safely operate tools ranging from weed eaters and leaf blowers to chainsaws and pruners. While effective for most tasks, a few thorns did manage to penetrate the goatskin when pulling blackberry canes.
Get the Youngstown Glove Company work gloves at Amazon, JB Tools, Construction Tool Warehouse, or Youngstown Glove Company.
Best for Cold Weather
Ergodyne ProFlex 850 Freezer Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Nylon and polyester
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: XXS to 3XL
What We Like
- Working temperature rating -5 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit
- Silicone textured palm
- Touch-screen-enabled thumb, index finger, and middle finger
- Neoprene cuff with hook-and-loop closure
What We Don’t Like
- Not water-resistant
Cold-weather work gloves must provide warmth, breathability, flexibility, and durability. The Ergodyne ProFlex 850 freezer gloves, designed for cold storage work, feature a nylon shell, neoprene cuff, silicone pattern grip, and 5.3 ounces of insulation. These thermal work gloves are rated for use in temperatures between -5 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit, although individual comfort will vary.
After keeping the insulated work gloves in a subzero freezer overnight, the synthetic materials remained pliable and provided a good range of motion. We tested the insulation by holding freezer packs for 15 minutes, and our hands stayed warm.
To test durability, we loaded and stacked firewood. The splinters snagged some of the threads around the fingers and palm, but overall, the gloves held up well, and the silicone grip area was unaffected. However, the gloves aren’t puncture-resistant, and a few pokes got through. They’re also not water-resistant, as they absorbed moisture during our testing, so they’re best suited for dry conditions or fair weather.
Get the Ergodyne work gloves at Amazon, Global Industrial, or Grainger.
Best Waterproof
Wells Lamont Waterproof Winter Grip Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 4.7/5; Functionality 4.7/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Latex HydraHyde coating, thermal shell, flexible nylon fabric
- Water-resistant? Yes, partially
- Sizes: M to XL
What We Like
- Water-resistant construction
- Insulated soft lining for warmth and comfort
- Nonslip grip
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly snug fit
The Wells Lamont Winter Grip gloves boast a silky-soft lining and a snug fit—so much so that we suggest sizing up. In our cold-resistance test, we wrapped the HydraHyde gloves in frozen gel ice packs and checked them in 15-minute intervals for 45 minutes. While they cooled slightly, they remained comfortable. Designed for wet conditions, these gloves were among the warmest we tested
We dipped the gloves’ fingers in ice water to test their water resistance, taking care not to lower them past the gray latex coating. After a minute, the interior remained dry with no leaks. The thin latex coating provides good grip but isn’t suited for heavy-duty tasks that might tear it. We feel the HydraHyde gloves would be the best waterproof work gloves for tasks such as scraping ice from car windows or the occasional snowball fight.
Get the Wells Lamont Winter Grip work gloves at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Best Leather
Magid T-Rex Flex Series TRX818 Leather Impact Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 4.5/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Goatskin, high-performance polyethylene liner, thermoplastic rubber impact panels
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: XS to 4XL
What We Like
- Supple goatskin leather shell
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-rated cut- and puncture-resistant liner
- ANSI-rated impact-resistant panels
- Excellent movement and grip
What We Don’t Like
- Fingers fit shorter than other gloves
The Magid T-Rex Flex Series TRX818 work gloves provide professional-grade safety features with a comfortable range of motion thanks to a grain goatskin shell, puncture-resistant high-performance polyethylene fabric liner, and impact-resistant thermoplastic rubber panels on the back of the hand and fingers.
These heavy-duty gloves impressed us during tests off-loading construction debris that contained a mix of metal roofing scraps, splintered lumber, and old hardware. While we made sure to follow normal safety precautions, the woven fabric liner prevented at least one rusty nail from penetrating all the way through the glove. The goatskin was pliable, and the liner let the gloves slide on and off easily, even with sweaty hands.
The only critique we had was that the fingers were notably short relative to palm dimensions, reducing dexterity. Otherwise, the gloves were quite comfortable. Consider ordering a size larger than normal, especially if your fingers are longer than average.
Get the Magid work gloves at Amazon or Magid Glove.
Best Touch-Screen Tips
Custom Leathercraft Flex Grip Handyman Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Functionality 4.7/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Synthetic leather, Lycra side panels, spandex
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: S to XXL
What We Like
- Flexible design is ideal for gripping tools
- Adjustable wrist strap keeps the gloves in place
- Padded knuckles and thumb to prevent injury
- Touch-screen capable
What We Don’t Like
- Palms are not nonslip
Custom Leathercraft Flex Grip Handyman work gloves offer protection, comfort, and flexibility, making them great for yard work, carpentry, and automotive projects. While we wish the leather were genuine for added durability, the synthetic material still performs well. These gloves stood out for their reliable touch-screen tips on the thumb, index, and middle fingers, allowing easy and reliable smartphone use.
