Are you planning to go ice fishing? Aside from the rods, reels, and bait, you should also get the best gloves for fishing in cold weather. This will protect your hands from the harsh weather while ensuring that you have a good grip on your tackle. For this post, I put over two dozen pairs of insulated gloves to the test. After rigorous testing, I’ve come up with these five best picks:
| FISHING GLOVES | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! Fish Monkey YETI PREM Fishing Gloves |  | Check Price |
 | SITKA Gear Delta Deek GTX Fishing Glove | | Check Price |
 | VELAZZIO Thermo1 Heated Gloves |  | Check Price |
 | FRDM Midweight Fishing Gloves | | Check Price |
 | WindRider Winter Fishing Gloves |  | Check Price |
Do I need fishing gloves on cold weather?
A lot of anglers I’ve met are divided as to whether they should wear gloves or not. Sure thing, going gloveless is good for control, but it’s not ideal on a winter day. Your hands will freeze, especially after getting soaked on the water. Before you know it, your fingers are too stiff to hold the rod properly, and you’re shaking too much that you can’t place bait on the hook.
A pair of fishing gloves will give you a better grip when holding the shank off the hook or while unhooking a catch. It’s excellent protection against outdoor elements that may hurt your hands, especially during a harsh winter.
Aside from that, fishing gloves can boost your grip and protect your hands from chafing. As you know, holding a rod and reeling in a catch repeatedly can take its toll on your palms and fingers.
Instead of using just about any gloves, I suggest getting a pair made specifically for fishing. This will ensure excellent dexterity and comfort. If you’re looking for a pair, feel free to check my picks below:
5 Best Gloves for Fishing in Cold Weather
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: Fish Monkey YETI PREM Ice Fishing Gloves
Product Name: Fish Monkey YETI PREM Ice Fishing Gloves
Product Description: When it comes to winter fishing, I swear by the Fish Monkey YETI PREM. This is designed for anglers, boaters, and guides who are braving the cold waters. It’s made with 150 grams of Thinsulate for topnotch warmth even on freezing temperatures. Aside from that, these gloves have a thermo-conducive fleece lining that absorbs sweat while staying warm. Moreover, these Fish Monkey gloves have premium goat leather palms and an additional 350 grams of Thinsulate at the back of the hands. There’s also a cotton insert that boosts the warmth and comfort of this pair
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Material
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Fit
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Warmth
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Dexterity
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Value for Money
Overall
Summary
Another thing I like about Fish Monkey gloves is its windproof and waterproof design. It uses 100% Hipora with waterproof technology to ensure that your hands are dry and warm while you fish. You can also handle a catch without soaking your skin. This is how amazing these gloves are.
This is a state-of-the-art glove made to withstand tough winter conditions. It can keep your hands warm even on temperatures under 30 degrees! This is also very dexterous, which is a big deal when you’re wrestling with a big catch or unhooking a fish.
However, I want to warn that these gloves are a little bit tighter than usual. If you have thick or large hands, I suggest getting one size up. Nevertheless, it’s well-built, and you’ll never be disappointed by the quality.
Pros
Made with a generous amount of Thinsulate
100% Hipora waterproof design
Suits temperatures 30F and below
Cons
A bit tight, but not a big deal
RUNNERS-UP
SITKA Gear Delta Deek GTX Fishing Glove
If you’re looking for the best gloves for fishing in cold weather, you should consider the SITKA Gear Delta Deek Fishing Glove. It’s made of 100% GORE-TEX that’s taped on its outer shell. This is guaranteed to shield you from very low temperatures while fishing.
Aside from that, this has a removable compression-resistant fleece liner to keep you comfortable. Although designed for hunting, I’ve tested its performance on winter fishing. It has excellent dexterity, warmth, water protection, and durability.
Moreover, this has a 200-denier nylon face and a high-loft polyester fleece liner for extra softness. Despite its protective design, this remains breathable so that you can wear it for a long.
However, avoid soaking these gloves in water as it can leak over time. Other than that, this is a great pair that works well for recreational fishing. It’s a bit on the higher price range, but I don’t mind splurging for its performance.
As a bonus part, these gloves are available in Optifade Marsh and Optifade Timber colors. Whether it’s for hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping, these gloves will come handy. It’s also available in medium to 2XL sizes to fit most users.
VELAZZIO Thermo1 Heated Gloves
On freezing days, you can use the VELAZZIO Thermo1. This is a heated pair with a polyester shell and 3M Thinsulate for guaranteed warmth. Inside, there’s a fleece lining and Fax-Tex membrane that repels water while allowing sweat to escape the material.
The heating element of these fishing gloves can be adjusted in three different levels. You can choose the heating level from a low, medium, to high, depending on how cold the day is. The good thing about this heating element is it preheats the glove for five minutes then goes back to medium setting to prevent burning.
