Geoff tests the best gloves for all types of gardening jobs

BEST PROTECTION Briers Advanced Grip & Protect, £15.99

I wasn’t testing gloves specifically against thorns, but these are thick enough to afford good protection when carrying out all manner of gardening jobs. This includes extra padding to fingers and palms to prevent blisters when using hand tools. They also feature added thumb and forefinger reinforcements. But they’re flexible enough, and silicon dots provide good grip, to pick up a pencil (not all gloves could do this!), and just about tie knots with string. Briers, 01963 269077, www. briersltd.co.uk

BEST FOR SOIL WORK Town & Country Weed Master Plus, £5.99

These gloves are made from polyester with a protective nitrile coating on the palm and fingers to prevent dirt and moisture ge ing inside and onto your hands. The nitrile coating also provides excellent grip, so picking up the pencil and tying knots was easy, and grabbing weeds by the leaves a doddle. Like the Briers gloves, they feature a Velcro fastening at the wrist, which ensures a tight fit and prevents soil and other nasties ge ing inside. Town & Country, 01530 830990, www.townandco. com

BEST FOR DELICATE WORK Wolf-Garten Washable Soil Care Gloves, £4.99

These also feature a nitrile coating on palms and fingers, which provided excellent grip. They stretch and literally have a close “fit like a glove” feel – almost like a second skin. This offered great dexterity, so the pencil pick up test and tying knots with string were just like using bare fingers. They have an elasticated wrist cuff, which fi ed well and prevented dirt ge ing inside. Like the other two, the material breathes well, so preventing sweaty palms. Wolf-Garten, www.wolfgarten-tools. co.uk.