Many gloves also don't take into account the longer fingers and narrower palms of women. Many models are ill-fitting and short in the fingers. Still, they're a good choice for light gardening and other outdoor chores. Styles with PVC or rubber dots on the palms or fingers are good for gripping pots and tool handles and for keeping hands dry. These can usually be machine-washed in cold water.
Rubber gloves protect hands from dirt, chemicals, water and thorns.
It's best to select ones with flexible fingers and a cotton lining or back to keep hands cool in summer. Leather gloves are available in pigskin, cowskin, goatskin and deerskin. Good ones are expensive but durable, soft and excellent for heavy-duty garden chores. Goatskin and buckskin are especially supple, molding themselves to the hands in time. Gauntlet styles, which provide extra arm protection, are useful when gardening gets thorny.