The Best Work Gloves for Yard Work and Home Repairs of 2024, Tested
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We tested the top work gloves on the market during home improvement, gardening, and automotive projects. Find out the top performers in our hands-on tests.
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Comfort 4.5/5; Functionality 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.3/5