Are you looking for the best kayaking gloves? You must find the right pair of gloves that will keep your hands warm, dry, and safe while kayaking.
The best kayak gloves can make all the difference between a good time and a bad time on the water.
We’ve put together this list of our five top picks for the best kayaking gloves out there based on product descriptions, price worth, and customer reviews.
Our Top Picks
5 Best Kayaking Gloves
- Best Paddling Gloves – Aftco Solmar UV Gloves
- Best for All Kinds of Watersports – Gill Men’s Short Finger Deckhand Gloves
- Best Lightweight Gloves – Buff Solar Gloves
- Best for Thermal Protection – Glacier Glove Islamorada Sun Glove
- Best for Multisports Activities – NeoSport 3/4 Fingerless Neoprene Gloves
1. Aftco Solmar UV Gloves
Best Paddling Gloves
Key Features:
- All-purpose kayaking glove for jigging and fishing, paddling, and polling skiffs
- CR foam padding for great protection and comfort
- Fingerless design for maximum dexterity
- With SPF 50 Lycra top panel
The Aftco Solmar UV Gloves are versatile; they can be used while kayaking, paddle boarding, and reeling during fish catching.
They feature waterproof, synthetic suede palms with internal CR Smart Foam closed-cell foam extra padding and a good grip for palm protection and comfort. This pair of gloves is also fingerless, exposing the three fingertips for great finger movement.
2. Gill Men’s Short Finger Deckhand Gloves
Best for All Kinds of Watersports
Key Features
- Four-way stretch with a wraparound palm protection
- With UV 50 protection
- Easy to grab silicon cuff
- With offset finger seams to reduce wear by removing pressure points
- Amara protection, especially on cold water
Gill Men’s short finger deckhand gloves are versatile gloves designed with a double layer of Amara leather palms for better grip without absorbing water.
These gloves also have wraparound palm protection with offset finger seams to prevent your hands from wear and fatigue.
These short-finger deckhand gloves have reduced cuff length and rear volume adjustment to give you a comfortable fit. They are best for watersports, including sailing, paddle sports, and board sports such as kayaking and windsurfing.
3. Buff Solar Gloves
Best Lightweight Gloves
Key Features
- With UPF 40+ protection
- Comfortable lightweight gloves
- Quick-drying
- Seamless bonded-cuff design
Buff solar gloves are the most comfortable lightweight gloves for paddleboarding, wave running, and fishing. They are made with a breathable fabric with UPF 40+ Sun protection that dries fast.
Buff solar gloves also have a seamless bonded-cuff design that prevents chafing of your hands even when you wear them all day.
4. Glacier Glove Islamorada Sun Glove
Best for Thermal Protection
Key Features
- 85% Lycra and 15% synthetic leather palms
- With UPF 50+ and quick-drying
- Fingers are exposed
- Form-fitted with a lightweight and breathable design
Glacier Glove Sun gloves are made with durable material with UPF 50+ UV protection and are quick drying.
These gloves are made with 86% lycra with 15% synthetic leather palm for a better fit and breathability while maintaining a solid grip. These gloves are great for warm weather paddling.
5. NeoSport 3/4 Fingerless Neoprene Gloves
Best for Multisports Activities
Key Features
- Padded synthetic leather palm for a reliable protection
- Quick-drying and flexible for all kinds of sports
- Anatomical fit with adjustable straps for comfortability
- Soft and durable premium gloves for wet and dry activities
NeoSport neoprene gloves offer reliable and comfortable protection for all kinds of sports activities, including obstacle racing, snorkeling, and wakeboarding.
Their padded synthetic leather palm provides a superior grip without absorbing water. This pair of gloves are made with waterproof neoprene for durability.
This pair of gloves has an anatomical fit that will prevent your hands from fatigue. They are equipped with adjustable wrist straps to keep your gloves secured while maintaining their comfortability.
Things to Consider When Buying Kayaking Gloves
Material
When choosing the best gloves, you should know the material they are made with. Neoprene, a synthetic rubber, is usually the common material used because it can withstand extremely low to high temperatures.
Raw neoprene can help keep your hands weather during watersports such as scuba diving and kayaking. It is typically the material of choice for cold weather gloves.
Some manufacturers combine neoprene with other materials to improve their fit and comfortability.
For lightweight gloves, the materials used in making them are usually synthetic leather or lycra. These materials are mainly for sun protection during hot weather.
Gloves made with synthetic leather and lycra typically have an added layer of padding to offer protection to your hands when paddling.
Fit
The gloves you choose must fit your hands perfectly. They should allow you to have a good firm grip without absorbing or holding water. If the fit is not good, they may be uncomfortable to wear and may not provide the protection you need.
It is also good to choose those gloves that have non-slip surfaces but with a secure grip. A pair with a snug fit should also conform to the shape of your hands comfortably.
Care
A good pair of kayaking gloves should also be one that will provide care for your hands. They should be made with materials that are breathable and would not cause any chafing to your hands.
Choose gloves that would not cause your hands and fingers any wear or fatigue. It is also best to choose the pair that would offer comfortable mobility of your fingers.
Fingers: Fingerless or Full Finger?
Both types have their own pros and cons, so you have to choose to depend on when you plan to use them and for what purpose.
Fingerless gloves offer you maximum mobility of your fingers when you need them. However, they may not fully protect your hands, especially during cold weather paddling, so they are more suitable during warm weather.
Full-finger gloves offer maximum protection for your hands but may restrict your grip, especially when grabbing smaller objects, ropes, or gadgets.
Thickness
Thick gloves can keep your hands warm during the winter, but they might be uncomfortable during warm weather. The ideal glove thickness will be based on the weather.
If you plan to go kayaking during the cold weather, then you need a thicker glove with padding to fully protect your hands from the cold.
However, when the weather is warm, you might want to consider those gloves made with good fabric breathability to allow you to use your hands still comfortably.
Choose the kayaking gloves with the right thickness that can protect your hands from scrapes from rocks and friction when paddling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use cycling gloves as kayaking gloves?
Cycling gloves are usually thinner than kayaking gloves and may not provide you the protection your hands need when kayaking.
If you plan to use your cycling gloves for kayaking, just make sure that the material is thick enough to protect your hands when you go kayak, especially during the cold weather.
Good kayaking gloves are usually made of neoprene and stretchy spandex; these are thick enough materials to prevent your hands from getting scrapes during paddling and kayaking.
For cycling gloves, they are usually made with synthetic materials such as polyester, fleece, acrylic, and polypropylene.
How do you prevent blisters when kayaking?
The best solution to prevent blisters when kayaking is to wear kayak gloves. They have a layer of padding to protect your hands from getting calluses and blisters. They are thick enough to maintain the smoothness of your hands while also preventing your hands from getting injured.
Conclusion
It’s always best to protect your hands when you go kayaking, and the way to do this is to choose the best pair of kayak gloves for you. You need quality gloves with superb grip to make sure that your hands are protected.
Before deciding which option to buy, read this article to know the top kayaking gear recommendations for you!
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