9 Best Fishing Gloves To Have For Every Season
Share this article:
TopNotch Outdoor is independent – we research, test, and rate the top products to help you make the right buying choice. We sometimes use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on your purchase. Learn more…
If you’re talking big fish, cold weather, or serious competition, it’s only natural you need the best fishing gloves.
Fishing gloves are useful for several reasons. When choosing a pair, things like padding, material design, sizing, and the type of glove are vital elements to a great fishing glove.
To help make your search easier, we curated 9 of our best fishing gloves.
Let’s get started!
9 Top Fishing Gloves
1. Glacier Glove Islamorada Fishing Gloves: Best Overall
The Glacier Glove Islamorada fishing gloves offer great breathability, SPF 50 protection, and Elastane-Spandex material design.
These fingerless fishing gloves provide one of the highest comfort and durability design benefits you could find in the market today.
However, the true gem of the Glacier Glove Islamorada fishing gloves is its quick-drying material leaving your hands well-guarded and protected even after hours of use.
We also love the Elastane-Spandex material for the added breathability and quick-drying benefit.
We also love how the Glacier Glove Islamorada fishing gloves were incredibly lightweight. And just when we thought we might have had to pay a hefty amount for its incredible features, Glacier Glove was quite affordable!
Is Glacier Glove Islamorada Fishing Gloves for You?
Suppose you already have full-fingered gloves and need a fingerless design for rigging lures, tying knots, or even using your camera or phone with ease. In that case, we highly recommend the Glacier Glove Islamorada.
Granted, it might not be as sophisticated as other fishing glove brands, but it checked all our boxes for durability, price, safety, sizing, and performance.
Although it provides great protection, we felt though the Glacier Glove Islamorada slightly lacked better palm protection features.
Pros
Cons
2. Lindy Fish Handling Fishing Gloves: Best Value
Maybe what you need is an excellent pair of full-fingered gloves, and in that case, the Lindy Fish Handling glove is the best value pick you can’t go wrong with.
Unlike the Glacier Glove Islamorada fishing gloves, Lindy provides a full-fingered design. For professionals and beginners, we recommend always having at least one full-fingered glove in your bag.
What makes the Lindy fish handling glove stand out? Apart from its remarkably affordable price tag, the durability and protection you get with Lindy are superb.
When we say superb, we mean it’s strong enough to protect you from treble hooks, sharp teeth from fish, and knives.
That doesn’t mean Lindy fishing gloves are danger-proof, but it’s a pair of gloves that guarantees safety, above all.
Even better, its super fabric material allows you to handle slippery fish easily and provides great resistance against harsh chemicals.
Is Lindy Fish Handling Fishing Gloves for You?
It’s hard to say no to Lindy. After all, fishing gloves should prioritize protection and your safety overall. It’s even shown that Lindy fishing gloves offer 800% more protection than other fishing gloves!
Lindy fishing gloves are perfect for anyone looking to buy full-fingered gloves and wants the best protection possible.
The best part is it doesn’t even cost much!
Pros
Cons
- Easy to lift and lower pulley system
- Durable and solid hoist
- Includes a lifetime warranty
- Comes with mounting brackets
- Supports only up to 90 pounds
3. Glacier Glove Alaska River Fingerless Gloves: Budget Pick
From the name itself, Alaska River, these Glacier Glove fingerless fishing gloves are perfect for protecting you against unpredictable weather, especially when it gets ice-cold in Alaska.
Should you opt to go ice-fishing, you can trust Glacier Glove Alaska River to keep your hands warm. Its Sharksin textured palm design is one of the reasons the Glacier Glove Alaska River can withstand the cold weather.
Combined with its G-Tek Fleece lined Neoprene material, these fishing gloves were meant for the cold and ice fishing.
The complex material design also provides a stable, secure grip while protecting you from the abuse of cold weather and icy terrains.
Finally, these gloves are windproof, shielding your hands from the cold wind too. It’s worth noting that wind chill is even harder to bear and can potentially cause hypothermia when left unprotected.
