Gardening Sleeves Can Protect Your Arms From Sunburns and Scratches—Here Are Your 6 Best Options
The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the seeds are sprouting, which can only mean one thing: Spring is in full swing. With spring comes the return of gorgeous weather and days spent tending to the garden. No matter how big or small your garden might be, gardening sleeves can definitely come in handy, as they provide protection from the sun and help prevent scrapes and cuts when weeding and harvesting.
- Sara Lundberg, Sara Lundberg is the owner of Bloom & Haul, a seed company based in Stafford, Oregon.
The best gardening sleeves, at a glance
- Best overall: Farmer's Defense, Gardener's Protective Sleeve, $28
- Best for sun protection: Junzan, Gardening Sleeves, $17
- Best cut-resistant: Unitron World, Cut-Resistant Sleeves, $14
- Best budget-friendly: Pamase, Farmer Gardening Sleeves (2 Pairs), $12
- Best designs: Wellday, Gardening Sleeves, $17
- Best built-in sleeve design: Solbari, UPF50+ CoolaSun Breeze Shoulder Wrap, $55
- Most versatile: REI Co-op, Active Pursuits Sun Sleeves, $25
What are gardening sleeves?
Gardening sleeves are exactly what they sound like—sleeves that you wear while gardening. However, these aren’t meant to keep you warm, instead, they’re used as a form of protection. “Gardening sleeves are essentially arm covers that are designed to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, as well as from cuts and scrapes that can occur while gardening,” says Sara Lundberg, the owner of a seed company called Bloom & Haul.
What are gardening sleeves used for?
In addition to providing an additional layer of protection against the sun and preventing cuts and scrapes from plants, Lundberg says they’re also useful for keeping your arms clean while you work in the garden. Similar to long sleeves, they can also provide an extra layer of warmth on chilly days. Some styles also feature compression, which can promote blood circulation while gardening and support muscles to prevent tension and pain.
Are gardening sleeves cut-resistant?
“Many gardening sleeves are made from materials that are cut-resistant, such as Kevlar or other tough synthetic fibers,” says Lundberg. She explains that this is important because it can help protect your arms from cuts and scratches while you work with sharp tools like pruners or saws.
With that said, if you’re looking for gardening sleeves solely for sun-protection purposes, you can be a little more lenient with the material and opt for something that might protect against scrapes when working around bushes but is a little more lightweight and, therefore, won’t protect from cuts as much.
What to look for when shopping for gardening sleeves
Material
First and foremost, it’s important to look at the material, as it will tell you how comfortable, durable, and functional the sleeve is. “Look for sleeves made from lightweight, breathable fabrics that will keep you comfortable while you work,” says Lundberg.
UPF rating
Another important thing to consider is the UPF rating. “UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and it measures how effectively a fabric blocks the sun’s UV rays,” Lundberg explains. Similar to SPF in skin care, garments with UPF can provide an additional layer of sun protection. Since the sun can penetrate through clothing, Lundberg says to aim for a gardening sleeve with at least UPF 50 for excellent protection against UV rays.
Fit
The sleeves won’t function well without the right fit, so Lundberg says to make sure they stay in place. “You don’t want them slipping down or bunching up while you’re working,” she adds. Even if they don’t have a compressive design, gardening sleeves should fit snugly (but still be comfortable enough to move around in) to ensure they stay put.
Additional features
Since most gardening sleeves are detached from garments, Lundberg says to also consider additional features like thumbholes, which can help them stay in place and also better protect wrists. Additionally, design details like reflective accents might also be of benefit as they can add an added level of safety when working outside and on a road.
If you’re in the market for a new pair of gardening sleeves that can provide good coverage from the sun and plants, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover our favorites below.
6 best skin-protecting gardening sleeves
One of our top picks for the best gardening sleeves is the Farmer’s Defense Gardener’s Protective Sleeve. These sleeves are constructed from a comfortable and stretchy polyester material with a UPF 50 rating, so they offer plenty of good sun protection, in addition to protecting arms from cuts and scrapes.
Unlike lots of gardening sleeves out there, these also come in different sizes, making it easier to find an option that fits well and stays in place no matter how hard you wack those weeds! At $28, they are a little more of an investment compared to other options on our list but their high quality and features make them well worth the money.
Material: Polyester, spandex
Sizes: S/M, L/XL, XXL
UPF Rating: 50
Pros:
- They come in different sizes
- They have a UPF rating of 50
- They’re made from a comfortable and stretchy material
Cons:
- They’re a little more of an investment compared to other options on our list
If you’re looking for gardening sleeves that offer lots of sun protection and don’t need something that can protect against cuts, the Junzan Gardening Sleeves from Amazon is an excellent option. These gardening sleeves are made from a stretchy and sweat-wicking nylon material that is designed to keep arms cool in hot weather, plus they have a UPF 50 rating so you get that extra sun protection, too.
