Have you ever had cuts from handling your freshly caught fish? Or have you felt like losing your grip while reeling? Beginners tend to overlook buying a pair of gloves for their hand protection as part of their preparation for fishing gear.
If you’re looking to purchase protective gloves for your fishing activities, we will be happy to assist you in deciding which gloves are best for you and analyze your options according to price and quality.
Given the great variety of product reviews available online, selecting the best gloves might be stressful for you. However, you need not worry. We took into account your purchasing criteria and purposes in compiling the best gloves for fishing.
By the end of this article, you should be able to select suitable gloves for your use if you want to have the best fishing experience possible. See our top choices for fishing glove products by reading on.
A Quick Glance of the Best Waterproof Fishing Gloves
| Picture | Name |
 | Palmyth UV Protection Fishing Fingerless Gloves – Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50+ – Super lightweight |
 | XUKER Water Gloves – Keeps your hands warm – Very stretchable |
 | Berkley Coated Fishing Gloves – Good grip – Heavy-duty yet flexible |
 | KastKing Sol Armis Fishing Gloves – Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50+ – Good fit and stylish |
 | Aventik UPF 50+ Fishing Gloves – Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50+ – Low price |
 | Big Worm Fishing Gloves – Textured grip – Low price |
 | Drasry UV Fishing Gloves – Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50+ – Anti-slip |
 | Lindy Fish Handling Glove – Puncture-resistant – Durable |
Things to Consider Before Buying Fishing Gloves
Do You Need to Wear Gloves when Fishing?
Short answer: yes. Although you can fish using your bare hands, it might be better to have some kind of protection to avoid damaging your hands from painful cuts and sun exposure.
Spending prolonged periods of time under the sun while fishing can cause sunburns on your exposed skin that might lead to some health risks in the long run. It is recommended that you wear sunscreen. However, due to its strong ingredients, sunscreen on your hands might drive the fish away.
Moreover, handling fish with bare hands can also cause fishing-related injuries. Any fisherman, whether you are a beginner or professional, can suffer from a fish cut, bite, or worse, a fish hook getting caught in their skin with just one slip.
Infection is the biggest issue with these puncture wounds caused by the existing bacteria in the water or rust from your equipment. To prevent infection, the wound must be cleaned as soon as possible. That is why gloves are important to prevent these painful and possibly fatal injuries when fishing.
A protected hand is important to a successful catch and is as essential as any fishing tool. Your hands can only do so much; thus, it needs proper care and protection against injuries associated with fishing and fish handling, in addition to harm from the sun and wind.
Recommended Fishing Glove Features to Look Out For
You should know that there are many choices available in the market and that they come in a range of prices and levels of quality. Here are some key attributes to look for in your fishing gloves, along with comparisons, to help you better understand important glove features for fishing.
Sun Protection
Regular gloves can be used to cover up your hands while fishing. However, regular cloth doesn’t completely protect you from the harsh UV rays of the sun. A glove with Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) material might be the best choice in this case.
Ultraviolet Protection Factor is a measurement of how well materials and fabrics block out the sun by identifying the percentage of UVA and UVB rays that pass through the fabric and reach the skin.
Basically, the higher the UPF, the stronger the material’s sun protection. So look out for gloves that use a material with high UPF.
SPF vs. UPF? What’s the difference?
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) are both sunburn protection standards. But don’t be confused. SPF is used for sunscreens, while UPF is used for materials and textiles.
Fingerless Gloves vs. Full Gloves vs. 3/4 Gloves
Fingerless Gloves
Fingerless gloves are the most lightweight among these options. Although your fingers will be exposed, it can offer you complete flexibility for making knots and handling the fishing line.
Full gloves
Full gloves are ideal for fishing environments where temperatures are cold and freezing. A full coverage glove gives you the best insulation possible and ensures that neither the cold nor the wetness of the water can get to your hands. But, they often restrict hand movements and kinesthetic feedback while fishing.
3/4 Gloves
A glove with 3/4 of a finger offers you a middle ground between full and fingerless gloves. It’s not a full coverage with the tip of your fingers exposed, but it offers enough flexibility for your fishing activities.
Grip and Fit
In order to hang onto your catch or tackle, check for the glove’s grip pattern on the palm. Overlaying grip materials around this area is better for better grip performance and endurance from repeated friction over time.
Moreover, a loose glove can also make it difficult to maintain your grip. Make sure to choose a glove size that fits you or has enough stretch to fit your hand. A glove with adjustable wrist tabs or closures can help to secure the glove to your hand.
Lightweight vs. Heavy-duty
Lightweight gloves are thinner materials, thus making it breathable and more flexible. In contrast, heavy-duty gloves are made with thicker materials that make it cut-resistant and more durable.
Waterproof vs. Water-resistant Gloves
The technological application is the primary distinction between waterproof gloves and water-resistant gloves.
Silicone or PVC-based fabric sprays are used to treat water-resistant gloves, resulting in a barrier that temporarily prevents water from seeping into the glove. However, prolonged water exposure can still make it wet.
On the other hand, waterproof gloves have their layers of protection incorporated right into the design. Since they are so much more effective, authentic waterproof gloves cost more than their water-resistant counterparts.
