Although fishing gloves are not a must, anglers who wear them would argue otherwise. Gloves protect the hands against wounds, blisters, and the sun’s damaging rays, to name a few dangers. They can also serve as a barrier against hooks and other sharp objects in the fish. Fishing gloves can make all the difference when dealing with the elements, including low temperatures, strong winds, and torrential rain. Additional comfort and cushioning for tired hands are provided, as is increased grip on the reel or while holding a fish. They generally do not impair your dexterity. Given these considerations, it may be difficult to argue against the ownership of at least one pair. These are the most fantastic fishing gloves.
The Best Overall Fishing Gloves:
Best Overall:
Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves at Amazon
Best Budget:
Offshore Angler Nitrile/PU-Coated Glove at Basspro.com
Best for Ice Fishing:
Glacier Glove Pro Angler at Amazon
Best for Fly Fishing:
Bassdash WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove at Amazon
Best for Saltwater:
Simms Offshore Angler’s Glove at Madriveroutfitters.com
Best for Braid Casting:
AquaSkinz Finger Shield at Amazon
Best for Filleting:
Bubba Fillet Gloves at Basspro.com
Best for Sun Protection:
KastKing Sol Armis Sun Gloves at Amazon
Best for Cold Weather:
Striker Ice Tundra Mitt at Amazon
Best Waterproof:
Storm Strykr Neoprene Glove at Amazon
Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves are the best overall.
What We Find Appealing
- Prolonged and steadfast safety
- Economical
What We Dislike
- Because there are three different sizing options (S/M, M/L, and L/XL), finding the proper fit may need some experimentation.
An ideal fair-weather fishing glove must be versatile. A great example of this can be seen with Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves. Thanks to Pelagic’s Sure-Grip technology it’s the ideal glove for fishing with heavy mono, spectra, or wireless leads. Reinforcements of Kevlar help prevent punctures from unruly fish, hook slippage, and line cuts. You can even use them while filleting. The slim fit and Velcro-secured cuff give you good agility, especially for a full-fingered glove. Blister protection is also included, as are index and thumbs that work well with fingers.
Best Budget: Offshore Angler Nitrile/PU-Coated Glove
What We Find Appealing
- Inexpensive
- Solid fair-weather protection
- Textured palms contribute to the gloves’ grip
What We Dislike
- The long cuff is stretchy and may stretch with use.
This pair of fishing gloves from Offshore Angler has a flexible nylon/spandex seamless shell for maximum comfort and dexterity while protecting your hands from blisters and completing all the micro-tasks required by fishing. This grip’s flexible nitrile/polyurethane tactical treatment, which is designed to reduce hand fatigue, makes handling tiny, damp components easier.
Best for Ice Fishing: Glacier Glove Pro Angler
What We Find Appealing
- Numerous size options
- The index and thumb slits make it possible to do more dexterous actions without removing the complete glove.
What We Dislike
- An additional layer of insulation may be necessary if temperatures drop below freezing.
Ice fishing requires a frigid temperature, but that’s a benefit, not a disadvantage. Glacier Glove’s Pro Angler glove is made of TechLine Neoprene, which helps it withstand the cold. The glove is held on with a strong Velcro Pro Strap, so it fits well and is comfortable. The protection goes beyond the wrists, so the gloves go well with your jacket. Inside, a 2-millimeter fleece lining amps the insulation. Because they mimic the hand’s natural topography, pre-curved fingers reduce hand fatigue and improve dexterity. The upper knuckles of the fingers and thumbs may be exposed by pulling back the cloth on the index and thumb slits and thumb slits to quickly perform minute activities like confident casting or knot–tying. The palm has no seams, allowing for a secure grip, and the bonded stitches are just as waterproof.
Best for Fly Fishing: Bassdash WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove
What We Find Appealing
- Well-protected against heat and cold
- Quick and simple access to your first three digits
What We Dislike
- Not all winter-ready fishing coats may accommodate the modest cuff length
- Not suitable for complete submersion
The WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove from Bassdash features a variety of materials, including a waterproof polyester outer shell, a plush fleece inside for warmth, a microfiber palm for enhanced comfort, slip-proof synthetic leather on the gripping region to boost strength and grip, and a neoprene cuff with Velcro closure to keep out the elements. When you need to move your rig with your bare fingers, switching flies is easy because the thumb, index, and middle fingers have holes. It’s important to note that this feature does not affect glove dexterity while the glove is fully insulated since it prevents finger caps from getting in the way of your movements.
