The very first hole I ever dug had a screw top with a large piece of glass stuck in it.
Luckily that first hole was huge.
After rooting around with my digger and hand looking for that first target before I piled the dirt back in the hole I saw this thing sticking right out of the edge of one side.
That was close, I could have needed a trip the the emergency room on my very first dig.
I immediately drove to Home Depot and bought a pair of gloves and have worn them ever since.
I actually use disposable nitrile exam gloves, I buy a pack of 100 and I'm good for the year. They're thin so that I can feel around the hole, always slow and careful of glass though, but I need them to help with all the poison ivy everywhere I go in the woods. Also keeps mosquitos off my knuckles, which they love, as well as dirt from working under my nails, which just stings after a while. They do get torn up after a while, so I always bring an extra pair.
I asked this question since when I watch videos they are never wearing gloves, but now that I think about it they probably can't wear gloves since they're doing camera work.
No Gloves Here. I 'try' and make my plug a little bigger, then I go through the dirt with a 6"x 1/2" red plastic scraper that's shaped like a ruler and of course my pin pointer. I scrape across the grass and ground with it first to make sure there is nothing sharp. I Rarely MD in areas that have a lot of known drug use by needles. If I did I'd be wearing one Kevlar glove and one surgeons glove. I know needles could be anywhere. Like the posters said that it was hard to feel what's in a hole or grass with gloves, I feel the same way.
I carry gloves but typically do not use them. I prefer to have the tactile feel which has helped me immensely hone my craft. I do always have a current tetanus shot......don't be stupid. If you are going to metal detect, you better get comfortable with the dirt.
In reality , i'd prefer no gloves , but I did Drywall Work so long I hate the Dry my hands get in the dirt, it's like fingers on a chalkboard.
I prefer to wear heavy duty rubber gloves that come in a pack at harbor freight , I still get good feel of touch with them & I can store my Minnie / Coins & other finds in them , 'In the extra or ripped ones. Most times ill wear one of this type & then one thicker type over that cause I dig with my hand mostly when close to a target , I hate to nick what i'm digging.
So usually after a few outings the Bird & Index finger will be worn through. Otherwise the glove is still good , lets say I have more left hand gloves than I do Right hand ones. lol
The rubber ones are better for short yard, park hunts , but their being 'Black' the Suck in the Sun "I can raise my hands above my head & sweat will run down my arms.
Guess in the Winter the 'Heat attraction ' is a Good thing.
The types posted by LOCO are great to work with , & getting the right size is very important.
My 11 cent, on this.
XP Deus (2019)
Fisher CZ-21 (2019)
CTX 3030 (April 2017)
AT Pro
Garrett Carrot
Pro Pointer
Stavr Scoop Moonstrik 6
Stealth 720i (BNIB)
Home made beach scoop
I always wear gloves. Once I had a sharp piece of metal cut through the tip of my glove. If I hadn't had gloves on, it would have been a nasty cut. I used to use mechanix type gloves but they didn't last as long as I would have liked. I started using these early this year and I really like them. They're cut resistant and aren't very expensive.