This is why it’s vital to choose the right glove that can protect your hands from all sorts of danger.
Is the Glacier Glove Alaska River Fingerless Fishing Gloves for You?
The Glacier Glove Alaska River are the best fishing gloves against cold weather. Because of the Sharkskin texture and Fleece-lined neoprene material, it’s a unique pair of gloves design to keep your hands warm and mostly for ice fishing.
If you live in tropical areas, this may not be the best option for you.
Although, it’s never wrong to have an extra pair of fingerless gloves that can handle different terrains and conditions.
Should you buy the Glacier Glove Alaska River, know that it’s also one of the cheapest on the list!
Pros
Cons
4. Rapala Marine Gloves
These non-slip fish-handling gloves are perfect when catching big or slippery fish.
With an extra layer of latex coating, the Rapala Marine will protect your hands against teeth, fins, and gill plates.
However, if you plan to use these gloves for filleting fish, we strongly advise you don’t. The Rapala Marine fishing gloves focuses solely on helping you land that big catch.
With its non-slip control material design, you will have an easier time catching fish, so it doesn’t slip from your fingers.
Is Rapala Marine Fishing Gloves for You?
The Rapala Marine offers a better grip and protects your hands from dorsal fins, gill plates, and teeth. If you need fishing gloves for better grip and non-slip control, these gloves will suit you perfectly.
Overall, it’s a trustworthy and reliable fishing glove that gets the job done.
Pros
Cons
5. Simms Solarflex Guide Gloves
The Simms Solarflex is a fishing glove worthy of being part of the top 9 best picks.
You can check a quick review of the Simms Solarflex Guide Gloves from a member of Kayak Bass League.
Its unique goat leather palm material took us by surprise. It’s the reason why the Simms Solarflex provides such a strong grip on your rod.
Many might have heard about cow leather; however, if you’re curious to know about the benefits of goat leather, we can tell you it’s durable, water-resistant, and quite affordable even.
Goat leather isn’t the only quality of the Simms Solarflex, though. These fishing gloves also provide SPF 50 protection, extended wrist cuffs, and an extended length for the middle and index fingers.
We love the extended wrist cuffs for giving a snug, comfortable fit when putting the Simms Solarfex on. Combined with the strong grip, it surely adds a boost to your performance when fishing.
The extended length for your middle and index fingers is useful for preventing any line burns, which we also love because it provides extra protection to keep your hands safe.
Is Simms Solarflex Fishing Gloves for You?
If not for the expensive price tag, the Simms Solarflex could’ve easily landed either our top one or top two picks on the list.
These heavy-duty gloves provide superior durability, SPF protection, excellent grip, safety, and, most of all; they’re comfortable.
If you’re willing to spend extra for premium, the Simms Solarflex is one glove you won’t regret buying.
Pros
Cons
6. Huk Current Camo Sun Gloves
Quite frankly, we found no flaws with the Huk Current Camo Sun fishing gloves except maybe, it might be too flashy for others to wear.
First of all, it’s 100% polyester. That’s not exactly award-winning for material design, but that also makes it simple, practical, and efficient.
You also have decent sun protection based on its 30 SPF rating. Since these are fingerless gloves, they’re ideally suited for providing better dexterity for your fingers than full-fingered gloves offer.
Last but not least, it has hydrophobic fibers and an anti-microbial treatment to keep moisture away and kill any odor-causing microorganisms.
Is Huk Current Camo Sun Fishing Gloves for You?
If you’re looking for simple and reliable fingerless fishing gloves, the Huk Current Camo is an excellent pick! However, it costs more than most of the fishing gloves on this list.
With decent SPF protection and quick-drying properties, these are the perfect gloves to wear for casual fishing.
Pros
Cons
7. Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Gloves
At a glance, the Outdoor Research ActiveIce fishing gloves may look like every other glove.
However, these fingerless gloves have something that makes it stand out of the pack, and that’s xylitol crystals.
