Bramble proof gardening gloves

Ripeur 2 safety gloves have held up against brambles, blackthorn and even the odd Silky saw. They're not exactly soft though - take a bit of breaking in.

https://www.safetygloves.co.uk/Ripeur_2_XXXL.html

Look for Showa s-tex kv3, just look and wear like normal cheapy working gloves but the kv and the price anything from £12 to £20 a pair gives it away

The kv stands for Kevlar and stainless steel for high cut resistance. Well worth the extra cost

Japanese company rather than the usual Chinese

I have a pair of those cheap leathery work gloves that look like suede with leather patches. They are good for handling brambles and spikey stuff. But for general gardening I have the nitrile dipped thin nylon gloves that are really dexterous and fit your hands perfectly in the right size. I use them for work too so always have them in, they come in about 1,50 each if you buy packs of ten. For the average joe that will last you plenty. They dry really quick, come in for lunch and pop them on the rad. Dry when you go out

Any £1.50 gloves will never protect you from bramble or rose thorn even a sticky willy 

The the thread was for protection his hands from jaggy bushes

We've had three 'No Cry' gloves for 3 years now and they're still going strong...

https://amzn.eu/d/5pA3THG

Very satisfying to just grab a handful of brambles without the usual pain

I've been using Town and Country gauntlets this year, much more supple than the barbed wire gauntlets I had before, and tougher than I'd expected . The extra length gives useful protection when I'm carrying big bundles of brambles 

I have a pair of those thick red leather welding gloves, like gauntlets. Had them years, I use them particularly when I’m trimming my front hedges, which are Pyrocanthus, or Firethorn. That stuff will go through my gloves, if handled a bit roughly it’s evil! Brambles, on the other hand, aren’t quite so pointy, so welders gloves are ideal, especially as they come up over your forearms. 
Here you go, these are a good make, I’ve got some of their boots, and at this price unbeatable!

https://www.safetygloves.co.uk/portwest-a500-welders-leather-gauntlets.html

In my tree surgeon days I used those cheap leather rigger gloves. Id grab the stems then rotate my hand to snap off the thorns..

As for getting scratched, that's par for the course. 

Look for gloves to EN388.  They will have a rating with 4 numbers. The first numbers is a rating of 1-4 for abrasion, the second a rating of 1-5 for cut resistance, the third is for tear resistance and the fourth is for puncture resistance. The higher number the better.

So any glove rated EN388 xxx4 will be fine for brambles. Gloves from PPE suppliers will be a LOT cheaper than those from garden centres etc. 

The Ripeur 2 linked above have so far been the only gloves I've found for dealing with large quantities of brambles and hawthorn, which haven't left my hands looking like pin-cushions.

They are quite thick, and I wouldn't use them for general gardening, but once worn in they are surprisingly dextrous. They are fine for using hand tools, secateurs etc

Just checked mine EN288 ANSI and get 4* and a 5 but just a 3 for abrasion. Unlike big gauntlets where they are all loose or you canny bend your fingers

https://www.mdcexports.co.uk/product/bitemaster-animal-handling-gauntlets/

Our rescue cat Bramble is more likely to lick me to death than bite but these have coped with some feisty characters over the past couple of years.

+1 for leather rigger gloves, not subtle but they work.

https://www.toolstation.com/superior-rigger-gloves/p77712

Only £2.70 but can't fault them and don't really see the need to spend more.

Only problem i've found with (some) rigger gloves is the fabric patches they have on the back. The thorns go straight through them.

So I got some of the anti cut things like those Showas up there ^^^. Not sure on the brand, but about 18-19 quid and it's pretty much all i use them for. Got other gloves for other jobs (i have a box of assorted gardening/working gloves next to the back door, waterproof ones, leather ones, anti vibration ones etc etc)

Posted by: countzero

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I have a pair of those thick red leather welding gloves, like gauntlets. Had them years, I use them particularly when I’m trimming my front hedges, which are Pyrocanthus, or Firethorn. That stuff will go through my gloves, if handled a bit roughly it’s evil! Brambles, on the other hand, aren’t quite so pointy, so welders gloves are ideal, especially as they come up over your forearms. 

+1 for welding gloves for the really prickly stuff - cheap enough to buy a set just for occasional use. plenty of companies selling what looks the same as gardening varients (Briers, Verve etc.) Once you have that full lower arm protection you don't go back! I also have a pair of Husqvarna gloves for more standard work, they fit great (they're properly sized) and the palms are very spike proof. Also work with my phone which is obviously important #1stworldproblems

Stanley split cowhide leather driver gloves. No, not the string-backed 1960s accessory 🙂 lorry drivers' load handling gloves

£9 from Screwfix

Perfect for brambles, etc. Wear in well and last ages, but not dexterous enough for small weeds

I find you need a few pairs for different jobs. The big welding gloves are great for dealing with the bulk and stuffing cuttings in the compost or on the fire. If you want the brambles gone then you need to pull up the small plants and the root balls of the bigger ones. That needs tight fitting thick rubber fingered builders gloves. Good dexterity and you can rummage in the soil without harm.

Thanks for the advice and recomendations folks, Screwfix ahoy!

Posted by: Ben

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Once you have that full lower arm protection you don't go back!

Exactly! Short gloves are fine for short branches, but once you get long, whippey growth, you need extra protection up your forearms - even with my relatively well trimmed hedges either side of my front garden, my arms have been scratched to buggery with the long thorns that Pyrocanthus produces, it’s like blackthorn, which is really nasty stuff; that’ll go through tractor tyres, and it can infect wounds. I’ve had to cut out dead sections from my hedges, which mean having to put my hands inside the hedge to access the dead wood, which is… unpleasant, to say the least, even with the gauntlets; the longer gloves will make a huge difference. Or is that hedge difference… 🧐