TripSavvy Trip Planning The 10 Best Fishing Gloves of 2023 By Nathan Borchelt Nathan Borchelt LinkedIn American University Nathan Borchelt has been working in the travel industry for more than 15 years as a writer, photographer, editor, and product manager. He covers everything from trail cameras to ski equipment. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 10/07/22 Share Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. While fishing gloves aren’t a must-have item, anglers who use them might beg to differ. First and foremost, gloves provide protection against blisters, line cuts, and the potentially harmful rays of the sun. They also can help fend-off potential punctures from hooks or sharp fish. Factor in other elements like cold temps, harsh wind, and driving rain, and the right pair of fishing gloves can make a huge difference. They also provide extra grip on both the reel and when handling a fish, add a touch of comfort and padding for hand fatigue, and—more often than not—don’t inhibit your dexterity. Given all those factors, it may be hard to make a case against owning at least one pair. These are the best fishing gloves. The Rundown Best Overall: Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Offshore Angler Nitrile/PU-Coated Glove at Basspro.com Jump to Review Best for Ice Fishing: Glacier Glove Pro Angler at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Fly Fishing: Bassdash WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Saltwater: Simms Offshore Angler’s Glove at Madriveroutfitters.com Jump to Review Best for Braid Casting: AquaSkinz Finger Shield at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Filleting: Bubba Fillet Gloves at Basspro.com Jump to Review Best for Sun Protection: KastKing Sol Armis Sun Gloves at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Cold Weather: Striker Ice Tundra Mitt at Amazon Jump to Review Best Waterproof: Stormr Strykr Neoprene Glove at Amazon Jump to Review Table of contents Expand Our Picks What to Look For FAQs Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon View On Tackledirect.com View On Westmarine.com What We Like Heavy-duty protection Inexpensive What We Don't Like Sizing breaks out as S/M, M/L, and L/XL, so finding the right fit may take some trial and error When it comes to an optimal fair-weather fishing glove, versatility is key. And that’s where the Pelagic End Game Pro Gloves shine. Employing Pelagic’s Sure-Grip tech, it’s the optimal glove for fishing heavy mono, spectra, or wireless leaders. Kevlar reinforcements help fend off punctures from unruly fish, hook displacements, and line cuts—you can even use them while filleting. The streamlined fit delivers solid dexterity, especially for a full-fingered glove, and the Velcro-secured cuff won’t slip. You also get complete blister protection and touchscreen-friendly index fingers and thumbs. Price at time of publish: $42 Best Budget Offshore Angler Nitrile/PU-Coated Glove Bass Pro Shop View On Basspro.com View On Cabelas.com What We Like Inexpensive Solid fair-weather protection Textured palms add to the gloves’ grip What We Don't Like The long cuff is elastic, which may stretch over time Made from a stretchy nylon/spandex seamless shell, the Offshore Angler Nitrile/PU-Coated Gloves conform to your hands to provide a snug, comfortable fit with plenty of dexterity, protecting your hands from blisters, while still handling all manor of micro-tasks required by fishing. Built to minimize hand fatigue, the outer has been coated with a flexible nitrile/polyurethane tactical treatment to allow for a sensitive grip when handling small, wet components. Price at time of publish: $6 Best for Ice Fishing Glacier Glove Pro Angler Glacier Glove View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Glacierglove.com What We Like Ample size options Slits at the index finger and thumb provide access for more dexterous tasks without having to shrug off the entire glove What We Don't Like In really frigid conditions you may want a bit more insulation A cold climate is a feature of ice fishing, not a bug. Glacier Glove uses TechLine Neoprene in its Pro Angler glove to combat freezing temps. A burly Velcro Pro Strap secures the glove to provide a comfortable fit, with protection that extends beyond the wrists so that they’ll marry with your jacket. Inside, a 2-millimeter fleece lining amps the insulation. Pre-curved fingers mirror the hand’s natural topography to help fight hand fatigue and provide reliable dexterity. And when situations demand executing minute tasks like confident casting or knot–tying, slits riding on the index finger and thumbs let you pull back the fabric to expose the top knuckles to make quick work of whatever the situation demands. No seams line the palm for a confident grip, and the glued stitches are as waterproof as the rest of the glove. Price at time of publish: $44 Best for Fly Fishing Bassdash WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove Bassdash View On Amazon View On Bassdash.com What We Like Well insulated No-fuss easy access to three of your digits What We Don't Like The modest cuff length may not work with all winter-ready fishing jackets Not designed for full immersion in water Bassdash employs loads of different materials in their WintePro Waterproof Winter Fishing Glove, including a weatherproof polyester outer shell, a plush fleece lining for warmth, a microfiber palm inside for added comfort, slip-proof synthetic leather on the gripping area to improve strength and grip, and a neoprene cuff with Velcro closure that locks out the elements. And when the inevitable need comes to manipulate your rig with your naked fingers, openings at the thumb, index, and