Although they don’t do the best job of protecting against cuts, the material is still durable enough to protect arms from light scrapes. We love them because, in addition to their more budget-friendly cost, the sleeves are super versatile and can be used for protecting skin from the sun while hiking, running, biking, and enjoying other outdoor activities in addition to gardening.
Material: Nylon
Sizes: One size
UPF Rating: 50
Pros:
- They’re made from sweat-wicking fabric and can keep arms cool in hot weather
- They have a UPF rating of 50
- They’re super versatile
- They come in lots of fun and colorful prints
Cons:
- The fabric is a little thin, so it might not be ideal for cut prevention
The best cut-resistant gardening sleeves are definitely the Unitron world Cut Resistant Sleeves that feature thumb holes, and you can find ’em for under $15 on Amazon. These gardening sleeves are constructed from super durable materials that basically work like those cut-prevention cooking gloves used in professional kitchens, but for your arms. Despite their durability, the gardening sleeves are also super lightweight and breathable, so you don’t have to worry about wearing them outside in the heat. And, although they don’t technically have a UPF rating, the sleeves can still provide some sun protection (since they are sleeves) but we recommend wearing SPF on your arms for good measure.
Material: Hppe, polyethylene, polyester, nylon, leather
Sizes: One size
UPF Rating: None
Pros:
- They are constructed from highly durable materials making them one of the best for cut prevention
- They feature comfortable thumbholes
- They’re lightweight and breathable
Cons:
- They don’t have a UPF rating
If you want a pair of cheap gardening gloves, we recommend the Pamase Farmer Gardening Sleeves, which come in a two-pack for $12, making them $6 each (cheaper than a latte in most coffee shops). In addition to their budget-friendly cost, the gardening sleeves are made from a lightweight and breathable polyester material that envelopes the arms like a second skin, making them super comfortable.
And, while they don’t have a UPF rating, they can still be worn as an additional layer of sun protection while preventing scrapes when working in the garden (we still recommend wearing sunscreen, though). Additionally, the sleeves are super versatile and you can wear them when participating in other outdoor activities such as biking, walking, running, and even kayaking.
Material: Polyester
Size: One size
UPF Rating: None
Pros:
- They come in a 2-pack and cost around $6 per pair
- They’re lightweight and breathable
- They are versatile and can be worn when enjoying other outdoor activities, in addition to gardening
Cons:
- They don’t have a UPF rating for additional sun protection
For a pair of gardening sleeves with lots of patterns to choose from, we love the Wellday Gardening Sleeves, which come in over a dozen different prints. In addition to their looks, these gardening sleeves are lightweight and breathable, providing the arms with an overall cooling experience while working away in the garden, and they have a seamless design that makes them more comfortable for long-wear, too.
Like some of the other options on our list, these gardening sleeves don’t have a UPF rating. However, they can still protect the skin from the sun and heat (especially if you layer up with some sunscreen before slipping them on).
Material: Nylon
Size: One size
UPF Rating: None
Pros:
- They come in lots of different patterns
- They’re made from a lightweight and breathable nylon material
- They have a seamless design that’s comfortable for long-wear
Cons:
- They don’t have a UPF rating
If wearing just sleeves isn’t comfortable for you, we recommend giving the Solbari Zoom Plus Shoulder Wrap a try. This shoulder wrap is designed to be worn in multiple ways, including over a tank top or under a T-shirt to provide the entire arms and shoulders with sun protection and comfort while wearing.
In addition to its design, the wrap is constructed from a micro-nylon and elastane material with a UPF 50 rating so it offers excellent sun protection on a hot day. The wrap also comes in different sizes so you can ensure you get that perfect fit.
Material: Micro-nylon, elastane
Size: S, M, L/XL
UPF Rating: 50
Pros:
- It features a shoulder wrap design instead of single sleeves
- It has a UPF rating of 50
- The wrap comes in different sizes
Cons:
- They aren’t designed specifically for gardening, so they aren’t as great at protecting against cuts (but can still protect against scrapes)
The best and most versatile gardening sleeves are the REI Co-op Active Pursuits Sun Sleeves, which are technically designed for outdoor activities like hiking and running (so you know they stay in place) but work really well as sun-protecting gardening sleeves.
These sleeves are made from a sustainably sourced polyester and nylon material and feature a UPF 50 rating for fantastic sun protection. Additionally, they are lightweight and breathable so they work well on a hot summer day. Since the material is so lightweight, they don’t work so well for preventing cuts, however, they can protect against light scrapes.
Material: Polyester, spandex
Size: S/M, M/L, L/XL
UPF Rating: 50
Pros:
- They come in different sizes for the perfect fit
- They have a UPF rating of 50
- The polyester and nylon material is Bluesign®-approved, which means they are made more sustainably
Cons:
- They are designed for sun protection so they don’t protect against cuts as well (but the material can still protect against scrapes)
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