Best for Saltwater: Simms Offshore Angler’s Glove
What We Find Appealing
- Weatherproof
- Ensured security
What We Dislike
- Anglers fishing in the winter should choose gear with additional insulation
Obtain the Offshore Angler’s Glove from Simms if you intend to pursue large game fish in the tougher conditions of the open ocean. When removing hooks, invoicing fish, or filleting your catch, the reinforced palm, thumb, and fingers guard against line cuts, burns, and possible punctures. The polyester shell repels water and dries rapidly, while synthetic leather enhances grip and durability. The back of the hand and fingers are lined with air mesh for flexibility and breathability, and an expanded tab makes them easy to remove.
AquaSkinz Finger Shield is the top choice for braided-line casting.
What We Find Appealing
- Reasonably priced
- Simple and lightweight
What We Dislike
- This glove, designed to facilitate braid casting, is a long cry from a full-fingered glove.
Anglers fascinated with braid casting swear by using tape to the index finger of their right hand to protect it from the abrasive line’s inevitable collisions. AquaSkinz Finger Shield is a simple, low-cost option that doesn’t need you to do a boxer-like ritual of taping yourself before leaving the house. As the name suggests, this glove is made of one piece of protective Kevlar that goes from your wrist, over the back of your palm, and around your index finger. It won’t get in the way of your cast. Since the abrasive line wouldn’t come in contact with them, some customers feel it improved the quality of their cast. The shield wraps around the wrist for a secure fit and can be worn on either hand.
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Best for Filleting: Bubba Fillet Gloves
What We Find Appealing
- Good protection and a comfortable, flexible fit
What We Dislike
- Other fishing gloves may provide comparable protection, making a fillet-specific glove superfluous.
You’ll immediately see the importance of the Bubba Fillet Gloves after a single accident when filleting a fish. The full-finger gloves have a non-slip grip on the palms and fingers so you can keep a tight hold on the knife and the fish. A layer of Kevlar will protect you from knife cuts and species with sharp, puncture-ready fins. With a broad Velcro strap across the wrists, the neoprene ensures a snug fit, enhancing dexterity, while luminous strips increase visibility in low light. Even their index and middle fingers are touchscreen-compatible on the odd occasion that you need to make a call mid-filleting.
KastKing Sol Armis Sun Gloves are the best choice for sun protection.
What We Find Appealing
- This style has a quick-release wrist and middle finger tab for added convenience.
- An elongated cuff extends, covering well beyond the wrist.
What We Dislike
- Some anglers might not like the vivid color selections
- Only extra-small, small/medium, and large/extra-large sizes are available.
KastKing’s Sol Armis Sun Gloves are made for fishing when the sun is beating down in hot weather. They offer SPF 50 and UPF 50 protection throughout their breathable poly-spandex fabric, stretching four ways for a snug fit. This fingerless design makes it easy to do small tasks like changing hooks and baits and unhooking fish. That is because the upper knuckles are exposed. Microfiber lines the palms, strengthening the key points of wear on the palms and adds a bit of additional cushioning to stave off hand strain.
Best for Cold Weather: Striker Ice Tundra Mitt
What We Find Appealing
- Warmness
What We Dislike
- To perform any task involving the use of your fingers, you’ll have to do without the gloves.
When the temperature dips to single digits, grab for the Striker Ice Tundra Mitts. The waterproof/breathable glove is insulated with 200 grams of 3M Thinsulate and features a mitt design that allows your fingers’ natural heat to keep the interior warm. Full leather palms make the gloves last longer and give you a better grip. Softshell fabric on the back of the hand and around the gauntlet cuff makes the gloves stretchy and protects you from the weather. The wraparound fingers eliminate seams to reduce the risk of water penetration and chafing, and the adjustable cuff closures are compatible with all jacket styles.
