May 2016 If you are looking for an extra small pair of gloves, these are for you! I typically wear a small glove (size 6.5 in surgical gloves) and these are SUPER small. I was able to get them on, with a bit of effort. Okay, quite a bit of effort, but there was no damage to the gloves. They are well made with no imperfections - other than the sizing. They are attractive. They are a bit stiff, but that may be due to the extreme "smallness" of them, and the fact that they are leather. EVERY leather item I've ever owned came "stiff" and needed to be broken in. The elastic around the wrist prevents a lot of debris from entering the glove and they hold up well when wet. They breathe. They are just simply WAY TOO small! I wish I hadn't waited to return them, but I really wanted to give them a good chance to stretch. I must say that I'm disappointed, but I'll try to make the best of it and will update when or if there's anything to update. UPDATE:April 2017 So, despite the very small size, I was able to use them eventually - when I had no choice because my other gloves were filthy and/or in the wash and I needed to do some heavier yard work (after a hurricane and with limbs, shovels, rakes, thorns, etc.). They eventually stretched out enough - without damage - to use. Though snug, they weren't constricting. I used them regularly in sandy soil, potting soil, in rose bushes, around cacti, and with various hand tools. The thorns rarely got me - except on the top of the hands where there is no leather - and my hands stayed relatively dry. They kept the dirt out REALLY well, considering how form fitting and snug they were. And, despite my original review, I grew to love them. These gloves REALLY protected me to say the least! Unfortunately, in under a year, the leather area that covered my wrist ripped shear across from just shy of one seam to the other. It wasn't the seam that ripped - it was the leather! They went through the wash fine, but NEVER the dryer - they were air dried, inside protected from the elements. So, while I know garden gloves aren't meant to last forever, as a frugal person, I truly hoped I'd get AT LEAST a year out of these gloves considering what I paid for them (FAR more than I EVER have for any garden glove) and the brand (JOHN DEERE!). In retrospect, I would've returned them for a larger size, but they worked out fine and like I said, I grew to love them! They were very comfortable and really protected my hands - even my nails stayed clean!!! Would I recommend them after just under a year of use? Yes, with caution. First, they run small. Unless, as noted above, you have nearly child-like small, petite, thin hands, go up a size; they are form fitting and you'll need a bit of wiggle room. Second, be sure to NEVER put them in the dryer! They are leather and, well, cows never go in the dryer, so neither should anything leather! LOL! Third, don't expect more than a year out of these with heavy use, otherwise, they should last you a long time! Last, ENJOY!