The faux-leather palms provide excellent protection stiffness, and the stretchy backs with padded knuckles add even more comfort. The adjustable wing-strap cuff closures offer a secure fit on a wide range of wrist sizes. While the interior finger seams are noticeable, they become less so with wear. The padded palms are useful for tasks like mowing and shoveling, though these gloves are light-to-medium duty. A nail easily poked through the synthetic leather during testing, but the touch-screen capability makes them appealing for anyone who wants to use their smartphone without removing their gloves.
Get the Custom Leathercraft work gloves at Amazon or CLC Work Gear.
Best for Mechanics
Mechanix Wear M-Pact Gray Work Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 4.5/5; Functionality 4.7/5; Durability 4.7/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Synthetic leather, rubber, nylon, polyurethane
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: S to XXXL
What We Like
- Flexible construction for adjusting vehicle components
- Knuckle protection to prevent injury
- Adjustable wrist cuff keeps the glove in place
What We Don’t Like
- Inside finger seams can be irritating
- Touch-screen tips didn’t always work
The Mechanix Wear M-Pact gray work gloves provide excellent protection from cuts, abrasions, vibration, impact, and pinching, making them ideal for mechanical work. We found them comfortable and well suited for tasks like working on automobiles and mowers. The rubber knuckle pads effectively protected our hands from scrapes in tight spaces.
These work gloves feature vibration-absorbing palm pads and adjustable Velcro straps for a custom fit for your wrist. While the gloves are designed to work with touch screens, activating the screens often required multiple swipes. It was simpler to pull the gloves off and use our bare fingers.
The small interior finger seams were noticeable but not too bothersome, thanks to the generous finger length. We tested the gloves for various tasks like twisting bars, tightening and loosening knobs, and changing oil. We like them for mechanic work, but because they don’t have a nonslip grip, they’re not well suited for shoveling, raking, and other outdoor tasks.
Get the Mechanix Wear work gloves at Amazon, Lowe’s, or AutoZone.
Best for Gardening
Skydeer Deerskin Suede Ladies Gardening Gloves
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Functionality 4.5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Materials: Deerskin, nylon
- Water-resistant? No
- Sizes: M to XL
What We Like
- Comes in a variety of designs
- Features padded palms to prevent injury
- Comfortable, lightweight deerskin construction
What We Don’t Like
- Not waterproof as advertised
- Will not withstand punctures
Who said protective work gloves have to look dull? These stylish Skydeer gloves are made of flexible nylon and soft deerskin, and when we pulled them on, they fit perfectly. These gardening gloves feature reinforced stitching for durability, and although they do have seams inside the fingers, they’re so soft that they’re barely noticeable.
The gloves are advertised for gardening use, so we used them while planting and weeding flower beds. We poured a little water on the back of the gloves to test the claims of waterproofing, but while some of the water ran off, a good amount soaked through.
We liked the padded palms, which added some comfort for gripping hand trowels and rakes, and we enjoyed the lightweight feel of the gloves. They’re very flexible and do not constrict movement. However, they are light-duty gloves and will not prevent pricks from thorns.
Get the Skydeer work gloves at Amazon.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Work Gloves
We tested a variety of glove types for outdoor tasks, considering both well-known brands like Wells Lamont and Magid as well as smaller manufacturers that offered key features. To ensure a broad selection, we included options for men and women in materials like leather, faux leather, cowhide, goatskin, latex, nitrile, and spandex for durability and flexibility.
Each pair was inspected before and after testing to evaluate the quality of the materials and construction. We graded them on a rubric, awarding points for durability, function, comfort, and overall quality, using a real work setting to assess comfort and dexterity. Additional tests were designed for specific features, such as checking touch-screen compatibility with swipes and taps and determining puncture resistance by pruning rose bushes. After testing, we tallied the points to choose the best gloves in each category.
What to Consider When Choosing Work Gloves
Work gloves must meet certain requirements to prevent discomfort and injury during landscaping, DIY projects, and everyday tasks. Here are some important considerations when shopping for the best work gloves.
Types of Work Gloves
Work gloves come in various materials and styles, each suited to different tasks. Owning multiple types can help you tackle a variety of projects around the house and yard. The following are the most common types of work gloves.
All-Leather
For heavy-duty jobs such as metalworking, cutting lumber, or electrical repairs or installations, all-leather work gloves offer excellent protection from temperature extremes, minor electrical shocks, punctures, and abrasions, all while keeping paint, oil, and chemicals off your skin.
The best leather work gloves are often made of cowhide, although there are also pig and deerskin gloves. There are great vegan and synthetic leather options, too. Leather gloves come in two main types: split leather, which is the heaviest duty and the most resistant to moisture, and grain leather, which is softer and smoother, giving users more dexterity.
Leather-Palm
These gloves have leather on the palm and fingers but use fabric on the back, allowing hands to move more easily than all-leather gloves do. However, they still provide good protection from blisters, temperature extremes, and abrasions during less demanding tasks such as moving wood, doing yard work, using power tools, or tackling simple construction jobs.
Knit
Lightweight knit work gloves, generally made of cotton or cotton/poly blends, are very stretchy for comfortable wear. These gloves are useful while painting, doing light yard work, and carrying out simple household repairs. They’ll help prevent blisters or minor scrapes, but they don’t offer the rugged protection of leather or canvas gloves.