The Outdoor Research ActiveIce gloves are made with a fabric that uses xylitol crystals for cooling you down when you sweat. It’s one thing for gloves to keep you dry. On the other hand, a cooling effect is downright ingenious.
Paired with its lightweight and breathable properties, the Outdoor Research ActiveIce gloves make it perfect for multipurpose outdoor use like hiking, kayaking, sailing, running, and cycling.
It’s also worth mentioning its SPF 50 protection, anti-slip palm print for enhanced grip, and polyester-spandex material for improved stretch fit and durability.
Is Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Fishing Gloves for You?
If you require the best fishing gloves that also provide multipurpose outdoor use, we highly recommend these gloves!
The Outdoor Research ActiveIce is also perfect for fly fishing! If you live in warmer climates, the Outdoor Research ActiveIce is even more suited for you!
Pros
Cons
If you need full-fingered fishing gloves to keep your hands warm in cold weather, the Glacier Glove Ice Bay is our best recommendation.
The Ice Bay line has similar features as the Alaska River series, such as the Fleece-lined neoprene material and Sharkskin texture for improved grip.
In terms of price, the Glacier Glove Ice Bay offers a slightly more expensive deal. You can add the Glacier Glove Ice Bay to your collection of ice fishing gloves.
With its 100% waterproof design, it’s perfect for reeling in fish effortlessly. Users even mentioned how amazing it could grip even when it’s wet.
If you’re worried about the anglers breaking apart, the Glacier Glove Ice Bay fishing gloves were blind stitched and glued to ensure its durability.
Is Glacier Glove Ice Bay Fishing Gloves for You?
For a premium fishing glove capable of withstanding cold weather and its full-fingered design, you’ll love the Glacier Glove Ice Bay.
Its seamless palm design makes it even better for handling fish too, so rest assured the palm design and neoprene material provide a solid, secure grip.
Pros
Cons
9. Berkley Fishing Gloves
Heavy-duty and flexibility are the best qualities of Berkley fishing gloves.
Its textured grip also allows you to handle fish better than most fishing gloves. Even though these gloves are heavy-duty, we don’t recommend using the Berkley fishing gloves in cold weather or ice fishing.
However, it’s ideal for mid to high-temperature environments where its lightweight design and added palm protection are excellent for handling small to medium-sized fish.
As for the size, you don’t have to worry. Berkley fishing gloves are a one-size-fits-all glove, making the selection process easier and more convenient on your part.
Is Berkley Fishing Gloves for You?
The Berkley fishing gloves are the best fishing gloves for warmer climates and casual fishing. Since it offers great protection and durability, it’s even more ideal for beginners.
Pros
Cons
Before You Buy
Choosing the right glove for your hands depends on certain essential factors.
Not all gloves are a one-size-fits-all glove. You need to understand the various types of gloves and how they influence your fishing performance.
In this section, we’ll discuss the vital elements in choosing the right glove for you.
The Best Type of Fishing Glove for You
Depending on your needs and the climate, it’s crucial you get the right type of glove.
There are 3 types of fishing gloves: full-fingered, fingerless, and utility.
Full-Fingered Gloves
Full-fingered types are essential gloves you should always carry. It’s better to start with a full-fingered glove rather than a fingerless type.
Whether its casting or jigging, full-fingered gloves protect your fingers and provide full protection against a heavy braided line.
If you plan to go fishing in cold weather, we recommend having at least one pair of full-fingered gloves to keep your hands warm.
When choosing a full-fingered glove, don’t be afraid to spend extra since these glove types will handle the bulk of your fishing tasks while protecting your hands and fingers.
Fingerless Gloves
Fingerless gloves provide dexterity and improve movement for your fingers. Fingerless gloves are made of a lighter material than full-fingered types and will also use synthetic leather/materials for palm protection.
If you can, we recommend choosing fingerless gloves with synthetic leather since it adds a layer of protection for your palm.
The main benefit of using fingerless types is tying knots, rigging lures, or handling electronic gadgets with ease.