Moreover, these fishing gloves have touchscreen-compatible fingertips, which is a nifty feature while you’re waiting for a catch. Its palms have a PU material with rubber dots for the best grip so you can set up your tackle without removing the gloves. And if you don’t like to use the heating element, you can remove it and use these gloves as a comfy pair.
Overall, this is a very warm and comfy pair. You can use this for winter fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, and even sledding. I also want to mention that this has a wrist cinch and long cuffs that you can tuck in your jacket.
Aside from the fishing gloves, the jacket also includes two lithium batteries, a wall charger, a user guide, and a portable bag. This is value for money if you’re looking for the best gloves for fishing in cold weather.
FRDM Midweight Fishing Gloves
If you’re struggling in setting up your line, you should consider the FRDM Midweight Fishing Gloves. It’s a convertible glove with removable finger caps on the index finger and thumb. This will let you fix your line and hook without the need to remove the gloves entirely.
Aside from that, it has a three-layer shell made of water-resistant and windproof material. It also has fleece insulation as well as a tricot lining that wicks sweat. To top that, these fishing gloves have a silicone pattern on the palm to boost its grip, even on wet surfaces.
Overall, these are multi-purpose gloves that you can also use for photography, hiking, camping, and so on. And since the finger caps are removable, you can easily use your phone with these fishing gloves.
I also like its double cuffs that keep the wind out. It also has a wrist cinch to ensure that the gloves will fit snugly on your hands. You can also tuck the tighter cuff under your jacket.
Although it’s not insulated as ski gloves, this pair from FRDM works well on temperatures around 35F. It offers enough warmth on chilly days while keeping your hands dexterous in managing your tackle.
This is a high-quality pair that can hold up on cold weather. However, I noticed that the thumb is a bit long, but it’s not really bothersome.
WindRider Winter Fishing Gloves
The last pair I recommend is the WindRider Winter Fishing Gloves. It’s made of a Cordura nylon shell with a hipora liner for a perfect combination of durability and warmth. To ensure that your hands will remain warm, this pair has 70 grams of 3M Thinsulate.
Moreover, these gloves have foam insulation on its pre-shaped design. I also like that the thumb and index fingertips have a special material that makes it touch-responsive.
Aside from that, these gloves are waterproof so you can pull your catch without soaking your hands. Moreover, it has an elastic wrist and a manual tightener to keep the wind and moisture out. Those with big hands will love these gloves because of its wide cuff opening.
Another feature that I like about these fishing gloves is the large card pocket at the back of the hand. You can stash keys, cards, and hand warmers to boost the warmth of these gloves.
Overall, the WindRider gloves have four layers of insulation, a sealed zipper pocket, and a waterproof insert so you can fish with peace of mind. This is rugged and can take the beating of regular use. Lastly, I like to mention that the lining doesn’t pull out if you’re taking the gloves off. For its price, this is already a steal.
How to choose winter fishing gloves
When scouting for the best gloves for fishing in cold weather, you must consider the following aspects:
✔️Material
The first thing you should check is the material of the fishing gloves. This is one thing that sets each pair apart. But since the market is saturated by options, it can be challenging to pick the best one. The following are some of the widely used materials on fishing gloves:
*Nylon
Nylon is lightweight, durable, and water-resistant. It’s also cheap, that’s why it’s used on many fishing gloves you can find. Unlike polyester, nylon fabric has better abrasion resistance as well as elasticity. The nylon yarn is also smooth and comfortable to wear.
*Polyester
Another material used on fishing gloves shell is polyester. It’s soft and very dexterous, but it sacrifices a level of water-resistance. Polyester can still repel moisture, but it will get soaked if exposed to water for long. Take note that polyester doesn’t stretch, but it’s also resistant to shrinkage and abrasion.
*Neoprene
Neoprene is an excellent material for winter fishing gloves due to its warmth. However, it’s prone to stretching and could have a rubber smell. Still, it remains one of the top options for many glove types since it’s soft and has a level of warmth.
*Leather
Next, leather is a popular glove type, but it’s not typical to fishing gloves. It’s mostly used as a palm material to boost the grip of the pair. You can also find gloves with small leather materials as reinforcements. As much as possible, avoid 100% leather gloves because it’s stiff and has poor dexterity.
*Rubber
Lastly, rubber is widely used on fishing gloves because of its insulating and waterproof characteristics. This is often used on the palm and finger areas that need reinforcements.
✔️Insulation
Another important thing you should check is the insulation of the glove. This is very critical if you’re looking for the best gloves for fishing in cold weather. The following are the most common insulation materials used on fishing gloves:
*Thinsulate
Thinsulate is the proprietary material of the 3M brand. It’s basically a combination of the words ‘thin’ and ‘insulate’ because it’s very warm despite being thin. This is a type C insulation that traps body heat so your hands will remain toasty. Some of the gloves I reviewed above use Thinsulate at the palm and back of the hand. Since Thinsulate isn’t bulky, it allows excellent dexterity.
