Split Leather working gloves in the garden ... what's best?

Leather gloves in the garden. . . What is better?

Leather gloves protect your hands like a second skin against cuts, blisters, chips and abrasions.They can even keep you warm. They are essential for pruning, espaliering or uprooting thorny plants; good for carrying bricks or firewood; useful when hand tools are used for long periods of time. But with so many styles and cuts, which one is the best?

Which skin?

Cowhide is the most popular and cost-effective split leather work gloves.It is tear and puncture resistant and represents the standard by which other gloves are measured. Use it for any gardening work, but be careful not to get it wet. It becomes stiff when dry, but regains much of its elasticity after use.

Goat leather is the best glove leather for versatile use in the garden. One glove manufacturer stated flatly: “These are the strongest leather gloves you can find.” » Its tightly woven fibers are characterized by high puncture and abrasion resistance; Goatskin is also incredibly soft and does not dry as quickly as cowhide when wet.

Pigskin is stiffer than cowhide and is considered by many to be a better choice for handling hot objects. Almost all pigskin is full-grain leather; A type of leather similar to suede is full-grain pigskin that has been brushed to resemble split leather (see definitions at right).

Pigskin becomes stiff when wet, but like cowhide, regains its elasticity with use.

Buckskin (sometimes sold as Buckskin) is the softest, highest quality leather commonly used for gloves. It has good abrasion resistance but not good puncture resistance.Because it is so flexible and thin, it does not hinder dexterity as much as other gloves and regains much of its softness when wet.

Moose has many of the characteristics of soft, flexible deerskin and loose grain, but is more resistant to punctures and abrasion because it is thicker. After getting wet, it quickly regains its elasticity.

Top grain leather versus suede or split leather

Most leather is split after tanning. The outer half (hair side) is called full-grain leather; It has a smooth finish but is the weaker half of the bark.

The lower part (flesh) is called split leather or suede. It is the hardest half of the skin. If you need gloves for heavy work, buy a split pair.

Goatskin is the only type of leather that is not split. This partly explains his sophisticated nature and great strength.

Glove fit

Most gloves are designed for men, but there are also gloves for women. They have relatively longer fingers and narrower hands than men and are smaller.

A shipping source for women's pigskin gloves is Womanswork, RD 539K, South Berwick, Me.

No matter what purpose the glove is intended for, pay attention to its fit.It will be a Gunna or Clute cut (see drawings on the opposite page). The stitching on the fingers of the Clute Cut Gloves hugs your hand as you close your fist. This is not the case with pistol gloves.

Try each type; Make a fist or grab a shovel and see which style suits you best.

Long-lasting and Protective:

One of the standout features of split leather work gloves is their exceptional longevity. The inherent toughness of split leather means these gloves can withstand rough use without wearing out quickly. They're resistant to scrapes, punctures, and tears, which are common risks in many industries. This means users can rely on these gloves for an extended period before needing to replace them, saving money in the long run.