Top 8 Waterproof Fishing Gloves
Palmyth UV Protection Fishing Fingerless Gloves
This glove is by far the top choice for fishing gloves and other water activities. What makes this a top product is its excellent quality with the most features compared to the other options available in the market.
People swear by the sun protection of this product! It truly lived up to its claim of sunburn protection as it is made from a certified UPF 50+ material along with its long cuffs.
Your hand will surely be kept cool with its stretchable and breathable fabric. The partial synthetic leather and silicone wave reinforced around the palm for better gripping can also be used for other activities as well like kayaking, driving, hiking, and for athletes.
We are very satisfied with the comfort of this glove in terms of its feel, size variations, 3/4 finger length, super lightweight, and overall build quality. It is really easy to wear and to take off with its finger-tip and wrist pull tabs.
XUKER Water Gloves
Are you looking for a stretchable glove with consistently good thermal performance? Then this product is for you!
This product is very capable of keeping your hands warm in cold water with its full coverage glove and an adjustable velcro strap around the wrist. It is made with neoprene material with a rubber thread pattern for an enhanced grip.
It also offers varying unisex sizes and is very stretchable, so it can definitely fit most hand sizes.
Berkley Coated Fishing Gloves
Handling fish is very troublesome, especially when they are very active and slippery to the touch. If you’re having trouble handling your fish, then this glove might increase your chances of a successful catch!
This glove has a very good grip performance due to its textured coat. It is also heavy-duty, which can protect you from fish handling hazards. However, its material is not that thick, giving your hand more flexibility for outmaneuvering those slimy fish.
For its price, this is the perfect glove for handling small or medium fish. Although we wouldn’t recommend it for handling bigger fish as it is not puncture-resistant.
KastKing Sol Armis Fishing Gloves
You want to fish in style? This fishing glove has a very excellent fit, with a variety of colors, patterns, and design choices!
This product is partnered with Prym1 Camo that adopts the colors, textures, and organic patterns of wildlife to generate a camouflage design. To complete your fishing outfit, they also have similar apparel products with the same designs to match your gloves.
Not only is it fashionable, but it is also made with breathable material and is UPF 50+. Its elastic fabric makes the glove snuggly fit your hand, with microfiber pads with pull tabs for your ease of wear.
Aventik UPF 50+ Fishing Gloves
Are you on a tight budget for fishing gloves? Then this one has a decent price for its quality!
It has similar features to our top 1 pick, but on the cheaper side. It is made with 4-way stretch breathable fabric, anti-slip material, and is a 3/4 finger length glove. Very similar, right? But the best part is that it is also UPF 50+.
Its downside is that the fabric is a lot thinner than the other choices. So, it might not do very well with handling fish. But, if you’re still a beginner and are on a budget, this can be a good choice to start off with your fishing hobby.
Big Worm Fishing Gloves
If you’re looking for a decently priced glove capable of handling fish, this might be the one for you.
This product is for people who are looking for full-coverage fishing gloves on a tight budget. These gloves can keep your hands warm enough for cold weather but are likely ineffective for freezing temperatures and below. Although it only comes in one size, it can actually fit most L to XL hand sizes.
The gloves are fairly breathable, with a well-textured grip. With this product on the cheaper side, expect it to be only puncture-resistant and not puncture-proof.
Drasry UV Fishing Gloves
Are you looking for a fingerless glove design for better flexibility and control while fishing? Then, this product is perfect!
It is made with 4-Way stretch material with UPF 50+. Its sweat-absorbent terry cloth at the back is used for wiping off sweat from your face, which is a unique feature of this glove.
For improved grip and durability, a silicone layer and partially synthetic leather layer are added to the main spots on the palm. It can also accommodate any wrist size with adjustable velcro straps that keeps the glove from slipping off.
Although fingerless gloves give you flexibility in fishing, it is not advised to use this when you’re a beginner at handling fish due to its lack of protection on the fingers.
Lindy Fish Handling Glove
This is a top product that offers the best protection from any fishing hazards. So, if you are getting serious with fishing and fish handling, then this product might be the one for you!
It is the most durable glove on the list when it comes to fish handling. With these gloves, you can rest easily as it is a durable and puncture-resistant material. It is thick with its 100% SuperFabric. However, be aware that it’s leaning more towards the pricier side.
You’ll also have to compromise comfortability for its puncture-resistant feature, since it is a stiff and rigid glove.
It does its job well in preventing punctures that even professional fish cutters are using this product. We can definitely say that it is an excellent product for handling fish.
Conclusion
Gloves are an essential piece of safety gear that can help you avoid cuts from handling fish, have better grip and control while angling, and minimize hand sunburns from too much sun exposure.
Choosing the suitable fishing gloves will offer you a smooth sailing experience in fishing, whether it’s for your leisure or for your job. Although there are many different types of fishing reels available on the internet, it is ultimately up to you to choose the one that best suits your fishing style and use.
Understanding the gloves’ importance and features will save you and your pocket hundreds of dollars from a medical bill due to a fishing accident. Remember, it’s only one slip away, so you better be careful! And choose wisely.