I prefer the pigskin gloves you can get at Home Depot (and elsewhere). They are soft but very tough, and I use them for everything. It takes two years to wear them out, and I use them a LOT.

The ones I recommended are Nitrile Touch Garden Gloves
by Atlas. They are nylon or polyester or something with nitrile-coated palms and fingers. Unlike mud gloves, whose finger tips wore out in a couple of weeks, these will last at least a full season. And they are lightweight enough that I can pick up seeds and seedlings with them.

For most work, I really, really like West Country Gloves. They are comfortable and move with you, have a nice velcro strap around the wrist to keep dirt out, and are a medium weight. They also make an insulated waterproof version (harder to find - go online) that is really nice for working in the cold and wet weather. Both kinds last almost forever (although mice in the garden shed do find them rather tasty!). I think they claim to be washable, too, although I've never tried.

They aren't good for delicate work like handling seeds or small seedlings, though - too thick.

which ones can you use to pick up holly leaves without getting poked? (i've had to double glove)