middle finger, make it easy to swap flies. Each finger cap snaps to the back of the glove to keep them from interfering with your moves, a feature that doesn’t impact the glove’s dexterity when you’re fully insulated. Price at time of publish: $29 Best for Saltwater Simms Offshore Angler’s Glove Simms View On Madriveroutfitters.com View On Scheels.com View On Simmsfishing.com What We Like Breathable Assured protection What We Don't Like Winter anglers should go with something with more insulation If you’re pursuing big game fish in the harsher conditions of the open ocean, arm yourself with the Offshore Angler’s Glove from Simms. Reinforced palm, thumb, and fingers help protect against line cuts, burns, and potential punctures while removing hooks, billing fish, or filleting your catch. The polyester shell shrugs off water and dries quickly, while synthetic leather improves grip and durability. Air mesh lines the back of the hand and fingers to add flexibility and allow your hands to breathe, while an extended tab makes it easy to pull them on and off. Price at time of publish: $50 Best for Braid Casting AquaSkinz Finger Shield AquaSkinz View On Amazon View On Aquaskinzonline.com View On Tackledirect.com What We Like Inexpensive Simple, and lightweight What We Don't Like It’s a far cry from a full-fingered glove, designed to accommodate the specifics of braid casting. Some braid casting-obsessed anglers swear by using tape at their index finger to fend off the inevitable impacts of an abrasive line. But if you want a simple, low-cost solution that doesn’t involve a boxer-like ritual of taping up before heading out, go with the AquaSkinz Finger Shield. As its name implies, this glove stretches from your wrist, over the back of your palm, and around your index finger in one piece of protective Kevlar that won’t interfere with your cast. In fact, some customers say that it helped them improve their cast because they didn’t have to worry about the abrasive line making contact with their skin. The shield wraps around your wrist for an assured fit, and it works on both the left and right hands. Price at time of publish: $26 Best for Filleting Bubba Fillet Gloves Bass Pro Shop View On Basspro.com View On Cabelas.com What We Like Solid protection and a good, dexterous fit What We Don't Like Other fishing gloves may offer the same protection, which would make a fillet-specific glove unnecessary Endure one mishap while filleting a fish, and you’ll instantly understand the value of the Bubba Fillet Gloves. The full-finger gloves come with a non-slip grip on the palms and fingers to keep a tight grasp on both the knife and the fish, and a layer of Kevlar will protect you from knife nicks and species with sharp, puncture-ready fins. Neoprene at the wrists work with a wide Velcro strap to assure a tight fit, which helps improve dexterity, and reflective panels improve visibility in low-light situations. They even have touchscreen-compatible index fingers and thumbs in the unlikely event that you want to make a call mid-filleting. Price at time of publish: $40 Best for Sun Protection KastKing Sol Armis Sun Gloves KastKing View On Amazon View On Kastking.com What We Like Pull tabs at the wrist and middle finger make them easy to get on and off An extra-long cuff increases coverage to well past the wrist What We Don't Like Some anglers may not love the vibrant color options Sizing is limited to extra-small, small/medium, and large/extra-large Optimized for warm-weather fishing when the sun is beating down, KastKing’s Sol Armis Sun Gloves provide SPF 50 and UPF 50 protection throughout its breathable poly-spandex fabric, which boasts four-way stretch for a snug fit. The exposed upper knuckles in this fingerless design make it easy to perform minute tasks like changing hooks, baits, and dehooking fish. Microfiber lines the palms, reinforcing the main points of wear on the palms and provides a touch of extra padding to fend off hand fatigue. Price at time of publish: $20 Best for Cold Weather Striker Ice Tundra Mitt Dick's Sporting Good View On Amazon View On Dick's What We Like Warmth What We Don't Like Obviously the mitt design means any sort of work requiring your fingers will require that you ditch the gloves When the mercury drops into the single digits, reach for the Ice Tundra Mitts from Striker. The waterproof/breathable glove boasts 200 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation to keep your hands warm, with a mitt construction that lets your fingers’ natural heat keep things cozy inside. Full leather palms assure durability and s confident grip, while the softshell fabric on the back of the hand and throughout the gauntlet cuff offer stretch and further weather protection. The wrap-around fingertips avoid seams to cut down on chances of water penetration or chafing, and the adjustable closers at the cuff will work with all jacket types. Price at time of publish: $80 Best Waterproof Stormr Strykr Neoprene Glove Stormr Strykr View On Amazon View On Stormrusa.com What We Like Solid protection at a modest price What We Don't Like The cuff is pretty small The neoprene doesn’t provide a lot of puncture protection Built to keep your hands warm and dry in driving rain, harsh wind, and lower temps, the Stormr Stryker Neoprene Glove uses premium micro-fleece inside for both warmth and comfort, and durable neoprene on the outside to combat the elements. A modest 2–millimeter thickness assures that you’ll retain ample dexterity, and the textured palm and fingers provide a solid grip. Seams have been both blind-stitched and glued to improve durability and weather-proofing, and the cuff attaches securely with a glove-friendly Velcro