Fingerless gloves offer decent protection against cold environments; however, they’re more suited to providing sun protection for your hands, fingers, or palm.
Utility Gloves
For maximum durability and protection, go for utility gloves. If you’re catching large fish like marlin, swordfish, sailfish, etc. utility gloves are ideal gloves to wear, especially when grabbing onto them.
Some fish tend to be slippery, and when you’re landing a big catch of the day, you wouldn’t want to let them slip from your fingers.
That’s why utility gloves with a synthetic leather palm provide enhanced gripping power even when it’s wet. If you come across any aggressive fish, you also have to watch out for their dorsal fins, teeth, and gill plates.
Having a spare of utility gloves in your fishing bag will protect your hands and fingers when handling fish of this nature. Some utility gloves are even durable enough to allow the filleting of fish without causing any wear or tear.
Choose a Quality Brand
It always helps to keep an open mind. Even though you’ve stuck to the same brand for years, don’t let that stop you from trying different brands too.
On that note, here are some quality brands you can choose from the next time you’re shopping for gloves:
- Rapala – Rapala manufactures gloves built explicitly for cold weather. If you’re continually fishing in icy terrain, Rapala gloves ensure your hands are kept warm.
- Lindy – For full protection against any dangers you might find, including hooks and knives, Lindy gloves use super fabric material to ensure your hands are well-guarded. However, Lindy gloves are more ideal to use in warmer climates.
- Berkley – Berkley gloves offer flexibility and durability to meet a wide variety of your fishing needs. Berkley gloves also come with waterproof benefits, keeps your hands warm, and ensure a good fit.
- Glacier Glove – Glacier Glove provides gloves for all your fishing needs and even for lower temperatures. Glacier Glove carries a long line of models that ensure quality design and performance when fishing.
Other brands worth mentioning include AFTCO, Outdoor Research, Simms, Pelagic, Huk, and IceArmor.
Breathability, Sizing, and Comfort
Breathability, sizing, and comfort should always be considered along with the kind of climate you live in.
Warmer climates would require a lightweight glove as opposed to a thicker material. Lightweight gloves provide adequate breathability, especially when your hands start to sweat.
With poor breathability, it also means more discomfort for your hands.
For this reason, when you’re reeling fish or performing other tasks with discomfort in your hands, it may lead to an accident or worse, you just might let fish slip away.
On the other hand, colder climates demand thicker materials. Although it shouldn’t be too thick that your hands become restricted from movement.
With poor movement, it’s harder to rig lures, place bait on your hook, or reel in at the proper time.
How Durable Is It
You’ll want to invest in gloves for fishing that last you for a considerable amount of time. Long-term wise, gloves for fishing should also be capable of handling the type of water you fish in.
Saltwater and freshwater environments have different effects depending on the type of glove and material it has.
If your glove isn’t suited for saltwater as recommended by the manufacturer, we encourage you to follow these instructions and guidelines. However, you’ll find many gloves that can withstand freshwater and saltwater without causing any wear and tear.
Make sure the glove for fishing you choose isn’t too thin either.
Extra thin material may be lightweight and more comfortable, but if it means the seams are more prone to tearing apart or have a low resistance to environmental factors, it would be a poor value of return for what you paid for.
Protection
Padding in the palm might just be one of the most underappreciated yet most useful elements to consider in fishing gear.
Take note that when handling fish, you’re exposing your hands to the scales, sharp teeth, fins, and gills. Even though your fingers are well-protected, it still puts your palm at risk too.
To prevent these dangers from happening and blisters from forming, choose a glove that provides an extra layer of padding. Even if it’s a small extra layer, it’s worth every penny for keeping your hands and palm safe.
Final Words
When choosing the right fishing glove, safety should always be your priority. Don’t sacrifice protection for performance.
Wearing the appropriate fishing gear is just as critical to how you fish, so don’t overlook your safety, especially when catching big fish.
We hope this review was able to help you find the right glove for your needs! If you found this review helpful, we hope to hear from you in the comments section below.