Best Waterproof: Stormr Strykr Neoprene Glove
What We Find Appealing
- Solid protection at a moderate price
What We Dislike
- The cuff is relatively tiny
- Neoprene does not give a great deal of puncture resistance.
The Stormr Stryker Neoprene Glove features quality micro-fleece inside for warmth, comfort, and durable neoprene on the outside to keep your hands dry and toasty in driving rain, strong wind, and cold temperatures. With a 2 millimeter thickness, you’ll have plenty of talent, and the textured palm and fingers will give you a good grip. The cuff fastens with a glove-friendly Velcro strap and is reinforced with blind-stitched and glue-sealed seams.
The Bottom Line
The Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves are an excellent low-cost solution for fair-weather fishing since they cover all the bases. You won’t get scraped or snagged on the line with this Kevlar-reinforced fishing glove, which also doubles as a fillet glove and helps prevent blisters. Velcro-secured cuffs ensure a solid fit, and the thinner materials enable ample dexterity.
Consider the Bashdash WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove if you fish throughout the year and need a glove that is both warm and adaptable. A waterproof outer polyester shell protects against the weather, a fleece interior provides comfort and warmth, and slip-resistant synthetic leather on the grip region enables you to hold objects confidently. The tops of the middle and index fingers, as well as the thumbs, have openings that allow it easier to perform minute activities that otherwise would be difficult to perform while wearing gloves.
Tips to Find Best Gloves
Durability
Most fishing gloves are intended to survive several seasons of hard wear, a vital aspect considering that they could be subjected to the destructive effects of saltwater. Gloves made for pleasant weather are bulkier and less long-lasting than those made for cold weather, which employ long-lasting, sturdy materials like leather and hard- and soft-shell polyester.
Comfort
Fishing gloves are meant to ward off blisters, protect your hands, increase grip, and battle hand fatigue. The finest gloves are soft and comfy right out of the box, and they typically have a lining made of microfiber or fleece to offer a little more comfort and protection. Some gloves are made of materials that stretch in all directions so that you can move your hands without any resistance. On the other hand, cold-weather gloves have gauntlet-style cuffs, wrist pulls, and Velcro straps to ensure they fit tightly with your cold-weather jackets.
Materials
Primarily determined by their intended usage, fishing gloves are made of a variety of materials. Warm-weather gloves, designed to increase grip and reduce sun damage, feature lightweight, stretch materials like polyester that breathe well, dry rapidly and allow your hands to move freely. The palms are normally covered to promote grip, but the back of the hand could contain mesh—or mesh panels—to improve ventilation. Regarding cold-weather gloves, manufacturers use various materials, including leather on the palms and thumbs to increase grip and strength, waterproof/breathable membranes, soft-shell polyester that stretches to fit your hands, and neoprene, a bomber material that is 100 percent waterproof. Insulation comes in all shapes and sizes, from ultra-light microfiber to medium-weight fleece to full-fleece lined gloves. Kevlar can also be used to defend against line cuts, hooks, and sharp fish fins, either as an insert in the glove or throughout the product.
Fit
You need a set of fishing gloves that fit as near to ideal as possible. Dexterity suffers if the belt is too loose. If your gloves are too tight, you’ll have trouble moving your hands. When picking a full-finger glove, make sure they fit at the fingers doesn’t have any bunching or seams at the ends, which might encumber precise lining work. (If you can’t open a beer while wearing the gloves, you won’t be able to complete many of the dexterity activities common to fishing.) Fingerless gloves should also feel flush between the fingers where the cloth stops and should be snug on the skin but not smother. All gloves should include an elastic cuff or an easy-to-use strap system, such as Velcro, snaps, or pull tabs, to provide a secure fit around the wrists.
Climate and the Environment
Fishing gloves have applicability in every form of weather or temperature. In warmer climates like the Caribbean or while you’re fishing in the summer, lightweight, elastic gloves may shield you from dangerous sun rays, keep the wind from whipping around your hands, and prevent bites, scratches, and line cuts. When fishing in chilly conditions, fishing gloves can provide insulation (usually a thin layer of fleece or microfiber) to keep your hands warm and functional. Burlier gloves for cold-weather and ice fishing amp the insulation further so you can handle the rod and bait without your fingers going numb.