How do I condition my outdoor work gloves?

For working with cacti, I would suggest using the springloaded barbecue tongs.

To add to the earlier answer, I have goat skin gloves. They are smooth like the calfskin, but much tougher. Also, it might be a good idea to have several different types of gloves for different jobs.

As for conditioning gloves, I will smear some saddle soap on leather gloves while I am wearing them and then go through the same motions I use to wash my hands. Then, dry them off on an old towel or rag. Leave them to dry overnight, then treat them with neatsfoot oil.

No, not really. It all depends on the type of material they are made of. The smooth, soft, leather types (calf skin) are not as forgiving as the gray, canvas, (cowhide) types. The gray cow hide types have a larger wrist protection area that goes farther up on the wrists for added protection (kinda like a welders gauntlet). These are the best for thorny garden work, such as working with blackberries, hawthorn branches, roses, and pyracantha. If leather gloves become wet, it will also allow thorns to penetrate its surface alot easier as well. Your best off by getting the larger canvas type leather gloves for the best protection. Hope this answers your question.

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$Billy Ray$

Use a blowtorch to burn the spines off of the cacti.