Monday, April 11, 2011

Gloves and Tools: Every Gardener Needs Them!

Where would a gardener be without gloves and tools? There are, of course, hundreds of brands and varieties on the market to choose from, but I want to highlight a few that I think you will like. Plus, you have the opportunity to win one of these...so read on!

A few months ago, West County Gardener sent me a pair of their Landscape Gloves to trial. I waited until I could really get outside and do some work so I could test them out in various capacities before writing about them here.


After using them to plant and weed, carry rock and stone, mulch and compost, they got as wet and dirty and abused as I could get them in the short amount of time I had before writing about them.


(But they sure did clean up well in the wash)!

The Landscape Glove is described on the West County Gardener website as 'rugged, durable and heavy-duty' and listed as their most expensive glove, because it has 'more of everything'.

Landscape Glove

Partially made from recycled water bottles, they say it is their most 'high-tech' glove:

"Reinforced with coated Kevlar®, it stands up to abrasive stone, trees, and pavers. Each state-of-the-art synthetic material is optimally placed for maximum comfort, fit, and performance. A dense padded   palm adds impact protection from power tools. The palm and finger pads are reinforced with tacky Sure-Grip® for better grip and extended wear. Compressed neoprene knuckle guard ensures flexibility and protection from bangs and cuts. For pruning, we've wrapped the index finger with a protective layer of synthetic suede. If your work calls for heavy hauling, moving, or pruning, this is the glove for you. Like all West County gloves, the Landscape is machine washable."

Made to fit every hand, sizes range from XS, Sm, Med, L, XL to XXL for men and women in the 3 colors shown below (Stem, Brick or Charcoal).

Landscape GloveLandscape GloveLandscape Glove

    The West County Gardener Landscape Glove retails for $27.95
West County Gardener is donating a pair of their Landscape Gloves for my Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project/Giveaway in the winner's choice of size and color!

~~~~~~~~~~

The Kombi company is a family owned and operated business that stands behind their products. I learned this first-hand when the tool they sent to me to trial came head-to-head with an unfortunate mishap. My helpful hubby was removing a dead shrub and hit a hard root, causing the tip of the shovel to break off.  He had commented about how smoothly the shovel slices through our hard clay.


The Original Kombi line retails for $32

I contacted the Kombi company and they said they guarantee all of their products for 1 year, and have sent me a replacement free of charge! I even offered to pay and they insisted, so...how can you not love a company like that?!  It was explained to me that occasionally, a shovel will break under stress. While this is not a frequent occurance, apparently it does happen. So my advice is to be careful when using the Kombi 'Original' tool around rocks or hard roots. The replacement they are sending me is the Kombi 'Pro', which is wider, specifically designed for landscapers, and probably less likely to break. Surprisingly, both the 'Original' and the 'Pro' sell for the same price, $32.  Kombi is donating one of their tools for my Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project/Giveaway!


The Kombi Pro-series retails for $32

~~~~~~~~~~

CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator

The CobraHead company is another family-owned and operated business. Their CobraHead hand weeder/cultivator is known as 'the steel fingernail'. I've been using the one they sent me to remove unwanted weeds from my yard and, just like they claim, it feels as if it becomes an extension of your hand!

CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator

This hand tool is lightweight--just 9.2 oz. and 13 in. long--and a breeze to use.  Environmentally friendly, too--with the handle made of recycled plastics and wood with a tempered steel blade for strength.  CobraHead shares all the ways this tool is useful in the garden:

  • It weeds, cultivates, scalps, edges, digs, furrows, plants, transplants, de-thatches, and harvests with ease.
  • The CobraHead® out-weeds and out-digs all similar tools.
  • The time proven blade design breaks up and plows almost any soil.
  • The comfortable and efficient handle allows easy left-hand or right-hand action.
  • Free shipping to everywhere in the United States and Canada!
CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator

Add to this their policy of "100% satisfaction guaranteed" and this is a true winner of a product.  Watch some of their videos to see this cool tool in action!  Cobrahead is donating a Short-Handled Weeder/Cultivator for my Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project/Giveaway!
CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator
The CobraHead short-handled weeder retails for $24.95
~~~~~~~~~~

Another great tool company is Corona. They make a wide variety of products for the lawn and garden, landscape, irrigation, construction and agriculture markets.  I haven't yet received the Classic Corona bypass Pruner with scabbard that Corona is sending me to try out, but if it works as nicely as the other Corona hand and garden tools I own, I know I'm going to love it.


I already own the extendable-handle trowel, the e-grip hoe/cultivator, and the e-grip weeder. They guarantee their tools for the life of the product and I have found them to be reasonably priced. Corona is donating to my Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project/Giveaway a Garden Tote with Hand Tool Collection and Snips (pictured below). I think someone is going to be very happy;-)
Garden Tote with Hand-Tool Collection and Snips retails for $57
If you leave a comment on my Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project/GiveAway, stating something you do that is eco-friendly, you will be eligible to win one of these excellent garden products (along with many others listed there as well). Many thanks to West County Gardener, Kombi, CobraHead and Corona for allowing me to try these for myself and for sharing a product with one of you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ *Have you stopped over to participate in the Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project? It will be 'open' until April 15th so you have plenty of time. I am giving away over 20 garden gifts including a Rain Barrel and a Composter. Be sure to check it out!
Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

3 comments:

  1. GREAT WEBSITE! Thanks for the messages-such a positive attitude

    ReplyDelete
  2. How great is it that they can make gloves from recycling? I think that is wonderful. I remember seeing decking made from recycled tires and things and thought it was a great use of materials. And it never rots. LOL!
    Now that looks like a wicked digger and one that I need for my stone hard clay soil.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan, Thanks so much for reviewing all these tools. I've tagged this post so that I can come back to it later; it's a goldmine (or maybe a garden shed?) of information. (Looking forward to seeing you at Carolyn's in a few days!) -Jean

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

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