Thread: Cold weather gishing gloves???

get you some duck hunting gloves with a gore tex lining that is what i use you can get them that will go all the way pasted your elbows if you want them too they work great for me

After many years of neoprene glove use, I prefer those that fit loose. Tight fitting neoprene will reduce circulation and freeze your fingers if you wear them constantly. I wear silk or polypropylene glove liners and keep extras handy. Your hands sweat in neoprene and some brands begin to leak rather quickly.

I have tried many brands, but found the Aleutians’ by AquaLung to be pretty good. They come in 3 and 5 mm versions. Cabela’s fleece lined are OK but they do not fit like the Aleutians’, and they will tire your hands. The lesser quality neoprene gloves wear through on the index finger and thumb. Most will leak by the end of the first day due to seam seepage. You can easily go through 3-5 pair a year waterfowl hunting. Annoying, but they fill a niche application because you can shoot - and cast - while wearing them.

For all around moderate weather fishing gloves I like Manzella silk weight with Wind Stopper. The Under Armor Hurlock’s are good as well. When it gets a little colder Polartec Black Diamonds with Wind Barrier offer good mid-weight protection, but casting would be difficult with these.

When you are in the water constantly, about all gloves with the exception of heavy rubber/PVC, will leak. Neoprene is the only material I have found that still works when the gloves are soaked because your hand heats the trapped water (wetsuit principal). As they dry out your hands will become colder. Dip your hands back in the water to re-wet the gloves and your hands will warm up again. That is hard to do in ice water sometimes, but it works. Wet neoprene is very marginal during real windy, cold days. Wool is the best fiber under wet conditions.

Most importantly when dealing with cold, wet conditions bring several pairs of gloves....extra cloths, good boots/socks, a facemask, glasses/goggles, and the best raingear you can find. Good clothing is worth its weight in gold.