10 Best Ice Fishing Gloves for 2025: Stay Warm, Dry & Dexterous

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Our top pick for versatile ice fishing gloves in 2025 remains the Achiou Winter Knit Gloves with Touchscreen Fingers. Their soft knit lining provides essential warmth and comfort, while touch-sensitive fingertips allow smartphone use without exposing hands to the bitter cold weather. These anti-slip, unisex gloves offer a snug fit and practical functionality, ideal for inside a shelter or as a dexterous liner.

For anglers prioritizing maximum warmth and heavy-duty waterproof protection against the harshest elements, the Striker Combat Ice Fishing Gloves are a formidable choice. Featuring substantial Thinsulate™ insulation and a Hipora® waterproof insert, these gloves are built to conquer extreme cold and wet conditions. While their robust leather palm and construction might mean slightly less flexibility than some lightweight alternatives, their thermal performance is paramount when facing severe winter fishing scenarios.

When ice fishing, keeping your hands warm, dry, and functional is non-negotiable for safety, comfort, and angling success. Cold hands can quickly lead to fumbling gear, missed bites, reduced dexterity for tying knots, and even serious health risks like frostbite. What type of gloves are best for winter? For ice fishing, it’s specialized gloves designed to handle moisture, extreme cold, and the specific needs of an angler.

fishing without ice fishing gloves
This guy is braving the cold without gloves. Source: chumlee10

This article compiles a list of the best ice fishing gloves for the 2025 season, designed to help you select the perfect handwear for your icy pursuits. What gloves do fishermen wear? It varies, but for ice fishing, insulated and waterproof options are key.


10 Best Ice Fishing Gloves for 2025 Reviewed

1. Achiou Winter Knit Gloves with Touchscreen Fingers

Best Touchscreen Ice Fishing Gloves

These Achiou knit gloves address the modern angler’s need to use a smartphone without exposing skin. While not primary protection for extreme cold weather, they offer decent warmth for inside an ice shelter or as a highly dexterous liner glove beneath a heavier outer glove. Their low cost makes them a practical addition to any ice fishing gear bag.


2. Striker Ice Second Skin

Best All-Around Cold Weather Fishing Gloves

Striker Strikerice Second Skin Gloves, Black, Large
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The Striker Ice Second Skin gloves offer a superb blend of warmth, dexterity, and protection. They are surprisingly waterproof yet breathable, preventing clammy hands. The silicone dots on the palm provide excellent grip for holding your rod or handling slippery fish. Made with spandex and Lycra, the outer layer offers a snug, stretchy fit, making them one of the best ice fishing gloves for active fishing.


3. Striker Combat

Best Heavy-Duty Waterproof Ice Fishing Gloves

Striker Ice Combat Leather Gloves, Size: XL (404205)
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Built like armor for your hands, the Striker Combat gloves feature an extended gauntlet, a full leather palm and backhand, and 200g of Thinsulate™ Insulation. The Hipora® waterproof and breathable insert ensures hands stay dry. These insulated gloves are designed for maximum warmth and durability in brutal conditions. The robust leather might slightly limit fine dexterity compared to thinner gloves, but for sheer protection, they are a top contender.


4. OZERO Thermal Gloves

Best Lightweight Ice Fishing Gloves

Another excellent lightweight, windproof option with touchscreen capability. These OZERO gloves are water-resistant and feature silica gel particles on the palm for enhanced grip. A key feature is the snug elastic wrist cuff, sealing out cold air. They balance warmth, dexterity, and tech-friendliness for less extreme conditions or for those who run hot.


5. Seirus Innovation Xtreme Waterproof All Weather

Best Waterproof Ice Fishing Gloves

Seirus 1171 Xtreme Waterproof Winter Cold Weather Glove with SoundTouch Technology
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Made from a blend including fleece, Lycra, neoprene, nylon, and spandex, these neoprene gloves with a fleece lining offer versatility. Touchscreen compatible, they provide good dexterity due to a non-bulky fleece lining. They are waterproof yet breathable. Care: Hand wash only. These are a solid choice for all-around cold weather fishing where waterproof performance is key.


6. Sitka Hunting Gloves

Best Merino Wool Gloves

SITKA Gear Merino Glove Optifade Open Country Large
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Merino wool gloves are exceptional for natural warmth, breathability, and odor resistance. Many Sitka hunting gloves (like the Traverse) use Merino wool liners with a durable nylon outer layer for water resistance. Can wool gloves get wet? Yes, but Merino wool retains insulating properties even when damp. Are wool gloves good for skiing/snow? Yes, especially as liners or in drier snow conditions, due to their warmth and moisture-wicking. These are multi-functional for various cold pursuits.


7. Extreme Cold PVC Coated Insulated Gloves (e.g., Kinco Hydroflector, Showa Atlas 282 TemRes)

Best Extreme Cold Winter Ice Fishing Gloves

For the most brutal cold weather and wet conditions, heavily insulated, fully waterproof PVC gloves are essential. Often featuring Thinsulate™ insulation, these gloves allow handling ice and wet gear without freezing. While thick, reducing dexterity, their primary role is ultimate warmth and 100% waterproof protection. The textured PVC grip is excellent. What gloves prevent frostbite? Thick, waterproof, and well-insulated gloves like these are your best defense.


8. Palmyth Ice Fishing Convertible Mittens

Best Ice Fishing Mittens (Convertible)

Convertible mittens offer the extreme warmth of a mitten with flip-back caps to expose fingers (often with fingerless gloves underneath) for tasks requiring dexterity like tying knots or baiting hooks. This design provides a great balance for anglers needing both warmth and occasional finger freedom.