*Wool
Wool is another favorite due to its soft and comfortable nature. It’s harvested from sheep, making it quite expensive than its synthetic counterpart, fleece. Once worn, wool functions like an extra layer of skin to keep your hands warm.
*Fleece
Cheaper fishing gloves use fleece as insulation. This is a great material, but it’s synthetic. Nevertheless, it’s cheaper and an effective alternative to wool.
There are other types of insulation used on fishing gloves, and it could be a combination of these three materials.
✔️Size
If there’s one thing you shouldn’t overlook, it would be the size of your fishing gloves. You can have the warmest pair, but if it doesn’t fit well, it’s still of no use. However, you should avoid getting very loose gloves since it will be uncomfortable to use, especially when wrestling with a big catch.
Sizing can be tricky as each brand has its own sizing chart. Make sure that you check it against the measurements of your hands.
✔️Design
Fishing gloves can either be full-hand or one with removable fingertips. Both are useful, but those with finger caps offer more convenience since you can use your phone without taking the gloves off.
There are also fingerless fishing gloves. This may not be ideal on very cold days because your fingertips will freeze easily. Overall, it depends on your preference and which one you’ll find suitable for your fishing technique.
Meanwhile, you can also find fishing gloves equipped with a heating element.
✔️Cuffs
One of the things I check when buying fishing gloves for cold weather is the cuffs. As much as possible, look for fishing gloves with extended cuffs that you can tuck under your jacket. I also like cuffs with a wrist cinch because it blocks wind and moisture from getting into your hands.
As much as possible, look for cuffs with a separate drawstring or belt that will allow you to tighten it around your wrist.
✔️Temperature rating
The temperature rating of the gloves dictates how well it will stay warm at very low temperatures. For the most part, a temperature rating of 30F and below is already a great buy. This will keep you comfortable on the coldest days and when you’re fishing for long periods.
However, if you’re fishing on subzero temperatures, you will need better insulation. Note that the warmer the gloves become, the thicker and less dexterous it will be.
✔️Dexterity
Dexterity matters a lot, no matter what glove type you’re buying. It will dictate how easy it is to move your fingers with the gloves on. This is very critical with fishing gloves since you’ll be handling your tackle and unhooking your catch.
Aside from that, a less dexterous pair of gloves will be frustrating to use. Also, it will cause hand pain as you try to compensate for the poor movement.
Anyway, I also want to add that very thick and warm gloves may need to sacrifice some level of dexterity to keep your hands warm. For me, this is a fair trade-off during the winter season.
✔️Price
Lastly, consider how much you’re willing to spend on your fishing gloves. While you can always find the cheapest pairs in the market, I always suggest investing a little more to get the best value. In the long run, you’ll save more if you buy a durable pair for a few more dollars. I’m speaking from experience as I also used to get those cheap pairs that get ripped after a few months.
Nevertheless, it’s all about finding the right balance between the price and the quality of the gloves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is fishing good when it’s cold?
A: Fishing during cold weather can be as great as it used to be during summer. You can go ice fishing during winter while you stay toasty near your gas stove. It’s a great way to explore different seasons while enjoying your hobby.
Q: How do you stay warm when fishing?
A: When fishing on a cold day, you must wear warm clothes as well as a pair of the best gloves for fishing in cold weather. This will prevent you from the low temperatures. However, make sure that the gloves have a good grip and that it has a good fit on your hands. You can also wear a bandana around your neck to shield your skin from the wind.
Q: What fish are the most active in winter?
A: Some of the fish species that are active during winter are sheepshead, striped bass, snapper, bonefish, cobia, redfish, pompano, and pike. This is the reason why the cold season remains a fun time for fishing. However, you will need to layer up to protect your body from the spiraling temperature.
Q: What is the best bait for winter fishing?
A: Jerkbait and underspin are two of the best baits during winter. You can also use grub, spybait, jig, and blade baits. Experimenting with different baits will let you discover which one works best for the fish you’re trying to catch.
Q: Will bass bite in cold weather?
A: Yes, bass can still bite aggressively during winter. While the surface of the water might be freezing, the bass can swim deeper to stay warm. With this, you need a long line to increase your chances of hooking a bass during a cold day. You should also use the right bait.
Final words
The best gloves for fishing in cold weather will protect your skin from low temperatures so you can enjoy your angling trip. It’s a very important gear, especially on harsh winters where the weather can be unforgiving. You’ll never want to risk your hands on a freezing temperature.
What do you think of the fishing gloves I reviewed here? Share your thoughts below!