Latex and Nitrile
Latex and its synthetic version, nitrile (suitable for those with latex allergies), are very lightweight and allow easy movement of fingers and palms. Both materials also offer a slightly tacky grip that makes it easier to hold onto wet or smooth surfaces.
However, neither offers very good protection against blisters or scrapes, so they are best suited for messy but mild chores such as painting, pulling weeds, potting plants, or working with potentially irritating cleaning chemicals.
Women’s vs. Men’s Work Gloves
The main differences between men’s and women’s work gloves are size and fit. Women’s sizes are traditionally smaller, whereas men’s sizes run slightly larger. With most brands, women’s glove sizes come in sizes S to L, while men’s sizes typically come in S to 3XL.
However, unisex sizing can be difficult to parse. Most brands will size their unisex gloves slightly larger to accommodate men’s sizes. Many brands also offer kids’ sizes.
Size Options
Too-tight work gloves don’t allow for a full range of motion, but gloves that are too loose slip and slide, which can be dangerous. Ideally, gloves fit snugly around the fingers and palms without squeezing, rubbing, or pinching.
Sizing corresponds to the measurement across the palm at the base of the fingers, without including the thumb. Sizes aren’t standard, so be sure to measure and double-check the manufacturer’s sizing guide.
Protection
In most cases, heavy-duty tasks require gloves that will not wear and tear easily but cushion hands enough to prevent abrasions, vibration, harmful materials, and cuts. For example, the best mechanics’ gloves resist punctures and tears as well as water, oils, gasoline, and other corrosive materials. Plus, top-quality gloves protect hands from extreme heat or provide insulation for winter work.
Many work gloves have protective features, such as nitrile exteriors, real and faux-leather construction, waterproofing shells, reinforced palms and fingers, and double-stitched seams.
Dexterity and Comfort
Trying to complete a project wearing ill-fitting gloves is often an exercise in futility. And because insulation can trap body heat, gloves that don’t breathe can cause hands to sweat, which can be uncomfortable or downright dangerous during winter.
Grip
Protecting hands is about more than just covering them in thick, durable materials. Gloves need to be functional, allowing hands to move freely instead of getting caught on sharp edges or causing the user to drop tools. Flexibility helps users grip tools, large objects, and other items because hands are better able to move as they would without a glove.
Additional Features
In addition to the essential material matters, consider the following other features when choosing work gloves.
- Cuffs: Stretchy, fitted cuffs keep out moisture and dirt. Heavy-duty work gloves, especially leather ones, often have open cuffs, making it easy to slip them on and off. Lighter leather gloves typically have an open cuff with a bit of elastic running around the base of the palm, which protects hands while allowing the wearer to remove the gloves easily.
- Coating: Fabric gloves with a layer of nitrile or polyurethane across the palm and fingers are excellent for muddy gardening projects, painting, and light landscaping.
- Padding: Leather gloves with extra padding in the palms are a must for jobs that include a lot of vibration or shock to the hands, such as extended periods of hammering, using a chainsaw, digging through hard or rocky soil, or using a tool like a jackhammer. The padding helps absorb shockwaves that otherwise could lead to wrist or hand injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome.
FAQs
Work gloves have improved over decades to incorporate better stitching, different materials, and cold-weather protection like that found in heated gloves. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about work gloves.
Leather work gloves are considered to last the longest because of their durable, thick construction and ample safety features.
Mechanics often use nitrile and leather gloves. These options are durable and flexible, offering abrasion and vibration resistance while also providing enough dexterity to hold small tools and parts.
Some of the toughest materials for heavy-duty tasks are nitrile, latex, and leather. These materials are hard enough to resist abrasions, cuts, and punctures while also keeping out harmful materials and liquids.
To a point, the cost reflects both materials and quality. The cheapest work gloves are made of lightweight materials; the fit will not be great, and they only provide the most basic hand protection. They are considered “disposable.” More expensive work gloves last longer, fit better, and offer better protection.
For food service work, dispose of old gloves, wash your hands, and put on a new pair of gloves after 4 hours of continuous use to prevent the buildup and spread of bacteria. In construction trades, DIY projects, yard work, and the like, it’s a matter of hand comfort and glove integrity. Change your gloves when they are no longer comfortable or when they no longer offer the protection you need.
Work gloves should fit closely without gaps at the fingertips or around the wrists while allowing free range of finger movement.
Apply a liberal coating of leather conditioner or mink oil on the outside of the gloves, then wear them. The best way to break in stiff gloves is to consistently wear them while working. Reapply conditioner or oil as needed to keep the leather supple.
Regardless of the glove type, keeping them clean is one way to ensure a long working life. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most synthetic work gloves and some leathers may be machine washed, but some require different cleaning treatments.
Meet the Testers
As co-owner of a general contracting company, Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with a background in the green industry. He’s also an avid DIYer who lives in an older home. When he isn’t writing, he spends his time upgrading, repairing, and replacing anything and everything in his home, yard, and garden. He tests and writes reviews about hand tools, lawn care and home repair products, and outdoor living goods.
Additional research provided by Michelle Ullman and Bob Beachman.