strap. Price at time of publish: $35 What to Look for in Fishing Gloves Durability Most fishing gloves are designed to last several seasons of rigorous abuse, a key factor considering that they might be exposed to the damaging impacts of saltwater. Warm-weather gloves are naturally less durable than multi-layered winter-ready gloves that use long-lasting, durable fabrics like leather and hard- and soft-shell polyester, making them burlier than fair-weather gloves. Comfort Fishing gloves are designed to fend off blisters, protect your hands, improve grip, and fight hand fatigue. The best gloves feel comfortable with the first use, and often use materials like microfiber or fleece to line the inside of the glove, providing both comfort and a bit of extra padding. Some use fabrics with four-way stretch so that you can move your hands without resistance, while cold-weather gloves employ gauntlet-style cuffs, wrist pulls, and Velcro straps to assure a tight fit while working with your cold-weather jackets. Materials The materials used in fishing gloves vary primarily by their main purpose. Warm-weather gloves, designed to improve grip and prevent sun damage, use lightweight, stretch fabrics like polyester that breathe well, dry quickly, and let your hands move unencumbered. The palms are typically covered entirely to improve grip, while the back of the hand might have mesh—or mesh panels—to improve breathability. When you get into cold-weather gloves, brands employ lots of different materials like leather on the palm and thumbs for increased grip and strength, waterproof/breathable membranes, soft-shell polyester that stretches with your hands, and neoprene, a bomber material that’s 100 percent waterproof. Insulation varies, from lightweight microfiber to medium-weight fleece lining to ultra-warm fully insulated gloves. Some also use Kevlar—either as inserts in the glove or throughout the product—to provide protection against line cuts, hooks, and sharp fish fins. Fit You need a pair of fishing gloves that fit as close to perfect as possible. Too loose and you sacrifice dexterity. Too tight and your hands’ movements will be constricted. When choosing a full-finger glove, make sure the fit at the fingertips doesn’t have any bunching or seams at the ends, which can encumber fine liner work. (If you can’t open a beer while wearing the gloves, you won’t be able to execute many of the dexterous tasks endemic to fishing.) Fingerless gloves should also fit comfortably, close to the skin, and feel flush between the fingers where the fabric ends. All gloves should also fit snug at the wrists, either with an elastic cuff or an easy-to-use strap system like Velcro, clips, or pull tabs. Weather and Climate Fishing gloves have an application in any type of weather or climate. In hotter locales like the Caribbean or when fishing during the summer months, thin, stretchy, breathable gloves can provide protection against the harmful impacts of the sun, block out wind, and protect you from bites, scratches, and line cuttings. When fishing in colder weather, fishing gloves can add some much-appreciated insulation (typically with a thin layer of fleece or microfiber) to keep your hands warm and operable. 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, though the more insulation, the less dexterity, which is why some cold-weather anglers might opt to wear a pair of thin inner gloves as well as a waterproof insulated outer layer so they can still perform minute tasks without exposing their skin to the elements. Frequently Asked Questions What are fishing gloves useful for? At the very basic level, fishing gloves offer protection—from the sun, the cold, the wind, blisters, bugs, and cuts from the line. Some even act as more robust armor against hook pictures or cuts from unwieldy fish. Most gloves also provide better grip on your catch, a key advantage for being able to remove the hook. Stretches of fabrics like microfiber or fleece also offer a bit of padding to reduce hand fatigue. What are fingerless fishing gloves for? Full-finger gloves naturally provide the most protection, but even the highest-quality, best-fitting full-finger gloves force you to sacrifice some dexterity for finer actions like tying a line. Fingerless gloves offer protection for the palm, back of the hand, and typically on the fingers up to the first or second knuckle while keeping the tips of the fingers exposed, so you can perform minute tasks without having to take off the gloves. That said, there are a handful of models that split the difference, providing full-finger protection and the ability to fold back the fabric at the fingers and thumb to let you execute minute tasks. Are fishing gloves interchangeable with other outdoor gloves? If your outdoor gloves fit well (so you don’t sacrifice dexterity), and they’re either quick-drying or waterproof, you can use non-fishing outdoor gloves while fishing, especially if you’re looking to add warmth to combat colder climates. But in warmer weather, you want a fishing-specific glove for the host of angling-friendly features they provide. Fishing gloves also typically have more aggressive texture palms for better grip, and some boast Kevlar, which will protect you from line cuts, sharp fins, and the fillet knife. Why Trust TripSavvy Nathan Borchelt has been rating, reviewing, and testing outdoor and travel gear for decades. In preparing this article, the glove’s applications, fabrics, fit, dexterity, warmth, breathability, and waterproofness were all taken into account, as was input by both professional anglers, gear reviewers, and verified customers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 10 below. Continue to 9 of 10 below.