9. Showa Atlas 460 Vinylove Gloves

Best PVC Coated Ice Fishing Gloves (Durability/Grip)

For tasks requiring extreme durability, a superior grip, and complete waterproofing (often with less insulation than dedicated winter gloves), double-dipped PVC gloves like the Showa Atlas 460 excel. Ideal for handling bait, nets, or large fish where hands are frequently submerged. They sacrifice some dexterity and breathability for toughness. What gloves do they wear on Deadliest Catch? Often heavy-duty, waterproof, and abrasion-resistant gloves similar to these, sometimes with insulated liners.


10. Nitrile or Non-latex Medical Style Gloves

Best Ultra-Light/Liner Ice Fishing Gloves

Thin nitrile or non-latex industrial/medical gloves offer surprising utility. They block wind and moisture, provide maximum dexterity, and trap a bit of body heat. Use them alone in milder conditions or as a waterproof liner under heavier gloves to keep the main glove clean from fish slime or bait. Disposable and inexpensive.


How to Choose the Best Ice Fishing Gloves – Buyer’s Guide

fishing on the lake with the best ice fishing gloves
Some serious ice fishermen out there. Source: Alexey Dushutin

Selecting the right type of gloves requires understanding key features:

Waterproof vs. Water-Resistant:

  • Waterproof: Essential. Look for membranes like Gore-Tex (Are Gore-Tex gloves worth it? Yes, for superior breathable waterproof performance), Hipora®, or PVC coatings with sealed seams.

Warmth & Insulation:

  • Materials like Thinsulate™, Primaloft®, fleece, and wool provide warmth. What material keeps your hands the warmest? What is the warmest material for winter gloves? Layered systems often work best. Down is incredibly warm but loses insulation when wet. High-quality synthetics (Thinsulate, Primaloft) and wool are excellent.

Breathability: Prevents clammy, sweaty hands which lead to cold hands.

Dexterity: Ability to perform fishing tasks. Thinner, form-fitting gloves offer better dexterity.

Comfort & Fit: Should winter gloves be tight or loose? How tight should my snow gloves be? Snug but not restrictive is ideal. Too tight restricts blood flow, making hands colder. Too loose reduces dexterity and warmth. Check sizing charts. Should I size up for winter gloves? Often yes, if you plan to wear a liner glove.

Durability: Reinforced palms (often leather) and fingers, quality stitching, and robust outer shells (nylon, polyester) withstand wear and tear, scrapes, and abrasions.

Grip: Textured palms and fingers (silicone, rubber, leather) are crucial.

Cuff Length: Longer gauntlets seal out elements.

Material: Neoprene (good insulation when wet), Fleece (warm liner), Wool (warm, breathable), Nylon/Polyester (wind/water-resistant shells), Leather (durable, good grip), PVC (fully waterproof, durable).

Fingerless Gloves: What is the purpose of fingerless gloves? Why do people wear fingerless gloves while fishing? Do your fingers get cold with fingerless gloves? They provide dexterity for fine tasks while keeping the palm and back of the hand warm. Yes, fingertips will get cold. Often used in milder conditions or as part of a system. Do wool fingerless gloves work well for ice fishing? Yes, wool provides good warmth for the covered parts.

Heated Gloves: Are Ororo heated gloves good? Are Weston heated gloves any good? How do I choose heated gloves? What are the cons of heated gloves? Battery-powered heated gloves (or electric hand warmers used with regular gloves) can provide significant warmth. Choose based on battery life, heat settings, and durability. Cons include cost, reliance on batteries, and potential bulk.

What gloves do people in Alaska/Arctic/Antarctica wear? What gloves do Arctic explorers wear? What gloves do they use on Everest?
They use layered systems: thin wicking liners, fleece or wool mid-layers, and a highly insulated, waterproof, and windproof outer shell glove or mitten. Mittens are generally warmer than gloves as fingers share heat.

Why do pro fishermen wear gloves? For sun protection (UPF rated thin gloves in summer), improved grip, protection from fish teeth, spines, and line cuts, and warmth in cold weather.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best material for cold weather gloves?

Layered systems often use a wicking inner material (like polypropylene or merino wool), an insulating mid-layer (fleece, Thinsulate™, Primaloft®, down), and a waterproof/windproof outer shell (nylon, polyester with a membrane like Gore-Tex). Leather is also excellent for durability and grip when treated.

Why do my fingers get so cold even with gloves on?

Could be poor glove fit (too tight), inadequate insulation for the conditions, wet gloves (from sweat or external moisture), or underlying conditions like Raynaud’s. Ensure your core body temperature is also warm.

Are Thinsulate gloves any good?

Yes, 3M™ Thinsulate™ is a well-regarded synthetic insulation that provides good warmth with less bulk than some other materials.


Final Thoughts: Equipping Your Hands for the Ice

Your hands are indispensable for every aspect of an ice fishing trip, from drilling holes and rigging gear to feeling the bite and landing your catch. Investing in the best ice fishing gloves – or a system of gloves – for the 2025 season is crucial for comfort, safety, and performance. Whether you need extreme warmth, complete waterproof protection, maximum dexterity, or a combination thereof, consider the types of gloves reviewed and match them to your specific needs and the intensity of the cold weather you’ll face. Protect your hands, and enjoy more productive and comfortable days on the ice.