The best work gloves for farm chores, tested over a full season

Gloves wear out faster than almost any other piece of farm gear, and the right pair depends heavily on the job. We wore a dozen pairs through a full season of fencing, feeding, mechanical work and cold-weather chores.

For fencing and handling wire, goatskin leather stood out for its combination of toughness and dexterity. It resisted punctures better than cowhide while still letting us grip staples and clips.

For mechanical work, nitrile-dipped knit gloves were the clear favorite. They kept grease off our hands, offered excellent grip on wrenches and were cheap enough to replace often.

In the cold, insulated leather gloves with a waterproof liner kept hands warm during morning feeding, though they sacrificed fine dexterity. Most testers ended up keeping two or three types on hand rather than relying on one.