Leather work gloves are often considered “consumables” on farms and ranches due to the frequency with which they wear out or go missing. Farmers and ranchers can buy fewer gloves, that last longer, if they know how to match glove design and type of leather to their job description.
According to Mike McGuire, agricultural sales manager for Wells Lamont:
- Cowhide leather is the standard for durability and comfort in farm and ranch gloves. Split cowhide is slightly more durable than smooth-grain cowhide.
- Calfskin gloves are softer than cowhide, more supple than cowhide, but more prone to punctures and cuts.
- Deerskin gloves are the top seller in many farm stores. Deerskin is by nature softer and more flexible than cowhide, but not as resistant to punctures and rough use.
- Goatskin is thinner and nearly as tough as cowhide when it comes to abrasion, but susceptible to puncture by thorns or barbed wire.
- Pigskin isn’t as supple as other leathers, but is breathable and relatively puncture resistant.
- Buffalo-hide gloves, made from water buffalo leather, are noted for good durability, a stretchy “feel,” and are somewhat water resistant.
Design-wise, many leather gloves are labeled “drivers gloves,” not to be confused with “driving gloves.”
According to Clark Carlile, with Bear Knuckle Gloves, the driving glove made its appearance during the 1890s when auto drivers wore gloves because cars were unheated and steering wheels were made of bare metal. Cowboys adopted that style of gloves to protect their hands during cattle drives, and driver gloves became standard in farm and ranch work.
The leather in most driver gloves is between 0.9 mm and 1.1 mm thick. Carlile says his company offers 1.4 mm thick gloves made of cowhide.
“They’re durable,” he says. “Firefighters, brick-layers and guys working with barbed wire like the protection and toughness a thicker glove offers.”
Price is a fair indicator of quality. “Gimme gloves” gifted by seed corn dealers or other farm retailers cost around $12 per pair. Standard farm store gloves retail for between $15 to $25, depending on type of leather, reinforcing of fingers/palms, and other features. Fitted leather work gloves found on the internet sell for between $35 and $45 per pair.
“Economy gloves need to be broken in to be comfortable,” Carlile says. “If you buy quality gloves and match the type of leather to the work you’ll be doing, you’ll have comfortable, durable gloves that will last a long time.”
As for “lost” gloves — ask your dog.
